How To: Install XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

[Nick McKees37]

How To: Install XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

Preventative maintenance plays a huge role in why we polish, wax, seal, and coat our vehicles on a monthly (or weekly, depending on how long you've been on this forum) basis. Waxes, paint sealants and coatings ensure that our vehicle's paint looks great for years to come. Plus, it's fun, hence the reason why some of you apply a different carnauba paste wax every other week. (Don't worry, I'm guilty of it too.)

Some parts of our vehicle are not so fun to maintain. How often do you find yourself on UPS.com tracking a package as you eagerly anticipate the arrival of your newest headlight sealant? I'll insert a brief pause for hands to go up.......nothing yet! Let's face it, headlight care is no fun. I'd be willing to bet the half-empty (or half-full ) jar of Fuzion tucked away inside my desk drawer that nobody here likes to experiment with different headlight protectants, much like we do with our beloved paste waxes and spray sealants. While the headlights on our vehicle play a huge role in function and appearance, they're just no fun to maintain.

The not so fun aspect of car care & deatiling

If you're as careless with your headlights as I am with my laundry room, you've been desperately searching for a solution so you don't have to polish or seal your headlights any longer. While I'll continue my search for a live-in maid that's willing to work for yesterday's pizza, a company named Xpel has a headlight protection film kit that provides years of headlight protection for your vehicle's costly headlights.

XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit - The Good Stuff

The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit provides a durable, scratch-resistant film to cover and protect headlights and fog lights. The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit provides such durable protection that it can resist rock chips, road salt, debris and sand, leaving headlights looking new and protected for years. Unprotected headlight lenses can receive microscopic cracks over time and this will allow moisture into the lens, potentially causing failure of expensive headlight components. The Xpel Headlight Protection Film Kit ensures this doesn't happen as rocks and road debri will be deflected by the durable film.

Getting Started

The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit should only be applied to headlights that are free of oxidation and yellowing. There is no point in applying a protective film on headlights that are dull, faded and oxidized. Before applying the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit, use a headlight polishing kit to restore the clarity to the lens. The headlight polishing products of choice for this application are by Wolfgang.

The Wolfgang Plastic Headlight Lens Cleaning System consists of two polishes and a sealant. Since the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit would be installed after polishing, the only two products in the system being used for this demonstration is the Plastik Lens Cleaner and the Plastik Lens Glaze.

The first step in the system is the Plastik Lens Cleaner. This medium-grade plastic polish removes scratches, oxidation and yellowing from headlight lenses. It is designed to be applied with a dual action or rotary polisher. The Wolfgang Plastic Headlight Lens Cleaning System Kit also includes a drill adapter so you can utilize a standard household drill. The tool of choice for this demonstration is the lean, mean, paint polishing machine known as the FLEX PE14-2-150 High Speed Rotary Polisher.

The second step in the system is the Plastik Lens Glaze. This ultra fine plastic polish further refines the surface, restoring maximum clarity. Like the Plastik Lens Cleaner, the Plastik Lens Glaze is very user friendly and isn't hard to wipe off.

After a couple minutes of polishing, optical clarity is restored!

Installing the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

Depending on your vehicle, the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit might be a one piece or two piece design. Most vehicles that have wrap around headlights, like Jason's Tundra, will be a two piece design. This requires a little more attention to detail to install properly, but it's still fairly easy.

Tip: Let the film sit outside in the sun for a couple hours so it becomes more pliable. This helps quite a bit during initial test fitting and even during installation.

Start out by testing fitting. This is to check and make sure everything lines up properly.

Take your time!

Don't rush installation of the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit. While fairly forgiving during installation, this is something you don't want to rush or skip steps in the instructions. Work smart, not hard, and do it right the first time.

Start off by spraying the headlight down with a mixture of IPA (diluted 3 parts water to 1 part IPA). The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit needs to be applied to headlight lenses that are squeaky clean and free of any dust or fingerprints. The IPA solution also aids in installation.

What makes the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit stick so well? Each film is laminated with 3M high performance acrylic adhesive, which has the ability to stick to virtually anything. To ensure it doesn't stick to your hands, spray them down (while wearing gloves, preferably) with the IPA solution.

Partially peel back the paper backing, spray it with the IPA solution and make sure you line everything up properly and get started!

Tip: Line up a corner first, and then work your way out. Don't slap the entire film on and expect it to be perfectly lined up. The film is pretty forgiving for the most part, but if you keep pulling on it because you didn't get it to line up, you can stretch and deform the film.

Break out the guns!

With the paper backing still attached to some of the film, use a heat gun (or a high powered blow dryer) and the included squeegee to remove any excess IPA solution and to ensure no air pockets are formed. Slowly remove the paper backing as you work your way across the entire film.

Repeat

If applicable, repeat those steps with the second piece of film.

Wait, something doesn't look right

Immediately following installation, you might notice some haziness in the lens. This is perfectly normal and will go away within a couple days.

Let there be clarity!

Less than a week after being installed, the remaining solution that caused a slight haze evaporated, leaving a headlight that looks brand spankin' new. Look closely if you'd like, but I guarantee you won't see any visible traces that a high-tech protective film was installed.

Summary

The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit provides years of unsurpassed protection that no coating or plastic sealant can match. The film is strong enough to withstand years of road salt and other contaminants. It will not yellow or discolor over time XPEL even goes as far as to back it with a 7 year warranty.

Make headlight care a thing of the past and protect your headlights for good with the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit.

XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

[FUNX650]

How To: Install XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

Summary

The XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit provides years of unsurpassed protection that no coating or plastic sealant can match. The film is strong enough to withstand years of road salt and other contaminants. It will not yellow or discolor over time XPEL even goes as far as to back it with a 7 year warranty.

