Help, To PPF or not to PPF?

[HeyJD]

My Mach 1 came with full frontal PPF and I was thinking of getting the rest of the car done. Only thing that has me concerned is that for atleast the next year, maybe two, my car will be parked outside in direct sunlight for the better half of the year until I move into my home with a garage. The previous owner garaged it

I heard that UV will make the ppf deteriorate and yellow very quickly as in like 2-3 years vs the standard 5-10 years and could make it a terrible pain to remove because of the extra exposure.

it will be $1500 to get the rest of the car done and I don’t want to waste that if I’ll have to get it replaced in as little as 3 years which would possibly be 3k in total because I’ll have to remove the current ppf as well.

any thoughts on this? I would still provide proper maintenance but I doubt that’ll make much of a difference.

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[Skye]

PPF v1, from like a decade or more ago, did tend to yellow over time. The products have significantly improved since.

That said, PPF is not meant to last forever. It does have an expected lifetime and should be removed or replaced at or before it's end-of-life date (see warranty). Walking the parking lots, seeing PPF that is cracked and welded to vehicles, that's PPF that has been left on far past it's expiration.

The PPF that I have installed has a 10 year warranty. If it deteriorates, cracks, yellows or otherwise fails, it'll be replaced. The warranty for the product works like others: if the item fails in year four, I did get four years of use from it. I'll pay for the replacement PPF, minus $ for the other six years I should have received.

^ It's important to review the product and warranty before installation. There are different brands and thicknesses of PPF. Most national brands, like XPEL, work well. The thickness of PPF is expressed in "mils" or thousandths of an inch. Eight and ten mil is good for the street. For those tracking or 4-wheeling, they make even thicker types.

PPF is designed to block UV from reaching the paint, and use heat and UV to repair minor scratches within itself. While UV will accelerate the deterioration of anything, look to the warranty and what is promised.

You're covering the most important area now, the front. If forgoing the rest until you have access to a garage, mud flaps can protect around the wheels. Simple paint sealers can protect the finish. Ceramic coatings can be useful, but aren't considered impact-protecting. Any materials will have to be removed if applying PPF later.

$1500 to cover the rest of the car seems pretty low. And I don't understand why the existing PPF needs to be removed. There are different ways to install PPF and differing levels of craftsmanship.

Sometimes, a car will receive a minor polish before installation. It depends. If the paint is in good shape, a thorough cleaning and then application of the PPF is all that's required.

PPF can be installed by free-handing, someone cutting the excess with a knife or razor. It can also be installed pre-cut, where the material is cut on large platters and installed across one panel at a time. Many PPF installers have access to databases that will cut a piece perfectly; this also reduces the risk of someone cutting your paint with a knife.

How it's installed is also important. If the person is installing the material in a garage with heavy traffic and the elements swirling around, impurities of all kinds can be trapped in the material. If installed in a booth or dedicated area, the results will be much better.

Care of PPF is not difficult. It's best not to man-handle the surfaces in the heat of the day. No heavy rubbing, for example. Automated car washes with brushes are a pass, to me anyway. There are some soaps and sealers that work well with PPF; it's no different than caring for an unfinished surface. A good PPF sealer will protect the PPF, while the PPF protects the paint.

That's a lot to unpack. I'd write all your questions down and tour some shops. Discuss the current situation and your goals. Check pricing and warranties. Seek someone who installs it on a regular basis.

As to removal, I've not come across someone who experienced damage at removal. If you attempt to remove some ancient bits of something, then yes. Otherwise, the companies know the product will eventually be replaced. They don't want to wreck their own industry by forcing everyone to get bodywork after the PPF is removed.

YMMV.

I use the following products consistently. They are easy to use and protect well.

With Bath, you can wash as often as you like.

For everyday washes:

https://gyeonusa.com/collections/wash-soaps/products/q2m-bathe

I use PPF wash once every three or four months; on these days, I follow with an application of PPF Maintain.

A light decontamination soap:

https://gyeonusa.com/collections/wash-soaps/products/q2m-ppf-wash

A PPF sealer and protector:

https://gyeonusa.com/collections/ppf-wash-maintain/products/q2m-ppf-maintain-redefined

The flaps were installed this year. They work great while matching well with the car and panels.

An option on flaps:

https://www.mustang6g.com/forums/th...ons-vs-autofanatic.171611/page-2#post-4315713

 

[HeyJD]

Wow very informative thanks for that!
To clarify, I wouldn’t be removing the front end ppf. The entire car is ceramic coated. I was mainly concerned about the yellowing, cracking, lifting etc from essentially being kept outside for the next year. Also, I had a ‘17 GT (not coated) and I noticed a decent amount of rock chips on the quarter panels but if a decent set of mudflats will prevent that, that may be an alternative option until I get a garage.

If I can make it to 4-5 years for $1500, I consider that a win.

 

[Skye]

Ya, I think you'll be fine. If the entire car is ceramic coated, that should protect the existing PPF for at least three years. I wouldn't use the PPF Maintain sealer I recommended; there's no need. Check with the ceramic installer. Some customers get an annual top up. They probably already gave product guidance on the coatings.

If the PPF hasn't lifted by now, you should be fine. When PPF is newly-installed, there is a drying period. I didn't wash may car for two weeks. I also left it outside during the day to dry and set. A few bubbles got worked out as part of a follow-up. I haven't had to do anything to it since.

