[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by EvasiveF87

I've never heard of PPF not adding some sort of value to a car. If there's two cars for sale and one is banged up busted up and has scratches, the other has film which is a consumable product to protect the paint (most film these days is warrantied 10 years to begin with) I will always choose the car with PPF.

That alone is a tell tale about the owner and type of car im getting before I even see it or meet them. Someone willing to spend a few grand and properly protect their investment vs someone who has the "fuck it, i'm gonna sell it and it's gonna lose value anyways" mindset.. ask yourself who you'd rather buy a car from.

Just my $0.02. Bit bias as I do detailing and offer PPF services, and my M2 has near full body. Full Front on a M2 will probably cost $2-3k. People spend that alone on a cheap set of wheels and some tires or an exhaust. It's all about what you as an owner prioritize and see value in.

PPF has minimal, if any impact on car value. Sure, a dealer may deduct 250 (their cost) for repainting a front or rear bumper, but an entire car with PPF wont impact the trade in because dealers want to sell you PPF, not sell one with it.
My second G80 M3 had about 10K worth of PPF - the car was frozen dark grey and all the frozen panels were done in stealth Xpel, then all of the gloss parts; the roof, side skirts, OEM CF exterior package, window trim were all wraped in gloss. While my trade in value was good, I didnt get more than another car that didnt have any PPF.

[EvasiveF87]

Originally Posted by HeelToeShift

PPF has minimal, if any impact on car value. Sure, a dealer may deduct 250 (their cost) for repainting a front or rear bumper, but an entire car with PPF wont impact the trade in because dealers want to sell you PPF, not sell one with it.
My second G80 M3 had about 10K worth of PPF - the car was frozen dark grey and all the frozen panels were done in stealth Xpel, then all of the gloss parts; the roof, side skirts, OEM CF exterior package, window trim were all wraped in gloss. While my trade in value was good, I didnt get more than another car that didnt have any PPF.

I think this thread derailed a bit but just a few things

Yes, PPF is not going to add value to a trade in. I mean, there's maybe that 10-15% chance it does at a specialty boutique but what does add value is the ability to claim that one, the car has never been repainted and two has flawless paint. In that regard you can consider it a subjective claim in regards to the value it adds.

I'd also like to include that for even my own clients who are frequently buying and selling cars (lets say less than or around 24-30 months of ownership) depending on their budget and expectations I wont even suggest PPF as I don't think they're getting the value out of it. For those types of owners / clients I just tell them to rock with a good ceramic coating, frequently wash it and just take care of it.

HOWEVER, in private both on the buying end and from selling cars I'd put film on (my last three vehicle transactions including my M2 were private) film does 100% add value to the car. Like any other "modification" we'll call it you're never going to get the money you put in back out of it.

I believe the saying is there is an ass for every seat. I bought my M2 with almost full body PPF on it in good shape and paid a premium for it (among other small things the car had) compared to other examples out there.

I would not have wanted to get one of these cars with a bunch of rock damage up front and repainted panels. Some people don't care and that's perfectly okay too

[HeelToeShift]

Originally Posted by EvasiveF87

I think this thread derailed a bit but just a few things

Yes, PPF is not going to add value to a trade in. I mean, there's maybe that 10-15% chance it does at a specialty boutique but what does add value is the ability to claim that one, the car has never been repainted and two has flawless paint. In that regard you can consider it a subjective claim in regards to the value it adds.

I'd also like to include that for even my own clients who are frequently buying and selling cars (lets say less than or around 24-30 months of ownership) depending on their budget and expectations I wont even suggest PPF as I don't think they're getting the value out of it. For those types of owners / clients I just tell them to rock with a good ceramic coating, frequently wash it and just take care of it.

HOWEVER, in private both on the buying end and from selling cars I'd put film on (my last three vehicle transactions including my M2 were private) film does 100% add value to the car. Like any other "modification" we'll call it you're never going to get the money you put in back out of it.

I believe the saying is there is an ass for every seat. I bought my M2 with almost full body PPF on it in good shape and paid a premium for it (among other small things the car had) compared to other examples out there.

I would not have wanted to get one of these cars with a bunch of rock damage up front and repainted panels. Some people don't care and that's perfectly okay too

Dont disagere. Most of my cars get PPF and I certainly like it if used car has but bumpers can and often get painted at port, or from a dealer, or painted and re-PPF'd and youd never know even with a paint meter due to them being plastic.

