PPF bubbles

[2buckets]

I'm new to the PPF idea but I had the hood, front bumper and fenders done at a local shop. The rest of the truck was ceramic coated. There were some very small bubbles initially but after a 2500 mile road trip I find large bubbles around the parking light areas near the edges of the film.
Again, I'm new to this but I don't think this should be happening.
Has anyone else had similar experiences with PPF? Is it common or did I pick the wrong place to have it done?

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[CurtisB]

PPF? Too many acronyms out there in the world today to not state what a person is saying. It is helpful to state what the item is, then use the PPF acronym so all of us can understand. I'm guessing PPF is some kind of wrap?

 

[2buckets]

Paint Protective Film. SMDH

 

[CurtisB]

I give up. You win.

 

[Casper98]

I’d contact the shop that did the work and have them look at it, it shouldn’t be bubbling.

 

[colinl]

I’d contact the shop that did the work and have them look at it, it shouldn’t be bubbling.

I have PPF on a vehicle now and I've had it on others previously. It should not bubble like the OP is describing.

they should have at least 1 year warranty on their product and workmanship. take good photos and video, call them, email them pics if they want, and take the truck back to them. speaking of photos why didn't you attach some here? that would've been helpful.

if they won't stand behind their work, and you paid with a credit card, and it's been within 60 days, you could have some options.

 

[Jeff D.]

I had the protective film installed on the front end of mine from the factory and haven't had bubbles or any other issues. It's hard to tell where it is and isn't, except for the fine line right at the edges.

 

[VinylImagination]

I'm new to the PPF idea but I had the hood, front bumper and fenders done at a local shop. The rest of the truck was ceramic coated. There were some very small bubbles initially but after a 2500 mile road trip I find large bubbles around the parking light areas near the edges of the film.
Again, I'm new to this but I don't think this should be happening.
Has anyone else had similar experiences with PPF? Is it common or did I pick the wrong place to have it done?

Was the PPF applied before, or after the ceramic coating.
If the PPF was applied after, that would be why the PPF is not adhering, ceramic coating should always be applied after any PPF, wrap, or graphics are installed.

Outside of that, could be that low quality PPF film was used, or the film was overstretched during install.

In any case that should not be happening.

 

[2buckets]

The same shop did both. I doubt that they coated the parts that were to have PPF applied. But I don't know that.
At any rate, I contacted them and sent the pictures.

 

[Maverick2023]

take a syringe needle and poke it.

 

[wvpc]

The PPF should not have such large bubbles in it. It looks as though some contamination was on the paint surface and the film is not adhering to it. I am no expert although my Outback has had expel ultimate on it for 8 years and it still looks like the day it was installed. I just had my Maverick front clip done in expel and there is not one bubble of any size in it.

Invoke the warranty and get the film reapplied ASAP. Good luck.

 

[Speed2000]

I can see what looks like film overhanging in the middle of the edge of the light cutout. That edge will catch water during a car wash or heavy rain which let in that debris at the bottom. The other pictires have the same thing going on and most likely someone got to close to the edge washing the car. Depending on which film was used would determine if its fixable or needs replaced, a high quality film can be lifted up, debris cleaned out and reapplied.

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