I've decided not to do PPF, convince me otherwise?

[YOWStinger]

location updated

I am not sure if the material is expensive or the labour is. if I was to go to a professional, they charge in the upwards of 9009+tax to install the clear bra ... I thought I could be saving some money by buying the material myself.
I was debating between the clear bra and the Ceramic Pro - I read that CP is great but wont do anything against road hazards ... still debating what to go for.

$9009+tax? You should be seeing around $1000ish for a full front (not just the leading edge of your hood)

 

[Gtecko]

LOL ... fat fingers today
900+ tax... my bad. I corrected my post.

 

[MerlintheMad]

LOL ... fat fingers today
900+ tax... my bad. I corrected my post.

You were watching what you wrote, right? But you didn't SEE what you wrote, only what you meant. Self-editing is an interesting psychological phenomenon.

 

[NoVAGT2]

Here are the pre-cut kits for XPEL for comparison:

https://www.xpel.com/paint-protecti...r-Cars--AND--Light-Trucks/2018/Kia/Stinger/GT

Note that the 3M one you linked to is a bikini cut which leaves an invisible line across the hood that can collect dirt. I opted for full hood coverage because >>I would see it<< everytime I looked at the car.

 

[NoVAGT2]

I was debating between the clear bra and the Ceramic Pro - I read that CP is great but wont do anything against road hazards ... still debating what to go for.

Do both! Ok, if reality intrudes I'd get the PPF kit and do the ceramic coating myself. There are a number of ceramic coatings that are easier to apply yourself than Ceramic Pro (such as Crystal Serum Light, but search the forums as there are many others). The trade off is that the easier coatings do not last as long.

And, yes, labor is a big cost because the car's surface needs to cleaned and prepped prior to installation.

 

[SteveCo]

Note that the 3M one you linked to is a bikini cut which leaves an invisible line across the hood that can collect dirt. I opted for full hood coverage because >>I would see it<< everytime I looked at the car.

I prefer to use the partial hood coverage only (the straight, not the bikini cut) as 1) The vast majority of FOD impacts are in that area, 2) I don't want to wrap my entire hood in plastic, and 3) that trailing edge does not build up or retain dirt, and stays remarkably clean.

The film technology has advanced a great deal in the past decade or more, and the current products are remarkably clear and unobtrusive. It's been on there well over a year, and you have to really look closely to see where the film edge is on the hood or fenders - and this is on a white car.

 

[YOWStinger]

Ooo, this isn't going to work with my round logo https://www.xpel.com/Bumper-Kit-ULTIMATE-PLUS_2372

 

[MisterMac]

Do both! Ok, if reality intrudes I'd get the PPF kit and do the ceramic coating myself. There are a number of ceramic coatings that are easier to apply yourself than Ceramic Pro (such as Crystal Serum Light, but search the forums as there are many others). The trade off is that the easier coatings do not last as long.

And, yes, labor is a big cost because the car's surface needs to cleaned and prepped prior to installation.

Additionally, the multiple curves and angles changes make this an extremely complicated DIY. Unless you are a highly skilled and experienced craftsman with Vinyl, It is in your best interest to engage someone to do the installation.

 

[SteveCo]

Ooo, this isn't going to work with my round logo Bumper Kit (ULTIMATE PLUS)

The installers just buy rolls of sheet film, and use a plotter/cutter to cut what is needed locally for each job. They can simply delete the oval cutout and substitute a round hole when they cut that piece.

You definitely don't want to buy cut film directly from Xpel - it's marked up a ridiculous amount to not undercut the installed prices charged by their network of dealer/installers. The 3M link posted earlier is from somebody who's just plotting and cutting the kit pieces from bulk film for resale - they're making a healthy profit on that, with no installation labor.

 

[Gtecko]

the price between the 3M and the Xpel is a bit much ...
3M : 260 USD shipped to my door
Xpel (same cuts) : 559USD + half hood ($?) + shipping ...

I wouldnt attempt to do this my self but if I can save on the material that the installer would use, it is still a saving for me.

 

[bpang1]

I'm not getting PPF because the guys at my dealership signed papers that they would cover all paint chips, dents and dings on my car for the 7 year / 100K warranty I bought from them! Right now, the car (which I bought USED with 8,900 miles) is at the dealership getting the paint chips fixed. I love it! It is like I will check my car in for plastic surgery every time I go in for 6K service.

Don't get me wrong, I like PPF. But since they are covering virtually anything I could do to this car for 7 years I am availing myself of all that my warranty will cover.

 

[Gtecko]

can you tell us more about this ? is it a lease guard?

 

[westcoastGT]

I'm not getting PPF because the guys at my dealership signed papers that they would cover all paint chips, dents and dings on my car for the 7 year / 100K warranty I bought from them! Right now, the car (which I bought USED with 8,900 miles) is at the dealership getting the paint chips fixed. I love it! It is like I will check my car in for plastic surgery every time I go in for 6K service.

Don't get me wrong, I like PPF. But since they are covering virtually anything I could do to this car for 7 years I am availing myself of all that my warranty will cover.

I wouldnt let a dealer wash my car let alone attempt chip repairs ......................

 

[bpang1]

can you tell us more about this ? is it a lease guard?

It's just a warranty that they threw in for free to get me to buy the car. I made them state in writing that it covered chips because of how everyone has been complaining about Kia's paint.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I wouldnt let a dealer wash my car let alone attempt chip repairs ......................

Blanket statements are just that. Not all dealers are hacks. If someone finds a good wash and repair team they should stick with them.

 

[westcoastGT]

Blanket statements are just that. Not all dealers are hacks. If someone finds a good wash and repair team they should stick with them.

.............some peoples standards are higher than others when it comes to car care too

 

[MerlintheMad]

.............some peoples standards are higher than others when it comes to car care too

You're not talking about me, surely. My standards are five and six foot away standards. But I work up really close. For example, just yesterday when I got back home, I saw black streaks on the forward corner of my LR bumper. Clearly, my LR tire had gone over something really ugly and spat it all over the area. Most of it came right off with alcohol and a rag (very light pressure, no rubbing). But a squiggly line (like a demonic snail track) would not budge. The area was now clean as a whistle, so I took Meguiar's light polishing compound to it and voila! it is gone. Up close work is required, in order for it to look good c. five feet away.

 

[MisterMac]

I'm not getting PPF because the guys at my dealership signed papers that they would cover all paint chips, dents and dings on my car for the 7 year / 100K warranty I bought from them! Right now, the car (which I bought USED with 8,900 miles) is at the dealership getting the paint chips fixed. I love it! It is like I will check my car in for plastic surgery every time I go in for 6K service.

Don't get me wrong, I like PPF. But since they are covering virtually anything I could do to this car for 7 years I am availing myself of all that my warranty will cover.

Awesome for you. From my perspective, touched up rock chips look as bad and often times worse than the naked chips. Like acne scars.

With PPF, everything stays looking perfect. I'm too vain

 

[MerlintheMad]

With PPF, everything stays looking perfect. I'm too vain

You say that like a good thing, which in this instance it is!
I saw nicks in my front after c. three months, and knew where this was headed. So before it got to looking bad, I touched up the existing damage and got PPF; three months too late, of course. But soon enough to not require a professional repair before finally getting PPF.

 

[washguy]

Bpang I was over at your dealers watching them repair paint chips on a white car.......lookin good Billy Ray! Wash