Refresh Model S Tint / PPF / Ceramic Photos & Info

[Rocketfan30]

Good question - I will need to check! It appears to be gloss - I'm guessing to match the window trim/door handles.

I was confused by the difference between satin and gloss but the under spoiler in the back is as noted above the same as the trim and door handles. I guess this is different than the prior models because the guy who did my PPF said that prior Teslas were satin but mine was gloss which was meaningful because we ended up changing the powder coat order on my wheels after my car finally arrived to gloss from satin to match the trim.

Also, a final THANK YOU to @WiLz for starting this thread and providing the Orange County spreadsheet with all the installers and available options. I used the sheet to compare, contact and ultimately pick my installer. The shop I picked actually down-sold me from full car ceramic embedded PPF and instead told me to save my money and that all I needed was full front PPF and ceramic (still shocked by a salesman recommending that I spend less money).

Here is a quick phone pic of the results including powder coating the "fugly" 19" wheels (much better than the $14,500 cost of the alternative). Thanks again @WiLz. I'm an old guy and this was the first car I did anything to other than wax and you made it a lot easier.

FYI, I'm really jealous of the satin PPF pics but I got a veto on this from my much better half.

 

[Bull]

As far as I can recall, it has been gloss since they announced the refresh.

Mine is gloss

 

[Bull]

I had ceramic coating over existing PPF (plus all glass) done yesterday by Hyer Quality Detail in Tempe, AZ. I had heard great things about them and I am truly impressed! With over 6,000 Teslas done they have a lot of practice. Hyer Quality Detail

Here is a pic of my car waiting for me at the end of the day.

 

[MEL-22]

I was confused by the difference between satin and gloss but the under spoiler in the back is as noted above the same as the trim and door handles. I guess this is different than the prior models because the guy who did my PPF said that prior Teslas were satin but mine was gloss which was meaningful because we ended up changing the powder coat order on my wheels after my car finally arrived to gloss from satin to match the trim.

Also, a final THANK YOU to @WiLz for starting this thread and providing the Orange County spreadsheet with all the installers and available options. I used the sheet to compare, contact and ultimately pick my installer. The shop I picked actually down-sold me from full car ceramic embedded PPF and instead told me to save my money and that all I needed was full front PPF and ceramic (still shocked by a salesman recommending that I spend less money).

Here is a quick phone pic of the results including powder coating the "fugly" 19" wheels (much better than the $14,500 cost of the alternative). Thanks again @WiLz. I'm an old guy and this was the first car I did anything to other than wax and you made it a lot easier.

View attachment 729318
FYI, I'm really jealous of the satin PPF pics but I got a veto on this from my much better half.

Very nice!

 

[sflgator]

What % tint did you use? Also where did you get the black painted emblems? Thanks! If you are in Delray Beach, I would love to see your car if possible.

www.EcophantAuto.com. Just call Mauricio (owner) and ask him about the white on white MS Plaid he just did. And, he did the matte black wrapped Tesla emblems and painted the PLAID in glossy black. I also had purchased the S badge and the black TESLA badge (but just used the Tesla open E letter) online a while ago and asked Mauricio to stick on where I wanted them on my car.

 

[WiLz]

I was confused by the difference between satin and gloss but the under spoiler in the back is as noted above the same as the trim and door handles. I guess this is different than the prior models because the guy who did my PPF said that prior Teslas were satin but mine was gloss which was meaningful because we ended up changing the powder coat order on my wheels after my car finally arrived to gloss from satin to match the trim.

Also, a final THANK YOU to @WiLz for starting this thread and providing the Orange County spreadsheet with all the installers and available options. I used the sheet to compare, contact and ultimately pick my installer. The shop I picked actually down-sold me from full car ceramic embedded PPF and instead told me to save my money and that all I needed was full front PPF and ceramic (still shocked by a salesman recommending that I spend less money).

Here is a quick phone pic of the results including powder coating the "fugly" 19" wheels (much better than the $14,500 cost of the alternative). Thanks again @WiLz. I'm an old guy and this was the first car I did anything to other than wax and you made it a lot easier.

View attachment 729318
FYI, I'm really jealous of the satin PPF pics but I got a veto on this from my much better half.

Glad I was able to help! Car looks great! The powder coated rims definitely look much better, and match your car well.

 

[McQ14]

Fullbody PPF: Suntek Reaction Ceramic Film.
3M Ceramic Tint - 70%

Classic Shine, LLC, Lancaster, PA

Forgive the water spots I didn't wipe off in the first photo. iPhone photos only.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Fullbody PPF: Suntek Reaction Ceramic Film.
3M Ceramic Tint - 70%

Classic Shine, LLC, Lancaster, PA

Forgive the water spots I didn't wipe off in the first photo. iPhone photos only.

