My GT4 has a full body install of xpel ultimate and it is absolutely worth it. Its been on the car for 7 years now and it still looks great and has saved the paint twice where the wrap got damaged but the paint had no damage. It is very easy to wash the car, and not having to worry about making swirl marks on the paint is a huge plus. If you can afford it, its worth every penny.
I make semi regular trips between Phoenix and L.A. and if you know anything about DRIVING FAST THROUGH THE DESERT WOULD KNOWVYOU DONT NEED A CAR OR TRUCK IN FRONT OF YOU TO GET ROCK CHIPS . Not only that , washing the car takes a forth of the time it takes on a car without PPF, i never have swirls marks on the paint and the PPF has a ten year warranty. If you knew anything about what your talking about , you wouldnt be a hater.@lewislevits1193
Thanks for an honest, comprehensive video that points out both benefits and warnings about PPFs. Completely believable and informative. Pointing out the pitfalls (tucking in the edges) and shortcomings (film yellowing) are important things to point out to those considering such a job on their cars. Thanks again.
This was perhaps the shortest most informative video on ppf that I have seen. I’m in the process of getting a Tesla Model Y and I “might” do (at most) a partial ppf on the front end. On the other hand, I don’t drive that much and when I do, it’s in the city not usually on the highway. I’m wondering if even a partial ppf is worth the money.
Personally on your car I wouldn’t do it, eventually chips will occur and don’t ever let that bother you. City driving you’ll probably never get big enough rock chips for it to be worth it especially if you don’t drive all that much
PPF absolutely worth it to me. Just had PPF removed from a 2007 911 turbo. Paint looks brand new. New PPF placed. Amazing how yellow the PPF looked after removed after 15 years! You couldn’t tell while it was on car, but when removed looked like a used condom.
@lewislevits1193 what state do you live in? How far of a distance do you expect to keep from traffic? And do you not have flying insects with hard exoskeletons where you live? Do you drive behind the bugs too? Almost one of the stupidest comments I’ve seen. I’ll spend my 5k on PPF, you can spend yours on a car.
@lewislevits1193my wife and I buy our cars new, and keep them 12-15 years. It makes us feel good to care for things we worked really hard to get. My motorcycle I bought new in 2016 still looks new and gets many compliments on the condition. It makes me feel good. 😊
What color is your car? If it were white, I'm sure you would notice it? 2 ppf installs has to cost about the same as a full body paint job right? I was quoted $3000-4000 for just the front clip in stealth ppf (matte) on my 2017 c63s amg
@@SMack-mj2bp as much as a full body paint? Hardly. Painting a 2007 911 turbo that has 23,000 miles, and is 100% stock, is suicide to the cars value. Also would cost way more than having 2 PPF installs
I've run XPEL PPF on all of my vehicles for a long time now, some full front and some full vehicle. In my experience it is worth it but the details come down to the prep work of the installation. Great comprehensive review though, appreciate it.
I purchased a new Land Cruiser a few years ago. I shopped around for prices, averaged $8k. I knew it was A LOT of work but, in my mind I was like GTFOH. I bought the Xpel myself and did my entire SUV for $1200, 3’ sheet. It’s not perfect or horrible and does the job, you wouldn’t know unless you walked up to it. I did do my SUV in the winter and outdoors, it was a nightmare but, I wanted it protected. I will admit I had to get the hood redone professionally, because they’re the only one who will have a 6’ sheet. That cost me $600. I have an 2011 Maxima A pillar still wrapped in Xpel, still hasn’t yellowed going on 13 yrs. Xpel is the way to go!!!
Great overall round up about the pro's and con's of getting PPF on your car. Like everything in life there are swings and roundabouts with everything. I think the idea of looking at what your car is roughly worth and of course how long you plan on keeping it for, will play a very big part in what decision you take. Oh and well done for having two cracking looking cars there, both sports cars but both give you a different feel and way of going down the road.
How much someone PPFs, at least in my opinion, doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to the financial value of the car. A car may not be 6 figures in price, but the car could be just as important to an individual as a more expensive one is to someone else…It’s a relative…Good video…
A lot of people say they're going to PPF because they're "never going to sell" their cars. I've been around for a while. I've had multiple vehicles that I said I would "never sell" and they all got sold at some point. Longest I've ever kept a car was 14 years and it was definitely a car I never wanted to sell, but at some point in life, depending on your situation, you come to the realization that keeping a depreciating object in your garage or driveway (OK, maybe not Porsches, which tend to appreciate - if you don't drive them much) just doesn't make sense anymore. You can't predict a lot of life changes that would preclude you from keeping a car and there's always that bright, new, shiny object that makes that old beater less and less attractive no matter how much nostalgia it may provide. With that being said, when it comes to PPF, you are going to pay dearly for a job well done and if you don't, it's going to look like crap and even the best installs have their flaws.... many more flaws than the factory paint will ever show.
Hello from Chicago. Just saw your video on PPF. Thanks for the video. I was thinking of offering PPF to customers. After seeing this video, probably not. By the way, you have excellent communication skills.
Very nice and thoroughly presented. I'm taking delivery of a 2025 NX350h next week (1/6/25). The material is XPEL Ultimate Plus. Is that a good product? I never knew there was custom and precut, so I definitely learned something! Thank you very much. Great information presented and easy-to-understand.
Great video. My 2019 Porsche Cayenne S was 43 k out the door. I still spent 7k on PPF and ceramic coating. It came with full front wrapped and nicely wrapped. So I added full door PPF? A trim with roof trim, rear bumper, headlights and then had paint correction with ceramic coating done. It’s at the shop now and I’m excited to get it!
@ where are you located. My almost full clear PPF WRAP, changes rims from silver and made them black powered coated wheels, changed calipers to red, then had entire car ceramic coated. I was at $7500 out the door.
Thanks definitely enlightening. I bought a used model 3 and was looking at ppf and tinting but due to costs was wondering what to do. Has a few tiny chips and some scratches already so didn't know if I should do ppf or not. It's expensive to me but realistically what you said made sense. I'll just use it as a car, clean it often and hand wash, touch up small paint damages, and get it tinted for uv+appearance instead! I'll likely drive it 5-6 years and then sell/trade and get a newer tesla or other car at the time. Thanks!
