How do the LLumar and XPEL PPF lines match up?
Film for film, the two ranges pair off neatly: a core gloss film, a satin or matte film, a thicker film, a premium-surface film and a coloured film from each. The table uses each maker’s own product names and published warranty terms.
| Role | LLumar | XPEL |
|---|---|---|
| Core gloss film | Platinum Gloss, 10 years | ULTIMATE PLUS, 10 years |
| Satin or matte | Platinum Matte, 10 years | STEALTH, 10 years |
| Thicker film | Platinum Extra, LLumar’s thickest, 10 years | ULTIMATE PLUS 10, rated at 9.60 mil |
| Premium hydrophobic surface | Valor, Tetrashield top coat, 12 years | ULTIMATE FUSION, 10 years, plus 4 years on loss of gloss and fading |
| Entry level | Gloss & Matte, 5 years | Not compared here |
| Coloured film | Select Black | COLOR PPF, 10 years |
LLumar’s terms come from its product pages, such as Platinum Gloss and Valor; XPEL’s from its warranty documents, linked in the sources. We didn’t find a published XPEL warranty for ULTIMATE PLUS 10, so ask an XPEL installer for it. The shop’s packages use Platinum Gloss, with Platinum Matte on request; the 12-year film is covered on LLumar Valor PPF.
How thick are LLumar and XPEL paint protection films?
XPEL publishes layer-by-layer thickness for each film; LLumar publishes none. So the only honest comparison is between XPEL films, with LLumar’s own relative wording beside them.
| Film | Top coat | Urethane | Adhesive | Total, without liner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS | 0.50 mil clear coat | 6.0 mil | 1.1 mil | 7.60 mil (193 µm), ±10% |
| XPEL ULTIMATE FUSION | 0.38 mil clear coat | 6.0 mil | 1.1 mil | 7.48 mil (190 µm), ±10% |
| XPEL STEALTH | 0.65 mil hydrophilic top coat | 6.0 mil | 1.5 mil | 8.15 mil (207 µm), ±10% |
| XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS 10 | 0.50 mil clear coat | 8.0 mil | 1.1 mil | 9.60 mil (244 µm), ±10% |
LLumar gives no layer or total thickness for Platinum Gloss, Matte or Valor, and says only that Platinum Extra is “thicker than traditional PPF”. The XPEL figures are from its ULTIMATE PLUS data sheet and the matching sheets for its other films. That sheet also reports a stone-chip test: “No Detrimental Effect” after 4.73 L of gravel shot at 70 PSI and −29 °C (ASTM D3170/SAE J400). LLumar publishes no comparable lab data, which doesn’t mean its film would fail one; it means there’s nothing on paper to compare. More on why thickness is only part of the story is on how thick is PPF.
What do the top coats do on each brand?
Both brands put a self-healing layer on top of the urethane; they differ in what else that layer is built to do. LLumar leans on water repellency across its Platinum and Valor films, and XPEL splits its films between hydrophobic and hydrophilic tops.
- LLumar Platinum uses HydroGard, which LLumar calls “a water-repellent barrier” against stains, and its surface scratches close up with “heat from your engine or sunlight”. Platinum Matte has the same HydroGard top, described as “a hydrophobic topcoat”.
- LLumar Valor swaps in Tetrashield, which LLumar calls “super hydrophobic”, and claims “up to 25% more environmental resistance” over ordinary film, with the footnote “Compared to top brands.”
- XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS has a clear coat whose “elastomeric polymers” let light surface scratches “heal” with time, in XPEL’s description.
- XPEL STEALTH takes the other route: its “hydrophilic top coat” is meant to reduce water spotting and surface buildup. Its data sheet lists 60-degree gloss at 23 GU, against more than 90 GU on the ULTIMATE PLUS sheet, which gives a sense of how flat a satin film reads.
XPEL’s own PPF page is candid about limits: “deeper scratches that penetrate the film may not fully heal.” The same holds for any self-healing film. The difference between satin and gloss film on the car is weighed on stealth PPF vs gloss PPF.
How do the LLumar and XPEL PPF warranties compare?
