PPF Expectations

[evlsmurf]

So, I recently had PPF installed on various areas of my car, with most being the full front. For those of you who have done it, how well was it done? For example, various parts have noticeable specks of debris underneath. Is this common? I feel like I set my expectations way too high. The installer, which are two of my friends, said it's impossible to get it perfect. There are always going to be little pieces here and there. They said I should be more focused on the fact that it's doing it's job in protecting the paint. I am just wondering, for those who have done it, what was your experience and result? Thanks.

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[Phil Devtec]

It is totally possible to get it perfect. Mine is perfect. No such debris under. You should have just paid a shop for a quality job. Even then, no all PPF installers are created equal.

 

[nawfoo]

Post a picture. If the car looks good from a few feet away, i'm not going to complain because there are a few specks of dust under it.

 

[evlsmurf]

From a few feet away you can't tell. But, on top of it you can. When I run my hand over parts you can feel pieces and there are some spots that are a bit wavy. They asked that I give it time to cure, which it's been over two weeks. That won't solve the dust.

 

[tibwolf]

Risky move having your friends install. PPF (and wrap and tint) can be almost perfect if they're applied in a clean environment with good surface prep and handling techniques. You will probably have one or two pieces of debris on large complex panels, but smaller ones like fenders should be perfect.

edit: wavy spots likely mean poor shrink and/or heat gun damage. That's fair game for replacement at any reputable installer

 

[Phil Devtec]

Did your friends do a paint correction before applying PPF?

 

[egxflash]

Visible debris underneath is definitely not normal and would be unacceptable.

 

[evlsmurf]

This was done at a shop, but my friends happen to work there. The wavy marks and most debris is on the bumper. My fear is having to pull it off and have it redone. I am worried about the paint peeling, which is in another thread on here.

The car was paint corrected first.

 

[egxflash]

This was done at a shop, but my friends happen to work there. The wavy marks and most debris is on the bumper. My fear is having to pull it off and have it redone. I am worried about the paint peeling, which is in another thread on here.

The car was paint corrected first.

That's definitely a risk you run because paint adhesion on these cars seems to be hit or miss and you may have worse adhesion towards the edges.

What color is your car? If it was white and visible, I don't think I would tolerate that.

 

[UJX]

My car wasn't perfect. Perfect = Status Detail (look them up) where you cannot even tell the car is PPF'd.

My installer definitely didn't tuck the PPF and if you look very closely you can tell.

With that being said, no I did not have any sort of specs of debris or dirt under the PPF. That feels like a rookie mistake and would seem like the most obvious thing to avoid. It's one thing to have visible edges but having contaminants under the film is a completely different level of bad.

 

[evlsmurf]

I appreciate the feedback so far. I feel like their supervisor is just telling them to tell me it's normal to have some debris as a means to shut me up. Obviously, that hasn't worked. I know I have high standards, but what I am seeing is not acceptable. I knew I wasn't wrong. Some pieces definitely have no debris, so they were obviously capable of doing it. I may ask for most of my money back and decide to deal with it knowing my paint is at least protected or take it somewhere else.

Oh, my car is Boost Blue.

 

[FL5Frank]

Garbage insfall

you probably paid crap prices

I have two cars with full PPF and you can’t even tell it’s on unless you tried very very hard to find it

I did my fl5 in socal with aerowerkz and it has 0 specs of dirt or anything

im ocd and that would kill me

dont take, “its doing its job” as a fucking excuses

but I’ll say this, since this shop sucks, they will definitely peel your paint off when removing it

 

[Phil Devtec]

Yup...what @FL5Frank said. Be done with that shop and move on.

 

[evlsmurf]

Thanks guys. I'm going to call the GM tomorrow and have a frank conversation with him.

 

[MooMoo]

I don't think you should be afraid of a redo because then what is the point of PPF, its to protect for a few years then you rip it off and have brand new paint, if PPF is ripping paint off (and will be worst the longer it stays on the car) we are all screwed. I think the fact that a few people had an issue its not the norm. I know my guy had to re do a panel on mine because the pre cut was too small and he wanted more coverage and did not seem to be a problem.

As far as perfection I tried not to be super OCD with mine. My guy did a good job but I bet if I look there will be a spec here and there, I think its almost impossible to have zero specs. My car is white too and from where I have looked I have seen nothing major so I am good with it.

But I have not seen yours so you should def post some picture because maybe its pretty bad.

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