Thank You this was incredibly informative and helpful 😊. I can now cool my jets about the PPF. Your formula sealed the deal and also I have a white vehicle 🤔. Great info! Thanks a million! 👍🏾🙏🏾😊
here's the thing that most people don't think about. You actually need the seems to show. It means when time comes to replace the PPF, you don't have to take off panels and run into breaking clups, or clip holders. As cars age, ppf tend to yellow or stain. Also plastic becomes brittle and harder to take off without breaking.
thanks for the info, been going back and forth on PPF for my '23 M340i. I know it's not a 6 figure car so I just ended up getting the high impact areas like you suggested (full front, partial roof, rocker panels). Prob not the smartest financial decision but I want my car looking pristine for as long as possible!
I did the same in the past my c6 Z06 I did the front bumper headlights half the hood the a arms and mirrors with above the windshield . it worked great . My c7 Z06 is full PPF self healing so far amazing
That example at 1:28 is not an example of a bad job at all. You can't tuck the PPF into where the bumper and fender meet. Only way would be too remove the bumper. I don't know about you but I don't want my car taken apart for a sacrificial layer of film. That is about as good as you will get without taking apart the car. Right up to the edge as close as possible. The other areas like where the hood opens or the doors, yes you can tuck there because you can open those panels and get the film around the edge. Not a great example of a bad install at all hopefully that helps!
Interesting video. Was contemplating PPF for soon to be received GR86. Full front, rockers and full back bumper primarily to protect back wheel area) was going to cost $3k. Was trying to avoid seams so doing more than I wanted. Now you have me second guessing it. Car is $35k.
@@crointhevette I hear what you are saying. It’s 10% of GR86 and only 5% of a car that cost $70k but the damage is still the same. Low car, New England weather. Lol. Full front is $1600, rockers and sills, $600 and back bumper $600. Suntek Ultra.
The only problem with not using pre cut is tight gaps like you show between the front bumper and right fender can't be tucked UNLESS body panels are removed. FYI that's not a BAD install. It is what it is for precut. If you don't like that pay the extra 1k to 3k to have the body panels removed and the PPF is then tucked.
Shows he has no idea what he’s talking about and calling that job “bad or atrocious” is idiotic. Especially after he praised them for wrapping everything else. Have fun trying to get a 7-10 mil thick piece of plastic tucked in that hairline gap and it not peeling over time.
I got a rock chip at the front of my hood in my Camry, wish I got ppf! Have the color matched paint pen ordered & will fix it soon, and then will look into local shops for myself for ppf.
That was very informative. I thought about ppf my white tesla but I might just go w/ cermaic coat. Adding ppf for just the bumper and in 2 yrs to see it yellow. Likely pass. Thanks.
One thing about pre-cut PPF, when you remove it years later, it digs into the clear coat. For example, I have a 2006 GTO that I had pre-cut 1/4 piece of the hood and fenders covered in PPF. I removed it several years later, and there is a line where the PFF was. No amount of compound wax will take out that line. I'm not sure even wet sanding would be a good idea.
PPF'ing a vinyl wrap is risky as the PPF can pull the wrap in corners on a complex bumper. When it comes to PPF, it's simple, if you care about the car and she's a keeper, PPF it.
Just got a used 2017 Range Rover, is it worth PPF? Good condition, very few if any rock chips. Considering bumper hood fenders headlights - company said they will paint correct before etc,. It’s a special order metallic grey want to be sure won’t dull the metallic shine, etc - Or do I just ceramic coat - opinion?
EXCELLENT review thanks a lot.... Would there be a damage after removing the PPF 7~10 years after installation? Many people mentioned it might rip off the paint beneath it. What are the other disadvantages of removing the PPF after the end of its life. I will be installing ( V-Kool ) PPF which is made by Eastman.
PPF "Durability" test - Go drive the 60 on the east side of Phx = PPF destroya!!! My 370z got PPF on entire front bumper and hood. It's now 9 years old - I have zero issues with dirt on the edges - then again - mine was xpel and I don't use car wax - only ceramic, and it's a dark blue in color. They did roll the edges on the front and sides of hood, but not the end by the front windshield. That's the only area where (my fault) a small spot lifted up. They did that and window tint for $1400... not bad.... I still get some rock chips but I think that's due to the PPF being so old and living in phx for a few years = your vehicle will be sandblasted if you're forced to commute.
Informative, thanks. How about re-doing part of a PPF? a year ago I had full front PPF and the front bumper is horrendous but the rest is ok. If I had an other shop re-do the bumper only, and they possibly used a different type of film, would it be noticeable (white car FYI).
I have a 370z Nismo and it has low miles (16k) but the paint is definitely not perfect. As a whole the car really isn’t bad. I’m not sure if it was ever polished, so hopefully it hasn’t been and I still have a good amount of clear coat. I might buy a paint thickness gauge to get an idea. But I want to keep this car forever, I just wish I had it when it was new for the reasons you mentioned with maintaining and preserving its paint well from the beginning, before it had a chance to get a rock chip. The thing is you could eventually get your car repainted for the amount you would save by not getting it ppfed. I mean you could literally take the $6-9k and invest it in whatever is safe and in 10 years when you would go to get your car ppf fixed you would have much more money and just get your car repainted and then ppfed and still have money left. I know collectors don’t like repainting but if you really never want to sell it, then it doesn’t matter what some collector values your car at.
Would you recommend vinyl wrap for accents on bmw grill? I want to put the 3 bmw colors on 3 bars in the front grill of my 2025 bmw x4 m40i. Car is white, grill is black. I just want to have a small color splash on my white car. Thanks. Great video, I learned a lot.
Thank you for sharing such useful information! Toyota is suggesting putting PPF on on only about a third of the hood, the door edge and the door handle cups. The SUV is a 2023 Highlander limited premium. They suggest this on a black rather than a white coloured SUV because they feel the black will show more scratches. Do you recommend this approach that Toyota is taking? With this SUV what would you recommend in terms of PPF, if any? DO recommend PPF on black vs white more?
