Forget about the stripe the paing orignleelMy PPF installer told me (unfortunately after the fact) that the chance the stripes will remain in place after the PPF is removed is very slim. They use a heat steamer to pull off the PPF, and with all likelihood, the original stripes will come off with it. Someone earlier in this thread mentioned they saw a demonstration of a PPF being put on the stripes and then peeled off without affecting the stripes. My installer showed me the same demonstration. It's one thing to peel off the PPF immediately after putting it, it's another to try to peel it off after the glue is cured and bonded in. a day or two.
If the stripes will peel off with the PPF, it doesn't make much sense to wrap them. You are not protecting them. The detailer can't simply put them back because 1) they may get damaged, stretched, or distorted due to heat and pulling, 2) most detailers can't simply make up the same glue and bonding material that XPel and 3M produce. For my car, wrapping the bumper, side fenders, hood, and rocker panels, if I had to replace the original HEP stripes and stickers covered by the PPF, it would cost me upwards for $1500.
In addition, there will be visible air margin right next to the edge of the stripes, about 3 to 5 mm in width. That's because the edge of the stripes is perpendicular to the paint. On a white car like the HEP, it's not unsightly, and you won't notice it unless you look closely. On a dark colored car, it will stand out more easily. See a close-up picture of the PPF margins on my HEP below:
XPel has two pre-cut kits for the Shelby. One where there is a different piece for each stripe and one with one piece that covers the strips (the pic above has the XPel Ultimate Plus with one piece that cover the stripes). My recommendation is if you're going to wrap, use the cut-per-stripe piece and don't cover the stripes. Cover only the paint. Here are the XPel pre-cut parts for the GT350:
https://www.xpel.com/paint-protecti...rucks/2020/Ford/Mustang/Fastback/Shelby-GT350
Examples from the above link:
Covers stripes: P0523DK-U
Cut-per-stripe: P0523DQ-U
My PPF installer told me (unfortunately after the fact) that the chance the stripes will remain in place after the PPF is removed is very slim. They use a heat steamer to pull off the PPF, and with all likelihood, the original stripes will come off with it. Someone earlier in this thread mentioned they saw a demonstration of a PPF being put on the stripes and then peeled off without affecting the stripes. My installer showed me the same demonstration. It's one thing to peel off the PPF immediately after putting it, it's another to try to peel it off after the glue is cured and bonded in. a day or two.
If the stripes will peel off with the PPF, it doesn't make much sense to wrap them. You are not protecting them. The detailer can't simply put them back because 1) they may get damaged, stretched, or distorted due to heat and pulling, 2) most detailers can't simply make up the same glue and bonding material that XPel and 3M produce. For my car, wrapping the bumper, side fenders, hood, and rocker panels, if I had to replace the original HEP stripes and stickers covered by the PPF, it would cost me upwards for $1500.
In addition, there will be visible air margin right next to the edge of the stripes, about 3 to 5 mm in width. That's because the edge of the stripes is perpendicular to the paint. On a white car like the HEP, it's not unsightly, and you won't notice it unless you look closely. On a dark colored car, it will stand out more easily. See a close-up picture of the PPF margins on my HEP below:
XPel has two pre-cut kits for the Shelby. One where there is a different piece for each stripe and one with one piece that covers the strips (the pic above has the XPel Ultimate Plus with one piece that cover the stripes). My recommendation is if you're going to wrap, use the cut-per-stripe piece and don't cover the stripes. Cover only the paint. Here are the XPel pre-cut parts for the GT350:
https://www.xpel.com/paint-protecti...rucks/2020/Ford/Mustang/Fastback/Shelby-GT350
Examples from the above link:
Covers stripes: P0523DK-U
Cut-per-stripe: P0523DQ-U
As mroad pointed out there is a air margin at the stripe line when the entire hood is done in one sheet of PPF. True, it may not show up as bad on a white car, but when compared to the two options, I opted to cover the stripes separately as the difference was considerable.
Good luck brother
Thanks man. So excited to get one. I have about 4 to 5 specs that I would buy. Hoping the right one will be available by the time I'm ready.
Youāll find it jus be patient with it
Almost all brands have at least a 10 year anti-yellowing gaurentee, FYI. I hear what youāre saying though. In my experience, you can usually get 10-12 years before cracking/yellowing if the car is closer to the equator and sits outside a lot. If garage kept and cooler Iāve seen 17 year old cars that the PPF still looks brand new.
And I would imagine PPF technology has come a long, long way in 17 years. Heck, I didnāt even know about PPF 17 years ago. I would think it would last much longer today.
My installer said the exact same thing, and heās been installing clear bra/PPF since 3M pioneered the space. He said he wouldnāt be surprised if the current film lasts 25+ years as long as it doesnāt live outside in the sun... but only time will tell.
I live in CA, and the car has always been garaged/under cover. Still, I don't know if I'd leave it on that long. I don't know the chances of it being on there over 10+ years will somehow fuse the clear bra adhesive to the paint and take some off with it. I definitely won't be the first to try it lol.
