PPF for long term ownership- bad things waiting?

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by kjx

Really?? I guess nobody told the full-body PPF on my M4 that I dailied for 4 years and continue to daily (now at 28K miles, in all weather conditions). Go check me out drifting in the snow -- https://www.instagram.com/enzianblue_g82/

Or on my wife's X5 which has 32K miles and coming up on 5 years.

Well, I'm glad Stek PPF has a 10-year guarantee on all of this. I can't wait to show up at the Black Label Stek installer that did the work and say, look what happened, gado5420 told me this would happen and I didn't listen.

Both cars look new. Unlike my last BMW that I had to cheap out getting PPF on, and came to regret it every day. The front bumper, LED headlights and hood looked like the surface of the moon from micro-pitting. In a stroke of luck, someone bumped into the front bumper of that car which required replacement and paint - guess what I did exactly 30 days after paint cured. Yes, got the PPF I was too cheap to get on day 1.

Took that lesson and all cars after that went directly to the PPF shop.

Honestly, 28k miles through 4y is rookie numbers, i do that in year and a half at most.
But I will say, that i trust you and some others, that PPF can stay on a car for 4-5-6 or more years looking intact, and when you get a 8-10y warranty, you shouldnt give a #### if it starts peeling off or something, you just replace it for free... I will be installing full PPF in 2-3 weeks time

[14Down]

Originally Posted by lexcruiser

Sample size of me - lol - but I think I mentioned before.. my 10yr old S4 was PPF’ed on delivery.

It’s my daily, was not garaged for ~8 of those yrs of ownership. Has been through super storm Sandy and a whole host of other weather maladies parked outside, including (gasp!) automatic drive thru car washes.

I love that car. And to this day people still comment on how it still looks new.

PPF has not cracked, peeled, nor discolored.
My A4 before this I also owned for close to 10yrs. No PPF and the front bumper, hood, fenders were beat when I finally sold it.

Everyone’s use case and tolerance is different but I will always PPF my rides.

Also, it’s not that serious. Some people are getting bent on this thread - if you PPF, cool. If you don’t, also cool. There’s no need to impress on why you think you’re right and someone else is wrong. 🤙🤙🤙

What brand of PPF did you use?

[ForrestGreen]

As the person who started this thread and has been trying to keep up with a fun discussion, 2 comments.
1. I appreciate everyones input and different opinions.
2. While some people think it's silly and not worth the money- a very valid point as we are talking about paint here; is there anyone who has had professional PPF done (ie. paid 4-8k) and then regretted it in long term? Seems plenty of people have chosen this route and I can't find many who regret that choice.

[/ / / M3]

Originally Posted by ForrestGreen

As the person who started this thread and has been trying to keep up with a fun discussion, 2 comments.
1. I appreciate everyones input and different opinions.
2. While some people think it's silly and not worth the money- a very valid point as we are talking about paint here; is there anyone who has had professional PPF done (ie. paid 4-8k) and then regretted it in long term? Seems plenty of people have chosen this route and I can't find many who regret that choice.

People are generally more likely to talk about positive experiences. The main risks of PPF are:

1. Damage to the paint during the installation process (i.e. cutting)

2. Getting crappy results and the aggravation of trying to obtain a refund, getting PPF redone somewhere else, etc.

3. Paint peeling if/when PPF has to be removed.

How significant those risks are is a matter of considerable debate. People will tell to go to a reputable installer to minimize the risk but even reputable installers have staff turnover.

[lexcruiser]

Originally Posted by 14Down

What brand of PPF did you use?

Have used only Xpel on my cars.

[FrozenGT]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

You must have had experiences with some crappy PPF. Mine heals itself of minor scratches including washing induced swirls. I had this type of PPF on another car I bought used. It was trashed. Swirled, hazed, etc. But having had PPF on the front end of our DD's since 2018, it's the best looking part of the car. Which sees the most impacts. XPel has been durable but don't care for the orange peel. The Elite Shield Premium SH (Self Healing) on my G80 has been fantastic.

Nope, I have Expel ultimate +10 mil. The most expensive film they make.. PPF will scratch and ding. Self healing is for minor scratches not when you have a rock flying at your car and 60 miles an hour.

Yes all my M cars I also do PFF for front only. Any professional detailer and you can research this yourself you don’t need PPF if your car is daily driver.
And I say, professional detailer not one trying to rip you off.

[FrozenGT]

You can argue with this video!

[Crester]

Originally Posted by FrozenGT

You can argue with this video!

I'm really feeling that you don't understand the point of PAINT PROTECTION FILM. The point of PPF isn't for the film itself to magically stay looking perfect forever. The point of PAINT PROTECTION FILM is to be form of PROTECTION for the PAINT... hence its name.

It's a sacrificial layer to absorb damage so that the actual paint of the car does not get damaged. And if the PPF gets a significant form of damage... you can replace it without having to repaint the car.

[Tall Tom Cruise]

Originally Posted by Crester

I'm really feeling that you don't understand the point of PAINT PROTECTION FILM. The point of PPF isn't for the film itself to magically stay looking perfect forever. The point of PAINT PROTECTION FILM is to be form of PROTECTION for the PAINT... hence its name.

It's a sacrificial layer to absorb damage so that the actual paint of the car does not get damaged. And if the PPF gets a significant form of damage... you can replace it without having to repaint the car.

There is no point trying to argue with him. FrozenGT has room temperature IQ, maybe even lower.

Cars will get dings and swirls.... at the end of the day, do you want those dings and swirls on your paint or on the film protecting your paint?