Thank you for the enlightening info! A question I had was about Xpel. It seems to have a good reputation online however I am hearing that its precut. My C8 is being shipped from New Hampshire and their contractor only uses Xpel and now I am on the fence. The company Automotive Elegance has a great reputation however your insight to precut PPF and dirty edges gives me pause. I am in a rural area and wish I had more options near me. What are your thoughts on Xpel?
It depends if you drive your car daily especially on highway it’ll get rock chips unless just keep it in garage and drive it occasionally. Otherwise it’s a waste of money to have PPF! What do you think if just have another clear coat on the front bumper, fenders and the hood. I know it won’t protect as much as PPF but it might help to against small light chips and much cheaper. Thanks for the video.
This is one reason you should consider buying a car with a darker factory paint. The seems and door stills just show black and it looks 100% normal. You can now get PPF with color too.
I’m waiting to receive my ordered F150 Platinum. As soon as it arrives I’m having the entire front end wrapped in clear PPF. Then ceramic coating applied, and having front windows tinted to match the rear. In Canada Niagara Falls 20min from the Border. $4,400.00 Crazy expensive but I’ve recently retired and plan to keep the truck along time. I’m from the Collision Business (Painter) and find my 2021 F150 stone chips far too easy. I avoid trucks, don’t drive in gravel etc, yet the front end is chipped like crazy. I understand that if you throw a rock at any painted surface it’s going to chip, but my truck shows the tiniest chips I’ve ever seen, how does such a tiny stone chip the paint? The paint is incredibly thin, in some area on edges for example I can see through the black to the white ground coat.
I wanted to but one of the most experienced Bay Area shops was against it (they installed hundreds). The problem was you notice a bit of distortion while driving and isn’t worth it. I would avoid it
waiting delivery on new highly customized pana4 (aventurine green/marsala/grey paldao) - my bud who is all things cars strongly encourages full ppf and ceramic - although car will be low mileage it is a permanent keeper for me - but am concerned about ppf yellowing and seam issues even if the job is top notch - am a bit torn on what path to take - your vid is super informative and you are well spoken and appear quite knowledgeable - so, what would you say/do on ppf/ceramic? also, any suggestion to protect interior hard surfaces? many advance thanks!
I have fulll front film , its worth it Imo..it helps protect the front from bugs and poops. Yellowing are common in some film especially in white we have suntek hope it wont yelllow😂 we ceramic all our new SUV and its worth in terms of cleaning and shine slickness. All I had to do is soray a ceramic coat sealant after a cleaned wash.
I'm right in that range where it kind of makes sense, kind of doesn't. 2023 model s... $2k to ppf the whole front, $1k for ceramic. I got one rock chip on my model 3 a bit up the hood the 5 years I owned it, and I stopped noticing it a bit after I filled it in with the paint repair kit (although you could obviously definitely still find it). Kinda leaning towards nah, even though I'll keep it for a minimum of 5 years. Can almost get a new hood + paint for that cost if it came down to it.
I wouldn’t do that, chances are when you do trade/ sell it back, the rock chips on the front etc won’t devalue your car as much as you think. I’d save the money if I were you.
Hey, great video! I am planning to get a 911 with white metallic color, would you still recommend the PPF? Or anything else? Also I love to see the rain drops sitting on my car, would water not stay on the car at all after PPF?
Thanks for posting this! Do you have any experience with Ceramic Pro Kavaca ppf? Apparently they have the ceramic coat already on the ppf so you don’t need to have it ceramic coated. I’m also in the Bay Area…any good installer recommendations in the Walnut Creek area?? Thanks!
Hi enjoyed your video. I just purchased a 2024 ford GT Mustang $60,000. The Livermore CA installer Luxtint is asking $7,500 for a full body custom PPF install. he said $2,400 for the hood and fenders. What do you think? I considering DIY with Pre cut material which is costly also. I've also considering doing nothing but I love the car and it's already survived an Egg throwing attack. What should I do? I also want to know about your window tint on the white porsche. thanks
Have a new M240 plan on using it as a daily, highway driving maybe 2-3 days every other week. I also live in the upper northeastern region, do you think its worth the ppf or ceramic coat?
The areas you showed on the front bumper of the Porsche could not be tucked… there’s no where to tuck the film. And, the corvette is vinyl wrapped.. not PPF
I asked the installer for a custom cut with tucked edges. They told me that it was all going to be cut from one sheet. When I picked up the car it was all pre cut. The edges under the hood were all fingers and looked horrible.
What do you think about a full body matte ppf (proper quality) on a 24 model 3 performance for 3400$. Do you think it’s worth it if I’m keeping the car 6+ years?
Thank you, this is a great video. Very informative. I'm due to get a Tesla model 3 soon (metallic blue). As a minimum, I'm thinking of getting a Graphene coating. I'm also thinking about getting ppf on the front end only (bumper, bonnet, fenders, mirrors). I do a lot of highway driving. I've never used ppf before so I'm wondering if it's worth it
Thanks for sharing your opinions on what you would wrap vs not. What about a $60k Supra? I plan to keep it for at least 8 years maybe forever. I know this specific car and all low cars are more susceptible to rock chips. Let me know what you think 👍
i have a 2023 brz and i want to coat it with ppf protection film all over the car. I believe that the best currently on the market is xpel. What do you recommend? Should I put fusion, ultimate plus or ultimate plus 10 for better protection? The fusion has been around since 2022. Should I choose the tried and tested ultimate plus?
I would say certainly, atleast front portion. Even small things can scratch the car. My friends kid played with his toy car , that toy cars wheel put visible swirls that did not go away. a bird drop can chew through the paint or can scratch during car wash. Sometime we slightly brush against garage walls. All those small things can put a mark permanently. Of course if there is a big collision the ppf won’t make a huge difference but that’s ok , it’s these small things that occurs very often.
How do you go about the rear badges? I want a full wrap but I want to retain the badging. I worry about a precut area for the badge retaining dirt over time
I plan on keeping my model 3 performance for at least a decade if not more, and it will also be my daily driver, so whole car protection is definitely going on. Sure, the Porché is $130K and the Tesla is $72K - doesn't matter if you're going to keep both for more than a decade, you should still fully cover both.
