[TimmyTurbos]

Originally Posted by OC40

I plan on keeping my car for a while and didn’t ppf.

Agree with your statement on investment. I think people, in general, use the term too loosely. Drives me insane.

ultimately I guess it depends where you live and how OCD you are about paint.. I'm in Rocksylvania and i enjoy the spirited drives on the country roads - so it was a no brainer for me. Also you get knuckleheads seeing you in the rearview and want to step on it in front of you, throwing shit all over the front of the car..All jokes aside though, if you have budget, at least consider thinking about getting the highway package.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by TimmyTurbos

ultimately I guess it depends where you live and how OCD you are about paint.. I'm in Rocksylvania and i enjoy the spirited drives on the country roads - so it was a no brainer for me. Also you get knuckleheads seeing you in the rearview and want to step on it in front of you, throwing shit all over the front of the car..All jokes aside though, if you have budget, at least consider thinking about getting the highway package.

I get it. We thought about it hard and ulimately decided against it (not budget related). We will probably be driving to/through PA in may.

[aka Hootie]

My 2016 M3 has a front clip PPF and the whole car ceramic coated. It has 37,000 miles and is kept in a garage. I track it 5-6 days a year. It still looks great, and I would do it again. I regret having my 2023 X5 only ceramic-coated because it has gotten some rock chips in the paint on the hood.

[TimmyTurbos]

Originally Posted by OC40

I get it. We thought about it hard and ulimately decided against it (not budget related). We will probably be driving to/through PA in may.

wrap the front bumper in bubble wrap on your way through dude! Hahaha. Enjoy the ride, beautiful country roads out here.

[Phillies8008]

Speaking of PPF, what's the general consensus on putting it on the windshield? I absolutely hate the pitting you get over time and would love to have a way to prevent it, but I've heard mixed things about putting PPF on it. Anyone have any experience with that?

[georgebmwM3]

I put it on my Wrangler. Can’t tell it’s on. Definitely helps with the profile a Jeep Wrangler has on the road. I want to do it on my BMW eventually.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Speaking of PPF, what's the general consensus on putting it on the windshield? I absolutely hate the pitting you get over time and would love to have a way to prevent it, but I've heard mixed things about putting PPF on it. Anyone have any experience with that?

It's a different film. It's ~4mils thick instead of 8mils. 1mil is like a human hair thickness for reference.

It's really expensive for what it is, it's about 500-800 dollars in my area, its warranty is short and wipers can damage it. From talking to the people who sell it, it only lasts about 1-2 years before you want to take it off due to wear on the film (less clear/hazy/etc).

It only really works for cars that are garage kept and rarely driven. And I mean RARELY driven.

Also it doesn't work for all cars, like some windshields are aggressively curved and it doesn't work well for it. The shop told me an example would be a Tesla Model S.

[Phillies8008]

Thanks! Guess I'll pass on that – sounds like more trouble/expense than it's worth.

[Altamate]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Thanks! Guess I'll pass on that – sounds like more trouble/expense than it's worth.

Some vehicles it may make sense, if the wind screen is $5000 to replace. Or if it is no longer made?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Altamate

Some vehicles it may make sense, if the wind screen is $5000 to replace. Or if it is no longer made?

Yeah, I could see that, especially if it's no longer made. In my state windsheilds are required to be replaced by your car insurance at no additional cost (not that it's not baked into the premium, but you know what I mean).

[Altamate]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Yeah, I could see that, especially if it's no longer made. In my state windsheilds are required to be replaced by your car insurance at no additional cost (not that it's not baked into the premium, but you know what I mean).

How often can you get a new one before they refuse the claim? Can you get a new one if it is pitted up or does it need to have a crack and if so how long does the crack have to be? Or does it have to be obstructing the drivers view before they pay to replace?

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by Altamate

How often can you get a new one before they refuse the claim? Can you get a new one if it is pitted up or does it need to have a crack and if so how long does the crack have to be? Or does it have to be obstructing the drivers view before they pay to replace?