"Guys don't get PPF it will get scratches, swirl marks, and dings!!" ---- Yeah thanks you dumb*ss.... that's THE WHOLE POINT. I don't want that damage on the actual paint.... It's really not that hard to understand. Lol.

[nunzo]

How much would it cost to respray the hood / bumpers / mirrors / fenders and replace the headlight lenses of a G80? I would assume less than the $7500 cost for PPF.

[e30ak]

I have full PPF on my ‘25 G80x and don’t regret it. I am happy with the quality of install and I expect to have the film on for 5 years plus. My previous car - Porsche Macan GTS - had full PPF for 7 plus years and no issues. I have found that the quality of the film - Expel - and installer are critical factors in attaining high satisfaction. Also, the Expel film adds a kind of gloss or shine to the paint and actually making it appear slightly darker on a Dravit Grey car. Finally, I don’t wash the car much especially in NYC winters so full PPF works for me.

[ForrestGreen]

Originally Posted by e30ak

I have full PPF on my ‘25 G80x and don’t regret it. I am happy with the quality of install and I expect to have the film on for 5 years plus. My previous car - Porsche Macan GTS - had full PPF for 7 plus years and no issues. I have found that the quality of the film - Expel - and installer are critical factors in attaining high satisfaction. Also, the Expel film adds a kind of gloss or shine to the paint and actually making it appear slightly darker on a Dravit Grey car. Finally, I don’t wash the car much especially in NYC winters so full PPF works for me.

As someone who also don't wash their cash much, I'm quite interested in this. Specifically, if you don't wash car more than once a month or less, better to have PPF?

[lexcruiser]

Originally Posted by nunzo

How much would it cost to respray the hood / bumpers / mirrors / fenders and replace the headlight lenses of a G80? I would assume less than the $7500 cost for PPF.

With all due respect, this statement is a bit disingenuous.

PPF for just the parts you listed above is far below $7500. That cost is closer to a whole car PPF. So if you’re just concerned with the above, you can get the front end of the car done for ~$2k give or take.

How much would it cost to respray all the above as well as the rest of the car? That’s a better comparison. But then you have to consider how often would you repaint the car? Once every 10yrs? Every 5? But then you’re also be ok living with the pitting and paint blemishes in between repaints?

See how the cost / benefit start to make more sense?

[nunzo]

Originally Posted by lexcruiser

With all due respect, this statement is a bit disingenuous.

PPF for just the parts you listed above is far below $7500. That cost is closer to a whole car PPF. So if you’re just concerned with the above, you can get the front end of the car done for ~$2k give or take.

How much would it cost to respray all the above as well as the rest of the car? That’s a better comparison. But then you have to consider how often would you repaint the car? Once every 10yrs? Every 5? But then you’re also be ok living with the pitting and paint blemishes in between repaints?

See how the cost / benefit start to make more sense?

It's not disingenuous, It's the math I did before having my whole car wrapped.

With how shitty the windshield looks after 9k miles, the paint and lenses would have issues.

I'm spending $8k for my hellrot e36 to get the exterior repainted red. no jambs or bay and it's a much smaller car.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by lexcruiser

With all due respect, this statement is a bit disingenuous.

PPF for just the parts you listed above is far below $7500. That cost is closer to a whole car PPF. So if you’re just concerned with the above, you can get the front end of the car done for ~$2k give or take.

How much would it cost to respray all the above as well as the rest of the car? That’s a better comparison. But then you have to consider how often would you repaint the car? Once every 10yrs? Every 5? But then you’re also be ok living with the pitting and paint blemishes in between repaints?

See how the cost / benefit start to make more sense?

Also not accounting for the fact that having the car repainted also has risks and can come out looking like shit.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by nunzo

It's not disingenuous, It's the math I did before having my whole car wrapped.

With how shitty the windshield looks after 9k miles, the paint and lenses would have issues.

I'm spending $8k for my hellrot e36 to get the exterior repainted red. no jambs or bay and it's a much smaller car.

I’ve got a Bright Red Z3 Roadster that I’d love to do that with but I just don’t want to invest the money right now. Eventually, it is definitely on the agenda.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by FrozenGT

Yes all my M cars I also do PFF for front only. Any professional detailer and you can research this yourself you don’t need PPF if your car is daily driver.
And I say, professional detailer not one trying to rip you off.

OK, so you use the "most expensive" PPF on your own cars.

Honest question....what do YOU expect to see out of this PPF? Why did you put it on your car? What are you hoping to accomplish?

[Lupeskew]

Originally Posted by nunzo

How much would it cost to respray the hood / bumpers / mirrors / fenders and replace the headlight lenses of a G80? I would assume less than the $7500 cost for PPF.

It's a good question. However, what if you paid to get your car repainted and looking beautiful....only to have 3 rocks chip your hood on your way home from the paint shop

[nunzo]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I’ve got a Bright Red Z3 Roadster that I’d love to do that with but I just don’t want to invest the money right now. Eventually, it is definitely on the agenda.

I pain myself by keeping a running tab of the money put into the car. but it'll be a perfect euro-spec japanese market 1994 m3 when it's done.

[maticCRO]

Originally Posted by Lupeskew

It's a good question. However, what if you paid to get your car repainted and looking beautiful....only to have 3 rocks chip your hood on your way home from the paint shop

Lets be serious, what if what if, what if you buy Laferrari and an asteroid falls exactly on the factory in Maranello as you are taking delivery and destroys whole Ferrari brand...

[Lupeskew]

That is a ridculous statement Matic and I'm disappointed in you. My statement is real life.

[silvermanor]

By the way some of you drive I'm sure you're already spending 5k a year on insurance and still coming in here and complaining about how PPF is a rip.