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jkoya
NA2 NSX
I've had PPF installed on my last 9 cars and I do realize it's a personal choice and not for everyone. On 5 of my cars that had PPF, they were hit with road debris strong enough to make a small tear in the PPF. For all 5 of those times, the PPF did its job and took the brunt of the the debris impact. The paint underneath the tear was not affected by the debris at all. As for the PPF with the tear, I believe the only way for an actual "repair" is to have that particular piece replaced. The PPF on my NSX and Volt both have small tears from debris impact, but I have not had the sections replaced. The tears have not grown larger and I do not notice any dirt build up underneath the tear either...
RDI Detailing
Former Vendor
If you drive on the highway 140 - 160km speed the PPF can be damaged and rock chip may damage the paint, however it is still much better compare to not have any protection on the front. Bumper can be repainted, headlights and fog lights not... I always recommend our clients to protect the front side on the car, minimum package front bumper and headlights or full front depends on the budget.
If I do full front how noticeable is it that part of the car has PPF and part doesn't? Is there a visible line or difference in appearance?
Not if the shop wraps around the edges. A high quality PPF job will be seamless except on corners where they need to cut to allow the material to bend around the panels.
640k
Member
FYI - here's what a partial PPF looks like after 10 years, on a white vehicle, without wrapped edges. This was originally VentureShield film, which 3M purchased. It was much thicker than my xPel but resulted in the inability to wrap the edges.
Damn, that is definitely visible. Was it that pronounced (the edges, not the color of course) when you first got it put on?FYI - here's what a partial PPF looks like after 10 years, on a white vehicle, without wrapped edges. This was originally VentureShield film, which 3M purchased. It was much thicker than my xPel but resulted in the inability to wrap the edges.
OP both of our cars have it and your prices sound like what you'd find here in the SF Bay area for a full wrap with something like Xpel Ultimate Plus and a skilled installer. The labor is a good portion of the cost. You want someone who's done alot of Teslas and you probably want to make sure edges are wrapped where possible. Seen enough people who have had disappointing installs from someone not that skilled in the work or maybe unfamiliar with the install on Model 3s, front bumper area in particular.
Our Model S has had a portion of our wrap replaced twice now and not because of a bad job. First time was a slight run in with a wooden post and misjudging the available parking space (no damage to the body just the film) and the second was caused by a utility truck with a metal step on the back that scraped our car while it backed out from the parking spot from the rear wheel area to and including the bumper. The very corner of the step did scratch the body in one small area but the rest of the damage he caused was only film. Almost got totally lucky but still needed paint work. Had we not had PPF on the car for sure both would have required paint work and more of it in the second situation. The PPF has saved us from some car dings, one with a young girl opening her car door into our car much to the trepidation of her father and my husband. Despite thinking it was going to be bad, no PPF damage so no paint damage either.
I always hated seeing door dings on my previous cars and over time they can rust. I'll just say we have held on to our cars for a long time, like to see them look great and don't think either one of us regrets getting the extra protection. We never would have spent the money on our previous Honda Accords or Toyota Avalon BTW. Like @KenInDaLand said "I’ve never done this with prior vehicles but as others have noted the lack of a grill with its low stance, aerodynamic design ect I’m going to bite the bullet. She has a way of speaking to my funds." We feel our 2 Teslas are the best cars we've ever owned. Very much have an emotional connection with them and as such totally get what he said.
Our Model S has had a portion of our wrap replaced twice now and not because of a bad job. First time was a slight run in with a wooden post and misjudging the available parking space (no damage to the body just the film) and the second was caused by a utility truck with a metal step on the back that scraped our car while it backed out from the parking spot from the rear wheel area to and including the bumper. The very corner of the step did scratch the body in one small area but the rest of the damage he caused was only film. Almost got totally lucky but still needed paint work. Had we not had PPF on the car for sure both would have required paint work and more of it in the second situation. The PPF has saved us from some car dings, one with a young girl opening her car door into our car much to the trepidation of her father and my husband. Despite thinking it was going to be bad, no PPF damage so no paint damage either.
I always hated seeing door dings on my previous cars and over time they can rust. I'll just say we have held on to our cars for a long time, like to see them look great and don't think either one of us regrets getting the extra protection. We never would have spent the money on our previous Honda Accords or Toyota Avalon BTW. Like @KenInDaLand said "I’ve never done this with prior vehicles but as others have noted the lack of a grill with its low stance, aerodynamic design ect I’m going to bite the bullet. She has a way of speaking to my funds." We feel our 2 Teslas are the best cars we've ever owned. Very much have an emotional connection with them and as such totally get what he said.
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Not sure if you want to make a road trip but I have an installer in Minneapolis area who has done other work for me and is very reasonable.
For $1400 he’s going to do
Full hood
Front bumper
Fenders
Mirrors
Headlights
Rockers
Full rear bumper (because kids)
He does work for the local big dealers, as an independent contractor, and thus does work outside for MUCH less. His dad did our Acadia 10 years back and he did my wife’s Expedition 2 years ago. Excellent work!!!!
