PPF Applied. Questions for those that have it.

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 12:48 PM

I picked up my car today after having PPF applied. I did the full front end with mirrors and did the lower rocker blades.

A couple of concerns-

There is a small seam on the front middle of the bumper where they joined two pieces of film. It is small but I was under the impression these pieces go on in one piece to avoid seams. Is a seam on the front bumper common?

Also, I paid for the full front end to be done. I assumed that also meant applying PPF on the painted black front grill slates. My installer did not include the film on the slates. I can see how applying film there could be tedious but if it was not going to be included then I would have liked them to tell me that. I guess my mistake for not confirming. Is this typically considered extra and not done on a full front?

Overall, the application looks decent but disappointed in the above , especially after getting several references for this shop. Curious what others experiences have been.

Flying05 · 03-18-2022, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

I picked up my car today after having PPF applied. I did the full front end with mirrors and did the lower rocker blades.

A couple of concerns-

There is a small seam on the front middle of the bumper where they joined two pieces of film. It is small but I was under the impression these pieces go on in one piece to avoid seams. Is a seam on the front bumper common?

Also, I paid for the full front end to be done. I assumed that also meant applying PPF on the painted black front grill slates. My installer did not include the film on the slates. I can see how applying film there could be tedious but if it was not going to be included then I would have liked them to tell me that. I guess my mistake for not confirming. Is this typically considered extra and not done on a full front?

Overall, the application looks decent but disappointed in the above , especially after getting several references for this shop. Curious what others experiences have been.

Funny, I have that very small seam in the very bottom of the bumper that you wouldn't notice unless you were told to look at it. Doesn't bother me.

As for the front grill, that was considered part of the front in my quote along with the headlights. Didn't have to ask, but was mentioned during quote. I would have asked if not mentioned. Yes, the grill is a time suck and apparently the xpel pattern was updated or something along those lines after I got mine done and was told it was much easier now. Mine is fine and looks pretty good, but it's a grill and not overly expensive from my research so it can always be replaced or stripped if needed. Looking back at it, I most likely would have just gotten it ceramic coated.

As your installer about it and if not happy, they should have no problem fixing it until you are happy. My installer is this way and that is why I have used him for my cars now.

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying05

As your installer about it and if not happy, they should have no problem fixing it until you are happy. My installer is this way and that is why I have used him for my cars now.

Well, your shop has more integrity than mine. I contacted the shop and was told they are not willing to do anything to resolve any of the issues. This is also the same place that told me 3 days for the job and that turned in to nearly 2 weeks. Crazy since I had received several references for this place. Live and learn.

Flying05 · 03-18-2022, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying05

As your installer about it and if not happy, they should have no problem fixing it until you are happy. My installer is this way and that is why I have used him for my cars now.

Well, your shop has more integrity then mine. I contacted the shop and was told they are not willing to do anything to resolve any of the issues. This is also the same place that told me 3 days for the job and that turned in to nearly 2 weeks. Crazy since I had received several references for this place. Live and learn.

Really?! Damn I would light them up on forums, social media, everywhere if I couldn't get it resolved. That is poor business practice and feel bad for you on this. Maybe another shop would like to earn your business and help you out. Maybe if your looking for future work on things. What a sham.

JDUNITNOW · 03-18-2022, 04:52 PM

also have a seam and you really have to look at it to see. It doesn't bother me and he also did not use a pre-cut but he had car for a week. I was impressed with quality of work and only went back for minor adjustment..

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying05

Really?! Damn I would light them up on forums, social media, everywhere if I couldn't get it resolved. That is poor business practice and feel bad for you on this. Maybe another shop would like to earn your business and help you out. Maybe if your looking for future work on things. What a sham.

So, I was told the seam is due to film being a pre-cut but what is most upsetting is the grill slates now have scratches in them from the install. The installer told me those pieces are easily scratched, so basically oh well. No offer to fix. Take a look.

barryc365 · 03-18-2022, 05:17 PM

The quality of work in this business varies massively.
I would not bother getting PPF again. You can't get a reliable outfit to do it, they're all booked up for weeks in advance and many of them told me they can't get staff so a lot of the guys doing it are less experienced than in the past

Mine included the grill slats fwiw

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 05:17 PM

When I saw the slats, I thought it was soap scum that was not washed off after washing the car. To my surprise, those scratches did not come out after trying to clean it.

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 05:36 PM

So my installer said the grill slats come scratched like that from the factory. Can anyone confirm this? The car was perfect when I dropped it off.

Flying05 · 03-18-2022, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

So my installer said the grill slats come scratched like that from the factory. Can anyone confirm this? The car was perfect when I dropped it off.

Negative. Mine are not like that at all. This installer has a lot of red flags here.

DCG82 · 03-18-2022, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying05

Negative. Mine are not like that at all. This installer has a lot of red flags here.

Agreed. I will get this resolved one way or another. Not sure what forum rules are here about naming places like this but I would not recommend this place to others on here.

Flying05 · 03-18-2022, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying05

Negative. Mine are not like that at all. This installer has a lot of red flags here.

Agreed. I will get this resolved one way or another. Not sure what forum rules are here about naming places like this but I would not recommend this place to others on here.

Don't know either, but I'd post it in the regional forums and take my chances. Worst case it gets deleted. Not like they are a forum sponsor or anything.

Professor///M · 03-29-2022, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

Well, your shop has more integrity than mine. I contacted the shop and was told they are not willing to do anything to resolve any of the issues. This is also the same place that told me 3 days for the job and that turned in to nearly 2 weeks. Crazy since I had received several references for this place. Live and learn.

