Can’t PPF the whole car, what is the bare minimum to get done?

[PizzaDispenser]

Hey folks, I recently got the car delivered and I’m looking to get PPF. I was wondering what is the bare minimum to get done in terms of most impacted spots?

I don’t want to pay more than $2,500 in Seattle area for protection. So just want the most impacted spots.

Thinking of doing full front PPF. Is that enough? Too much? Or should I also add on rocker panels? And other parts of the car as well?

Also is it okay to get PPF right away (got car delivered a few days ago) or does the paint have to settle for a few weeks before doing PPF?

I’m also considering in a year getting a vinyl wrap, can you do that over PPF?

 

[thesmokingman]

Full front plus rear door quarter will get you the most bang for the buck. Btw you can get the rear door quarter kit on Amazon for $40 and have your shop do full front.

 

[duanra]

The rockers as well.

 

[PizzaDispenser]

The rockers as well.

Oh ok. So full frontal + rockers would be good enough?

 

[duanra]

Oh ok. So full frontal + rockers would be good enough?

That's what I did. I also put the mud flaps. So far no issues at all and my Winters are very "salty".

 

[PizzaDispenser]

That's what I did. I also put the mud flaps. So far no issues at all and my Winters are very "salty".

Are mud flaps necessary in the summer?

I’m also debating getting a vinyl wrap as well, can you wrap a car on top of PPF?

 

[SPACE_EX]

Full frontal + rockers. Ran me $1800 in socal. Already put to use and saved paint on bumper from unavoidable hit of plastic water jug bouncing on highway

 

[duanra]

Are mud flaps necessary in the summer?

I’m also debating getting a vinyl wrap as well, can you wrap a car on top of PPF?

I don't know about the vinyl, but I would say yes for the Summer.

 

[PizzaDispenser]

Full frontal + rockers. Ran me $1800 in socal. Already put to use and saved paint on bumper from unavoidable hit of plastic water jug bouncing on highway

Thank you! I will get quotes now.

 

[KenC]

Yep, full front, rockers with dogleg, and mudflaps, since road dirt is a year-round thing in lots of places. DIY if you're brave and want to save money.

 

[PizzaDispenser]

Yep, full front, rockers with dogleg, and mudflaps, since road dirt is a year-round thing in lots of places. DIY if you're brave and want to save money.

What is dogleg?

 

[likkuid]

Are mud flaps necessary in the summer?

I’m also debating getting a vinyl wrap as well, can you wrap a car on top of

PPF lasts 10 years and vinyl 3-5. If you’re paying that you might as well go full Xpel Stealth PPF and get a diff colour with full protection. They also have coloured PPF now.

 

[KenC]

What is dogleg?

It's that little bit between the front of the rear wheel, and the rear doors. It usually tapers out. You used to see little black patches on that part of a Porsche 911. It's called a dogleg. On the Tesla, it tapers out just enough to catch dirt thrown up by the front tires. When you PPF the rockers, you should also PPF that little bit called the dogleg.

Ok, found a pic:

 

[thesmokingman]

Oh ok. So full frontal + rockers would be good enough?

No one calls them rockers. It is the rear door quarters. You can get the Tesla protection kit that includes the rear door quarter film or you can buy it from Amazon for 40. Or you can just have your PPF installer make one. On Porsches it's actually called Rock Guards, Chip Guards but they are actually materially different from PPF, more like skateboard grip tape.

Model Y All-Weather Protection Kit

Protect your Model Y from snow, salt, sand and small debris with the Model Y All-Weather Protection Kit, a bundle of the existing Model Y Mud Flaps and Model Y Paint Protection Film. Includes: 2x front mud flaps 2x clear protective film for rear fenders 1x squeegee Installation hardware For...

shop.tesla.com

 

[D.E.]

Yep, full front, rockers with dogleg, and mudflaps, since road dirt is a year-round thing in lots of places. DIY if you're brave and want to save money.

Has anyone here actually done a whole car as a DIY?

 

[KenC]

Has anyone here actually done a whole car as a DIY?

I vaguely recall that someone did, you can probably search for it on this site. They used the large sheets or rolls of film. I used DIY precut pieces. I did a partial hood, front fender, front bumper, doors, rockers. I suppose if I'd done the rear quarter panel, rear bumper and trunk, and A-pillar, I would have done the whole thing.

 

[Kandiru]

3M Scotchguard Pro partial front kit (half the hood) off Ebay, watch videos and get a quality pump sprayer, large and small semihard squeegees, church picnic table, and the 3M installer PPF gel (stays wet much longer, isopropyl alcohol based). It will cost you 10x less than one of those fancy pants 3day 3 grand scalper jobs. My Model S job wore off after about 5 years of rural road abuse, so I DYI'd it and went extremely well. I also have two Subarus and a Honda under my belt since then.

 

[PizzaDispenser]

Okay so I decided I will get a PPF shop to do full frontal, and then do the rear door quarter panel myself. Does that sound like it should cover most?

And by rear door quarter I mean what’s in the photo I posted

 

[likkuid]

Okay so I decided I will get a PPF shop to do full frontal, and then do the rear door quarter panel myself. Does that sound like it should cover most?

And by rear door quarter I mean what’s in the photo I posted

Where does one get the materials for the rear door quarter panels?

 

[tapau]

You can get PPF kits from TESBROS | Made in USA | Tesla Accessories made by Tesla Owners

I had the full front done my a pro and then did the trunk bumper, the inside doors and side camera pillars myself. It was super easy to do. I didn't do the quarter panels in the picture above, but I did get the mud flaps.