[Mizuno]

if I paid over 70k for a new car, yeah Id PPF it, more specifically the front bumper. My certified pre owned 2021 5er came looking great at 40k miles,the last owner took good care of it, and a mild paint correction has the rest looking pristine, ..but the front bumper has bug pits and crap in it (yay florida) that a PPF might have avoided. Personal preference I guess but thats what id have done if I got it new.

[JoeyO]

Living in New England with all the salt and sand on the road, from the winter months, it can reek lot of havoc on your front end. Particularly if you do a lot of high speed highway driving, like I do. Driving behind a tractor trailer truck can sometimes feel like getting a full sandblast treatment. That’s because sand pebbles stick to those knobby truck tires like glue and then flicks them off at your bumper at 75 MPH.

Yea, you bet, I’ve got PPF on the my front bumper and headlights.

[eliphil]

Whether you trade or sell a car condition of the paint impacts value. Every car and situation is different, most probably wont recover the cost of the ppf but they will have great insurance against chips while they own the car so that’s the value you need to consider. I’ve done front end and mirrors on a few of my cars and am happy that I didn’t have to deal with chips

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Mizuno

if I paid over 70k for a new car, yeah Id PPF it, more specifically the front bumper.

What's the logic in that?
You want to max-out your first month depreciation (~20% when you drive off the lot, plus another ~10% on PPF)?!?

Fair disclaimer - I'm not selling detailing products to anyone, and have paid more than the above for cars.
I would not consider PPF-ing any vehicle unless the price tag is well north of $250K (e.g.: NOT a daily driver!), or if it was a trully unique and special vehicle worthy of preservation.
0% chance I would PPF a leased car.

Originally Posted by Mizuno

My certified pre owned 2021 5er came looking great at 40k miles,the last owner took good care of it, and a mild paint correction has the rest looking pristine

Right - all that without overpriced throw-away PPF, no less!
~10% extra depreciation avoided - nice!

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Living in New England with all the salt and sand on the road, from the winter months, it can reek lot of havoc on your front end.

Not really.
Salt does nothing special to the paint. Especially on paint with a coat of quality was or ceramic on top.

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Particularly if you do a lot of high speed highway driving, like I do. Driving behind a tractor trailer truck can sometimes feel like getting a full sandblast treatment.

Exactly - NE or winters have little to do with paint damage.
Driving behind construction or gravel trucks does.
Living in a dusty environment does even more (e.g.: TX, AZ, etc - BTDT), as do fat hard-shelled bugs (e.g.: parts of ME and Canada). Those are not great for the paint, and are even worse (terminal) for PPF !

More here:

Originally Posted by JoeyO

Yea, you bet, I’ve got PPF on the my front bumper and headlights.

Whatever makes you happy!

a

P.S.: If you do want PPF, here is some advise on how to find the rigth PPF installer for you:

[Burrcold]

^^haha salt does nothing on paint? Lol omg shut up.

[Mizuno]

Originally Posted by afadeev

What's the logic in that?
You want to max-out your first month depreciation (~20% when you drive off the lot, plus another ~10% on PPF)?!?

No Id want to protect it from bug crap. Just the front bumper. For me $750 to do the front bumper on a brand new car is worth it. Not because im afraid of resale value and depreciation, but because I HATE pitted front bumpers on my cars.

And I did have to do a 1 step correction on the paint. I think PPF on a whole car is wasteful unless its truly an exotic.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Mizuno

No Id want to protect it from bug crap. Just the front bumper. For me $750 to do the front bumper on a brand new car is worth it. Not because im afraid of resale value and depreciation, but because I HATE pitted front bumpers on my cars.

FYI:
Bugs don't pit bumpers.
Bugs DO pit, scar, and embed themselves into PPF.

Sooooo.....

Originally Posted by Mizuno

I think PPF on a whole car is wasteful unless its truly an exotic.

Agreed.

YMMV,
a

[johnnylee]

You can still get rock chips with a PPF on the front bumper. That's why I haven't gotten it on my G80. But I will say it can make sense to get PPF on the glossy panels to help hide scratches and swirls in bright sunlight.

What is the stigma with getting the front bumper repainted at a authorized BMW dealership with exact paint match to fix rock chips? It's not like the car was totaled or anything.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by johnnylee

You can still get rock chips with a PPF on the front bumper. That's why I haven't gotten it on my G80. But I will say it can make sense to get PPF on the glossy panels to help hide scratches and swirls in bright sunlight.