What will be your recommendation on a 2024 BMW I5 M60 matte deep grey paint? I'm new to all this PPF stuff. I'm concerned about using soap and water to apply the PPF. Will it leave residue on the matte paint?
When you get a ppf on a matte paint finish, you’ll need matte PPF applied. I recommend XPEL STEALTH PPF. As for washing, soap and water will do just fine (won’t leave residue of any sort)
1. What brand is your PPF film 2. What warranties do you provide as an installer if something goes wrong (yellowing, cracks, peeling) 3. Do you use a pre cut kit or tuck in the edges?
Thanks for video. QUESTION: I am picking up new 2025 Cayman this week. My usual PPF installer just switched from Xpel to LLUMAR VALOR. I have only used Xpel in past and I know Xpel is thicker. Should I find another installer and stick with Xpel? Why or why not?
@@COZNA yeah I would because the thickness really does matter. You don’t want to have your PPF get pierced. I had llumar in the past and I personally didn’t like it
@@crointhevette I questioned the installer about thickness and he claims Lamar Platinum is thicker at 8.1 mils vs Xpels approximately 7 mils.....I have no idea.
Hi, yes you can. That’s a even better option since ceramic makes the car much easier to clean. Just keep in mind after a few years the ceramic could wear off and you will need to re apply it.
Awesome data. On a new build, 2023 camaro ZL1, would you recommend a full wrap and ceramic coating? Also, in the Orlando area, do you have any affiliates or bodyshop suggestions?
For a car like the ZL1 and being brand new I would do just the whole front end with ceramic. Full car is only worth it if you will keep this build forever and/or heavily track it. I’m not sure about the Orlando area (don’t know anyone out there) cheers!
I'm awaiting my 2023 Full Loaded F-350 Red King Ranch to be built oct- dec. I'm thinking, I want the entire truck done to not see the seams 105k. Should I go with 2 coats of Ceramic on top or one? Only 400.00 difference. Price to do the front, full hood, rocker panels mirrors and headlights 2779.00. the front bumper and back bumper are both chrome and can't be done neither can the tail gate as it is a full chrome with the king ranch logo.
I was wondering about this as well and not to say your wrong tucking is what i wish i got on my wrap i have found that a clay bar and some detail spray works for maintaining the dirt on the edges in fact it removes it completely now it will take an hour to do the car but it keeps that build up down completely.
2 questions: 1. How many different brands/materials types of PPF are there (& which one is the best)? 2. Would ceramic coating the car once be enough over the 10 years or would you have to ceramic coat every once in a while?
@lewislevits1193 That advice to forego PPF may very well be good if you live in warm, temperate parts of the country. I live in Montana and both in cities and on Interstates and secondary highways city public works depts and the MDOT use gravel everywhere. In town it's mixed with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to melt snowpack and ice at intersections and on busy arterials. That is a double whammy-damage from gravel and corrosion from the chemicals. The chemicals are sticky and combine with the gravel which goes everywhere. Just about everyone gets a new windshield every few years. Vehicles get hammered in town and also in winter driving on highways or when snowplows pass going the opposite direction scattering and blowing gravel. There is no way to protect against that. When spring arrives, you still have gravel everywhere that is removed by street cleaners in town but left to be scattered by wind and vehicle traffic on highways. if you have a nice or new (er) vehicle in Montana at least a full front PPF is essential. Or, just garage the nice vehicle and buy a beater and drive it in winter. Good luck when that breaks down in February at -20 in Wisdom, MT.
Hi, What happens when the ppf comes to the end of its life?Is it gonna tear or change colour or something else?How do we know that the ppf I put in my car 10 years ago is expiring?What are the indications?
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My GT4 has a full body install of xpel ultimate and it is absolutely worth it. Its been on the car for 7 years now and it still looks great and has saved the paint twice where the wrap got damaged but the paint had no damage. It is very easy to wash the car, and not having to worry about making swirl marks on the paint is a huge plus. If you can afford it, its worth every penny.
I make semi regular trips between Phoenix and L.A. and if you know anything about DRIVING FAST THROUGH THE DESERT WOULD KNOWVYOU DONT NEED A CAR OR TRUCK IN FRONT OF YOU TO GET ROCK CHIPS . Not only that , washing the car takes a forth of the time it takes on a car without PPF, i never have swirls marks on the paint and the PPF has a ten year warranty. If you knew anything about what your talking about , you wouldnt be a hater.@lewislevits1193
Thanks for an honest, comprehensive video that points out both benefits and warnings about PPFs. Completely believable and informative. Pointing out the pitfalls (tucking in the edges) and shortcomings (film yellowing) are important things to point out to those considering such a job on their cars. Thanks again.
You’re welcome, good luck and if you have anymore questions let me know
Thank you for your advice. Ive just received delivery of an s650 GT and you really put things into perspective. Much thanks and Happy New Year!!
L.R.
This was perhaps the shortest most informative video on ppf that I have seen. I’m in the process of getting a Tesla Model Y and I “might” do (at most) a partial ppf on the front end. On the other hand, I don’t drive that much and when I do, it’s in the city not usually on the highway. I’m wondering if even a partial ppf is worth the money.
Personally on your car I wouldn’t do it, eventually chips will occur and don’t ever let that bother you. City driving you’ll probably never get big enough rock chips for it to be worth it especially if you don’t drive all that much
@@crointhevette I was on the fence about it and your comment just knocked me off. No ppf for me. Thanks!
Agreed! Very concise 👍
Nice meers on the Porsche
PPF absolutely worth it to me. Just had PPF removed from a 2007 911 turbo. Paint looks brand new. New PPF placed. Amazing how yellow the PPF looked after removed after 15 years! You couldn’t tell while it was on car, but when removed looked like a used condom.
@lewislevits1193 what state do you live in? How far of a distance do you expect to keep from traffic? And do you not have flying insects with hard exoskeletons where you live? Do you drive behind the bugs too? Almost one of the stupidest comments I’ve seen. I’ll spend my 5k on PPF, you can spend yours on a car.
