[JABCAT]

The shop is so important. I've got 14k mi on mine and no lifting, no issues & all the pieces in that pre-cut kit were fit together perfectly. Sure if you get right up close you can see the seams, but there are no gaps, no jagged cuts, etc. like I've seen on others who posted here.

If your shop says they really don't want to do it, find another shop. I also think $1600 for the rockers & ceramic coating is way too much. The Xpel rocker kit is $500.

[IanH]

Just ceramic coating a car is 1000-2000 depending on what level coating you get, 1600 rockers and ceramic sounds likea totally normal price.

[MILLA]

wow thanks for all the great responses. something to think about!

[curtdragon]

As has been said I do not think it is worth it for this price car. A full-quality paint job is just a little more than the price of PPF. I don't plan on selling mine and at some point I will do a carbon hood, fenders, and trunk, so those parts will get painted, and might as well respray the front.
Ceramic is good on any car and worth it as long as paint correction is done. My 40k Audi S4 was in great condition, with some chips here and there but after a paint correction and ceramic, it was night and day. All I could think and say was how shiny it is!

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by curtdragon

A full-quality paint job is just a little more than the price of PPF.

No it isn't. I just had a new rear bumper painted for $750, and a new rear spoiler for $350. Two relatively small parts & it cost 42% of what I paid for ppf.
You're not getting a full, quality paint job anywhere close to $5k (cost of full-car ppf).

[MineralGreyMetallic]

Originally Posted by curtdragon

A full-quality paint job is just a little more than the price of PPF.

Pure madness.

[curtdragon]

Originally Posted by JABCAT

No it isn't. I just had a new rear bumper painted for $750, and a new rear spoiler for $350. Two relatively small parts & it cost 42% of what I paid for ppf.
You're not getting a full, quality paint job anywhere close to $5k (cost of full-car ppf).

I guess ture getting super cheap rates for PPF. Maybe the area. But it starts at $6-7k here. Does not include paint correction. Pic for reference.
I misspoke a but though. The top quality paint shop starts at $10k but they're the best in the area so I'm sure other shops will be closer to that $7k. I'd gladly pay than dealing with removing old ppf or you pay at the dealer

Originally Posted by MineralGreyMetallic

Pure madness.

It is

[IanH]

In 5 years either society will have collapsed entirely and we are mad maxing it or I am gonna have a different car anyway. Either way PPF ain't helping.

I think this thread honestly helped me get out of the ppf rabbit hole.

[curtdragon]

Originally Posted by IanH

In 5 years either society will have collapsed entirely and we are mad maxing it or I am gonna have a different car anyway. Either way PPF ain't helping.

I think this thread honestly helped me get out of the ppf rabbit hole.

Max mad lifted M2. Don't give me any ideas

[SeanJP]

Does anyone know if you PPF just the front and/or hood, if the eye can tell a difference between sections with and without PPF? If the eye initially cannot tell a difference, will it eventually over time look different? How about if you wax or ceramic coat the whole car?

[SeanJP]

Originally Posted by curtdragon

Max mad lifted M2. Don't give me any ideas

Mad Max lift kit on Black Sapphire Metallic M2 with stealth PPF, off-road tires, and roof mounted M240 machine gun.

[shehatezme]

I think if you plan on selling the car in 2-3 yrs it won’t make sense to PPF. I run a completely black fleet (except for one car), front end PPF is usually a must. If I plan to keep the brand new car for 4+ yrs or forever, I will PPF front end. If the car is used I won’t PPF (unless it’s a used gt3 etc usually PPF already but will need a refresh) I just had my family car, brand new blk Sienna limited ppf in the front since we do a ton of road trips. It’s all preference and I like that my shit is protected.

[BradMX5]

Was thinking about full PPF but now most likely just going to PPF the front and roof then ceramic coat the whole car.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by SeanJP

Does anyone know if you PPF just the front and/or hood, if the eye can tell a difference between sections with and without PPF? If the eye initially cannot tell a difference, will it eventually over time look different? How about if you wax or ceramic coat the whole car?

If it's a good quality PPF, like XPEL Ultimate, then the only thing visible is the outer edges, i.e. the seams. But if it's not high quality PPF...

