Aftercare Instructions

Caring for your Vehicle After Installation

We thank you for your recent visit to LUXE Automotive. We appreciate your trust and support of our small business. We’re driven by our values and want to ensure that you’re happy with your installation for years to come. To ensure your film or coating installation will continue to perform, please review the following aftercare instructions. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Vinyl Wrap Aftercare Instructions

Immediate Care

Avoid washing your vehicle for the first week following the installation. As the film is still curing, these edges are more susceptible to lifting due to pressure or the injection of water. Rainy or wet conditions should not cause a problem for the film. For additional questions about washing, please contact us.

Regular Washing

Hand wash using a proper two or three-bucket wash system is recommended when washing your vehicle. Automatic car washes are damaging to your vehicle’s exterior finish. Any abrasion to the vinyl can result in scratches and imperfections. Touchless car washes use high detergent based products to release debris, but will be less damaging than automatic washes if hand washing is not an option.

Removing contaminants

Bird droppings, bug stains, water spots and other contaminants should be removed from the film as soon as possible with your preferred quick-detailer. These environmental contaminants can cause permanent damage by etching into your film, just as they would with your paint’s clear coat.

Removal of Vinyl

While the film is meant to be temporary, the adhesives used are very durable and should not be removed without first consulting a professional. LUXE Automotive offers comprehensive removal services which include preparation, removal of film and post-removal cleaning to ensure there are no issues from improper removal. As many trim items and components may have been removed to ensure a seamless installation, removal of those same items may be required in order to remove the film entirely.

Tune-Up

In order to honor our labor warranty, LUXE requires all vinyl installations to undergo a routine 2-week vinyl checkup. This checkup allows our technicians to review the film and ensure thorough curing has been allowed and that the film has settled properly. To schedule your checkup, please contact us.

Window Tint Aftercare Instructions

Aftercare: Short Term

Do Not Roll Down Windows

It is critical that windows are not rolled down during the first 2 to 3 days following installation in warm climate or up to 5 days in cold climate as it cause the installation to fail. Stickers should be present on your window switches as a reminder to not roll down windows. The stickers can be carefully removed once the 2 to 5 days have passed.

Moisture Pockets

Keep in mind that your window tint may have a hazy appearance or moisture bubbles for up to ten days after installation. These conditions will disappear once the moisture used to apply your tint dries up completely. There is no need to attempt to flatten out these moisture pockets or relieve pressure.

Aftercare: Long Term

Silvering

Adhesive that looks silver/white may be visible along the edges of defroster lines and window dot matrices (the small black texture at the edges of glass). These are normal, as the raised surfaces of these elements will create small pockets of moisture. Please do not attempt to press on these areas as the film may still need curing.

Cleaning

To clean your windows, use a microfiber towel slightly dampened with water. If necessary, mild, non-ammonia glass cleaners may also be used. Avoid cleaning the glass until curing is complete to avoid damaging your film. All window tinting film is installed on the inside of your glass which allows for maximum durability.

Scratches

Avoid using any sharp/abrasive tools/objects near the inside of your tinted glass, as the film is relatively soft and thin and can scratch relatively easily. If your tint does get scratched, it can be removed and replaced at an additional per-window cost. If your glass is prone to scratching and accidents, you may consider our No Fault Tint Warranty. Contact us for more details.

Removal

Removal of window tint film should be done professionally. Do not attempt to remove window film yourself. The film layer and adhesive layer can separate and cause remnant adhesives which can be challenging to remove unless done so professionally. In order to remove window tint film, please contact us to schedule an appointment.

Paint Protection Film Aftercare Instructions

XPEL Manufacturer Warranty

XPEL Paint Protection Films offer a 10-year manufacturer warranty which covers defects such as: yellowing, staining, cracking, blistering, and delaminating. Choosing LUXE for your PPF installation means that we warranty our labor on our installations. For additional information regarding XPEL’s manufacturer warranty, please click here.

Moisture Pockets

It is common to see small pockets of moisture under the film up to 1 week following the installation. As the film is wet-applied, this moisture will gradually work its way out and settle on its own. Do not touch the moisture pockets by hand or with any tools as an attempt to remove the pockets. Any bubbles that may appear excessive in size (larger than a penny) should be mentioned to your Service Advisor at the time of discovery.

