PPF Late in Life

[RTFM]

Main problem with PPF is not installation cost, it is maintenance and replacement cost, in case of minor body work or when the PPF is at the end of its life.
I opted instead for a ding insurance ($200/yr) and a promise to myself to repaint the car fully when times come.

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[S550HPP]

If you have a black or dark car full PPF is a must because primer is white. Silver and while won't see the road grit abrasion and chips much.

If you're on high traffic freeway the road grit blasting is huge, then the chips. If have big or sticky front tires they will throw at lot at the front of lower QTR panels.

I started with full front incl headlights (a must) and windshield surround, plus QTR panels lower front. Then I just did the rest incl trunk rear panel.

40K miles later all seasons incl gravel and dirt roads car looks new except a few spots where PPF was penetrated. Saved from keying damages on a couple occasions as well.

I do have a ceramic hybrid coats that's renewed annually and use quick detail often, plus a lawn blower after rinse.

The nice thing about full PPF is not worried about chip sets at all so can really enjoy.

 

[Dler]

PPF will definitely save you from many issues. Just keep in mind that when the PPF gets damaged/torn, it will be as ugly as a paint chip until you replace the affected area with new PPF. I usually do the areas that are most likely to see damage from road debris, because a full wrap done right is extremely expensive.

 

[Oakley]

How so?

cons:

cost
initial install
discoloration
edges are visible (this annoys me)
when you do remove it because its old and looks bad its a PITA
paint not covered over time will degrade at a different rate so you're looking at paint correction anyway over time.

pros:

all the stuff you mentioned


where i landed: if its about making sure the car looks nice i can manage that with some paint correction over time for cheaper and less hassle over time.

 

[FKE SNK]

I think you already said this but removing what you have starting fresh would be necessary for it all to match, and I would say especially on a white car.

I think the only other con that you may not be thinking of is that a great installer will remove panels/clips etc to wrap the film so there are no visible edges. Obviously on a car that is not brand new this could create an easily solved issue. But know that some disassembly will be required if you want it done right.

Aside from that I agree with your sentiment that the products have come a long way. The inclusion of ceramic into the film is nice. That said, I still prefer the look of unwrapped paint for my garage cars but I panic every time there's a dump trunk within 200 ft of me. There's always a trade off with everything I suppose. I had my wifes car wrapped and I absolutely love the IDGAF factor. Bead Maker is perfect for PPF BTW

If you need a local install recommendation let me know

 

[DrZed]

It is a game changer for protection and yes it covers a lot of imperfections. (I've done multiple cars, generally newer though). The installer is KEY to how great the outcome. Ask for references and look at the vehicle closely and talk to the owner. Owners that PPF cars are generally pretty picky.

The installers that use pre-cut kits may have their own plotter to cut it out. You'll save ~20% this way, if they "bulk" cut large sheets there is a lot of waste but generally slightly more effective coverage. The installer has to be VERY good with bulk cut installs. I can only speak to pre cut kits (on a plotter at the shop) and have been satisfied.

As has been mentioned you will need to spend a good amount of time cleaning to get road grime and grease etc off the paint. You'll be surprised how much is on there. I used Mother's CMX surface prep. I had a few chips and my installer had a paint person touch them up before the product went over.

XPel Ultimate is what I used, and they have a ceramic coated product now. You will love how easy it is to wash the car after.

 

[Skye]

I'm attaching some photos of what the end result can look like, using the pre-cut, plotter method.

Removing door handles, mirrors and trim can be done. In my area, it's quite expensive, much more so than an regular install. Typically done on high-end cars, CFTP GT500 level, Porsche GT2/3, etc.

As to comments of discoloration and cracking, the current generation of products are warrantied for ten years. Ask the installer about the product brand and warranty.

Regarding any decals, you have a few options:

- Leave them alone. This is what I did. While not as protective as PPF, my decals are considered a sacrificial layer

- Cover any decals with a gloss or ghost matte PPF, specifically cut for those areas. Additional costs, which I didn't feel where worthwhile

- Ceramic coat the decals. Not considered impact-protecting. More to prevent fading and discoloration. I have a garaged car. My original, untreated ones are holding up fine.

To the installation in-general, tour some shops and get multiple estimates. Low-price installs often rely on poor product and poor installation practices.

 

[Johnny maverick]

I pulled PPF with compressed air. I've also seen where the installer got a little careless went to deep with razor cut up the clearcoat and had to be repaired after removing. You'll never see the cuts until you remove the PPF. By that time the installer won't warranty any damage done saying it was past warranty. Do some due diligence before hiring a hack.

