Caring for Car in Desert Climate?

[AudiS4SD]

Hello all,

I'll be moving to Nevada for work and will be bringing the S4 along. Any residents in that part of the country have recommendations for beating the desert sand and heat?

Currently no tint installed, but planning to get 35% all around before heading that way. Would anybody put a Clear Bra/film or just leave the paint as is? Instead of this, are multiple hand washes suitable? Getting a film installed can be $$$.

Thanks!

[H60mguy]

XPEL. I live down in Barstow and the roads are so shitty along with the sand that I don't drive my S4 outside of where I live. Thanks US Army!


Sent from hell

[cspcrx]

I am in Phoenix and face the same challenges. I had a clear bra put on my car. Covers the bumper, headlights, part of the hood and mirrors. I also take my car in every 6 months for a full detail and wax, product called Glare that seals the paint. If your windows are not tinted get them tinted, your interior and skin will love you for it.

[14S4GWM]

I would go darker then 35% if your going to that part of the country.

[phxS4]

I regret not clear braing my car. Tint for sure will save you. Probably want to get a sun shade for the windshield. Other than that - find shade for when you park somewhere.

[AudiS4SD]

I regret not clear braing my car. Tint for sure will save you. Probably want to get a sun shade for the windshield. Other than that - find shade for when you park somewhere.

Yes, I will be tinting for sure. However, I'm not sure I can justify the expense for XPEL. There are many options in terms of vehicle coverage, but some go north of $2,000.

[MrFunk]

Tint the windshield too. 50%.

[cspcrx]

Forgot what brand my clear bra is but it was not $2000. It was a precut style so I had to bring the car in so they could see what options it had. I think its a 3M product but the name escapes me right now. So glad I did it, lots of signs of impacts and little spots where it is not covered I see a few chips. That's where Dr. Color Chip comes to the rescue. Paint on the front end just gets torn up out here in the south west.

[AudiS4SD]

What are the must-have areas to cover? Some XPEL packages I've seen go pretty steep in price. I assume hood, front bumper, and mirrors?


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[cspcrx]

I did entire front up to about 1/3 of the way up the hood. I also had them do the headlights and mirrors.

[H60mguy]

Entire front clip which includes hood, bumper, fenders, a pillars, sunroof area, door sills, rear quarter panels, and bumper strip. I paid 1400 cash for XPEL Ultimate. Such a great product and a great warranty!


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[pdqgp]

If you're driving through Dayton, Ohio for any reason on your way out, my installer will hook you up. He's over 15 cars of mine and friends. All custom cuts. He'll do your full front, pillars, roof area and rockers for $800 or so. Premium Shield Elite. Lifetime warranty and top shelf product. Perfectly clear. I have it on my headlights and you can't see anything.

[AudiS4SD]

Anybody experience issues with the car in the high heat?


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[Joker S4]

If you're driving through Dayton, Ohio for any reason on your way out, my installer will hook you up. He's over 15 cars of mine and friends. All custom cuts. He'll do your full front, pillars, roof area and rockers for $800 or so. Premium Shield Elite. Lifetime warranty and top shelf product. Perfectly clear. I have it on my headlights and you can't see anything.

This makes me just want to take a road trip to Dayton now. This would be awesome.

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[cspcrx]

Anybody experience issues with the car in the high heat?


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Well it is 115 yesterday and through the weekend here in sunny Phoenix AZ, so does that count as high heat?
If so no. The only issue is I feel like my car turns into a Nissan Sentra! Heat just sucks all the power out of the car. Last summer I started mixing in 3-4 gal of E85 with each 91oct fill up. This seems to have helped some with the drop in power I was feeling. I am also going to do a cooler upgrade, I think that would even help a totally stock car in this damn heat!

[phxS4]

My car suffers bad. I just got home and my gauge read 117. I don't even want to be in my car. Im actually wondering if the cooler upgrade is proven with our heat. Is the 1800 + labor really worth it?

[cspcrx]

I am going to do it because I am also going to do stage2 but I think it will help even stock cars in our heat! I just got in from running around and it is just nasty hot out there!

[AudiS4SD]

My car suffers bad. I just got home and my gauge read 117. I don't even want to be in my car. Im actually wondering if the cooler upgrade is proven with our heat. Is the 1800 + labor really worth it?

Pardon my ignorance...which cooler upgrade are you talking about?


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[cspcrx]

Charger cooler. Like a CPS from APR or AMS Alpha or AWE Cold Front.

[phxS4]

Charger cooler. Like a CPS from APR or AMS Alpha or AWE Cold Front.

Have you gotten quotes from Goodspeed or partscore for an install of one? Curious what that looks like...

[cspcrx]

No, only quote I got from Goodspeed was for APR stage 2 and CPS last year. Didn't break out labor on CPS only. Depending on which one you go with some seem easier than others. I think the bleeding of the system is the key, that seems to be where more people run into post install problems. Now I have never removed my bumper so I can not speak to the difficulty of doing that and getting it aligned properly again.

