PPF tear and stone chip
Premium Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Rennlist
Site Sponsor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,894
Likes: 1,085
From: Southern California
Unfortunately once the layer of film is penetrated it can’t be repaired without visible signs. As previously mentioned you can speak to the shop that installed your film how to temporarily deal with the tear. You will definitely get more dings and tears on your film with more mileage. In my opinion it’s costly to replace your film for something this small, so wait until your film looks worse. My PPF and modified PPF stone guards are taking a beating, while mitigating more of the pitting and paint chipping vs not having the PPF. Drive and enjoy your car.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 284
Likes: 81
From: Wilmington
Racer
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 426
Likes: 40
I probably sound like an anti-film nut-job at this point, but this is why I never put protective film on a car of any price.
I don't think film looks good post paint correction the day it is installed, and it certainly does not look good after it is pierced.
I also don't necessary agree that when you factor the original installation cost, re-installing a panel is likely not less expensive than a quality re-spray. The real kicker is a good rock impact often goes right through the protection and damages the paint anyway, which it looks like in this case it did. Maybe it's less damage, but often still damage. Protective film was a devised to exploit the OCD deep inside the value conscious car enthusiast. I break-in my engines the way Andreas Preuninger advises, and I like my cars plastic free with petina and clean wheels, the way teh Germans run em. Resist protective film.
I don't think film looks good post paint correction the day it is installed, and it certainly does not look good after it is pierced.
I also don't necessary agree that when you factor the original installation cost, re-installing a panel is likely not less expensive than a quality re-spray. The real kicker is a good rock impact often goes right through the protection and damages the paint anyway, which it looks like in this case it did. Maybe it's less damage, but often still damage. Protective film was a devised to exploit the OCD deep inside the value conscious car enthusiast. I break-in my engines the way Andreas Preuninger advises, and I like my cars plastic free with petina and clean wheels, the way teh Germans run em. Resist protective film.
Speckled black spots are a lot sexier than plastic wrap, but maybe I'm just weird. The way cars look after a track day happens to be my aesthetic. I love to see an older car with specks all over the nose. I love the aged racing livery wraps as well. I always wonder if the protective film people think about putting plastic on other things? Couches, key fobs, cell phones?
https://www.xpel.com/shop/paint-prot...-film/tracwrap
There are also other brands & other temporary solutions for the track.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 553
"To film or not to film, that is the question, whether 'tis nobler in the car to endure the slings and arrows of outrageous road rash, or to take film against a road of troubles..."
Apologies to W.S.
I did mine at port of entry via Porsche, bought the lesser package and they installed the next higher package free of charge, which was significantly more. An unexpected plus.
Living here in Florida bugs are an issue, plus twice a year we get love bugs (very acidic and their remains eat through paint), they breed in the millions. They etched my car film (it self-healed) even though I washed them off ASAP, which the film helps as they come off easily.
You can't avoid stuff hitting your car, the film helps with the small hits and bugs, but a large object strike will leave a mark no matter what you.
If you drive the car, you will have wear and tear, do the best you can and suit yourself. Criticizing someone else's plan of action accomplishes "nada".
Apologies to W.S.
I did mine at port of entry via Porsche, bought the lesser package and they installed the next higher package free of charge, which was significantly more. An unexpected plus.
Living here in Florida bugs are an issue, plus twice a year we get love bugs (very acidic and their remains eat through paint), they breed in the millions. They etched my car film (it self-healed) even though I washed them off ASAP, which the film helps as they come off easily.
You can't avoid stuff hitting your car, the film helps with the small hits and bugs, but a large object strike will leave a mark no matter what you.
If you drive the car, you will have wear and tear, do the best you can and suit yourself. Criticizing someone else's plan of action accomplishes "nada".
Pro
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 586
Likes: 48
Plenty of threads about PPF.
Honestly if you don't tailgate dump truck or cars on crumbling roads, the number of chips you'll get during the lifetime of the car isn't significant. Yes it will get some chips, but that's normal for a used car.
37k miles and my hood has zero chips. I got some tiny ones on front bumper, but its nothing that can be seen unless you lean up and get close to look for them..might as well be dirt spots or bug splatter. The overall look is always best with no film even if you got a few chip... any honest detailer or PPF will admit it. Paint you can touch up and correct (and remove dents), film you gotta take it to some shop for a day and they'll be sticking razor to your car. 10 years later paint will be fine, film...probably not unless it was mostly garaged.
Don't get me wrong... I have had cars with and without it. My SUV is still fully covered. There's pros and cons. Eventually your OCD freak calms down and stop caring as much. I think many owners get exploited into feeling they must spend big money to cover their precious with film and get blindsided on reasons why not to do it. Those youtube ads aren't too accurate about the durability from my personal experience. In fact, water from a pressure washer at the right angle can cut right through it (also depends on stretched parts etc). I've personally experienced paint damage past the film on another car and it was a b#%Tch to fix because you cant paintless dent remove on it.
