Saturday DIY project. PPF film for hood protection

[Speed2000]

If someone in the Atlanta area want to bring theirs in and film the install to post, Ill cut them a deal. I used Suntek Reaction film on my truck and its super clear with no orange peel. Most of the film you get from Amazon sellers is B grade at best, they figure a DYIer will have more issues with the install than how the end result looks or holds up over time.

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[Mightybeast]

If someone in the Atlanta area want to bring theirs in and film the install to post, Ill cut them a deal. I used Suntek Reaction film on my truck and its super clear with no orange peel. Most of the film you get from Amazon sellers is B grade at best, they figure a DYIer will have more issues with the install than how the end result looks or holds up over time.

Did you wrap entire car?

 

[Speed2000]

Yes

 

[GTBuzz]

I use 3M Scotchguard Professional Series PPF, not the standard 3M ppf. I found it to be one of the smoothest in regards to orange peel that I've seen. It's not cheap stuff, but was worth the extra cost to me.

Pic of Ppf sample and one installed under Mustang trunk lid to save paint from loading and unloading, so this shows edge to comparing just paint and with ppf

 

[Speed2000]

I used 3M when I first started but that stuff didn't age well and nearly impossible to remove. This thing took over 20 hours to get it all scraped off

 

[GTBuzz]

How long ago was that and did it take long to happen? I read they changed their ppf material due to something like this issue. At least the pro series I believe, not sure on the standard film.

Mine has been on car for a year in South Georgia and still looks great. I am a DIYer so trying to use the best I can get ahold of with zero orange peel. So far only the 3m pro series has fit that, I'll have to look into the suntek you show as that looks great as well.

 

[Speed2000]

That car came out in 2012 and this removal happened a couple weeks ago. The problem I've encountered is once the film starts to look bad, its too late to easily remove. I always put wax on the car before each install, that helps make removal easier and instruct my customers on proper care and after five years it needs a checkup. Usually Ill pull off the passenger side mirror to see how much elasticity is left in the product. If its brittle, its time to replace it. If its still pliable, i put a new mirror piece on and ask them to come back in a year or two. Life of the film depends on how much time it spends in the sun for the most part

Black paint ages film faster than lighter colors but lots depend on how the customer takes care of their ride.

 

[GTBuzz]

That car came out in 2012 and this removal happened a couple weeks ago. The problem I've encountered is once the film starts to look bad, its too late to easily remove. I always put wax on the car before each install, that helps make removal easier and instruct my customers on proper care and after five years it needs a checkup. Usually Ill pull off the passenger side mirror to see how much elasticity is left in the product. If its brittle, its time to replace it. If its still pliable, i put a new mirror piece on and ask them to come back in a year or two. Life of the film depends on how much time it spends in the sun for the most part

Black paint ages film faster than lighter colors but lots depend on how the customer takes care of

Ok thanks for the info. I'll keep close eye on it and test it after a few years. Car gets lots of sun time, but is also kept in garage when not in use so that should help.

Since Im a DIYer, it seems sourcing or sampling the "good stuff" is a bit harder since I don't buy entire rolls or pro installer.

I ordered a few types from Amazon in the past including standard 3m ppf, but they had too much orange peel. My friend had a pro install with xpel but even it's got very noticable orange peel. So when I found the pro 3m pro series and it looked like glass I went with that.

 

[OB1e]

So what you are saying this the vivid stuff on Amazon is crap?

 

[GTBuzz]

So what you are saying this the vivid stuff on Amazon is crap?

Lol, no not crap. If you're talking about the 3m by vvivid, it's just a lesser than the "pro series" as in more orange peel and other qualities. I bought both. The "pro series" is like it's name a higher quality film than the basic and more expensive to buy. Seems like 2 or 3 times more expensive from when I was trying them out. Even 3m has a comparison chart. I don't want to add more orange peel than my paint has. Some people won't notice or care.

But as speed2000 pointed out, other brands that could be better as well.

Just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend for the material.

3M chart

 

[Speed2000]

So what you are saying this the vivid stuff on Amazon is crap?

I've been doing ppf for 23 years and have not heard of that product. Probably made in China, I get several emails a month from there introducing new films wanting to send samples. The problem is no matter how nice a film looks new, it takes five or six years of real world exposure to find out if its any good.

 

[snowcatxx87]

Looks good. Why stopped at the hood? Go for the full headlight install. Check out mine. Did my headlights and front bumper.

Why stop at the headlamps?

I did full hood, full fenders, bumper, headlamps, mirrors, a pillar, roof, tailgate.....

lol.

 

[Dodeboost]

Why stop at the headlamps?

I did full hood, full fenders, bumper, headlamps, mirrors, a pillar, roof, tailgate.....

lol.

Did you end up using the xpel pre cut film for the tailgate?

 

[snowcatxx87]

Did you end up using the xpel pre cut film for the tailgate?

Good memory, I was just being facetious with that guy as you could keep on going and going...

But yes I did get it cut from my buddy in Xpel ultimate. It's the only piece I installed myself, came out decent but it's a flat panel with only a little curve at the top! Everything else was done professionally

 

[Dodeboost]

Good memory, I was just being facetious with that guy as you could keep on going and going...

But yes I did get it cut from my buddy in Xpel ultimate. It's the only piece I installed myself, came out decent but it's a flat panel with only a little curve at the top! Everything else was done professionally

Nice, I still need to do mine. Got some pretty high quotes so I’m going to try to do it myself as well

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