Audi Q5 · Wrap + Tint, Smoke PPF, Red Caliper Paint + Chrome Del…

About this build

This Audi Q5 came through our Los Angeles studio as a performance daily-driver build — the finish call usually hangs on whether the owner wants the car to read factory-spec or visibly customized once it leaves our bay. Multi-service builds are sequenced deliberately — one finish has to fully cure before the next one goes on top, so the schedule reflects that order.

A full transformation on an Audi Q5 — colour-change vinyl wrap, ceramic window tint, smoke PPF over the lights, red caliper paint, and a full chrome delete to blacken every bright trim piece, all sealed with a ceramic coating.

Multi-service builds like this are our bread and butter; see more car wrap Los Angeles work, or the satin dark basalt RS7.

See our full paint protection film Los Angeles portfolio · See our ceramic coating work · View all chrome delete projects

What we used on this Audi

Premium 8 mil PPF — self-healing urethane with a ceramic-infused topcoat. Matte, gloss, and colour variants available; plotter-cut from a digital pattern for the exact body panel.
3M, Avery Dennison, or KPMF architectural cast vinyl — plotter-cut so every cut line lands inside a factory shut-line. Manufacturer durability is rated by orientation, not as one number: roughly 8 years on vertical panels and far less on the hood and roof, which take the sun straight on. Metallics, pearlescents and textured films rate lower than plain colours.
Premium ceramic window film — 99% UV rejection, ~80% IR heat rejection on darker shades, no metallic layer (so phone, GPS, and cabin radar stay clean). Plotter-cut, never hand-cut on the glass.
Professional SiO₂ ceramic coating — 9H surface hardness, hydrophobic, multi-year durability when paired with our prep wash and clay-bar decontamination.
Premium architectural vinyl in matte, satin, or gloss black for chrome delete — plotter-cut piece by piece on every trim, badge, and window surround instead of generic universal kits.

Why these finishes were combined

Audi builds with several finishes work when each layer is planned in sequence: paint protection film keeps the exterior factory-perfect against road debris and UV, while ceramic tint cuts the heat soak that California sun pushes into a closed cabin; PPF stops the impact and chemical hits, ceramic coating sits on top so washing the car takes a fraction of the time and grime does not bake in; the wrap delivers the colour and finish, the coating helps the vinyl shed dust and dead bugs between washes; a colour change on the body looks more deliberate when the cabin glass is tinted to match the new exterior tone; deleting the OEM chrome shifts the visual weight of the car — pairing it with the rest of the build means the trim never looks like an afterthought.

What to expect after the install

PPF cure window: avoid pressure-washing the wrapped panels for the first 7 days. Hand-wash only for the first 30 days. Properly cared for, the film holds its self-healing properties for 8–10 years.
Vinyl wrap care: hand-wash with a pH-neutral shampoo, no automated brush carwashes. On a daily driver parked outside in Los Angeles, expect roughly 3–5 years before the finish starts to go; garage-kept and hand-washed, 5–7 is realistic. The hood and roof always fade first — how the car is stored decides more than which film is on it. Metallics, pearls and textured films sit at the lower end of both ranges.
Ceramic tint cure: keep the windows up for 3–5 days while the film fully dries. Small water pockets are normal during cure and disappear on their own. Lifetime warranty against fading and bubbling.
Ceramic coating maintenance: first wash at 7 days, then a regular pH-neutral wash every 2–3 weeks keeps the hydrophobic layer active for the rated lifespan.
Chrome-delete care: hand-wash, no aggressive solvents on the wrapped trim. Re-wraps are one-day jobs if a panel ever needs a refresh.

Every Audi build at our Los Angeles studio includes a written aftercare brief and direct text-line access to the installer for the first month. Questions about your specific build — get a quote or call (424) 207-4435.