Pending his schedule he could likely do all this in a few hours.
For $1400 he’s going to do
Full hood
Front bumper
Fenders
Mirrors
Headlights
Rockers
Full rear bumper (because kids)
He does work for the local big dealers, as an independent contractor, and thus does work outside for MUCH less. His dad did our Acadia 10 years back and he did my wife’s Expedition 2 years ago. Excellent work!!!!
Pending his schedule he could likely do all this in a few hours.
Blucenturion
Member
Easy way for me to answer that question was to look at my seven year old car before it sold, and examine closely the road damage I'd incurred. There was precious little damage, so no PPF necessary.
640k
Member
honestly that's more "dirt" than it is off-color. the area under the hood scoop did color, however, due to the constant heat exchange. i had it redone shortly before i sold it (completely removed) and the car looked brand new.And a lovely shade of lemon yellow it is too
640k
Member
So an update on what I ended up deciding on-- going to take my car to a shop in Milwaukee and leave it there from this Saturday through the 26th, so 10 days total.
I am getting...
Full front PPF + doors + rockers
Ceramic Coating on the entire car
Red Caliper covers with Tesla engraved into them (mirror the performance model)
Satin Black Chrome Delete
Wheel coating to match satin black color
The total on all of that came out to $6,025-- so not too bad with everything considered. Will definitely post a picture once it is all complete.
Going to be hard to go without the new car for 10 days!
I am getting...
Full front PPF + doors + rockers
Ceramic Coating on the entire car
Red Caliper covers with Tesla engraved into them (mirror the performance model)
Satin Black Chrome Delete
Wheel coating to match satin black color
The total on all of that came out to $6,025-- so not too bad with everything considered. Will definitely post a picture once it is all complete.
Going to be hard to go without the new car for 10 days!
I think it's going to largest factor is the quality of paint on the M3. I'm hoping the 2020's are better coated.
I've owned several roadsters from BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche roadsters all more aerodynamic and lower to the ground than the 3 and at the end of 3 ~ 4 years when it came time to sell they still looked fantastic. Yes there may have been few rock chips spread out somewhere on the vehicles, but nothing easily seen without looking for them. I do a lot of highway driving past rock processing plants on open flat roads so I get hit all the time by those overloaded trucks spilling rocks onto the road at high speeds 75mph+. I've had more windshield cracks than paint damage. The M3P sits about the same height as my old MY99 Boxster so I'd expect about the same amount of hits.
From what I've seen on this forum and elsewhere on the internet is the 3 apparently has very poor paint thickness and chips unusually easy as result. I also own a Tacoma which has the paint which surprisingly it has almost no chips from rock dings and it takes a lot at high speeds more so than my roadsters ever did, but it's elsewhere on the vehicle where the paint has chipped off on its own an issue Toyota is infamous for.
I get my P3D (Saturday) and will see how it plays out over the holidays. If it doesn't fare well then I'll wrap it in a brilliant 3M liquid copper skin. Yes I know wraps are very expensive.. but having a one like this might be worth the cost
I've owned several roadsters from BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche roadsters all more aerodynamic and lower to the ground than the 3 and at the end of 3 ~ 4 years when it came time to sell they still looked fantastic. Yes there may have been few rock chips spread out somewhere on the vehicles, but nothing easily seen without looking for them. I do a lot of highway driving past rock processing plants on open flat roads so I get hit all the time by those overloaded trucks spilling rocks onto the road at high speeds 75mph+. I've had more windshield cracks than paint damage. The M3P sits about the same height as my old MY99 Boxster so I'd expect about the same amount of hits.
From what I've seen on this forum and elsewhere on the internet is the 3 apparently has very poor paint thickness and chips unusually easy as result. I also own a Tacoma which has the paint which surprisingly it has almost no chips from rock dings and it takes a lot at high speeds more so than my roadsters ever did, but it's elsewhere on the vehicle where the paint has chipped off on its own an issue Toyota is infamous for.
I get my P3D (Saturday
) and will see how it plays out over the holidays. If it doesn't fare well then I'll wrap it in a brilliant 3M liquid copper skin. Yes I know wraps are very expensive.. but having a one like this might be worth the cost
640k
Member
sorry, missed this. you can't even tell when you first get it, but because the edges are visible, they will eventually collect dirt. obv a darker vehicle will show less, but i think the white lets you really see what's going on.
i gotta tell you, if you ever wonder if you should claybar/prep your paint before waxing/sealing, etc., own a "whiteboard-white" car. it. shows. everything.
640k
Member
the painting process won't change until 1. Tesla decides to isolate parts by color instead of swapping between assemblies. 2. regulations change allowing non water-based paints to be used or a better, durable paint comes along in its place.
wraps are also temporary. while they look good, they don't generally last very long and are subject to tearing, etc. a well taken care of wrap can last as long as 7 years but i wouldn't expect more than 5.If it doesn't fare well then I'll wrap it in a brilliant 3M liquid copper skin. Yes I know wraps are very expensive.. but having a one like this might be worth the cost
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