What is the stigma with getting the front bumper repainted at a authorized BMW dealership with exact paint match to fix rock chips? It's not like the car was totaled or anything.

It's not the repainting, its that the car looks ugly with rock chips before you get it repainted. And most people don't repaint a bumper over a few chips - they wait until the front looks pretty bad before it gets painted. A PPF'd front bumper will look brand new.

I mentioned this in another thread but I removed the PPF after 10 years on my M3. Many track days and over 60k miles of driving. It was brand new underneath when I peeled it off to replace the clear bra. It was a complete time capsule. Without the clear bra, it would look terrible.

Clear bra protected my front end for 10 years vs 2-3 repaints in the same amount of time if I want to maintain the appearance? And you would repaint not just the bumper, you have to repaint the whole front (bumper, hood, mirrors, fenders etc) of the car and replace the headlights? My whole front end looked brand new.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by afadeev

FYI:
Bugs don't pit bumpers.
Bugs DO pit, scar, and embed themselves into PPF.

Sooooo.....



Agreed.

YMMV,
a

It depends where you are. Here in California, the highway speeds are usually 80mph+ and you maintain that speed for many miles. When bugs hit your car at that speed, it most definitely will pit your paint and scar. And Rocks? Good luck! I hope you have a lot of touch up paint handy. Maybe just respray the car every few years? PPF is not perfect but it 100% is better than no PPF.

Bugs definitely do not pit and scar ppf - films self heal. Occasionally you will get a rock that penetrates... but after I peel off the clear bra, most of these come out. They penetrated the film but it didn't damage the paint. Film is soft and it cushions impacts. Paint is hard and it chips instantly. As for stains? That is not a problem with the new films they have now with embedded ceramic coatings. That's an old video.

[johnnylee]

Originally Posted by Z K

It's not the repainting, its that the car looks ugly with rock chips before you get it repainted. And most people don't repaint a bumper over a few chips - they wait until the front looks pretty bad before it gets painted. A PPF'd front bumper will look brand new.

I mentioned this in another thread but I removed the PPF after 10 years on my M3. Many track days and over 60k miles of driving. It was brand new underneath when I peeled it off to replace the clear bra. It was a complete time capsule. Without the clear bra, it would look terrible.

Clear bra protected my front end for 10 years vs 2-3 repaints in the same amount of time if I want to maintain the appearance? And you would repaint not just the bumper, you have to repaint the whole front (bumper, hood, mirrors, fenders etc) of the car and replace the headlights? My whole front end looked brand new.

Glad it worked for you. Did it still look good enough with the PPF on during those 10 years?

After just few months of ownership, I already have a small rock chip on the hood that's not noticeable unless you stare at it up close, so I would have to get some repaint or correction done if I were to PPF.

Did PPF protect against all rock chips? I would imagine a sharp enough pebble at 80mph would pierce right through?

If the car means enough to you, then yes totally worth repainting the bumper, hood, etc., and replacing headlights if needed. I would probably replace headlights even if it had PPF if I wanted it to look brand new if I keep the car for 10 years.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by johnnylee

What is the stigma with getting the front bumper repainted at a authorized BMW dealership with exact paint match to fix rock chips? It's not like the car was totaled or anything.

LOL - exact match from authorized BMW dealer! The dealerships here in the DC area are nowhere near expert compared to many independent body shops. Be sure to do your homework.

[johnnylee]

Originally Posted by John in VA

LOL - exact match from authorized BMW dealer! The dealerships here in the DC area are nowhere near expert compared to many independent body shops. Be sure to do your homework.

Well if they mess up you can hold them accountable better than an indy shop?

[Mech Spec]

I mean if you dont know how to get your car/parts painted properly why are you giving advice?

You have to go to a very good body shop to get good paint that actually matches. There are 1 or 2 that meet this standard within an hour of me. Luckily one of them is my town.

[johnnylee]

Originally Posted by Mech Spec

I mean if you dont know how to get your car/parts painted properly why are you giving advice?

You have to go to a very good body shop to get good paint that actually matches. There are 1 or 2 that meet this standard within an hour of me. Luckily one of them is my town.

Maybe I'm ignorant, but what's wrong with a BMW certified collision center?

[Mech Spec]

Originally Posted by johnnylee

Maybe I'm ignorant, but what's wrong with a BMW certified collision center?

They are just the people who got certified because they can handle the volume and get the dealer repair jobs on trade ins and people who dont know enough to get their own shop. They do the most mediocre work and I would never go to the dealers body shop (for any brand)