[AKPS4]

Window tint % doesn't mean anything. You need a film that rejects heat. Look into 3M ceramic window film. You don't need it to be limo dark to block heat and UV. But you can get the darker film for security of needed. I'm moving to Houston and plan to get ceramic all around on all of our cars.

[snowmuch]

I am in Phoenix and face the same challenges. I had a clear bra put on my car. Covers the bumper, headlights, part of the hood and mirrors. I also take my car in every 6 months for a full detail and wax, product called Glare that seals the paint. If your windows are not tinted get them tinted, your interior and skin will love you for it.

Detailing and wax every 6 month sounds like a lot of time and money...http://www.cs2coating.com/titanium.html check out this stuff...

[AudiS4SD]

Window tint % doesn't mean anything. You need a film that rejects heat. Look into 3M ceramic window film. You don't need it to be limo dark to block heat and UV. But you can get the darker film for security of needed. I'm moving to Houston and plan to get ceramic all around on all of our cars.

Yea I have 30% ceramic all around right now.


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[cspcrx]

Detailing and wax every 6 month sounds like a lot of time and money...http://www.cs2coating.com/titanium.html check out this stuff...

The shop is actual reapplying a sealer protectant product called Glare, not really a wax. I should have been more specific. The first time it was applied it took longer and cost more because they do multiple coats. Then they have you come in every six months for a rewax, but its a buff out and reapplication. It does a great job of keep scratchs and other imperfections off the paint.

Ill look at that also, thanks.

[speedy0339]

I have the suntech bra on the full hood, mirrors, quarter panels and headlights and it was $1300 installed with a 5 year warranty.

[rtl5009]

No, only quote I got from Goodspeed was for APR stage 2 and CPS last year. Didn't break out labor on CPS only. Depending on which one you go with some seem easier than others. I think the bleeding of the system is the key, that seems to be where more people run into post install problems. Now I have never removed my bumper so I can not speak to the difficulty of doing that and getting it aligned properly again.

Go to Az euros.

[cspcrx]

When I get a cooler I will check to see what they want for install also going to check with parts score. Between the three see who has the best price for install. I am watching this AMS Alpha sale that EPL has started. May need to jump on that if it hits 15%. Tough as I just forked out 3k in tires and wheels, that I get tomorrow!

[EHesh14]

When I get a cooler I will check to see what they want for install also going to check with parts score. Between the three see who has the best price for install. I am watching this AMS Alpha sale that EPL has started. May need to jump on that if it hits 15%. Tough as I just forked out 3k in tires and wheels, that I get tomorrow!

Go for the AMS it's a triple pass vs others that are one long single

[wootwoot]

No, only quote I got from Goodspeed was for APR stage 2 and CPS last year. Didn't break out labor on CPS only. Depending on which one you go with some seem easier than others. I think the bleeding of the system is the key, that seems to be where more people run into post install problems. Now I have never removed my bumper so I can not speak to the difficulty of doing that and getting it aligned properly again.

Whatever you do don't waste your time with GoodSpeed they are horrible. Go to partscore, they are car enthusiasts, do a great job, and care about the customer. Got burned by GoodSpeed multiple times.

[mavz]

Entire front clip which includes hood, bumper, fenders, a pillars, sunroof area, door sills, rear quarter panels, and bumper strip. I paid 1400 cash for XPEL Ultimate. Such a great product and a great warranty!


Sent from hell

Thats a great price. I got a quote around my area for 2400... for just the full front.

[cspcrx]

Whatever you do don't waste your time with GoodSpeed they are horrible. Go to partscore, they are car enthusiasts, do a great job, and care about the customer. Got burned by GoodSpeed multiple times.

Thanks for the feedback. Partscore gets a lot of very positive feedback on the local threads.

EPL is pinging me on their sale right now. I do like the triple pass as well as the hemmed edges. So many small rocks out here, reminded of this every time I ride my Harley and I feel the pelting of the small stones. So glad I put a clear bra on the car.

[kcobourn]

Have you gotten quotes from Goodspeed or partscore for an install of one? Curious what that looks like...

AMS told me that a typical professional install is 6-8 hours max. This is considering someone who's never done it.

[Chris@EPL]

An AMS Performance Boost Cooler would be a great start. And if you buy or upgrade to EPL you can get 20% off the cooler.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...e-Boost-Cooler

[draekin13]

Window tint % doesn't mean anything. You need a film that rejects heat. Look into 3M ceramic window film. You don't need it to be limo dark to block heat and UV. But you can get the darker film for security of needed. I'm moving to Houston and plan to get ceramic all around on all of our cars.

This right here. I live in a desert part of Washington State (ya not all rain here) and this was the best thing I ever did. I did 70% on windshield with the highest level of heat rejection and the difference is AMAZING. The sides and rear I did 20% with the second highest level heat rejection and it was totally worth the little extra cost for the better films. I would say easily a 20-30 degree difference in the car with the heat rejection film.

[rtl5009]

AMS told me that a typical professional install is 6-8 hours max. This is considering someone who's never done it.

It took me 4.5 first time. With a lift.