Is Paint Protection Film (PPF) worth it?

[ArthurJGuy]

Something worth considering for anyone with a light color car, especially white. PPF WILL change the color, it gives a white car a dingy yellow tint, it's faint but still noticeable. I've gone through just about every film you can find at any price point on my ZL1 and it was still there.

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[VLG]

Should you protect the hood of a Dark Horse, would you apply the ppf directly over the decals or cut it around it?

 

[rockman 2738]

To early to tell if it was worth it. I had the the whole front end including the A-pillars, the top of the windshield, and the bottom of the rear quarters behind the wheels covered with PPF. The rest of the car was ceramic coated. Looks spectacular. My detailer does not ceramic coat the PPF. Said there is no need to coat it.

 

[dusman59]

Haven't seen PPF on are white car that's 3 1/2 years old. If it yellows it will get redone if its still under the 10 year warranty. I had it on my 2011 GT for 11 years and had it redone with stuff that had newer technology. Its a real pain getting the old off. Front ends on both cars have zero rock chips.

 

[RaceRedder]

How does it work when you pay 2k for PPF film, and someone crashed and broke your front bumper? How does the insurance cover the cost?
Only the repair of the bumper of also the added PPF film of 2 grand?

 

[RLE55]

How does it work when you pay 2k for PPF film, and someone crashed and broke your front bumper? How does the insurance cover the cost?
Only the repair of the bumper of also the added PPF film of 2 grand?

Notify your insurance agent, let them know you have the PPF, see if they can do a rider.
An endorsement, also known as a rider, adds, deletes, excludes or changes insurance coverage. An endorsement/rider can also be used to increase standard limits of coverage and take precedent over the original agreement or policy

 

[N1T3MRE]

Hi guys, come from central Qld Australia, and down here they are called car bra's.....had one on a 98 Honda prelude vtir, and when I traded it in 100k km later, there was not one mark on the front of the car.

I lived in a remote area with single lane roads, so when I reached civilisation, I would put into the boot, a very safe option to protect the front of the car......only downside was it made the sunroof unusable at highway speeds due to the air disturbance

Side note, I only ever put on when the car was clean

Hope this helps, good luck...... personally going with full ppf when mine turns up down here in next 6 to 12 months (going xpel), not even sure if the car bra company still exists down here anymore

3000km in the dark horse on the wonderful Queensland roads..... cleaning the beast yesterday and noticed 13 different stone marks in the ppf across the bonnet and front fenders, and interestingly even one on the rear wing?? Best part about Queensland summer sun is that it is hot enough to cook an egg, and it also reformed about 90% of the marks in the ppf...... definitely worth having fitted to car to protect the paint

 

[Bluember24]

I had mine delivered to the shop that does my PPF and after 4200 miles, the rear quarters would have been destroyed from the arizona roads if they weren't protected. I feel the benefits are definitely worth the price if you want to keep the paint clean.
Also, don't worry so much about brand, worry about installers. Sure some PPF is better than other, but the biggest part is someone who will install it properly. I have Autobahn Incognito on mine and love it.

Also, it is controversial, but I had the installer put it right over the stripes. I have seen people cut around the stripes and try to have it fitted that way, but over time in the sun, some of it shrinks and it creates a gap between the strips and the the edge of the film.

 

[N1T3MRE]

I had mine delivered to the shop that does my PPF and after 4200 miles, the rear quarters would have been destroyed from the arizona roads if they weren't protected. I feel the benefits are definitely worth the price if you want to keep the paint clean.
Also, don't worry so much about brand, worry about installers. Sure some PPF is better than other, but the biggest part is someone who will install it properly. I have Autobahn Incognito on mine and love it.

Also, it is controversial, but I had the installer put it right over the stripes. I have seen people cut around the stripes and try to have it fitted that way, but over time in the sun, some of it shrinks and it creates a gap between the strips and the the edge of the film.

I made the same decision....northern Australia sun is not only hot but the UV destroys everything....one piece over the bonnet to protect everything..... initially there was a noticeable line between paint and vinyl, but has cleared up nicely.....pic below is day 1 at Auto Protective

 

[Bluember24]

I made the same decision....northern Australia sun is not only hot but the UV destroys everything....one piece over the bonnet to protect everything..... initially there was a noticeable line between paint and vinyl, but has cleared up nicely.....pic below is day 1 at Auto Protective

Yeah, see mine still has the little outlines around the vinyl and I don't care. It went down quite a bit, but it is so uniform that I have actually come to like the look

 

[DFB5.0]

I made the same decision....northern Australia sun is not only hot but the UV destroys everything....one piece over the bonnet to protect everything..... initially there was a noticeable line between paint and vinyl, but has cleared up nicely.....pic below is day 1 at Auto Protective

I think you made the right decision.

 

[bfets]

The reason I got them to butt the film up against the decal and not PPF over it is twofold. One, it will change the look of the decal. The satin or mat parts of the decal will become glossy. Two, when you want to replace the bonnet PPF, the decals will pull off with the PPF and they are super expensive. I've heard figures of something like $2000 USD. Now maybe the PPF only needs to come of in 10 years, or maybe you get a couple of chip marks on the PPF in two years. Who knows when or if that happens but being the bonnet, marks on the front PPF is likely, so I had them just ceramic coat the decal.

Also, with the film stopping right next to the decal, it makes the film and the decal the same height. It makes the decals look and feel like they're painted on.

 

[bfets]

A short clip of mine...

 

[N1T3MRE]

A short clip of mine...

That does look nice.,..I just didn't want to risk any damage...,still get the different tones with ppf......but everything is a satin finish..,.....will need to address this thread in 10 yrs and I am paying $20k for new vinyl

Ps...any news on first drive yet.,...?

 

[bfets]

That does look nice.,..I just didn't want to risk any damage...,still get the different tones with ppf......but everything is a satin finish..,.....will need to address this thread in 10 yrs and I am paying $20k for new vinyl

Ps...any news on first drive yet.,...?

Yeah there are many variables. I don't think there's a complete wrong or right way. Essentially just choose your poison. Each choice has pros and cons.

Unfortunately, no drive for me yet. Still waiting on this stupid recall fix. Luckily I'm getting the ppf and tinting and stuff sorted in the meantime. Hopefully the dealers get recall fix instructions soon. Now that'll make for a great Christmas present

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