Mike818

TUD

Hard pass…

ipse dixit

You keep the car for 10 years (or even say 8 or 9 years) and you leave your headlights uncovered, you'll want to replace them anyways just from all the pockmarks and road rash.

So pick your poison. I guess.

Ceepe

Yes. You need to remove the interior pieces to access? How do you think the door handle comes off? or the side mirrors?

992RS

Why anti PPF?- your car sounds like a swirl mark nightmare

rasetsu

Leave it to Rennlist to devolve a question that was specifically about PPF on headlights into an argument about PPF in general.

To OP, I have a combined 45K miles and 13 years on two different Porsches with PPF's headlights that look brand new. One has LED main light and the other has HID main light.
You can PPF them and have fresh looking light lenses for 5+ years at the risk of delamination whenever you need to replace the film or follow the warning in the owner's manual leaving you with pot marked headlights in a few years along with the chance of crazing and delamination anyways. As others have mentioned, pick your poison.

rasetsu

This article does a pretty good job of explaining what this layer is through the restoration process. https://www.panamera-life.com/en/entry/car-goshi-goshi/

Ikone

So from everything I'm hearing is that PPF on the headlights will save you from pitting but then the PPF will need to be replaced at some point, which will cause delamination. You then have the headlights polished and PPF reapplied. So, why not just wait until the lights are pitted enough to polish and PPF? Doesn't make sense to ruin a brand new pair of headlights, knowing that the PPF will delaminate the lights anyway. I for one wouldn't do it because it's stated in the manual.

rasetsu

Because the part I bolded is not a 100% guaranteed thing to happen.
While you wait for the pitting to build up enough for your headlights to justify needing to be polished, you are living with headlights that get uglier and uglier. If this part doesn't bother you, then don't PPF them.

Ikone

But that is also not a 100% guaranteed thing to happen. My 991.2T had 10K miles on it and I didn't have any issues. Maybe a couple of pits here and there, but nothing like what is being described here.
I guess you do you. I'm good without it.

Edit: By the way, I don't see anything in bold.

rasetsu

I bolded the part where you said removing PPF will cause delamination.
Well, technically nothing is 100% guaranteed to happen but death and taxes, right?

That's cool for you that you are satisfied with how your headlights looked after 10K miles. Everyone will have different experiences based on where they live, where they drive, and simply how lucky/unlucky they are.
Yes, everyone should be doing whatever works for them. But people like OP who are asking deserve perspectives on both the pros and the cons so they can decide on their own. I'm not denying that Porsche says not to. I'm not trying to convince people like you who've already made their decision, just clarifying a point you were trying to make in your reply.

Ceepe

Edit. After considering the opinions of you gentlemen, specifically Wilder who seems to align with my thinking on engine break-in and clearly knows good use, I will update my thinking and attempt PPF on this car one time. I've been pretty militant about it, but I'm willing to give it a go. Thank you for the dialogues. I still wouldn't do the headlights though.

Ikone

That's what I did. I was back and forth until I decided no harm in doing the track pack (no headlights). I also did ceramic coating, which I would do either way. Ceramic will also keep swirl marks at bay.

Rumpelstiltskin

For those that got PPF on your headlights, did you also get a ceramic coat on the lights? Or just PPF?

ipse dixit

PPF or no PPF, whether it's on the headlights, part of the car or the entire car is an entirely personal decision.

There is no right or wrong answer.

But whatever choice one makes, just make it with as much information as possible and not out of FUD.

I think the pros/cons of PPF'ing the headlights are well sussed out in this thread.

If one cannot make an informed decision after reading some 40+ posts, then they should just flip a coin. Or ask their wife.