 

[galaxy]

Good info guys. Thanks for the input. I’m a self proclaimed, quite good, semi-pro detailer and have been detailing and chasing perfect paint my whole life. I’m a surgeon with a dual action, lol. The car prep, paint prep, and all that was never a concern.

Obviously the added protection is there and a huge benefit, but man, just the looks alone of some recent products/brands. Maybe with a $20+ paint job you can achieve such appearances, but I don’t care how good you are nor what ceramic/wax/sealant you use, you’ll never achieve the depth, gloss, and clarity as some of these modern day PPFs; and that it what I’m truly after.

I’m familiar with modern company 10 year warranties, but I’d guess the actual appearance lifespan can be significantly longer than that, given a car that is not a dd, garaged, and extremely well taken care of from a detail perspective.

@Skye you bring up another good topic; precut pieces that leave an edge visible, or completely wrapped edges.

 

[DrZed]

I'm attaching some photos of what the end result can look like, using the pre-cut, plotter method.

Removing door handles, mirrors and trim can be done. In my area, it's quite expensive, much more so than an regular install. Typically done on high-end cars, CFTP GT500 level, Porsche GT2/3, etc.

As to comments of discoloration and cracking, the current generation of products are warrantied for ten years. Ask the installer about the product brand and warranty.

Regarding any decals, you have a few options:

- Leave them alone. This is what I did. While not as protective as PPF, my decals are considered a sacrificial layer

- Cover any decals with a gloss or ghost matte PPF, specifically cut for those areas. Additional costs, which I didn't feel where worthwhile

- Ceramic coat the decals. Not considered impact-protecting. More to prevent fading and discoloration. I have a garaged car. My original, untreated ones are holding up fine.

To the installation in-general, tour some shops and get multiple estimates. Low-price installs often rely on poor product and poor installation practices.

This is all good advice. I took my 5.0 badges off and had an ecoboost front fender cut on the plotter (not 5.0 cutout) then pierced the PPF where the 5.0 badge went and installed a new one over top (went from chrome to flat black anyway) so there was no outline in the cut over those badges.

You can do the same with the rear "GT" emblem or whatever version you may have.

 

[Skye]

or completely wrapped edges.

While I highlight the lines in the photos above, what I did not show, is at the panel edge, like where the door edge meets the jamb area, or two panels meet, there's a touch left over, with some tabs; this bit wraps over and protects the panel edges. Don't ask me how they tucked the edge in-between the door and the fender , but they did. Patience. A lot of patience.

Good luck in all this. If you do get it installed, let us know how things went.

 

[MAGS1]

While I highlight the lines in the photos above, what I did not show, is at the panel edge, like where the door edge meets the jamb area, or two panels meet, there's a touch left over, with some tabs; this bit wraps over and protects the panel edges. Don't ask me how they tucked the edge in-between the door and the fender , but they did. Patience. A lot of patience.

Good luck in all this. If you do get it installed, let us know how things went.

There’s various tricks to that trade, that’s for sure. The really good installers can get edges wrapped in the most difficult of places. Even in spots where edges can’t get wrapped, the good films are almost undetectable unless you’re really looking for them.

 

[akasmitty]

Expel sells precut ppf. I've had mine on for 6 years and you can't tell it is there. I got it professionally installed with a 10 year warranty. Front end with bikini cut (1/3 of hood). Mirrors, rocker panels, door handle pockets, the black piece on the trunk and the edge going into the trunk. Then it I ceramic coated.
I have no regret getting any of it done
Easy to clean the bugs off the front end and you don't have to worry about scatching it if you scrub a little too hard.

 

[Lorne34]

If you are OCD about your paint and have the cash go ahead and do it. I did it on my first two mustang GT's before I got the Shelby and by the time the 350 came around I was over the whole "protect the paint" while moving thing. Unless you wrap the whole car murphy's law is that your going to get a chip somewhere the ppf isn't. I bought my 350 to drive it and if I get a chip and i've gotten my share, I just touch it up with dr color chip and move on. At the end of the day it's a car that I'm going to drive, enjoy and have objects come in contact with it. If it gets really bad and I plan on keeping it for a long time then I will just repaint the front clip.

 

[galaxy]

Hahahha @Lorne34 , funny thing about your post is you just described every reason TO get PPF, lol.

On another topic, I follow a shop that highly recommends Stek PPF, and they claim it is #1 for looks, gloss, and clarity.

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