@lewislevits1193my wife and I buy our cars new, and keep them 12-15 years. It makes us feel good to care for things we worked really hard to get. My motorcycle I bought new in 2016 still looks new and gets many compliments on the condition. It makes me feel good. 😊
What color is your car? If it were white, I'm sure you would notice it? 2 ppf installs has to cost about the same as a full body paint job right? I was quoted $3000-4000 for just the front clip in stealth ppf (matte) on my 2017 c63s amg
@@SMack-mj2bp midnight blue metallic
@@SMack-mj2bp as much as a full body paint? Hardly. Painting a 2007 911 turbo that has 23,000 miles, and is 100% stock, is suicide to the cars value. Also would cost way more than having 2 PPF installs
I've run XPEL PPF on all of my vehicles for a long time now, some full front and some full vehicle.
In my experience it is worth it but the details come down to the prep work of the installation.
Great comprehensive review though, appreciate it.
XPEL is the way to go. Crazy clarity
I purchased a new Land Cruiser a few years ago. I shopped around for prices, averaged $8k. I knew it was A LOT of work but, in my mind I was like GTFOH.
I bought the Xpel myself and did my entire SUV for $1200, 3’ sheet. It’s not perfect or horrible and does the job, you wouldn’t know unless you walked up to it.
I did do my SUV in the winter and outdoors, it was a nightmare but, I wanted it protected.
I will admit I had to get the hood redone professionally, because they’re the only one who will have a 6’ sheet. That cost me $600.
I have an 2011 Maxima A pillar still wrapped in Xpel, still hasn’t yellowed going on 13 yrs.
Xpel is the way to go!!!
Great overall round up about the pro's and con's of getting PPF on your car.
Like everything in life there are swings and roundabouts with everything.
I think the idea of looking at what your car is roughly worth and of course how long you plan
on keeping it for, will play a very big part in what decision you take.
Oh and well done for having two cracking looking cars there, both sports cars but both
give you a different feel and way of going down the road.
I think it's the most honest review about this topic and yes, if I had GT4 I would keep it for life time, unfortunately in my country it's an $308K
How much someone PPFs, at least in my opinion, doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to the financial value of the car. A car may not be 6 figures in price, but the car could be just as important to an individual as a more expensive one is to someone else…It’s a relative…Good video…
A lot of people say they're going to PPF because they're "never going to sell" their cars. I've been around for a while. I've had multiple vehicles that I said I would "never sell" and they all got sold at some point. Longest I've ever kept a car was 14 years and it was definitely a car I never wanted to sell, but at some point in life, depending on your situation, you come to the realization that keeping a depreciating object in your garage or driveway (OK, maybe not Porsches, which tend to appreciate - if you don't drive them much) just doesn't make sense anymore. You can't predict a lot of life changes that would preclude you from keeping a car and there's always that bright, new, shiny object that makes that old beater less and less attractive no matter how much nostalgia it may provide. With that being said, when it comes to PPF, you are going to pay dearly for a job well done and if you don't, it's going to look like crap and even the best installs have their flaws.... many more flaws than the factory paint will ever show.
Good point and you’re right.
Hello from Chicago. Just saw your video on PPF. Thanks for the video. I was thinking of offering PPF to customers. After seeing this video, probably not. By the way, you have excellent communication skills.
Thanks!
When doing a custom cut, there's always the chance of the installer damaging the paint.. whereas precut is a bit uglier although does the trick
Yea they cut into the paint with the razor blade
Very nice and thoroughly presented. I'm taking delivery of a 2025 NX350h next week (1/6/25). The material is XPEL Ultimate Plus. Is that a good product? I never knew there was custom and precut, so I definitely learned something! Thank you very much. Great information presented and easy-to-understand.
impressive clarity, thank you
Great video. My 2019 Porsche Cayenne S was 43 k out the door. I still spent 7k on PPF and ceramic coating. It came with full front wrapped and nicely wrapped. So I added full door PPF? A trim with roof trim, rear bumper, headlights and then had paint correction with ceramic coating done. It’s at the shop now and I’m excited to get it!
7k wow!!! Im paying 3,500 for basically the same thing you are getting
@ where are you located. My almost full clear PPF WRAP, changes rims from silver and made them black powered coated wheels, changed calipers to red, then had entire car ceramic coated. I was at $7500 out the door.
Thanks definitely enlightening. I bought a used model 3 and was looking at ppf and tinting but due to costs was wondering what to do. Has a few tiny chips and some scratches already so didn't know if I should do ppf or not. It's expensive to me but realistically what you said made sense. I'll just use it as a car, clean it often and hand wash, touch up small paint damages, and get it tinted for uv+appearance instead! I'll likely drive it 5-6 years and then sell/trade and get a newer tesla or other car at the time. Thanks!
Thank You this was incredibly informative and helpful 😊. I can now cool my jets about the PPF. Your formula sealed the deal and also I have a white vehicle 🤔. Great info! Thanks a million! 👍🏾🙏🏾😊
Good video
Answers more questions then most -‘pro’ videos 👍
Thanks. Very informative. Points to ponder for sure, especially car value vs cost.
here's the thing that most people don't think about. You actually need the seems to show. It means when time comes to replace the PPF, you don't have to take off panels and run into breaking clups, or clip holders. As cars age, ppf tend to yellow or stain. Also plastic becomes brittle and harder to take off without breaking.
thanks for the info, been going back and forth on PPF for my '23 M340i. I know it's not a 6 figure car so I just ended up getting the high impact areas like you suggested (full front, partial roof, rocker panels). Prob not the smartest financial decision but I want my car looking pristine for as long as possible!
I did the same in the past my c6 Z06 I did the front bumper headlights half the hood the a arms and mirrors with above the windshield . it worked great . My c7 Z06 is full PPF self healing so far amazing
Don’t do a partial roof. Full roof is the way to go specially if you have a white vehicle like myself!
Thanks from Australia 🇦🇺 great information!!!!
Very informative video, i just did the Partial Clip for $1200 for my Lexus TX500h
That example at 1:28 is not an example of a bad job at all. You can't tuck the PPF into where the bumper and fender meet. Only way would be too remove the bumper. I don't know about you but I don't want my car taken apart for a sacrificial layer of film. That is about as good as you will get without taking apart the car. Right up to the edge as close as possible. The other areas like where the hood opens or the doors, yes you can tuck there because you can open those panels and get the film around the edge. Not a great example of a bad install at all hopefully that helps!
