Loose Gravel Destroyed my PPF….
06-15-2023, 05:47 PM
#46
Rennlist Member
Beautiful car, first of all.
I can see it both ways, but PPF has a life span, even if there is no road rash. In Florida the sun can bake PPF until is gets near impossible to remove, then risks paint damage when it is removed. PPF is expensive, but as you say, if chips don't bother you, then what the hell. I salute you for driving your car.
Mine, I just have the bumpers (or whatever) resprayed when the chips get bad enough and fixing them doesn't cut it. My front bumper is on the third respray and the hood on the second. Got a rock that left a divot you could hide the tip of your finger in. PPF would not have spared that. That's life and respray is cheaper than PPF. Unlike you I am not selling the car, so it doesn't matter that the paint isn't original.
I can see it both ways, but PPF has a life span, even if there is no road rash. In Florida the sun can bake PPF until is gets near impossible to remove, then risks paint damage when it is removed. PPF is expensive, but as you say, if chips don't bother you, then what the hell. I salute you for driving your car.
Mine, I just have the bumpers (or whatever) resprayed when the chips get bad enough and fixing them doesn't cut it. My front bumper is on the third respray and the hood on the second. Got a rock that left a divot you could hide the tip of your finger in. PPF would not have spared that. That's life and respray is cheaper than PPF. Unlike you I am not selling the car, so it doesn't matter that the paint isn't original.
06-15-2023, 06:25 PM
#47
Rennlist Member
That's very common, and the reason why there's a piece or protection from factory. Some may think it's overkill but all my cars has 2 layers of PPF on the area and extended all the way to the edge and ends higher than the factory piece. the 2nd layer goes on top of the 1st layer that covers the entire quarter panel runs all the way to the A-pillar. By having double layers you can just replace the top layer much easier than doing the whole thing not to mention it gives you piece of mind of having 2 layers of protection on high impact areas.
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06-15-2023, 06:31 PM
#48
Rennlist Member
Takes one time going through any construction area at speed. To some, they may never notice any of it until they look for it. Guaranteed it's there, just a matter of knowing it or if you care about it. Nothing wrong either way just pure personal preference.
06-15-2023, 11:55 PM
#49
When I had my PPF film installed, they put the OEM stone guard back on top of the PPF in that area. The installer told me that this area gets beat up and by doing this, they can normally pull off that small OEM piece off and replace it as need and it is super inexpensive vs replacing the whole panel.
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Emosgarage (06-16-2023)
06-16-2023, 12:04 AM
#50
Rennlist Member
Sucks, but that’s obviously what it is for. I’d much rather replace the PPF than risk a botched respray job.
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06-16-2023, 01:25 AM
#51
Rennlist Member
This thread amuses me. I am on my 7th 911 in 45 years and I never put any plastic on them because I drive them and when they get gamey on the outside and inside, I sell them and get a new one. The interior wears out about the same time as the exterior - yet detailers have convinced many of you that you NEED to spend thousands on protection products....why? Take that $ 10,000 you spent for double plastic everywhere, ceramic coating on everything, whatever armor-nonsense they sold you for the interior, and put that in a stock fund account and it will be worth $ 20K in 7 years when you are ready for a new 911. You will not get $ 20K more for your "perfect paint". Why Snowflake your car? It's a mass produced machine, not some rare one-off and its going to get wear and tear on it. When you go to trade it in, the small paint chips don't matter - you get wholesale price based on auction prices and mileage.
You know why your car gets paint chips? Because it has big, wide tires that stick out from the wheel wells, a styling thing. The old 911's (like my first 1970 E) had skinny tires fulling enclosed in the fender, they didn't get paint chips from tires throwing up rocks. But some even want their wheels to come out further via spacers or offsets on custom wheels for an "aggressive" look. Go figure.
Lest you think I beat my cars, I don't. I also know you can never get depth of shine/sheen over plastic. Your PPF car will never look like this after a Swissvax job. You just can't get the pop out of the paint when you cover it with plastic. But to each their own, a few paint chips never bother me personally.
You know why your car gets paint chips? Because it has big, wide tires that stick out from the wheel wells, a styling thing. The old 911's (like my first 1970 E) had skinny tires fulling enclosed in the fender, they didn't get paint chips from tires throwing up rocks. But some even want their wheels to come out further via spacers or offsets on custom wheels for an "aggressive" look. Go figure.
Lest you think I beat my cars, I don't. I also know you can never get depth of shine/sheen over plastic. Your PPF car will never look like this after a Swissvax job. You just can't get the pop out of the paint when you cover it with plastic. But to each their own, a few paint chips never bother me personally.
06-16-2023, 02:49 AM
#52
The best of both worlds?
I’ve always had mixed emotions about PPF. On one hand I’m sold on the protection.
On the other hand, I have a really good eye and I swear I’ve never seen PPF that I couldn’t tell, it’s something about the depth?
So what I have done on the high impact areas on the last six cars 2-981s, 2-GT4s ,1-992S, 1-992 GT3t is cover the front bumper, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
None of the cars ended up with really high miles about 8 to 10,000 but not one of them had a paint chip on it you could see the PPF took a lot of hits but not one chip on any of the painted surfaces.
I also use Clear Plex on the windshield. I like the protection, even though optically it could be better...carl
I’ve always had mixed emotions about PPF. On one hand I’m sold on the protection.
On the other hand, I have a really good eye and I swear I’ve never seen PPF that I couldn’t tell, it’s something about the depth?
So what I have done on the high impact areas on the last six cars 2-981s, 2-GT4s ,1-992S, 1-992 GT3t is cover the front bumper, rocker panels, mirrors, and behind the rear wheels.
None of the cars ended up with really high miles about 8 to 10,000 but not one of them had a paint chip on it you could see the PPF took a lot of hits but not one chip on any of the painted surfaces.
I also use Clear Plex on the windshield. I like the protection, even though optically it could be better...carl
06-16-2023, 08:20 AM
#53
Racer
It’s good to see the PPF did it’s job.
06-16-2023, 08:24 AM
#54
Instructor
Thread Starter
I’m putting 2k miles a month on my 911 right now! part of the reason I was so set on getting PPF.
06-16-2023, 08:29 AM
#55
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
06-16-2023, 08:57 AM
#56
Rennlist Member
I had my C4 GTS fully PPF'd as I live on a farm, the track is mainly gravel. I have to make sure I'm not in a hurry when I go out and drive about 10 mile an hour.
The installer said if I ever need to repair it, I need to heat the back of a spoon up and rub it over. has worked for me thus far.
The installer said if I ever need to repair it, I need to heat the back of a spoon up and rub it over. has worked for me thus far.
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Emosgarage (06-16-2023)
06-16-2023, 09:59 AM
#58
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
To the OP: why were you driving 65 mph on a gravel road?
The rare times I’ve had to drive one of my “special sports cars” on gravel I always take it nice and slow
The rare times I’ve had to drive one of my “special sports cars” on gravel I always take it nice and slow
06-16-2023, 10:02 AM
#60
analyst
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
