High milage m3cs - worth PPF or ceramic coating still?

[7smurfs]

Picked up my M3 CS recently in Alpine White and as my first white car ever, was pleasantly surprised it doesn't quite show up scratches and swirls like a coloured car would.

Car has done 40,000km or 25,000 miles already (quite high) without any sort of protection that I can see. Overall condition of the car is still quite good with swirls that can only been seen at certain angles with sunlight.

Would be keeping the car for around 3-4 years as my daily driver

Is it still worth getting my m3cs professionally ceramic coated/paint corrected or is it better money spent getting a PPF wrap done or just DIY the ceramic coating?

Have been quoted the following in $AUD:
$1395 - Ceramic Coat - NXTZEN Graphene on exterior plastic, glass, wheel and paint correction

or

$2895 - Suntek PPF - A-Pillars, Leading Edge of Roof, Side Skirts , Rear Splash Guards

EDIT: mod can please move to Cosmetic Maintenance (Wash/Wax/Detailing/Exterior Restoration & Repairs)

[rmanm4]

Ceramic coating is worth it but only of you do it yourself. Cquartz UK 3.0 is only $100 and it will take you a weekend. You will first need to wash the car really well with dish soap, then do some point polish (cutting) using a orbital polisher, followed by cleaning the car with a paint cleaner that is alcohol base. You don't need to do glass or the wheels. I've done it and it just doesnt last long enough to justify it.

[espressoo]

Is this the only covered areas you're planning to do?

Suntek PPF - A-Pillars, Leading Edge of Roof, Side Skirts , Rear Splash Guards

Front bumper, hood and fenders, A-pillars and whole roof would be first on my priority list. I have an AW M3 with PPF on everything except doors, trunk and rear bumper. While the protection is great, the film does yellow slightly over the 3 years I've had it and I park indoors 99% of the time. Any other colors besides white you wouldn't notice it at all. It's not a deal breaker for me because the trade off is the paint protection.

[rmanm4]

Yes AW and PPF don't go well together. You won't get that shine and it will yellow overtime. If you wanna enjoy the paint and the colour, your best bet is Ceramic coating with top ups that give a nice shine!

When you drive on the highway don't tailgate, stay away from dump trucks. Many years from now just repaint the front bumper.

[HyeM3]

If you're anal about rock chips and going to be doing a lot of highway driving or driving in areas that have a lot of rocks in the road then I'd say get PPF but if not just get the car corrected and coated and don't tailgate people. Worst case if you get a bunch of rock chips just respray the front bumper, AW isn't a hard color to match

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by rmanm4

Yes AW and PPF don't go well together. You won't get that shine and it will yellow overtime. If you wanna enjoy the paint and the colour, your best bet is Ceramic coating with top ups that give a nice shine!

When you drive on the highway don't tailgate, stay away from dump trucks. Many years from now just repaint the front bumper.

I have AW and PPF, it's fine and still super shiny because the PPF topcoat is paint like (At least on Llumar Platinum). Only issue is when a rock chips the PPF it turns grey and then you have little grey spots where rocks chip it lol.

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by rmanm4

Yes AW and PPF don't go well together. You won't get that shine and it will yellow overtime. If you wanna enjoy the paint and the colour, your best bet is Ceramic coating with top ups that give a nice shine!

When you drive on the highway don't tailgate, stay away from dump trucks. Many years from now just repaint the front bumper.

Fake news. Xpel and suntek are undetectable on any colour paint.

[SYT_Shadow]

I have a white CS, up to leading edge of the roof done in ppf

For me, it's the only option. Ceramic coating will do basically zero for rock chips. Ppf is not visible at all.

I get all my cars done right at the beginning. The sooner the better

[7smurfs]

Thanks for the replies! Was worried about the whole yellowing but the shop is guaranteeing for 10 years that if it yellows, it will be replaced.

Am leaning towards PPF at this point for peace of mind and DIY ceramic coating afterwards!

[swagon]

Well, it's not a question of whether just PPF or coating. Ideally, you do both because they serve different purposes.

The paint has to be prepped at the very least and most definitely would recommend you to get it corrected as well. White hides swirls well. I'd also be very surprised if there aren't any stone chips present.

You could DIY the detailing yourself, it's not that difficult, but will have to do the maths on if it is financially and time-wise better for ya

Rip the OEM rear fender film off and have them install a bigger piece that tucks around the door and fender edges and comes up much higher.

