Wrapping Rockers

[ACRSNK]

Just got my car wrapped (Xpel Ultimate) and was wondering if others that got their car done, specifically the rockers had the entire rocker wrapped, or did the wrap just make it over the curve of the rocker all the way underneath the car?

[Purple Haze]

I had all the rockers covered. The XPEL tech needed to get under the car so my friend down the street had a lift. While the car up up I had him cover the paint completely under the car too as it wraps under a ways. Just took a couple minutes and yes you won't ever see it but he didn't charge extra. Plus Stryker paint is expensive!

[Scott_in_fl]

That was a smart move. Now the question is how it holds up under the heat. You might be fine in Ohio. Down in Florida it can get pretty hot. Let us know how it holds up.

[swexlin]

My Xpel on the rockers curves and ends just past the curve underneath.

[Voice of Reason]

Wrapping fully under the car on the rockers is a must, it's incredible how badly beaten the underside film looks like at 15k miles.

Excluding front bumpers, do we have the only car in existence where a painted surface extends so far under the car?

[ViperJon]

You guys with white cars will be repainting your sill's eventually anyway as they will yellow from the heat. Not sure if the wrap helps or accelerates it.
One of the downsides to white unfortunately.

[swexlin]

Wrapping fully under the car on the rockers is a must, it's incredible how badly beaten the underside film looks like at 15k miles.

Excluding front bumpers, do we have the only car in existence where a painted surface extends so far under the car?

I know, I've always thought the same thing!

[ACRSNK]

I had all the rockers covered. The XPEL tech needed to get under the car so my friend down the street had a lift. While the car up up I had him cover the paint completely under the car too as it wraps under a ways. Just took a couple minutes and yes you won't ever see it but he didn't charge extra. Plus Stryker paint is expensive!

Did they wrap them with one piece, or is there a seam somewhere?

[donk_316]

The wrap on the sills will eventually wrinkle.

Even in our modest temperatures here in Canada it happened. Attempting to get the installer to redo it under warranty AND get the "ok" from local dealer to swap out catback without voiding warranty.

[bluesrt]

check to see what wrap they use, I used 3m on my acr-x now with arould 7 k miles and still looks good

[Stealth]

My '14 GTS has Nano-Fusion (3M I think) on the entire rockers. My car is Race Yellow, so yellowing is not really an issue. The film has no real wrinkles after 8,800 mi. but I did replace one side since it got a bit ragged on the underside over time.

[Purple Haze]

Underneath he pieced it together since no one will really see it. Rockers done in one piece sections-the parts you can easily see.

Did they wrap them with one piece, or is there a seam somewhere?

[Scott_in_fl]

The durability/protection of the rocker panel is a significant issue. We need to come up with an approach that can protect this item from (a) the heat of the exhaust; and (b) the sandblasting from the front wheel.

So far it seems that this is the approach:

1) high flow cats;
2) a straight pipe catback that can be heavily wrapped with an insulating mat of some sort;
3) screened venting gills underneath the car to allow some sort of heat transmission from the rocker to the ambient environment;
4) boomerangs behind front wheel in extended length to protect rocker as best possible; and
5) paint protection film like Expel or 3m (the thicker, the better).

Seems like quite a bit of work to properly prepare a side sill, but it should be a nice way to keep your paint looking good.

Now, what does high flow cats and a catback straight pipe sound like on an otherwise stock car (no Arrow PCM)? Is it terrible?