If not already familiar, you have a few options on decals. I've left mine alone. It's recommended not to cover across a decal, leaving a PPF-decal-PPF transition; PPF can lift with something like this. PPF can be cut and laid right up to the edge of the decal.

PPF can be cut and placed over the decal, but by the time you pay for that, it's not very cost effective. Getting new decals is simpler and often cheaper.

 

[Roadsign]

Skye gave lots of good information.

Emphasize looking for a good installer and warranty. There are some companies that list a good warranty but are horrible about honoring it. Others go above and beyond.

Don't be too concerned but do be aware there is a risk of pulling paint not only on removal but even during installation. Ford paint typically does not have these issues but for example Subaru did(does?) and even brands like Ferrari have seen paint pull during a fresh install. I would guess Skye may install ppf and could give more insight.

Differences in ppf brands are both the adhesive and top coat formulations. The urethane is all sourced from the same plant with the exception of Chinese stuff. Most of the offerings are good quality these days.

 

[GTP]

@Skye response should be made into a sticky in the Cosmetic section.

My car has all the horizontal surfaces fully covered. I also added the side areas in front of the rear wheels (bc of track days). Most of the crud that builds up on your car literally falls from the sky. My uncovered sides are just as smooth as day one.

I plan to get a fresh ceramic coat next spring.

 

[Schwerin]

PPF the whole car. My 1 regret is only PPFing part of it and I got chips all over where there was no PPF.

 

[Eyesac]

My .02 on the matter...I've purchased cars with PPF on them, near the end of the PPF's live and removed the PPF myself. The irony is the previous owner paid to have the car PPF'd only for me, the next guy, to enjoy a rock chip free car. If you're going to keep the car forever, I think PPF is great. If you're like me and never keep a car forever, you're just spending money to protect the car for the next guy...

 

[Schwerin]

My .02 on the matter...I've purchased cars with PPF on them, near the end of the PPF's live and removed the PPF myself. The irony is the previous owner paid to have the car PPF'd only for me, the next guy, to enjoy a rock chip free car. If you're going to keep the car forever, I think PPF is great. If you're like me and never keep a car forever, you're just spending money to protect the car for the next guy...

Disagree.
Sure, the next guy also benefits, but I also get to enjoy a nice chip free car. That's like saying you put a blower on your car and only enjoyed it for 5-6 years you're really just paying for the next guy to enjoy a blown mustang and not yourself. So, if you're not going to keep the car forever, why modify at all?

 

[Eyesac]

Disagree.
Sure, the next guy also benefits, but I also get to enjoy a nice chip free car. That's like saying you put a blower on your car and only enjoyed it for 5-6 years you're really just paying for the next guy to enjoy a blown mustang and not yourself. So, if you're not going to keep the car forever, why modify at all?

I hear ya, it's a good point. My front bumper is getting sandblasted by the day, I don't like it. I guess, to me, the amount that I don't like it, isn't worth $3k worth of ppf...for a car that I'm going to drive for 5yrs. I think of paint as a wear item, a depreciable asset, like the whole car. Spending 10% of the cost of a car on paint protection vs the interest I'll pay on the next car doesn't pan out for me.

 

[junits15]

I hear ya, it's a good point. My front bumper is getting sandblasted by the day, I don't like it. I guess, to me, the amount that I don't like it, isn't worth $3k worth of ppf...for a car that I'm going to drive for 5yrs. I think of paint as a wear item, a depreciable asset, like the whole car. Spending 10% of the cost of a car on paint protection vs the interest I'll pay on the next car doesn't pan out for me.

I can see what you’re saying but my front end is almost perfect. It’s nice for me now not just the next guy lol. It’s also easier to sell because it’s gonna be cleaner.

 

[GrabberBargeCaptain]

In my experience the ppf will turn cloudy over time. Haven’t seen yellow ppf for a long time.

Full on UV exposure for a few years will do it. Garage kept will obviously be a boon in preserving it. But it is a sacrificial layer anyways.

There’s also no guarantee ppf will stop a chip. Personally I do the most likely area for damage (front bumper) and let god sort it out. I have had ONE projectile that caused a chip under the ppf in 2.5 years and 13k. One out of however many is pretty good, but it’s still ugly, and it will most likely happen if you drive your car even if it has ppf .

 

[RJohnson]

IPPF'd my whole car. It came with a clear bra installed by the same shop that PPF'd it. Unfortunately, the clear bra was `removed and that was a loss. The entire car PPF was $6500. It has a 10-year warranty. When I bought the car it looked like it had just rolled out of the showroom. It is 2016 GT-350 in Triple Yellow. I got one small hood chip and one on the top right off the bat and I said that I would never feel comfortable driving this car if I didn't PPF it.

This isn't a daily driver, but I really do want to have my fun driving it. It only had 11k on it when I bought it.

 

[MACHtobers Very Own]

I ppfed mine the week I bought it and it was brand new. 3.5 years still holding strong. I also wash and maintain my car regularly.

My only regret was I wish I did the whole car cause the edges get a bit grimey. You'll be fine if you take care of it till its timely life span comes to an end.

 

[GTP]

I ppfed mine the week I bought it and it was brand new. 3.5 years still holding strong. I also wash and maintain my car regularly.

My only regret was I wish I did the whole car cause the edges get a bit grimey. You'll be fine if you take care of it till its timely life span comes to an end.

I was able to get the edge grime out with corner of fingernail or toothpick.

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