Getting a head start on the detailing. Did some test wraps on the splitter, front bumper and rear valence comparing a matte clear wrap to a matte black for those bits (the gloss black just looked like cheap plastic to me. The matte clear still allowed too much of the glossiness to show through as compared with the matte black which transformed the bits into into a muted hard rubber appearance.


The clay bar has managed to take out 95% of the orange peel surface (below). My detailer is positive that the cQuartz will be able to smooth out the balance. Another couple weeks and we'll know for certain.

 

From the picture, the wrap makes it look exactly like the bar and splitter on the base cars.

 

They should have left them that way on the R and S models.

 

Agreed, never liked the glossy black on the bar and splitter either, and since they're painted, they're very susceptible to chipping, which the unpainted base bars are not.

 

The gloss surface may be easier to clean off splattered bugs, which do accumulate there.

 

It seems to me the other way around. I have to rub harder to remove bug residue on the painted parts of the car. Moreover, I don't have to worry about creating swirls by rubbing hard on the unpainted plastic surfaces.

 

Piano Black surround and cross member look good on my 2016 IRR F IMO.

I have had the cross member covered with xpel ultimate...works a treat.

Next job is to cover the colour coded sills and front winglets in black and xpel those too!

Matte black doesn't do it for me...looks out of place.