2024 Ford Mustang Reservation Tracking List

Paint Protection Film (PPF) Questions

538 Views 4 Replies 2 Participants Last post by goodlettjr, 1 mo ago

goodlettjr

Discussion Starter · 1 mo ago

I live in Houston and the roads can be brutal on the wheels but even worse on the paint. I've almost subjected myself to believe that wheels are a consumable item at this point. On my current daily driver, the rock chips are ridiculous. While it is 10 years old, there has to be over 100 of them (thanks 610 loop). I have a place that I have been using for the past 15 years for tint that offers it, but really just don't know much about it. It seems like there so much marketing around PPF that it all just "feels good" when you read about it and I am having a hard time cutting through the muck. Price is semi important, but the more I read about PPF, the quality seems to be where it and price isn't so important in the big picture. I have been looking into getting PPF for my incoming 24 mustang (Oxford White) and wanted to know if you guys had any recommendations such as......

Brand of PPF you prefer or one to stay away from
Expected life of the PPF
Care of the PPF
I plan on at least doing the front (full fenders forward). Opinions on the full car?1
If you live in Houston area is there anyone you recommend. (I don't mind driving cross town either i.e. Galveston to Conroe, etc..)

If you have anything else, I welcome it.

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BSpankinAz

· #2 · 1 mo ago

I will give you my experience on PPF. A big benefit to PPF is the paint correction an installer will perforom. They get your car looking as good as it can then they lock in that shine with the PPF.

Brand of PPF you prefer or one to stay away from

I have had XPEL on two cars with a ceramic coating on top. The PPF was over the entire car. I have to keep my car outside so PPF/Ceramic is a must. If I had a garage I probably would only do the front. I don't know of any brands to avoid but when you shop for a PPF installer you should not be looking for a deal. You should tell the installer your budget and let then tell you want they can do for that amount of money.

Expected life of the PPF

I expect mine to last for 10 years. I have had it on for 3 years now and it looks brand new.

Care of the PPF

I wash my car as normal with the brands seen on youtube but I take it to the installer at least three times a year for a maintenance wash and to look it over for any problems. PPF/Ceramic requires special soap but its real easy to wash.

I plan on at least doing the front (full fenders forward). Opinions on the full car?1

Again, my car stays outside under a cover so I did the full car. I plan on doing a full PPF/Ceramic on my Dark Horse. Now that I have had experience with it, it just makes it so easy to care for the car and the car looks brand new.

If you live in Houston area is there anyone you recommend. (I don't mind driving cross town either i.e. Galveston to Conroe, etc..)

I am not in the Houston area.

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goodlettjr

Discussion Starter · #3 · 1 mo ago

BSpankinAz said:
I will give you my experience on PPF. A big benefit to PPF is the paint correction an installer will perforom. They get your car looking as good as it can then they lock in that shine with the PPF.

Brand of PPF you prefer or one to stay away from

I have had XPEL on two cars with a ceramic coating on top. The PPF was over the entire car. I have to keep my car outside so PPF/Ceramic is a must. If I had a garage I probably would only do the front. I don't know of any brands to avoid but when you shop for a PPF installer you should not be looking for a deal. You should tell the installer your budget and let then tell you want they can do for that amount of money.

Expected life of the PPF

I expect mine to last for 10 years. I have had it on for 3 years now and it looks brand new.

Care of the PPF

I wash my car as normal with the brands seen on youtube but I take it to the installer at least three times a year for a maintenance wash and to look it over for any problems. PPF/Ceramic requires special soap but its real easy to wash.

I plan on at least doing the front (full fenders forward). Opinions on the full car?1

Again, my car stays outside under a cover so I did the full car. I plan on doing a full PPF/Ceramic on my Dark Horse. Now that I have had experience with it, it just makes it so easy to care for the car and the car looks brand new.

If you live in Houston area is there anyone you recommend. (I don't mind driving cross town either i.e. Galveston to Conroe, etc..)

I am not in the Houston area.

Thanks for the detailed description and feedback. Do you have to hand wash it or can it go through a machine wash? I have some physical limitations so the later of the two has been much easier on my body and my go to over the past 10 years.

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BSpankinAz

· #4 · 1 mo ago

goodlettjr said:
Thanks for the detailed description and feedback. Do you have to hand wash it or can it go through a machine wash? I have some physical limitations so the later of the two has been much easier on my body and my go to over the past 10 years.

I was advised not to go through a machine wash mainly because of the type of soap. Regular soap has "fillers" in it to leave a smooth, waxy surface on your car. When you have a ceramic coating you can't use regular soap because filler will dull it. If you just have PPF I imagine an automatic wash machine wash would not be an issue (but I would research this). People talk bad about machine washes but try to find a soft cloth machine. MacNeil, IMO, makes one of the best. MacNeil Wash Systems | Car Wash Equipment Manufacturer

But yes, I only hand wash.

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goodlettjr

Discussion Starter · #5 · 1 mo ago

BSpankinAz said:
I was advised not to go through a machine wash mainly because of the type of soap. Regular soap has "fillers" in it to leave a smooth, waxy surface on your car. When you have a ceramic coating you can't use regular soap because filler will dull it. If you just have PPF I imagine an automatic wash machine wash would not be an issue (but I would research this). People talk bad about machine washes but try to find a soft cloth machine. MacNeil, IMO, makes one of the best. MacNeil Wash Systems | Car Wash Equipment Manufacturer

But yes, I only hand wash.

Appreciate this. I winced when I typed I used machine drive through because people take that so seriously. They get to the point where they are out for blood. 😁

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