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Good evening everyone! I have a 2023 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance Premium in the Cloudburst Gray color. I do have the 3M protective film on it but it's just not enough protection to prevent chips from rocks/gravel kicked by dump trucks or semis. Any recommendations as to what I can do? Thought about a bra but not sure about them. Do they provide enough coverage? Do they cause rust on the hood? Do you have to remove them when you wash your car? That could be a real pain. But I'm open to suggestions so any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
I have PPF (paint protection film) on my bumper and thinking about getting it on the hood as so far it has protected my bumper pretty well (the bumper on my previous IS was a starfield of micro rock chips from the highways). If they are tiny micro chips PPF will help but anything larger than a pebble may damage through the PPF slightly. PPF is semi-permanent and only removed when you want it off or replaced due to the PPF sustaining visible damage you want a fresh cover. Just make sure you go to a reputable installer with a good brand (like XPEL).
Another train of thought to ponder; chips are bound to happen when you drive your car, especially on busy highways or high speeds. Unless it's a garage queen or show car that never gets driven, expect chips. Some say it builds character. A little story; I had a neighbor that had a 2014 Mustang GT premium, modded out like crazy, dude washed and waxed that car almost every weekend and was always installing something new. Whenever I would go look at it, his black paint was LITERRED with large chips all over and totally killed the car (to me anyways). The front hood had paint peeling away (this is a common problem on Mustangs back then). He didn't care, that's how a car is supposed to look when you drive it for real he would say, and builds character.
Whenever I see chips I try to think like that but it is definitely easier said than done.
If the 3M is not cutting it, you should look into another brand. I have seen cars with XPEL that look good. I have used XPEL matte in the past. Right now I have PremiumShield PPF and still get nicks in it. Only one significant paint chip through it, but it was a large rock; the ppf took the brunt and minimized damage. The matte XPEL did not give up any significant chips (I had it on a car for about 75,000 miles), but it was much thicker.
If you are going to drive it, you just have to accept some wear and tear over the life of the car. I am at 48k, and the ppf has done a great job reducing the damage significantly. Let's put it this way, the highways I drive get crap kicked up at you all the time (I-35 in Texas). I am on windshield number 3. Yet there are only a few minor paint chips. And the ones that bother me the most are on the rear doors. Part of the price you pay for the beautiful curves.
This is the car at 40,000 miles (Atomic Silver). I have PPF on the hood, bumper, front quarters, and front pillars.
If the 3M is not cutting it, you should look into another brand. I have seen cars with XPEL that look good. I have used XPEL matte in the past. Right now I have PremiumShield PPF and still get nicks in it. Only one significant paint chip through it, but it was a large rock; the ppf took the brunt and minimized damage. The matte XPEL did not give up any significant chips (I had it on a car for about 75,000 miles), but it was much thicker.
If you are going to drive it, you just have to accept some wear and tear over the life of the car. I am at 48k, and the ppf has done a great job reducing the damage significantly. Let's put it this way, the highways I drive get crap kicked up at you all the time (I-35 in Texas). I am on windshield number 3. Yet there are only a few minor paint chips. And the ones that bother me the most are on the rear doors. Part of the price you pay for the beautiful curves.
This is the car at 40,000 miles (Atomic Silver). I have PPF on the hood, bumper, front quarters, and front pillars.
I dont think that's necessarily a ppf thing so much as it's an installer thing.
Not sure what you mean? Typical PPF just goes to the edge of the panel. …XPEL is cut to allow wrapping over the edges/corner. The material is just better at taking rocks vs the typical 3m type clear bras.
IS500 - typical clear bra application Stops at edge of hood
Porsche - XPEL No edge to material Wraps fully under edge
Not sure what you mean? Typical PPF just goes to the edge of the panel. …XPEL is cut to allow wrapping over the edges/corner. The material is just better at taking rocks vs the typical 3m type clear bras.
IS500 - typical clear bra application Stops at edge of hood
Porsche - XPEL No edge to material Wraps fully under edge
I guess what I mean is any good installer can modify the file so the template is sized larger than the panel so it can be wrapped around the edges. This was done on a buddy's car by my installer.
Not sure what you mean? Typical PPF just goes to the edge of the panel. …XPEL is cut to allow wrapping over the edges/corner. The material is just better at taking rocks vs the typical 3m type clear bras.
IS500 - typical clear bra application Stops at edge of hood
Porsche - XPEL No edge to material Wraps fully under edge
Wow, those edges on the top picture look horrible! That installation is just asking for that PPF to start pealing. No way I would have PPF installed like that, I'd rather deal with the chips.
Wow, those edges on the top picture look horrible! That installation is just asking for that PPF to start pealing. No way I would have PPF installed like that, I'd rather deal with the chips.
ya I 100% agree. Mine was CPO, nothing I directly paid for - came that way from the Lexus dealer but the redo will be XPel. It’s a low use vehicle so 3-4k per year keeps its exposure low.
Most installations with XPEL will be computer cut to fit on the outside of your exact panel. Wrapping over like that is definitely custom and requires much more effort to install and get it to look seamless.
If you wash it right (i.e. don't power wash 1' away pointed directly at the edges) it shouldn't lift. The XPEL on my bumper isn't wrapped but the cuts are so perfect and some areas go slightly over the lip. But for bumpers it's impossible to wrap over lips unless you remove the bumper and the trim.
I don't personally feel there is anything wrong with that installation. There is a rubber seal there that would prevent you from being able to wrap around unless the seal was removed. My rear doors on my GS have this problem and the rubber seal is glued on. It could theoretically be removed and re-applied but that is $$. Exposed PPF edges will not peel if they are heat sealed properly, there are lots of places that edges cannot be wrapped for various reasons. A good high quality installer will wrap where possible but a cheaper installer probably won't. There's nothing wrong with either its just a personal decision on cost vs aesthetics..
02-19-24, 04:08 PM
Chips on the hood
