Paint protection film for 991?
02-28-2012, 11:00 PM
#16
I'm not a fan. I can't get the thought of plastic furniture covers out of my mind. I can always tell it's there. The edges drive me crazy. Over time, dirt gets caught on the edged and when you go to take the film off definitely lines are visible. And last, who are you saving the paint for?
Repaint the hood in a few years if it bothers you.
03-04-2012, 10:57 AM
#17
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Sorry but one would have to be crazy to NOT have clear bra on a car today
With advances in film technology and full panel coverage (thus fewer visible lines) choice is easy.
I always do full front (bumper, hood, fenders) plus mirrors, rear wheel arch and-most importantly-a one piece that covers rocker panel and rear quarter panel (between door and rear wheel arch)...this area gets more damage than front bumper
My $.02
wsh
With advances in film technology and full panel coverage (thus fewer visible lines) choice is easy.
I always do full front (bumper, hood, fenders) plus mirrors, rear wheel arch and-most importantly-a one piece that covers rocker panel and rear quarter panel (between door and rear wheel arch)...this area gets more damage than front bumper
My $.02
wsh
Thanks
03-04-2012, 05:24 PM
#18
Instructor
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My brother is getting this one for free, so I don't think he'll mind.
03-04-2012, 09:36 PM
#19
03-04-2012, 10:30 PM
#20
Three Wheelin'
Question for film proponents, when do you remove the film, if ever? And if not, you have a plastic covered paint to keep it nice looking under the protection, without ever getting to enjoy the real surface? Or is there a point, say three years, down the road where the film is removed and you go ahhh look at this pristine paint?
03-05-2012, 10:59 AM
#22
Plenty of opinions on this topic. I've had both bumper only coverage and full front clip coverage and simply, the plastic can never look as good as the original painted finish. Unfortunately, I live in a land of potholes spewing gravel and plenty of trucks to kick it up. To drive my new 991 with no protection is borderline careless. My intention is to get a custom bumper wrap (minimum of edges) and a 6" strip or so on the hood only, because that leading edge always gets chips. That leaves the vast majority of the hood and fenders exposed, but with the original perfect paint finish and I'll just have to deal with the (hopefully few) touchups.
Regarding removing the film, I had 3M custom installed on the front bumper only of my silver 996TT. After 5 years and 40k miles, it had taken a beating and yellowed. I removed it to enjoy the perfect paint for a year or so before I sold it. Without the bra it definitely would have needed repainting to be presentable.
IMO if you don't know for sure you need the film - then you probably don't!
Regarding removing the film, I had 3M custom installed on the front bumper only of my silver 996TT. After 5 years and 40k miles, it had taken a beating and yellowed. I removed it to enjoy the perfect paint for a year or so before I sold it. Without the bra it definitely would have needed repainting to be presentable.
IMO if you don't know for sure you need the film - then you probably don't!
03-05-2012, 03:46 PM
#23
4th Gear
Join Date: Nov 2006
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I have had film on my GT3 for the two years that I have had it. My installer is about 40 miles from me and I was last there in November. When discussing getting a new car and having a clear bra installed, he showed me the ONLY product he will now use... Sorry, I don't remember the name of it but I do remember what it does. It is essentially self healing. One can take a tufty pad to it, scratch it up, pour a cup of hot water over it and the scratches disappear. Costs about 20% more but a pretty cool product.
03-13-2012, 09:40 PM
#25
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I've had my car only 2 weeks, and have 3 small little chips already. One in the windshield. One in the front headlight. And one in the front bumper. Yikes!
I'm on the fence, though, because I leased this car and have no intention of buying it. I would rather put my money into PSE and take my chances that Porsche NA will not charge me to fix little chips. And, I think I was following my friends too closely on canyon runs last week. So I will still do canyon runs, but not in "close formation" unless I can help it. That hopefully will minimize number of overall chips in a 2 1/2 year period (I intend to get out of my lease early and either buy a used GT3 or lease another S, but with some of the additional features I want).
If I was planning on keeping this car for 6+ years, I would definitely use protective film.
Can you put protective film on the headlights? What about windshield? Anybody ever done that?
I'm on the fence, though, because I leased this car and have no intention of buying it. I would rather put my money into PSE and take my chances that Porsche NA will not charge me to fix little chips. And, I think I was following my friends too closely on canyon runs last week. So I will still do canyon runs, but not in "close formation" unless I can help it. That hopefully will minimize number of overall chips in a 2 1/2 year period (I intend to get out of my lease early and either buy a used GT3 or lease another S, but with some of the additional features I want).
If I was planning on keeping this car for 6+ years, I would definitely use protective film.
Can you put protective film on the headlights? What about windshield? Anybody ever done that?
03-14-2012, 11:54 AM
#27
Rennlist Member
We are saving the paint for the same person that we are also helping avoid the massive depreciation hit we will take on our new car purchase! We, the American buyers of Porsches, are the most considerate and generous folks in automotive history. We wrap them in plastic, hardly put miles on them, fail to run them hard when we do drive them, park them nightly in heated/AC garages and trade them in at excessive losses to dealers that like to take advantage of us, regularly & often. Where are you from? Why don't you know this drill by now?
03-19-2012, 11:39 PM
#28
Bought my 991 with the protective film
Can you put protective film on the headlights? What about windshield? Anybody ever done that?
On the bumpers and headlights I can't tell there is a film on there. The car's Basalt Black Metallic.
You can see the edge of the film on the side mirrors but it's not a bother.
The film on the door sills is very visible, though it doesn't look as 'add-on' as those horrible aftermarket pieces of plastic you can mount. But it's not far off in my mind so I will contemplate whether I will keep those on or not...Will post pictures later...
03-25-2012, 10:00 PM
#29
Track Day
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Just picked up my 911S this week. Prior to this I had a black Boxster with a partial hood, bikini fenders and mirrors covered with the 3M film. It held up for the most part but it did start to peel back on the edges and would sometimes fill with wax that you could see. I did have a stone hit the hood just above the film which lead to quite a ding. I also had a shopping cart hit my passenger side mirror and the film saved the paint. On the 911 I went to an after market specialist and had him install the new XPEL film. Full hood, lights, bikini fenders, mirrors, and behind each wheel. Looks great, can't even see it. The beauty of the new XPEL film is that it self heals. Just poor hot water on it and any scratches or blemishes disappear right before your eyes. There is a video on Utube showing it. Love the new 991 by the way. What a car !!