Silvering Edges

Film edges/seams may show some silvering (adhesive that may look silver/white) following the installation as the moisture works its way out to these edges of the film, this is natural and is something that will be addressed during your 2-week checkup. Note that some moisture pockets and installation “work lines” may appear to be debris or defects in the film, these often cure out over the weeks following the installation. If still present at your 2-week checkup, please notify your advisor at the time of your appointment.

Washing

Avoid washing your vehicle for the first week following the installation. As the film is still curing, edges are more susceptible to lifting due to pressure or the injection of water/high pressure air. Rainy or wet conditions should not cause a problem for the film.

Two-Week Checkup

In order to honor our labor warranty, LUXE requires all PPF installations to undergo a routine 2-week PPF checkup. This checkup allows our specialists to review the film to ensure thorough curing has been allowed and that the film has settled properly. To schedule your checkup, please contact us.

Automatic Car Washes

While your vehicle is okay to drive through a touch or touchless car wash following the 2-week checkup, we strongly urge against the use of touch car washes. Touch car washes can abrase the edges of the film and force the film to lift. Additionally, even touchless car washes or hand washing can be harmful to the film if high pressure water/air is introduced at close proximity to the edges of the film. As a general rule of thumb, your washer nozzle should not come within 2 feet of your vehicle.

Contaminants

Bird droppings, bug stains, water spots and other contaminants should be removed from the film as soon as possible with your preferred quick-detailer. These environmental contaminants can cause permanent damage by etching into your film, just as they would with your paint’s clear coat. Stubborn stains can be removed with 99% isopropyl alcohol and a soft rag.

Self-Healing

XPEL’s Paint Protection Films provides superior self-healing technology which can heal light scratches in the film in 20-30 minutes at room temperature. In colder conditions, or to accelerate the process, pour warm water (120°F) over the affected area. Do not apply any sort of direct flame to the surface or attempt to buff/polish the film, as it will damage the film. If the scratch is too deep and penetrates the top, self-healing layer of the film, the scratch may not come out with heating.

Modesta Protective Coating Aftercare Instructions

Immediate care

All Modesta protective coatings require curing time after application. This curing process varies from coating to coating depending on where they are installed on a vehicle. In order to allow thorough curing, it is recommended that the vehicle not be washed for 48 hours following the installation.

Maintenance Products

Ensuring the proper use of Modesta’s complete line of care products will ensure the longevity of your coating. All Modesta paint coating installations include Modesta’s complete line of care products (M2 Blast, M3 Smoke and M4 Fire) at no additional cost to you. If you did not receive these care products or to order additional maintenance products, please contact us (maintenance products only provided following the installation of complete paint coating installations and are not intended for use on non-coated surfaces, glass or interiors). For information on and instructions for Modesta’s care products, please refer to your Modesta Maintenance Program pamphlet.

Regular Washing

Washing your vehicle regularly or when needed is critical in prolonging the life of your coating. Hand wash using a proper two or three-bucket wash process is recommended when washing your vehicle. We strongly urge against the use of automatic car washes, as the contact of bristles and brushes against the paint can cause irreversible damage. A monthly hand wash is the best practice to ensure your coating is regularly monitored and care products are used as needed.

  • When washing, it is important to avoid the use of any soaps that may have strong detergents or sealants, as they can alter or diminish the protective and water-shedding properties of your coating. No additional waxes or sealants are needed, as your Modesta protective coating is the ultimate protectant. Do not attempt to wax or seal your vehicle with additional products.
  • Many dealerships or other mechanic shops may offer to have your car washed upon completion of service. Many of these companies (even high-end dealerships) often use machine washes or improper washing techniques which can damage or alter your coating/paint surface. It is important to utilize the hang tag which was provided to you in your care package when leaving your vehicle with a dealer/mechanic or other service provider. If you did not receive your rearview mirror hang tag, please contact us.

Decontamination

Even with a coating, it is not uncommon for your vehicle to require a deeper decontamination following harsh conditions, extreme fallout or the buildup of heavy contaminants. These contaminants can sit on top of the coating and diminish the hydrophobic properties of your coating. If you feel that your coating is not performing as it should, a thorough decontamination and wash may be necessary. Please contact us in order to schedule this service.

Hydrophobic Properties

An easy way to tell whether your protective paint coating is working is by observing the water-shedding properties of the coating. While this is a good way of telling whether your coating is performing, the absence of water-shedding does not mean the coating is not present or performing. For questions about the performance of your coating, please contact us.