PPF Not Worth It?

[MSINAL]

I ppf the front facing facing edges of all our cars, especially the headlights. For tight trails i carry a machete and hold up traffic while i prune. No one's complained yet.

Im not the best ppf'er but i get it on there.

 

[cvx5832LC]

I use PPF on my M3, super happy with it. I’ve had cars without it and really regretted as the rock chips on bumper and hood etc.. drive me insane. The M3 has 12k miles on it now and is in perfect condition, despite having a truck veer off road and throw gravel at me one afternoon.

That said, I did not PPF the land cruiser. The LC has a lot more plastic on the front, it’s higher up, and it’s a rugged vehicle that will get abused a bit more. PPF is expensive. For me it’s about expectations. I’m ok with the truck getting a bit of patina. I’m not ok with my special expensive toy car getting patina.

Interesting point and quite valid. I'd for sure consider rock chips to be a badge of honor on a 300k-mile LC and would just leave them be

 

[Upright Hominid]

Thanks Ultane. Always happy to help spend other peoples money.

 

[Rødby]

I ppf the front facing facing edges of all our cars, especially the headlights. For tight trails i carry a machete and hold up traffic while i prune. No one's complained yet.

Im not the best ppf'er but i get it on there.

Where do you order the PPF from? I wouldn't mind giving it a try myself.

 

[MSINAL]

Where do you order the PPF from? I wouldn't mind giving it a try myself.

I use this for pre-cut shapes

Invisible Mask - Clear Bra Automotive Paint Protection, 3M Scotchgard, Carbon Fiber 3M Films

www.invisiblemask.com

For bulk rolls i get from amazon or wherever i find it cheaper. Some things are easier to do with bulk film.

 

[Mtn40]

If you’re looking for inexpensive and just trying it out, here’s what I’ve learned with some from amazon.
The vvivvid stuff that doesn’t say 3M and has a white backing is GARBAGE. Don’t buy this.

The kind from vvivvid that says 3M and has the red 3M on the backing is good. I wish they had larger bulk rolls of this stuff.

@MSINAL If you have other recommendations I’d love to learn from someone else who’s DIY’ing it.

 

[MSINAL]

If you’re looking for inexpensive and just trying it out, here’s what I’ve learned with some from amazon.
The vvivvid stuff that doesn’t say 3M and has a white backing is GARBAGE. Don’t buy this.

The kind from vvivvid that says 3M and has the red 3M on the backing is good. I wish they had larger bulk rolls of this stuff.

@MSINAL If you have other recommendations I’d love to learn from someone else who’s DIY’ing it.

View attachment 66533
View attachment 66534

Xpel film is is possibly the best, i used it for my hood, but it was much more challenging for me to use due to bubbles continously forming. I ended up with lots of water bubbles, some of which i had to use a syringe on. But ultimately it turned out really good once the bubbles all cleared. Amazing product.
My tips/struggles in brain dump format:

• It takes 3x longer than you think it will take for big/complex shapes.
• Wrapping the edges nicely is tough, prep a sticky spray mix for edges.
• Cutting the film at edges on the car is terrifying. It's easy to cut into paint. I dont worry too much about perfect edges, rather not cut into paint. This is the hardest part for me.
• for curvy areas thinner film is much easier to apply.

• im not a pro, so cant expect pro results. There's a reason why pro ppf is so expensive, they earn and deserve every penny.
• for ppf joints you need to leave a gap, maybe 2mm at least. I always try to butt them together but it never looks perfect in the end. Im protecting the paint so i dont worry too much about perfection anymore.

- stretching the ppf too much on convex surfaces will leave visible stretch marks in the film.

• watch lots of videos on you tube and start with flat pieces first, so much easier. Door sills are good for learning, buy 2inch stock roll for this.
• the starting point for squeege-ing (word??) Is crucial. You tube is good for this. Dont wing it.

This is helpful

Paint Protection Film Installation Guide | Tint Depot

Paint Protection Film Installation Guide In this guide, you’ll learn how to apply paint protection film in a professional manner. This guide covers

tintdepot.com

 

[Jon]

watch lots of videos on you tube and start with flat pieces first, so much easier. Door sills are good for learning, buy 2inch stock roll for this.

MSINAL, are you talking about the painted part of the door sill? The blue part in my pic below. I've been thinking about doing PPF on it since I'm less than 2 weeks in and already seeing scratches.

