Paint Protection Film (PPF) is that worth it?
06-30-20, 11:56 AM
#61
Racer
Thread Starter
The shop is backed up until July 14th so I guess I have to wait for them.
I guess I'll drive my other cars at the meantime
I guess I'll drive my other cars at the meantime
Last edited by websurfer; 06-30-20 at 09:17 PM.
06-30-20, 08:03 PM
#63
Lexus Fanatic
I'll never buy another car without it, and splurging for the full front is worth it over the 1/3rd. I had my GS done 1/3rd, and both of my LS's I've had the full front kit, and the full front is much nicer, seeing the line across the hood and fenders is a pain, and you still get chips above the line. With the full front kit done by a good installer, its all but invisible.
Now, set your expectation. You WILL get nicks and stuff in the film. The film is a sacrificial layer, and when big stones and things it it, they will leave a mark. On my liquid platinum LS I have probably 10 visible marks in 43,000 miles of driving, but the beauty is, you remove the film you remove the marks. Had I not had the film I'd have thousands of permanent marks.
Now, set your expectation. You WILL get nicks and stuff in the film. The film is a sacrificial layer, and when big stones and things it it, they will leave a mark. On my liquid platinum LS I have probably 10 visible marks in 43,000 miles of driving, but the beauty is, you remove the film you remove the marks. Had I not had the film I'd have thousands of permanent marks.
07-01-20, 03:53 AM
#64
It is good to know that I am not the only one that gets rock chips. I had written earlier that I swear I notice more scratches When washing it even though I hardly am driving it. I don’t know what Lexus will do on my next six month checkup and I have driven it 500 miles. Glad it is a free one to just get a snack and coffee.
07-01-20, 08:58 AM
#65
Racer
Thread Starter
It is good to know that I am not the only one that gets rock chips. I had written earlier that I swear I notice more scratches When washing it even though I hardly am driving it. I don’t know what Lexus will do on my next six month checkup and I have driven it 500 miles. Glad it is a free one to just get a snack and coffee.
I thought I was the only unlucky person to get so many rock chips on my vehicles.
07-01-20, 09:46 AM
#66
The new Xpel and some others are self healing in a nice hot sun or with a heat gun. Nice to have. They can be treated as your normal paint can be treated as well in the case of scratches and scuffs. So a VERY nice to have
07-01-20, 10:07 AM
#67
Driver School Candidate
While these 3M or other brands do help protect the hood to a certain limit. One problem that I had with 3M film was I removed it from my 2007 after 5 years, and the film was still glued hard to top of headlights, top of bumper and mirrors. It won't come off even with several peeling solutions. For my 2012 IS250, I used a different brand that was more expensive, and they had a "guarantee" for 7 years. This one was turning yellow after 3 years and when I tried to remove it, it came off from hood and bumper but were still sticking to the top of the headlights.
Even with the protective film, I had few dings on the hood. What protected my 2007 GX was the hood protector. It is chip/ ding free until now.
Even with the protective film, I had few dings on the hood. What protected my 2007 GX was the hood protector. It is chip/ ding free until now.
07-01-20, 10:26 AM
#68
Racer
Thread Starter
While these 3M or other brands do help protect the hood to a certain limit. One problem that I had with 3M film was I removed it from my 2007 after 5 years, and the film was still glued hard to top of headlights, top of bumper and mirrors. It won't come off even with several peeling solutions. For my 2012 IS250, I used a different brand that was more expensive, and they had a "guarantee" for 7 years. This one was turning yellow after 3 years and when I tried to remove it, it came off from hood and bumper but were still sticking to the top of the headlights.
Even with the protective film, I had few dings on the hood. What protected my 2007 GX was the hood protector. It is chip/ ding free until now.
Even with the protective film, I had few dings on the hood. What protected my 2007 GX was the hood protector. It is chip/ ding free until now.
If so, what's the experience with it?
Does the paint come off with the film?
07-01-20, 02:11 PM
#69
Totally worth it and don't get the lower $$ stuff, go for the good stuff.
When I bought my '12 ISF in 2013, the dealer had put PPF on the lower hood and side mirrors. When I got back home, I had my tint guy put his PPF on the front end. I just recently removed the dealer installed PPF (which was clearly a low grade product) from the hood and side mirrors due to yellowing, it looked like shiz. The PPF my tint guy installed? It's still crystal clear and looks new. The ISF will soon be back over to him to put back the PPF on the hood and side mirrors, then the car will be ceramic coated.
Cliff notes: Yes it's worth it and get the high end film.
When I bought my '12 ISF in 2013, the dealer had put PPF on the lower hood and side mirrors. When I got back home, I had my tint guy put his PPF on the front end. I just recently removed the dealer installed PPF (which was clearly a low grade product) from the hood and side mirrors due to yellowing, it looked like shiz. The PPF my tint guy installed? It's still crystal clear and looks new. The ISF will soon be back over to him to put back the PPF on the hood and side mirrors, then the car will be ceramic coated.
Cliff notes: Yes it's worth it and get the high end film.
07-01-20, 02:24 PM
#70
Lexus Fanatic
I know detailers that have removed it many times. Factory Paint wont come off with the film, repaints there's a possibility depending on how well it was done.
07-01-20, 04:57 PM
#71
Agreed. On a hot sunny day you can peel if off (carefully) or just take a hair dryer on high or heat gun on low. Just do yourself a favor and don't go and burn anything
07-01-20, 09:15 PM
#72
Advanced
Do not attempt diy ppf
Installer & assistant came to my place in Los Angeles at 10am for extensive PPF on an IS350 and didn't leave until 10pm 
DM me for Contact Info for Mark @ Starr Autoworks. They service the entire southern California at your place of residence or work, fully warranty their work, and have tons of celebrity customers! https://starrautoworks.com/clients/
DO NOT ATTEMPT DIY PPF unless you have lotsa experience - even SMALL PIECES often result in a huge train wreck, inconvenience, waste of materials, time, & moola $$$, etc.
DM me for Contact Info for Mark @ Starr Autoworks. They service the entire southern California at your place of residence or work, fully warranty their work, and have tons of celebrity customers!
https://starrautoworks.com/clients/DO NOT ATTEMPT DIY PPF unless you have lotsa experience - even SMALL PIECES often result in a huge train wreck, inconvenience, waste of materials, time, & moola $$$, etc.
Last edited by LaZeR; 07-01-20 at 10:00 PM.
07-01-20, 10:04 PM
#73
Advanced
07-02-20, 06:30 AM
#75
Pole Position
Installer & assistant came to my place in Los Angeles at 10am for extensive PPF on an IS350 and didn't leave until 10pm
DM me for Contact Info for Mark @ Starr Autoworks. They service the entire southern California at your place of residence or work, fully warranty their work, and have tons of celebrity customers! https://starrautoworks.com/clients/
DO NOT ATTEMPT DIY PPF unless you have lotsa experience - even SMALL PIECES often result in a huge train wreck, inconvenience, waste of materials, time, & moola $$$, etc.
DM me for Contact Info for Mark @ Starr Autoworks. They service the entire southern California at your place of residence or work, fully warranty their work, and have tons of celebrity customers!
https://starrautoworks.com/clients/DO NOT ATTEMPT DIY PPF unless you have lotsa experience - even SMALL PIECES often result in a huge train wreck, inconvenience, waste of materials, time, & moola $$$, etc.