PPF after Repaint

[taylorxo]

Hi guys!

My car just got repainted last Thursday, and is ready for pick up. I’ll be installing PPF on it, what is the average time I need to wait to install?

The body shop said the paint is baked. Unsure if that helps the process?

Thanks!

[M4theWIN1]

I believe you have to wait around 30 days before throwing PPF on it.

[Frozen stone]

Thirty days should be fine. It is very important to wait at least that amount of time because there are still solvents evaporating from the clear. Installing PPF too soon will trap them and cause big problems. I have been a painter for 25 years, the body shop really should have told you this.

[taylorxo]

Frozen stone

Is that even if the paint is baked? They originally told me 30 days, but said since they bake the paint it could be installed in 3 days.

[Frozen stone]

I bake every job, if a big decal is put on even one day later it will bubble up due to the solvents still evaporating. I would definitely not recommend covering the entire panel until at least 30 days.

[andrewmr]

Originally Posted by Frozen stone

I bake every job, if a big decal is put on even one day later it will bubble up due to the solvents still evaporating. I would definitely not recommend covering the entire panel until at least 30 days.

I'm not doubting your word...... just asking a question.


When you get PPF from the factory, how long do they wait?

[Frozen stone]

The car has most definitely been painted 30 days before the dealer gets it.

[Frozen stone]

Another thing to be aware of also is making sure there are no dirt nibs in the clear before the PPF is installed. If so ask the shop that did the work to sand and buff them out.

[taylorxo]

Originally Posted by Frozen stone

I bake every job, if a big decal is put on even one day later it will bubble up due to the solvents still evaporating. I would definitely not recommend covering the entire panel until at least 30 days.

See, that’s what I’ve mostly heard. But when they told me 3 days I was a little concerned. Thanks for the insight!

[jasonjo]

I was told 10 days to allow it to “gas out”

[Zed519]

Related question. Does respraying your car the same color as factory hurt the resale value?

[taylorxo]

Originally Posted by Zed519

Related question. Does respraying your car the same color as factory hurt the resale value?

With a good painter, you shouldn’t be able to tell. I just had my car resprayed, and it looks 100 times better than when I dropped it off. So I guess it depends on what condition your car was in originally. I had $10,000 worth of rock chip damage from a previous owner, and from what I was told they said it would only increase the value of my car.

[Zed519]

That’s what I was hoping. I’m the original owner. 18 f80 with just under 90k miles. The hooks and front bumper have way too many chips. I was debating getting the entire car resprayed. It’s tanzanite blue, not sure how difficult of a color that is going to be.

[gunsmoker]

I have had a couple of accidents where the bodyshop had to replace the xpel and there never was anything like a 30 day wait and everything was great.

[Redacre]

Originally Posted by Frozen stone

Thirty days should be fine. It is very important to wait at least that amount of time because there are still solvents evaporating from the clear. Installing PPF too soon will trap them and cause big problems. I have been a painter for 25 years, the body shop really should have told you this.

Just curious, is this recommended wait period the same for a ceramic coating?

[Frozen stone]

I would for sure.

[taylorxo]

Originally Posted by Zed519

That’s what I was hoping. I’m the original owner. 18 f80 with just under 90k miles. The hooks and front bumper have way too many chips. I was debating getting the entire car resprayed. It’s tanzanite blue, not sure how difficult of a color that is going to be.

They ended up replacing my front bumper, and repeating the rockers, fenders & quarter panels. Just do lots of research on a good shop!