Make headlight care a thing of the past and protect your headlights for good with the XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit.

XPEL Headlight Protection Film Kit

Thanks again Nick for an excellent write-up and "how-to"!!


IMHO...With the exorbitant costs involved with modern-day polycarbonate headlamp/light assemblies,
XPel's Headlight PPF is a most sensible alternative.
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A polycarbonate cost example:


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An Xpel cost example:

Headlamp and Fog Lamp Kit (Dark Smoke) Price: $69.95
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An Example of an XPel Headlight/Fog-Light PPF (along with some other XPel PPF) installed:


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BTW...I might have missed this point in your write-up, but I'll mention it:
XPel's Headlight PPF is 30 mils thick...a very formidable, rock-chip opponent!

Keep up the good work, my friend.



Bob

[Nick McKees37]

Thanks again Nick for an excellent write-up and "how-to"!!

BTW...I might have missed this point in your write-up, but I'll mention it:
XPel's Headlight PPF is 30 mils thick...a very formidable, rock-chip opponent!

Keep up the good work, my friend.



Bob

Thanks for the information Bob.

[A-train]

Thanks for the write up, I've been eye balling these for about a month now !

[Nick McKees37]

Thanks for the write up, I've been eye balling these for about a month now !

After seeing how well they work and how simple installation is, I'll be ordering a set for my daily driver too.

I've had a couple people PM me asking how to clean and maintain the XPEL Headlight Protection Film. I would recommend an aerosol-based plastic cleaner, such as Diamondite Plasti-Care Plastic Cleaner.

It's as simple as spraying on and wiping off. If any over spray occurs on painted surfaces, simply wipe it off. Diamondite Plasti-Care Plastic Cleaner also provides anti-static UV protection too.

[FUNX650]

After seeing how well they work and how simple installation is, I'll be ordering a set for my daily driver too.

IMHO...You'll never regret doing so!

I've had a couple people PM me asking how to clean and maintain the XPEL Headlight Protection Film. I would recommend an aerosol-based plastic cleaner, such as Diamondite Plasti-Care Plastic Cleaner.

Being that I'm cost-conscience...I'll have to take a look at this product. Thanks for posting it.

While under warranty, though, I've been using either: XPel's or Premier Protective Films'...dedicated PPF cleaners, sealants, and road-rubber-removers.
I must say: So far...So good.



Bob

[ForceField]

I wish we could do this to the rest of the car! It's great if this stuff yellows instead of the polycarbonate lens. Then in a few years when it's yellowed just remove it and apply a new one instead of having to sand and polish.

[FUNX650]

I wish we could do this to the rest of the car!

You can...(And I have, mostly)...Call/email XPel for further info.



Bob

[ForceField]

You can...(And I have, mostly)...Call/email XPel for further info.



Bob

Wow thanks! I bet it's costly though, and I have to get the paint flawless before doing that. But it's good to know they provide that.

[FUNX650]

Wow thanks! I bet it's costly though, and I have to get the paint flawless before doing that. But it's good to know they provide that.

I weighed the cost of a respray versus the PPF's price and decided it was worth it. YMMV, though.

Also...I noticed your New York location in your avatar...
Here's a short list of PPF dealers/installers in this region of the USA, that offer Xpel or 3M Ventureshield film services; or, do it yourself and save HUNDREDS of dollars!
Give one them a call to just check on their price-range, if you would so desire, that is.


Binghampton Brooklyn Buffalo
Paint Protection Shield, LLC
Phone: 607-321-3402
Clear bra installer(s): William Tastle
Binghamton, NY 13760

FAST Solutions LLC
Phone: 917-656-9162
Clear bra installer(s): Jabar Gibbons
Brooklyn, NY 11203

Elma Collision, Inc.
Phone: 716-652-2997
Clear bra installer(s): Mark Mingie

The Tint Shop, Inc
Elma, NY 14059 The Tint Shop, Inc.
Phone: 516-829-7336
Clear bra installer(s): Chris Martines &
Joseph Del Giorno

Detailing Dynamics Inc.
Phone: 516-747-4114
Clear bra installer(s): Matthew Zakarian
& Edward Kehaian
Mineola, NY 11501

Putnam Window Tint
Phone: 845-628-7582
Clear bra installer(s): James Murphy
Mohopac, NY 10541


Rochester
No Nicks
Phone: 585-314-1687
Clear bra installer(s): Nickolas Mannisto
Rochester, NY 14425

The Tint Shop
Phone: 585-232-8486
Clear bra installer(s): Richard Herrick
Rochester, NY 14623

The Tint Shop Emporium Inc.
Phone: 585-232-8468
Clear bra installer(s): Jay Bernunzio
Rochester, NY 14623


Exotic Motor Sports
Phone: 631-902-9839
Clear bra installer(s): Eric Gallant
South Hampton, NY 11968

CNY Solar Protection
Phone: 315-422-0200
Clear bra installer(s): Bruno Natale
Syracuse, NY 13206

X-Treme Vehicle Coatings Inc.
Phone: 877-891-6602
Clear bra installer(s): Joe Deleon
Whitestone, NY 11357

Upstate Auto Armor
Phone: 518-755-2239
Clear bra installer(s): Dennis Bingham
Wynantskill, NY 12198

BTW...
Even though I prefer the "clear" PPF...There are other 'colors' of film to choose from.

In the meantime...Seriously think about PPF'ing your...(got any customers that'd be interested?)...vehicles' headlamps with XPel.

Hope this helps some.



Bob