I'll give an example. My 2021 M2 had small PPF sections in front of the rear wheel arches from the factory. It didn't take long for these pieces to yellow. In my case, when I sold the car 3 years later, they were noticeable to anyone. But I had XPEL Ultimate on the front bumper, and that didn't turn yellow at all over 3 years.

As far as the edges, definitely noticeable (if you're looking for them) unless they're wrapped around, like on a hood. The edges of my 2021 M2 factory-applied PPF were noticeable from Day 1. In fact, the comment my wife made when seeing the car for the first time was, "what are the lines on the side of the car?" And the bad thing is, they get worse over time, because dirt gets trapped underneath the seam. Maybe someone here knows how to clean the edges, but I could never get them 100% clean.

The front bumper PPF on my 2021 M2 was perfectly installed. The seams were virtually unnoticeable... unless you looked for them.

[MineralGreyMetallic]

Originally Posted by wjones14

If it's a good quality PPF, like XPEL Ultimate, then the only thing visible is the outer edges, i.e. the seams. But if it's not high quality PPF...

I'll give an example. My 2021 M2 had small PPF sections in front of the rear wheel arches from the factory. It didn't take long for these pieces to yellow. In my case, when I sold the car 3 years later, they were noticeable to anyone. But I had XPEL Ultimate on the front bumper, and that didn't turn yellow at all over 3 years.

As far as the edges, definitely noticeable (if you're looking for them) unless they're wrapped around, like on a hood. The edges of my 2021 M2 factory-applied PPF were noticeable from Day 1. In fact, the comment my wife made when seeing the car for the first time was, "what are the lines on the side of the car?" And the bad thing is, they get worse over time, because dirt gets trapped underneath the seam. Maybe someone here knows how to clean the edges, but I could never get them 100% clean.

The front bumper PPF on my 2021 M2 was perfectly installed. The seams were virtually unnoticeable... unless you looked for them.

A good shop will remove trimming and wrap around panels to hide edges.

In some areas the visible edges are hard to avoid. The complicated front/rear bumpers on the G87, for example. On my F87 I had no visible edges.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by MineralGreyMetallic

A good shop will remove trimming and wrap around panels to hide edges.

In some areas the visible edges are hard to avoid. The complicated front/rear bumpers on the G87, for example. On my F87 I had no visible edges.

Well, we're talking about the G87 here and whether or not there will be any visible edges, so at least we're in agreement that there will be. JABCAT confirmed it in reply #46.

Not sure how your F87 didn't have any visible edges at all, but that's another discussion.

[TheSiege]

IMO it's 100% a must to find a good installer shop. I just got mine done with STEK, so no pre-cut parts, and the work is incredible. Front and rear bumpers were done with full sheets and the rear is expertly seamed.

On visibility: On my prior BMWs I did a bra/partial hood and if you do it well, with good material it is not that noticeable. I think if you did a whole panel (like a rocker) you would not notice at all. Having used 3M, XPEL and STEK, I think the STEK is very slightly more shiny/less orange peel... but it's still new. I read that after a few months they all look very similar.

I see a few comments about doing just the rockers, or even just the hood. Having done this a number of times on my own in the past, I would say buy the kit and go ahead and DIY it. For panels without a lot of topography or curves, it is quite easy. Watch multiple youtube videos for instruction, use a lot of slip mixture and give it a go. Other than maybe having to throw out a piece if you really mess up, it can't go that wrong. I think it's much easier on a flat panel than people expect, as long are you are patient and careful.

[garageoverflow]

PPF is only worth it if you want it to be. Just like the car itself.
Everyone has opinions, but someone out there doesn't think YOUR car (no matter what it is) is worth the money.

We got PPF on my wife's 981 Spyder, and I'm getting it on my 29yr old RHD Supra in just a few weeks. The Supra doesn't have perfect paint, but I sure do love the benefits of PPF. Is it technically WORTH it? Who knows, but it is to me.

I'm always shocked when threads like this go off the rails, but maybe I shouldn't be.

Decide if the benefit is worth the cost and go from there.

[MILLA]

Update on my end. Full PPF and ceramic around me is $8,500. so I won't be doing that.

I may just do ceramic and call it a day. I can paint the whole car for that type of money haha