If I was OP, i'd just remove the crap and get the are paint corrected. It will look much better and you wont have to worry about dealing with film. Since its already on there I guess just ignore it.
Honestly if you don't tailgate dump truck or cars on crumbling roads, the number of chips you'll get during the lifetime of the car isn't significant. Yes it will get some chips, but that's normal for a used car.
37k miles and my hood has zero chips. I got some tiny ones on front bumper, but its nothing that can be seen unless you lean up and get close to look for them..might as well be dirt spots or bug splatter. The overall look is always best with no film even if you got a few chip... any honest detailer or PPF will admit it. Paint you can touch up and correct (and remove dents), film you gotta take it to some shop for a day and they'll be sticking razor to your car. 10 years later paint will be fine, film...probably not unless it was mostly garaged.
Don't get me wrong... I have had cars with and without it. My SUV is still fully covered. There's pros and cons. Eventually your OCD freak calms down and stop caring as much. I think many owners get exploited into feeling they must spend big money to cover their precious with film and get blindsided on reasons why not to do it. Those youtube ads aren't too accurate about the durability from my personal experience. In fact, water from a pressure washer at the right angle can cut right through it (also depends on stretched parts etc). I've personally experienced paint damage past the film on another car and it was a b#%Tch to fix because you cant paintless dent remove on it.
If I was OP, i'd just remove the crap and get the are paint corrected. It will look much better and you wont have to worry about dealing with film. Since its already on there I guess just ignore it.
Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 686
Likes: 231
From: Seoul, Korea
I had a bunch of pebbles fly up on my hood a while back and tore up my PPF. paint inside was fine and I just paid to have the hood re PPF'ed. I prefer this over fixing dent and respraying the hood had i had no PPF. PPF might be more expensive ultimately, but its peace of mind for me. and I get the quick spray and wipe wash my car in my apartment parking garage with no worries of paint scratches, all day long 
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 284
Likes: 81
From: Wilmington
Windshield PPF
Does anybody make a film that covers the windshield? On a long trip 8 hrs, it would be nice to have a film you could put on at the start and then peel off at the destination and not worry about windshield damage. Surely the tech is there by now.
Frankly, I could care less about the paint, Porsches do not retain the value they once had, especially now with the Taycan on the horizon. Even if you possess a super-exotic 911, are a few paint chips going to matter? Cracked windshield with a non-OEM replacement, now that might cause concern.
Frankly, I could care less about the paint, Porsches do not retain the value they once had, especially now with the Taycan on the horizon. Even if you possess a super-exotic 911, are a few paint chips going to matter? Cracked windshield with a non-OEM replacement, now that might cause concern.
Pro
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 686
Likes: 231
From: Seoul, Korea
Does anybody make a film that covers the windshield? On a long trip 8 hrs, it would be nice to have a film you could put on at the start and then peel off at the destination and not worry about windshield damage. Surely the tech is there by now.
Frankly, I could care less about the paint, Porsches do not retain the value they once had, especially now with the Taycan on the horizon. Even if you possess a super-exotic 911, are a few paint chips going to matter? Cracked windshield with a non-OEM replacement, now that might cause concern.
Frankly, I could care less about the paint, Porsches do not retain the value they once had, especially now with the Taycan on the horizon. Even if you possess a super-exotic 911, are a few paint chips going to matter? Cracked windshield with a non-OEM replacement, now that might cause concern.
there is a clear film for the windshield. i don't know of any brand names, but when i had my PPF installed, a windshield film option was available, which i declined per the advice of the installer (i don't remember why). my my windshield is pocked with tiny chips and I will replace in a year or two. after that i do plan on trying the windshield film and seeing for myself how it is.
i'm not sure there is a sticky easy peel on and peel off types for long travels. that would be pretty cool as most of my windshield chips came from track days.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 157
From: S Carolina coast & N Carolina mountains
Unfortunately once the layer of film is penetrated it can’t be repaired without visible signs. As previously mentioned you can speak to the shop that installed your film how to temporarily deal with the tear. You will definitely get more dings and tears on your film with more mileage. In my opinion it’s costly to replace your film for something this small, so wait until your film looks worse. My PPF and modified PPF stone guards are taking a beating, while mitigating more of the pitting and paint chipping vs not having the PPF. Drive and enjoy your car.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 120
Likes: 29
From: Salt Lake City
Speckled black spots are a lot sexier than plastic wrap, but maybe I'm just weird. The way cars look after a track day happens to be my aesthetic. I love to see an older car with specks all over the nose. I love the aged racing livery wraps as well. I always wonder if the protective film people think about putting plastic on other things? Couches, key fobs, cell phones?
It was really important to me to keep my interior looking as nice and new as possible, and the PPF goes a long way toward keeping it nice.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 900
Likes: 330
From: California
yep Madico has a product called clearplex