How far up the door jamb do you go?

Thanks all, good info and discussion here!

 

[ar4390LC]

I slowly graduated from no ppf, to half ppf (front clip), to front clip + rockers, to now full ppf on all my cars (except onthe LC250 I only got the paint in front of the sunroof as I'll be putting a half rack on).

1. Makes washing the car a hell of a lot easier, especially xpel + ceramic.
   Not too worried about minor rock chips.
2. Protects against pin stripes - tested this last week with the LC250 and there isn't a single mark on the paint. My old Bronco Wildtrack was gouged after 2 summers.
3. Can protect against some minor fender benders. Case in point, I drove my R8 down to the bay area for a Laguna Seca track day last month and some dipshit rear ended me (in stop and go traffic) with his durango. Would have 100% done paint damage, but the PPF took the the scrapes. Replaced the rear PPF for $300, and I was on my way.

My $0.02.

 

[MSINAL]

MSINAL, are you talking about the painted part of the door sill? The blue part in my pic below. I've been thinking about doing PPF on it since I'm less than 2 weeks in and already seeing scratches.

How far up the door jamb do you go?

Thanks all, good info and discussion here!

View attachment 66542

Yes exactly. I went about an inch past the horizontal segment of it, both directions.

 

[midlifeflysis]

I'll chime in here. I live in Alberta Canada and salt is reality in winter, gravel in summer. I have ppf on the front of the hood, Above windshield, pillars, and lower door panels (after I saw all the rash I was getting there because of the additional poke of the lexus GX550 wheels). So glad to have it as I would definitely be getting rust on those places due to all the flying debris. I can already see it has taken some hits and protected the paint beneath. Not sold on the "Self Healing" part but it is absolutely saving my paint. Next is PPF on the windshield as that thing is a freakin' rock magnet!

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Front bumpers and rocker panels are about all I'd ever consider on any vehicle. I enjoy detailing paint, not plastic.

 

[ultane]

MSINAL, are you talking about the painted part of the door sill? The blue part in my pic below. I've been thinking about doing PPF on it since I'm less than 2 weeks in and already seeing scratches.

How far up the door jamb do you go?

Thanks all, good info and discussion here!

View attachment 66542

I think WeatherTech makes protectors that can be applied there.

 

[ultane]

Next is PPF on the windshield as that thing is a freakin' rock magnet!

Please let us know how that works!

 

[ERROR504]

I got mine all wrapped except for the roof. I noticed the other week someone hit my door and red paint was transferred. PPF did its thing and was able to whipe it off. IMO totally worth it now.

 

[Jon]

I think WeatherTech makes protectors that can be applied there.

Interesting! Seems like a good look and not a terrible price for all 4 doors.

Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector | WeatherTech US

Check out our Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector and more from WeatherTech US!

www.weathertech.com

 

[Slippers]

Interesting! Seems like a good look and not a terrible price for all 4 doors.

Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector | WeatherTech US

Check out our Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector and more from WeatherTech US!

www.weathertech.com

I have these. They fit and work well. My kids always drag their feet getting in and out, so I feel like the ease of install and cost are well worth it.

 

[ERROR504]

Interesting! Seems like a good look and not a terrible price for all 4 doors.

Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector | WeatherTech US

Check out our Toyota Land Cruiser SillProtector and more from WeatherTech US!

www.weathertech.com

I got the cheaper Amazon ones and happy with them.

Amazon.com

 

[t3lcfe]

Man…millions words to argue / debate / discuss on everything / anything (fuel types, suspension, lifted or not, mpg, spg, etc and many cases go to nowhere / endless conclusions
Just like many things, PPF is definitely worth for many, but also “definitely” not for others.
Happy roads, happy trails, and happy LC=happy life
T3LCFE: Both PPF and Ceramic Coats

 

[Pazich]

For reference, I've taken my fully PPF'd rig on trails about 6 times now and my buddy's unprotected Tacoma got moderately pinstriped, while my paint is still scratch free. Only light pinstriping on the fenders and other black trim pieces since they're pretty soft plastic but really not too noticable.

Also, literally the day I first brought my Land Cruiser home, the garage door closed on my open trunk hatch and it gouged the PPF pretty good, would have easily scraped a half inch of paint away. After about a month of driving during the summer, the PPF gouge fully disappeared.