Yes you can, a good installer loosens the bumper to create a gap to wrap the ppf into.
Interesting video. Was contemplating PPF for soon to be received GR86. Full front, rockers and full back bumper primarily to protect back wheel area) was going to cost $3k.
Was trying to avoid seams so doing more than I wanted.
Now you have me second guessing it. Car is $35k.
Yeah skip it, if anything just do bumper at the very most.
@@crointhevette I hear what you are saying. It’s 10% of GR86 and only 5% of a car that cost $70k but the damage is still the same. Low car, New England weather. Lol. Full front is $1600, rockers and sills, $600 and back bumper $600. Suntek Ultra.
Get as much PPF as you can afford
@lewislevits1193 you got paint chips under the PPF? Are you following gravel trucks. Lol.
Nice tips THANKS A LOT !
That's how youtubers SHOULD BE !
The only problem with not using pre cut is tight gaps like you show between the front bumper and right fender can't be tucked UNLESS body panels are removed. FYI that's not a BAD install. It is what it is for precut. If you don't like that pay the extra 1k to 3k to have the body panels removed and the PPF is then tucked.
Thank you! Honestly calling the Porsche dress a bad install is literally not right! His car is literally good!
@@lanenalyann2931 You need to re-read my comment. I said, "that's not a BAD install."
Shows he has no idea what he’s talking about and calling that job “bad or atrocious” is idiotic. Especially after he praised them for wrapping everything else. Have fun trying to get a 7-10 mil thick piece of plastic tucked in that hairline gap and it not peeling over time.
@@cailebradham9139 Are you guys illiterate. I did NOT say it was a bad install. I said, "that's not a BAD install".
Guy, they’re not talking about you, they’re talking about the RUclipsr.
I got a rock chip at the front of my hood in my Camry, wish I got ppf! Have the color matched paint pen ordered & will fix it soon, and then will look into local shops for myself for ppf.
That was very informative. I thought about ppf my white tesla but I might just go w/ cermaic coat. Adding ppf for just the bumper and in 2 yrs to see it yellow. Likely pass. Thanks.
Good vid and nice rides!
Great video. Thanks for the breakdown.
One thing about pre-cut PPF, when you remove it years later, it digs into the clear coat. For example, I have a 2006 GTO that I had pre-cut 1/4 piece of the hood and fenders covered in PPF. I removed it several years later, and there is a line where the PFF was. No amount of compound wax will take out that line. I'm not sure even wet sanding would be a good idea.
PPF'ing a vinyl wrap is risky as the PPF can pull the wrap in corners on a complex bumper.
When it comes to PPF, it's simple, if you care about the car and she's a keeper, PPF it.
Just got a used 2017 Range Rover, is it worth PPF? Good condition, very few if any rock chips. Considering bumper hood fenders headlights - company said they will paint correct before etc,. It’s a special order metallic grey want to be sure won’t dull the metallic shine, etc - Or do I just ceramic coat - opinion?
I enjoy your videos, thanks for posting.
Did a full PPF on my M240i from new. If you have a sports car then I’d recommend it.
Great video and advice. Thx
EXCELLENT review thanks a lot.... Would there be a damage after removing the PPF 7~10 years after installation? Many people mentioned it might rip off the paint beneath it. What are the other disadvantages of removing the PPF after the end of its life. I will be installing ( V-Kool ) PPF which is made by Eastman.
PPF "Durability" test - Go drive the 60 on the east side of Phx = PPF destroya!!! My 370z got PPF on entire front bumper and hood. It's now 9 years old - I have zero issues with dirt on the edges - then again - mine was xpel and I don't use car wax - only ceramic, and it's a dark blue in color. They did roll the edges on the front and sides of hood, but not the end by the front windshield. That's the only area where (my fault) a small spot lifted up. They did that and window tint for $1400... not bad.... I still get some rock chips but I think that's due to the PPF being so old and living in phx for a few years = your vehicle will be sandblasted if you're forced to commute.
Informative, thanks. How about re-doing part of a PPF? a year ago I had full front PPF and the front bumper is horrendous but the rest is ok. If I had an other shop re-do the bumper only, and they possibly used a different type of film, would it be noticeable (white car FYI).
@@nicoscoolvids it should be fine, you won’t notice especially on white paint
I have a 370z Nismo and it has low miles (16k) but the paint is definitely not perfect. As a whole the car really isn’t bad. I’m not sure if it was ever polished, so hopefully it hasn’t been and I still have a good amount of clear coat. I might buy a paint thickness gauge to get an idea. But I want to keep this car forever, I just wish I had it when it was new for the reasons you mentioned with maintaining and preserving its paint well from the beginning, before it had a chance to get a rock chip. The thing is you could eventually get your car repainted for the amount you would save by not getting it ppfed. I mean you could literally take the $6-9k and invest it in whatever is safe and in 10 years when you would go to get your car ppf fixed you would have much more money and just get your car repainted and then ppfed and still have money left. I know collectors don’t like repainting but if you really never want to sell it, then it doesn’t matter what some collector values your car at.
Would you recommend vinyl wrap for accents on bmw grill? I want to put the 3 bmw colors on 3 bars in the front grill of my 2025 bmw x4 m40i. Car is white, grill is black. I just want to have a small color splash on my white car. Thanks. Great video, I learned a lot.
Thank you for sharing such useful information! Toyota is suggesting putting PPF on on only about a third of the hood, the door edge and the door handle cups. The SUV is a 2023 Highlander limited premium. They suggest this on a black rather than a white coloured SUV because they feel the black will show more scratches. Do you recommend this approach that Toyota is taking? With this SUV what would you recommend in terms of PPF, if any? DO recommend PPF on black vs white more?
Thank you for the enlightening info! A question I had was about Xpel. It seems to have a good reputation online however I am hearing that its precut. My C8 is being shipped from New Hampshire and their contractor only uses Xpel and now I am on the fence. The company Automotive Elegance has a great reputation however your insight to precut PPF and dirty edges gives me pause. I am in a rural area and wish I had more options near me. What are your thoughts on Xpel?
