Minor-Major Modifications to an SE

This is something I'm planning on doing. Never tinted my windows in the past, but figured I would on the SE.

I haven't seen much talk about PPF. Anyone have XPEL or similar installed?

 

Front license plates, no window tint, and you have to drive on the wrong side of the road???!?!?

 

I will have XPEL tint installed but not PPF since I'll be using Griots Ceramic 3 in 1 to maintain this time around. I religiously use Turtle Wax Hybrid Ceramic but have been reading good things about Griots so this will be my first try.

This will be my first time using XPEL tint as I usually go with 3M Crystalline including the front windshield since it gets a little toasty in Texas in the summer.

 

I had XPEL ppf installed on my Mach-E front end, and it's done wonders to avoid rock chips and all.

 

I've had PPF installed on the front end of a Prius in the past and didn't like the way it aged over time.

I've come to terms with that it's a car. If and when I do sell it, small rock chips on the front bumper is not going to diminish the resale value nor having PPF is going to increase the value. As I get older, I just want something that is easy to wash and maintain.

 

The MINI's design makes the front quite susceptible to rock damage, I've put PPF on the front & hood (bonnet) for all five MINIs I've owned.

 

I’ve thought about it in the past when I’ve had more expensive cars, but in the end I decided that like @sousvide says above, it’s a car that’s going to get stone chips and marks. Sure as fate, I’d get the bumper and bonnet covered and I’d get a smashed screen or a rock bouncing onto the roof or something.

I may be wrong but it seems like the cost of fitting PPF seems high enough to cover the cost of replacing the painted sections of the front bumper, or paying a pro to touch up a large chip on your bonnet, but I appreciate the PPF would give peace of mind. I have it fitted to areas of my bike where I’m at risk of scratching the paint with my jacket or trousers.
I don’t know if roads in the US are more likely to generate loose stones than the roads over here but PPF seems more prevalent in the US than it is here, or maybe I’m just not looking hard enough.

 

I look for price locally Staten Island New York bra /$1300 roof $900 / whole car with up to $5000.00

 

Same here on out Model Y. Have been considering doing it on the SE as well. Less surface area for stuff to hit, but it would also be less expensive to have done in that case...

 

I've posted this before, but I'll post it again. My R53 front bumper when it was about 8 years old:

 

What does XPEL look like after 8 years in New Mexico? What's the strategy for selling a car that has been protected by XPEL for 8 years? Peel? Peel & replace? Leave it as-is for new owner to decide? I assume the paint under XPEL fades differently than naked paint--is that a problem? Just curious.

 

Oregon in the US used ground cinder and gravel to deal with snow so front bumpers end up looking like they got sand blasted in a couple of years...

Even if the cost is similar, I'd rather pay for PPF and have my car look nice for the next years rather than wait until it looks bad enough to justify repainting.

 

My 10 year old Countryman looked fine when I sold it (6 years in NM, 4 years in FL). A few small dings from rocks, but it was still completely clear, not hazy or anything. The stripes on my hood and roof cracked in a few spots, but the sections under the PPF were perfect. I assume if you peeled the PPF off there might be a slight color difference, but I couldn't tell a difference.

 

I usually do full XPEL on bumper/fender, hood, and mirrors. You can use a heat gun to heal the XPEL film if needed.

 

That is crazy. The roads aren’t as bad where I live, it’s pot holes that ruin your day over here.

 

Hey hey, great to see a fellow Mach-E owner on the Mini SE forum.

 

Can you get lights for the air scoop

 

You can put lights anywhere I suppose. On my last EV I added footwell and puddle lights, better trunk lighting, etc. Only difference for you would be finding room, making sure it’s water proof, and attach it well enough not to fly off.

 

Installed an integrated dash cam that is powered by a splice from rain-sensor. Initial problem with the connector coming out when it arrived, but the manufacturer educated me on how to re-connect. Great 4K video, and decent phone app to view/download the videos. I really love the fact that I don't have some extra device on my windshield blocking my view. Purchased from Aliexpress (Jabriel camera), but also discovered an identical camera from Fitcamx that has a dedicated app. Recommended for an easy way to cover yourself when some idiot ruins your life!! I'll post pics/video if you want.