They can never deny you, but it does need to be something that's deemed a safety hazard. According to Google, these are the criteria:

• The crack or chip is larger than 3/4 inch in diameter.

• The damage is in the driver’s direct line of sight.

• There are intersecting cracks (which compromise the structural integrity).

• There are two or more cracks within 3 inches of each other.

They can also choose to repair rather than replace if it's a small divot, etc. I should also mention that this only applies if you have comprehensive coverage on the vehicle.

So far as I'm aware, pitting does not qualify.

[jay35]

Originally Posted by N1rve

It's a different film. It's ~4mils thick instead of 8mils. 1mil is like a human hair thickness for reference.

It's really expensive for what it is, it's about 500-800 dollars in my area, its warranty is short and wipers can damage it. From talking to the people who sell it, it only lasts about 1-2 years before you want to take it off due to wear on the film (less clear/hazy/etc).

It only really works for cars that are garage kept and rarely driven. And I mean RARELY driven.

Also it doesn't work for all cars, like some windshields are aggressively curved and it doesn't work well for it.

+1 to all of this. I researched it and came to the same conclusions - not worth it on the windshield.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by jay35

+1 to all of this. I researched it and came to the same conclusions - not worth it on the windshield.

Yes, I also chose not too add it. The whole thing was expensive enough as it was, lol. No need to pile more on, especially if it's so underwhelming.

I appreciate everyone's feedback.

[swcrow]

Full front end (no windshield) PPF going on Thursday.....

I've always said I would do it on my other cars, and then it just became too late due to the daily driving abuse; not this time....picked the car up Friday and getting it on within the week.

[JDHawk70]

I've heard bugs can eat into ppf because I se of acidity. Anyone experience this after a summer road trip where your car gets mastered with them? I'm waiting on delivery of my X5 but have full front end ppf and the rest ceramic. $2500 total!

[TimmyTurbos]

Originally Posted by JDHawk70

I've heard bugs can eat into ppf because I se of acidity. Anyone experience this after a summer road trip where your car gets mastered with them? I'm waiting on delivery of my X5 but have full front end ppf and the rest ceramic. $2500 total!

bug guts and bird shit can etch your PPF if left. It's best to get either off as soon as possible to keep it looking best. Also a coat of Ceramic on top of the PPF would help this.

A good rule of thumb is PPF for impact/scratch protection. Ceramic Coatings for chemical protection.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by JDHawk70

I've heard bugs can eat into ppf because I se of acidity. Anyone experience this after a summer road trip where your car gets mastered with them? I'm waiting on delivery of my X5 but have full front end ppf and the rest ceramic. $2500 total!

I think it would be based on the PPF. I have XPEL on my roof and Llumar everywhere else, I have full car PPF. Bird shit etched my XPEL but my Llumar was fine. But between Llumar and XPEL, bugs hasn't been a problem with etching, just bird shit. Some PPF has some coating infused now like XPEL Ultimate Fusion and LLumar Valor.

[JDHawk70]

Originally Posted by TimmyTurbos

bug guts and bird shit can etch your PPF if left. It's best to get either off as soon as possible to keep it looking best. Also a coat of Ceramic on top of the PPF would help this.

A good rule of thumb is PPF for impact/scratch protection. Ceramic Coatings for chemical protection.

Thanks for the reply. I have read about doing cc on top of it. Think I will do that.

[JDHawk70]

Originally Posted by N1rve

I think it would be based on the PPF. I have XPEL on my roof and Llumar everywhere else, I have full car PPF. Bird shit etched my XPEL but my Llumar was fine. But between Llumar and XPEL, bugs hasn't been a problem with etching, just bird shit. Some PPF has some coating infused now like XPEL Ultimate Fusion and LLumar Valor.

My guy is using Suntek ppf. Bird shit is a good call out. I'll see if it has anything infused in it.

[JDHawk70]

Originally Posted by JDHawk70

My guy is using Suntek ppf. Bird shit is a good call out. I'll see if it has anything infused in it.

Update...they throw ona layer of cc on top of.the suntek ppf.