Thanks for a most informative video! What are your toughts about a SunTek wrap on a new car? Thanks!
I would stay away from SunTek as i had it on my previous vehicle and it yellowed like crazy. STEK (not suntek) or xpel would be a better bet.
It depends if you drive your car daily especially on highway it’ll get rock chips unless just keep it in garage and drive it occasionally. Otherwise it’s a waste of money to have PPF! What do you think if just have another clear coat on the front bumper, fenders and the hood. I know it won’t protect as much as PPF but it might help to against small light chips and much cheaper. Thanks for the video.
This is one reason you should consider buying a car with a darker factory paint. The seems and door stills just show black and it looks 100% normal. You can now get PPF with color too.
I’m waiting to receive my ordered F150 Platinum.
As soon as it arrives I’m having the entire front end wrapped in clear PPF.
Then ceramic coating applied, and having front windows tinted to match the rear.
In Canada Niagara Falls 20min from the Border.
$4,400.00
Crazy expensive but I’ve recently retired and plan to keep the truck along time.
I’m from the Collision Business (Painter) and find my 2021 F150 stone chips far too easy.
I avoid trucks, don’t drive in gravel etc, yet the front end is chipped like crazy.
I understand that if you throw a rock at any painted surface it’s going to chip, but my truck shows the tiniest chips I’ve ever seen, how does such a tiny stone chip the paint?
The paint is incredibly thin, in some area on edges for example I can see through the black to the white ground coat.
Do you think you will ppf the windshield? Might be illegal here in CA but could be worth it.
I wanted to but one of the most experienced Bay Area shops was against it (they installed hundreds). The problem was you notice a bit of distortion while driving and isn’t worth it. I would avoid it
Nice cars! Appreciate the info 👍
waiting delivery on new highly customized pana4 (aventurine green/marsala/grey paldao) - my bud who is all things cars strongly encourages full ppf and ceramic - although car will be low mileage it is a permanent keeper for me - but am concerned about ppf yellowing and seam issues even if the job is top notch - am a bit torn on what path to take - your vid is super informative and you are well spoken and appear quite knowledgeable - so, what would you say/do on ppf/ceramic? also, any suggestion to protect interior hard surfaces? many advance thanks!
thank you, super helpful video :)
Thinking of buying a new 4runner. If I do light off roading should I wrap the whole car in your opinion? Or just the hood etc?
I recently bought 2025 Acura RDX A spec with advance package. Do you suggest ppf and/or ceramic coating?
So many risks for chips on the sides when on the highway. I'd probably cover the sides as well as the hood/front bumper/A-pillar.
Does PPF prevent or help with door dings or if some guy parallel parking next to you hits into your rear bumper?
Like your Porsche. 👍🏾
I have fulll front film , its worth it Imo..it helps protect the front from bugs and poops. Yellowing are common in some film especially in white we have suntek hope it wont yelllow😂 we ceramic all our new SUV and its worth in terms of cleaning and shine slickness. All I had to do is soray a ceramic coat sealant after a cleaned wash.
I'm right in that range where it kind of makes sense, kind of doesn't. 2023 model s... $2k to ppf the whole front, $1k for ceramic. I got one rock chip on my model 3 a bit up the hood the 5 years I owned it, and I stopped noticing it a bit after I filled it in with the paint repair kit (although you could obviously definitely still find it). Kinda leaning towards nah, even though I'll keep it for a minimum of 5 years. Can almost get a new hood + paint for that cost if it came down to it.
I wouldn’t do that, chances are when you do trade/ sell it back, the rock chips on the front etc won’t devalue your car as much as you think. I’d save the money if I were you.
Hey, great video! I am planning to get a 911 with white metallic color, would you still recommend the PPF? Or anything else? Also I love to see the rain drops sitting on my car, would water not stay on the car at all after PPF?
Doesn’t PPF protect against car wash Swirl marks by “self healing” when exposed to heat/sun? That seems like a great benefit!
Thanks for posting this! Do you have any experience with Ceramic Pro Kavaca ppf? Apparently they have the ceramic coat already on the ppf so you don’t need to have it ceramic coated. I’m also in the Bay Area…any good installer recommendations in the Walnut Creek area?? Thanks!
Hi enjoyed your video. I just purchased a 2024 ford GT Mustang $60,000. The Livermore CA installer Luxtint is asking $7,500 for a full body custom PPF install. he said $2,400 for the hood and fenders. What do you think? I considering DIY with Pre cut material which is costly also. I've also considering doing nothing but I love the car and it's already survived an Egg throwing attack. What should I do? I also want to know about your window tint on the white porsche. thanks
Have a new M240 plan on using it as a daily, highway driving maybe 2-3 days every other week. I also live in the upper northeastern region, do you think its worth the ppf or ceramic coat?
Great video! When do you recommend just a ceramic coating on cars?
The areas you showed on the front bumper of the Porsche could not be tucked… there’s no where to tuck the film.
And, the corvette is vinyl wrapped.. not PPF
I asked the installer for a custom cut with tucked edges. They told me that it was all going to be cut from one sheet. When I picked up the car it was all pre cut. The edges under the hood were all fingers and looked horrible.
What do you think about a full body matte ppf (proper quality) on a 24 model 3 performance for 3400$. Do you think it’s worth it if I’m keeping the car 6+ years?
Would you PPF a new Z4 40i BMW? Thanks.
Question: Have you been installing clear PPF on your headlights too?
Thank you, this is a great video. Very informative. I'm due to get a Tesla model 3 soon (metallic blue). As a minimum, I'm thinking of getting a Graphene coating. I'm also thinking about getting ppf on the front end only (bumper, bonnet, fenders, mirrors). I do a lot of highway driving. I've never used ppf before so I'm wondering if it's worth it
The coating will help for washes and ppf on front end only is all you need.
Very informative!!! Thanks
He doesn’t know what he’s talking about tbh , that front bumper part around 1:40 is actually great
What about full body PPF to change from gloss to matte?