[Maitre_Absolut]

Originally Posted by 7smurfs

Thanks for the replies! Was worried about the whole yellowing but the shop is guaranteeing for 10 years that if it yellows, it will be replaced.

Am leaning towards PPF at this point for peace of mind and DIY ceramic coating afterwards!

youre going to need paint correction before PPF, not sure if you are factoring that in to the cost.

at 40k I would forget about PPF. You are essentially PPFing over existing rock chips and scratches. Not like the next buyer will expect perfection at 60k+ kms.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by icegrill

Fake news. Xpel and suntek are undetectable on any colour paint.

Only if you're blind...

[m34m]

I've had my SMB CS for three weeks. Only 13,000km. Looked great but on close examination the paint had swirls and needed work. The worst areas that nobody here seems to mention were the blast zones. Wide fenders and tires mean a lot of stones and debris blast the underside. The rocker panels and bottom of doors, the area of the rear fender behind the rear door (factory film does nothing) and the area behind the rear wheels. Take a close look at these areas and under the car and it will be an eye opener. I had the car paint corrected, stone chips repaired, and film applied to entire front end, fenders, A pillars, mirrors, entire roof, B pillars, entire rockers and up the doors to the lowest body line, blast zone on rear fenders and behind wheels, gas cap and rear bumper at trunk. Then the entire car was ceramic coated. I did it right and the car looks showroom. I drive it with total peace of mind. My advice: protect the car. There are only 1200 in the world let's be good custodians of good cars as enthusiasts. You may decide to keep the car long term it's that good. If you decide to sell at least you will preserve resale value by selling a car that's clean rather than beat up.

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Only if you're blind...

You must be seeing pretty poor installs to make this statement!?

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by icegrill

You must be seeing pretty poor installs to make this statement!?

This is coming from a installer not a fan boy...


Myth #2: Will I see seams on my car?

The short answer is, yes. Wrapping edges will always be an art to PPF application. Even a properly wrapped edge can lift or peel due to the myriad of radiuses the film has to stick too. The film can hardly be noticed once it's locked into place, but remember it's called Paint PROTECTION Film, and not Paint PERFECTION Film.

I don't think all the Cars I saw in California are poorly installed.

[icegrill]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

This is coming from a installer not a fan boy...


Myth #2: Will I see seams on my car?

The short answer is, yes. Wrapping edges will always be an art to PPF application. Even a properly wrapped edge can lift or peel due to the myriad of radiuses the film has to stick too. The film can hardly be noticed once it's locked into place, but remember it's called Paint PROTECTION Film, and not Paint PERFECTION Film.

I don't think all the Cars I saw in California are poorly installed.

Very cool. Thank you for setting the record straight.

[EricP3]

I'm just over here trying to figure out how 25k miles is considered high.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

This is coming from a installer not a fan boy...


Myth #2: Will I see seams on my car?

The short answer is, yes. Wrapping edges will always be an art to PPF application. Even a properly wrapped edge can lift or peel due to the myriad of radiuses the film has to stick too. The film can hardly be noticed once it's locked into place, but remember it's called Paint PROTECTION Film, and not Paint PERFECTION Film.

I don't think all the Cars I saw in California are poorly installed.

Originally Posted by icegrill

Very cool. Thank you for setting the record straight.

Can confirm, you will still see the seams and it's not unnoticeable. If you are up close, you will see lines and notice it immediately.

[IB M]

PPF is best when brand new. Better to ceramic coat and drive it at this point unless you expect lots of chips or bad roads ahead.

[petar7408]

Originally Posted by EricP3

I'm just over here trying to figure out how 25k miles is considered high.

werd, that is "new" to me almost lol

Mine had 38k when I bought her

[Humdizzle]

depends on your commute and driving. if you do alot of highway driving then ppf on the bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors would be good to have. if its just city driving i dont think ppf is necessary.

i also wasn't happy with my last ppf install. i could see the edges. some started lifting. after 2 years some of the bra had tears. there were dust fibers trapped under it, etc.

i'd say just keep it clean. if the bumper gets bad just get it repainted at a good shop.

[2011ninja]

Originally Posted by icegrill

You must be seeing pretty poor installs to make this statement!?

Originally Posted by icegrill

You must be seeing pretty poor installs to make this statement!?

PPF is a must!!!

2015 GTI Traded in at 72,000 (PPF)