To PPF or not to PPF

[serbiansizzle]

For those that have done the PPF, what did the installer do around all the openings in the painted part under the grill? The potential installer I was going to go with said they wouldn't be able to wrap the film into the holes, but it would be flush on the surface, so I guess in theory a rock could make it way into them and damage some of the paint in there.

Not sure how well you can see it in this picture, but those slits below are covered and you can tell where they’ve made incisions. It’s not 100% but I’d say 90% of that opening and the inside of the opening is covered and the only exposures are on the sides, which I’m OK with.

 

[SFLGX]

Thank you for that. I'm going to have to see if they can do something similar. With mine being Nori I think the seams should be mostly invisible.

 

[serbiansizzle]

Thank you for that. I'm going to have to see if they can do something similar. With mine being Nori I think the seams should be mostly invisible.

I think it will be more apparent but you'd have to really get down there to notice those cut incisions. It's not like its a line running across the hood, and I am not sure how much better of a job you could do with an area like that.

 

[AtomicEric]

My PPF was done similar as well. Looks like they covered the upward facing part of the grill slot and the webbing. It noes not look like they folded any material on the vertical slots.

 

[Sixgun95]

Mine will never dirt, lol. Front end all PPF, Feynlabs ceramic, Xpel windshield protection. Best urban vehicle ever.

 

[AtomicEric]

I thought the same but mine is dirty and needs a bath soon.

 

[SaltWaterLife]

I always PPF due to the crazy amount of highway driving. I have a 10yr old BMW that still has SunTek PPF on it and it looks AMAZING. No chips anywhere, it was money well spent! I took the GX to the shop with 60 miles on it do front PPF, door cups, pillars, and black roof. Xpel now offers black gloss PPF that looks like paint and matches perfectly with the rear spoiler.

Every installer is different and each uses different brand materials. You get what you pay for, plain and simple. If installers are still using blades, it should only be limited to bulk wrap sections where corners are tucked and hidden away. Everything else can be made in a pre-cut pattern and extended to wrap around edges.

Taillights were removed to get the rear bumper edges all hidden. Headliner was dropped to remove roof rails in order to do the black top with no seams or white paint showing through.

Did you do the pillars black as well? Would love to see pics if you have them!

 

[L-GX550-P]

No pillars, just the roof only. I was debating on that but decided not to become a Range Rover ...View attachment 15359

 

[SaltWaterLife]

Thanks! Super helpful! I need to make a call on getting the A-pillars done or not!

 

[L-GX550-P]

Some people here have done it. I've seen pictures of it before.

 

[L-GX550-P]

Mine will never dirt, lol. Front end all PPF, Feynlabs ceramic, Xpel windshield protection. Best urban vehicle ever.

What is Xpel windshield protection ??? Rock chips? I already had to visit Safelite for a repair.

 

[Sixgun95]

Its a laminate, I think acrylic, maybe wrong on that, they install on the window to protect it.

 

[Chapp]

I wouldn't go off-riding with PPF on

 

[dtg_]

No pillars, just the roof only. I was debating on that but decided not to become a Range Rover ...View attachment 15359
View attachment 15361View attachment 15363

I've seen combinations of front pillar only black, back pillar only black, and both pillars wrapped black and I still prefer the pillars to keep stock paint look.

 

[Jin_Chloe]

Hello,

I’m leaning towards PPF, but how long will it last until it needs to be replaced or peel them out? I live in the Chicago area, and I usually keep my vehicles for more than 10 years.

 

[Sixgun95]

Hello,

I’m leaning towards PPF, but how long will it last until it needs to be replaced or peel them out? I live in the Chicago area, and I usually keep my vehicles for more than 10 years.

Keep your car inside or outside?

 

[Jin_Chloe]

keeping in my garage overnight but not at the office…

 

[CostcoCurbHopper]

PPF and ceramic coating install is the biggest scam in the automotive industry if you don’t DIY. It’s not that hard to do either. For $6k-$8k installs, you might as well repaint the car.

 

[Sixgun95]

I love PPF, but I am OCD with my vehicles. I don't fully wrap my cars, I always do the full front end, lower rockers to rear end of car, and mirrors. I then have ceramic installed. If you are a skilled home enthusiast car detailer like me, ceramic is in your wheelhouse to do. Thinking you can do a DIY PPF install is laughable.

 

[CostcoCurbHopper]

I love PPF, but I am OCD with my vehicles. I don't fully wrap my cars, I always do the full front end, lower rockers to rear end of car, and mirrors. I then have ceramic installed. If you are a skilled home enthusiast car detailer like me, ceramic is in your wheelhouse to do. Thinking you can do a DIY PPF install is laughable.

Why is it laughable? I bulk installed the hood, front clip, and high impact areas on my RS5 and plan on doing the GX. The RS5 is more angular than the GX and it shouldn’t be that hard except the bulge on the hood.