Thanks for sharing your opinions on what you would wrap vs not. What about a $60k Supra? I plan to keep it for at least 8 years maybe forever. I know this specific car and all low cars are more susceptible to rock chips. Let me know what you think 👍
@@DavidGonzalez-fk8lp yeah I would do just the front end and rocker panels
i have a 2023 brz and i want to coat it with ppf protection film all over the car. I believe that the best currently on the market is xpel. What do you recommend? Should I put fusion, ultimate plus or ultimate plus 10 for better protection? The fusion has been around since 2022. Should I choose the tried and tested ultimate plus?
I would say certainly, atleast front portion. Even small things can scratch the car. My friends kid played with his toy car , that toy cars wheel put visible swirls that did not go away. a bird drop can chew through the paint or can scratch during car wash. Sometime we slightly brush against garage walls. All those small things can put a mark permanently. Of course if there is a big collision the ppf won’t make a huge difference but that’s ok , it’s these small things that occurs very often.
Good point
What is the price for removing PPF? Do you recommend PPF or vinyl if you plan on trading it in the next 3-5 years? Tesla model 3.
What about from the factory? Considering this for a new ranger
Would you recommend getting ppf on piano black on the exterior of the vehicle ?
@@alvinmanigault6990 absolutely piano black is very prone to swirls
How do you go about the rear badges? I want a full wrap but I want to retain the badging. I worry about a precut area for the badge retaining dirt over time
I plan on keeping my model 3 performance for at least a decade if not more, and it will also be my daily driver, so whole car protection is definitely going on. Sure, the Porché is $130K and the Tesla is $72K - doesn't matter if you're going to keep both for more than a decade, you should still fully cover both.
What will be your recommendation on a 2024 BMW I5 M60 matte deep grey paint? I'm new to all this PPF stuff. I'm concerned about using soap and water to apply the PPF. Will it leave residue on the matte paint?
When you get a ppf on a matte paint finish, you’ll need matte PPF applied. I recommend XPEL STEALTH PPF. As for washing, soap and water will do just fine (won’t leave residue of any sort)
What should I look for or questions to ask when selecting an installer?
1. What brand is your PPF film
2. What warranties do you provide as an installer if something goes wrong (yellowing, cracks, peeling)
3. Do you use a pre cut kit or tuck in the edges?
Thanks for video. QUESTION: I am picking up new 2025 Cayman this week. My usual PPF installer just switched from Xpel to LLUMAR VALOR. I have only used Xpel in past and I know Xpel is thicker. Should I find another installer and stick with Xpel? Why or why not?
@@COZNA yeah I would because the thickness really does matter. You don’t want to have your PPF get pierced. I had llumar in the past and I personally didn’t like it
@@crointhevette I questioned the installer about thickness and he claims Lamar Platinum is thicker at 8.1 mils vs Xpels approximately 7 mils.....I have no idea.
@ upon research that is true, so you will be just fine with llumar 👍
Thanks for the Video, Its very helpful. I have a model Y. Can I apply ceramic coating on entire car while I get only full front PPF?
Hi, yes you can. That’s a even better option since ceramic makes the car much easier to clean. Just keep in mind after a few years the ceramic could wear off and you will need to re apply it.
Awesome data. On a new build, 2023 camaro ZL1, would you recommend a full wrap and ceramic coating? Also, in the Orlando area, do you have any affiliates or bodyshop suggestions?
For a car like the ZL1 and being brand new I would do just the whole front end with ceramic. Full car is only worth it if you will keep this build forever and/or heavily track it. I’m not sure about the Orlando area (don’t know anyone out there) cheers!
I'm awaiting my 2023 Full Loaded F-350 Red King Ranch to be built oct- dec. I'm thinking, I want the entire truck done to not see the seams 105k. Should I go with 2 coats of Ceramic on top or one? Only 400.00 difference. Price to do the front, full hood, rocker panels mirrors and headlights 2779.00. the front bumper and back bumper are both chrome and can't be done neither can the tail gate as it is a full chrome with the king ranch logo.
For $400 difference do two coats, you won’t regret it. The ceramic makes it so much easier to clean especially stacked over the paint protection film.
How long should ceramic coating last if you put it on top of the PPF? Or in general how long should ceramic coating last?
In theory it’s about 2-4 years depending on how many coats, conditions, etc. overall worth it
Is there a clear ppf?
If my car already has ceramic coating on it, will PPF still stick on top?
Spend and forget about it. Don't spend your time fretting about your choice.
The decision point is before purchase. Not sure how much more common sense is that.
I was wondering about this as well and not to say your wrong tucking is what i wish i got on my wrap i have found that a clay bar and some detail spray works for maintaining the dirt on the edges in fact it removes it completely now it will take an hour to do the car but it keeps that build up down completely.
Is XPEL a good company or the best company in this area of car protection?
Awesome vid man! What do you do for a living if you don’t mind me asking? Thanks!
Can you recommend a good wrapping place? I am located in Orange County, CA. Thank you.
2 questions:
1. How many different brands/materials types of PPF are there (& which one is the best)?
2. Would ceramic coating the car once be enough over the 10 years or would you have to ceramic coat every once in a while?
1. STEK (best clarity, least orange peel, top tier but not best protection)
2. Every 1-3 years depending on what you get and how you treat it.
@lewislevits1193 That advice to forego PPF may very well be good if you live in warm, temperate parts of the country. I live in Montana and both in cities and on Interstates and secondary highways city public works depts and the MDOT use gravel everywhere. In town it's mixed with calcium chloride or magnesium chloride to melt snowpack and ice at intersections and on busy arterials. That is a double whammy-damage from gravel and corrosion from the chemicals. The chemicals are sticky and combine with the gravel which goes everywhere. Just about everyone gets a new windshield every few years. Vehicles get hammered in town and also in winter driving on highways or when snowplows pass going the opposite direction scattering and blowing gravel. There is no way to protect against that. When spring arrives, you still have gravel everywhere that is removed by street cleaners in town but left to be scattered by wind and vehicle traffic on highways. if you have a nice or new (er) vehicle in Montana at least a full front PPF is essential. Or, just garage the nice vehicle and buy a beater and drive it in winter. Good luck when that breaks down in February at -20 in Wisdom, MT.
Hi,
What happens when the ppf comes to the end of its life?Is it gonna tear or change colour or something else?How do we know that the ppf I put in my car 10 years ago is expiring?What are the indications?
great break down.