My detailer was very upfront on many different things. They were a certified XPEL installer, and noted that there would be some small seams. Offered to let me see many different vehicles to get perspective. He also made no guarantees on anything. Couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be a lift here or there, couldn't guarantee there wouldn't be a spec of dust somewhere. While he couldn't guarantee those things, what he guaranteed was that I'd be satisfied with the product - which I am.

Mine didn't do the front slats. He basically said that they are extremely hard to wrap, and often lift. I had them ceramic coated and they look great. They don't look like yours. But many of the plastic parts on the car can look like yours in just a short amount of time.

I see you filed this under 'lesson learned', and I myself have been burned by inadequate PPF - specifically when I got it from the dealer. This was the first car I did full PPF and not from the dealer. Was it perfect? No. Was it exactly what I expected? Yes. If there is a problem do I trust my detailer will handle it? Yes.

Sorry your experience wasn't great. We all know how much we love our cars to be perfect so I can appreciate your frustration.

edofloat · 04-23-2022, 03:19 PM

Two words, google review.

Limegrntaln · 04-23-2022, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCG82

So, I was told the seam is due to film being a pre-cut but what is most upsetting is the grill slates now have scratches in them from the install. The installer told me those pieces are easily scratched, so basically oh well. No offer to fix. Take a look.

No, thats bad. This is how mine look, after 5,200 miles and the car not even being washed. Mine had been polished and PPFd,

Flying05 · 04-24-2022, 11:43 AM

Good news is that these grills are not expensive to replace. In all fairness though, I can imagine that the front grill is not very easy to wrap.

M3GALLY · 04-24-2022, 02:48 PM

There were more seams then I expected when I checked up on my car in progress but it seems unavoidable and prob not noticeable from afar

modat · 04-24-2022, 08:52 PM

I had a ton of seams too. Doesn't bother me and you can't even notice it unless you are up close looking for it

luckylingy · 04-26-2022, 06:21 PM

My grille slats weren't covered, and they looked like DCG82's after 3 months of washing with a detailing brush (to get in corners and crevices a wash mitt misses). Good news is, a quick polish restored them to good-as-new, after which I coated them.

03-18-2022, 12:48 PM	#1
DCG82 Private First Class 101 Rep 180 Posts Drives: BWM M4 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	PPF Applied. Questions for those that have it. I picked up my car today after having PPF applied. I did the full front end with mirrors and did the lower rocker blades. A couple of concerns- There is a small seam on the front middle of the bumper where they joined two pieces of film. It is small but I was under the impression these pieces go on in one piece to avoid seams. Is a seam on the front bumper common? Also, I paid for the full front end to be done. I assumed that also meant applying PPF on the painted black front grill slates. My installer did not include the film on the slates. I can see how applying film there could be tedious but if it was not going to be included then I would have liked them to tell me that. I guess my mistake for not confirming. Is this typically considered extra and not done on a full front? Overall, the application looks decent but disappointed in the above , especially after getting several references for this shop. Curious what others experiences have been.
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03-18-2022, 04:52 PM	#5
JDUNITNOW Colonel 4011 Rep 2,512 Posts Drives: BMW 335I, 750li, X5 G80 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Glen Allen, Virginia iTrader: (0)	also have a seam and you really have to look at it to see. It doesn't bother me and he also did not use a pre-cut but he had car for a week. I was impressed with quality of work and only went back for minor adjustment.. __________________ Formerly Wyndi335I 2009 BMW 750li sold 14 BMW X5 04 BMW X5 11 BMW 335i convertible (sold, sellers market
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03-18-2022, 05:17 PM	#7
barryc365 Major 2000 Rep 1,411 Posts Drives: BMWM3 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: NYC iTrader: (1)	The quality of work in this business varies massively. I would not bother getting PPF again. You can't get a reliable outfit to do it, they're all booked up for weeks in advance and many of them told me they can't get staff so a lot of the guys doing it are less experienced than in the past Mine included the grill slats fwiw
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03-18-2022, 05:17 PM	#8
DCG82 Private First Class 101 Rep 180 Posts Drives: BWM M4 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	When I saw the slats, I thought it was soap scum that was not washed off after washing the car. To my surprise, those scratches did not come out after trying to clean it.
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03-18-2022, 05:36 PM	#9
DCG82 Private First Class 101 Rep 180 Posts Drives: BWM M4 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	So my installer said the grill slats come scratched like that from the factory. Can anyone confirm this? The car was perfect when I dropped it off.
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04-23-2022, 03:19 PM	#14
edofloat Captain 459 Rep 647 Posts Drives: Outback or 992 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: ///MN iTrader: (0)	Two words, google review.
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04-24-2022, 11:43 AM	#16
Flying05 Captain 1322 Rep 957 Posts Drives: 2022 G80 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: ATL iTrader: (0)	Good news is that these grills are not expensive to replace. In all fairness though, I can imagine that the front grill is not very easy to wrap. __________________ [/SIGPIC]
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04-24-2022, 02:48 PM	#17
M3GALLY Captain 650 Rep 609 Posts Drives: 2022 M3, 2020 MDX, 2003 c320 Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Bayside, Ny iTrader: (0)	There were more seams then I expected when I checked up on my car in progress but it seems unavoidable and prob not noticeable from afar
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04-24-2022, 08:52 PM	#18
modat Lieutenant Colonel 2486 Rep 1,740 Posts Drives: 2022 IOMG M3 Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I had a ton of seams too. Doesn't bother me and you can't even notice it unless you are up close looking for it
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04-26-2022, 06:21 PM	#19
luckylingy Lieutenant Colonel 3315 Rep 1,691 Posts Drives: X3M Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Up North iTrader: (0)	My grille slats weren't covered, and they looked like DCG82's after 3 months of washing with a detailing brush (to get in corners and crevices a wash mitt misses). Good news is, a quick polish restored them to good-as-new, after which I coated them.
	Appreciate 0 Quote