With good care it holds its flat finish and metallic shimmer for years. Heat and harsh sun are the main things that age any wrap, so a car kept in a garage or under cover will keep its dark grey looking fresh longer than one parked outside all day. Quick washes and prompt cleanup of bird mess or fuel also add to its life.

It protects it. The Metallic Dark Grey film sits on top of your factory paint and shields it from sun, light grit, wash swirl and the small daily marks that dull a finish. The Henkel air-release acrylic adhesive is made to come off cleanly later, so on factory paint in good shape the wrap guards the surface rather than harming it.

A matte respray in this kind of metallic grey is expensive, permanent and very hard to repair, since matte paint cannot be polished out when it gets a mark. This wrap gives you the same flat stealth grey for far less, it goes on faster, and it peels off when you want a change. Your original paint stays untouched underneath the whole time.

This is the one thing to get right. Never wax, polish or machine-buff a matte wrap, because any of those will leave shiny patches and ruin the flat look. Hand wash with a matte-safe soap, skip the automatic brush washes, and spot clean fuel splashes or bird droppings quickly before they sit. That simple routine keeps the Metallic Dark Grey even and matte across every panel.

Yes, many DIY installers do. The film uses an air-release acrylic adhesive with channels in the glue that let trapped air escape, so you get far fewer bubbles while you work. You can run a dry or wet install. Flat panels like doors and the hood are very doable at home. Take your time on deep curves and bumpers, and warm the film with a heat gun to help it stretch.

It does. The adhesive is designed to peel away when you are done, and warming the film with a heat gun makes removal easier. On factory paint in sound condition the Metallic Dark Grey lifts off without taking your paint with it, which is why a wrap is the reversible way to change a car's color.

It stays matte as long as you care for it the matte way. Shiny spots come from waxing, polishing, buffing or harsh brush washes, not from normal driving. Keep to hand washing with a matte-safe soap and leave the polish in the cupboard, and the flat Metallic Dark Grey finish stays even across the whole car.

The rolls are 1.52m wide (about 5ft) and come in 6m, 18m and 23m lengths. As a rough guide, a small car or partial job suits the 18m roll, while a full wrap on a sedan or larger vehicle usually needs the 23m length. The 6m roll is handy for a roof, hood, mirrors or trim accents. When in doubt, size up so you have extra for curves and mistakes.