Both run 10 years on the core films, and XPEL states plainly that its cover is for the film, not the paint underneath. XPEL’s document lists exactly what is and isn’t covered; LLumar’s pages give the term and send you to the dealer.
| LLumar Platinum | XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS and STEALTH | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | “10-year manufacturer’s limited warranty” | 10 years “from the date of initial installation” |
| Defects named | Yellowing, cracking, bubbling, peeling (the shop’s published list) | “yellowing, cracking, blistering, and delaminating” |
| Labour | Ask the dealer | “The Company will cover parts and labor” |
| Next owner | Ask the dealer | Passes to a buyer who proves the original install date, for whatever term is left |
| Paint | Repaired or aftermarket paint not covered | Paint damage under the film not covered |
| Washing | Lifting from pressure washers or automatic washes not covered | Harm from automatic washes and poor wash technique excluded |
| Rocks | Not addressed on LLumar’s pages | “physical impact of rocks or road debris” excluded |
| Coatings | Not addressed on LLumar’s pages | “Use of non-XPEL branded ceramic coatings” excluded |
XPEL’s terms are from its ULTIMATE PLUS and STEALTH warranty (R1224), which also calls the film “an effective sacrificial layer”. LLumar’s points come from its PPF FAQ. Neither warranty pays for a stone that marks the film; that’s the film doing its job. Our terms sit on the shop’s warranty page.
How do LLumar and XPEL handle installers and claims?
Both sell only through installers, and both route warranty work back through them. XPEL publishes a formal claim process; LLumar keeps it with the dealer.
XPEL’s warranty help page asks owners to file a claim form, says “proof of installation from an authorized XPEL installer is required”, and states that “No work should begin until XPEL has formally approved the resolution plan.” It may assign a different authorized installer. LLumar’s FAQ leaves pricing to “the LLumar dealers” who install its film, and each product page ends by pointing you to the dealer for warranty details.
Care advice differs a little too. LLumar’s FAQ sets a 72-hour wait before the first wash, and the shop stretches that to a full week. XPEL recommends a bucket hand wash with foam soap and a soft microfibre mitt. LLumar adds that its film sells in cold markets, “including Colorado, Calgary and Norway”, and that taking it off is a job for a professional, inside, at no less than 55 °F (roughly 13 °C).
LLumar or XPEL PPF: which should you choose?
On the published terms, neither brand is clearly ahead: the core warranties match, LLumar’s Valor runs longer, and XPEL publishes more data. Choose the installer whose cut, edges and aftercare you trust, then the film.
LLumar Platinum fits if
- You’d like fixed starting prices by package, which our Platinum menu publishes.
- You want the longest term either brand publishes, which is Valor’s 12 years.
- You want a matte film with a hydrophobic top coat, which is Platinum Matte.
XPEL film fits if
- There’s an authorized XPEL shop near you whose work you’ve seen and like.
- You want published thickness and lab data before you buy.
- You plan to coat the film with XPEL’s own coating and want that written into the warranty.
Where we stand on LLumar and XPEL film
We install LLumar Platinum, so read this knowing which film we fit. Our view is that the shop matters more than the logo: wrapped edges where the panel allows, a relief cut only where a bumper needs one (we show you where first), and paint decontaminated and corrected before any film goes down. The satin black GT3 RS on this page wears full PPF from our bays. More on the film itself is on LLumar Platinum PPF.
What does LLumar Platinum cost next to an XPEL quote?
Our Platinum packages have published starting prices, so you can set an XPEL quote beside them panel for panel. Final prices depend on the car’s size, panel complexity and paint condition.
| Platinum package | Starting price | Panels | Days in the shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partial Front | $850 | Whole bumper, part of the hood and of each fender, headlights, side mirrors | Typically one |
| Full Front | $1,550 | Entire hood, both fenders, whole bumper, headlights, side mirrors | One or two |
| Track Package | $1,900 | Full Front panels, then A-pillars, rockers and a partial roof | One or two |
| Full Vehicle | $4,000 | All painted panels and the headlights | Three to five |
When comparing, check that both quotes name the film, cover the same panels and wrap the same edges. Send your car and the XPEL quote through the PPF quote form, or see how pricing works on paint protection film cost.