View attachment 729715
View attachment 729716

Looks amazing! Question- Does the blue pop more with the PPF over the regular paint? Does the car look different now compared to a blue car without the PPF, or is it all about being protected? Curious to your feedback as I am inbetween this and the stealth PPF. Thanks!

 

[Dirty Dog]

I had ceramic coating over existing PPF (plus all glass) done yesterday by Hyer Quality Detail in Tempe, AZ. I had heard great things about them and I am truly impressed! With over 6,000 Teslas done they have a lot of practice. Hyer Quality Detail

Here is a pic of my car waiting for me at the end of the day.
View attachment 729332

Question- Does the Silver pop more with the PPF over the regular paint? Does the car look different now compared to a Silver car without the PPF, or is it all about being protected? Curious to your feedback as I am inbetween this and the stealth PPF with the same color. Thanks!

 

[Dirty Dog]

I was confused by the difference between satin and gloss but the under spoiler in the back is as noted above the same as the trim and door handles. I guess this is different than the prior models because the guy who did my PPF said that prior Teslas were satin but mine was gloss which was meaningful because we ended up changing the powder coat order on my wheels after my car finally arrived to gloss from satin to match the trim.

Also, a final THANK YOU to @WiLz for starting this thread and providing the Orange County spreadsheet with all the installers and available options. I used the sheet to compare, contact and ultimately pick my installer. The shop I picked actually down-sold me from full car ceramic embedded PPF and instead told me to save my money and that all I needed was full front PPF and ceramic (still shocked by a salesman recommending that I spend less money).

Here is a quick phone pic of the results including powder coating the "fugly" 19" wheels (much better than the $14,500 cost of the alternative). Thanks again @WiLz. I'm an old guy and this was the first car I did anything to other than wax and you made it a lot easier.

View attachment 729318
FYI, I'm really jealous of the satin PPF pics but I got a veto on this from my much better half.

Are those the stock rims (under the Tempest caps) painted black? I think they look awesome!!!

 

[cwanja]

Are those the stock rims (under the Tempest caps) painted black? I think they look awesome!!!

Not OEM. They are more metallic / gun metal gray.

 

[McQ14]

Looks amazing! Question- Does the blue pop more with the PPF over the regular paint? Does the car look different now compared to a blue car without the PPF, or is it all about being protected? Curious to your feedback as I am inbetween this and the stealth PPF. Thanks!

Thanks!
That’s a great question, really. Personally I think it makes the color look a bit better. Where I really notice it is right after it gets a good washing. It somehow looks “cleaner”, or more bold to my eyes. Not a lot, but a little better. Richer, maybe. It was the same way with my Model 3, which was also blue. Just one guy’s opinion, of course (although my wife think it looks better with the PPF, too).

But for me it’s still more about the protection, so I’d say go with what you think is most important.

 

[McQ14]

I had ceramic coating over existing PPF (plus all glass) done yesterday by Hyer Quality Detail in Tempe, AZ. I had heard great things about them and I am truly impressed! With over 6,000 Teslas done they have a lot of practice. Hyer Quality Detail

Here is a pic of my car waiting for me at the end of the day.
View attachment 729332

That is just gorgeous!

 

[Bull]

Question- Does the Silver pop more with the PPF over the regular paint? Does the car look different now compared to a Silver car without the PPF, or is it all about being protected? Curious to your feedback as I am inbetween this and the stealth PPF with the same color. Thanks!

I think it gives it the appearance of more depth. I considered stealth like what @MarcG did (which looks amazing) but stayed with the high gloss look. I'm very happy with it.

 

[loomstate]

Hello, I am in new to teslas, ordered a plaid in black arriving soon. Am i insane NOT to get PPF? Is my car going to have a bunch of paint chips beyond what a normal car would have? I would ideally not like to spend another $8k on the car.. thanks

 

[impastu]

Hello, I am in new to teslas, ordered a plaid in black arriving soon. Am i insane NOT to get PPF? Is my car going to have a bunch of paint chips beyond what a normal car would have? I would ideally not like to spend another $8k on the car.. thanks

a few have added mud flaps and this will help prevent most of the damage. You can buy generic ones on Amazon and I've seen photos on this forum e.g., @jebinc and they look good.

 

[Bull]

Hello, I am in new to teslas, ordered a plaid in black arriving soon. Am i insane NOT to get PPF? Is my car going to have a bunch of paint chips beyond what a normal car would have? I would ideally not like to spend another $8k on the car.. thanks

I had the same though process on my last MS but did it anyway. I loved it and when I got my plaid I did it as soon as possible. No regrets at all.

You will have more rock chips than a normal car because of more paint surface in front. Especially if you do a lot of highway driving. Plus you get other protection too.

Shop around for installers. $8k would be really high here. Full body here runs around $5k. Many installers will discount for cash as well.

 

[McQ14]

Hello, I am in new to teslas, ordered a plaid in black arriving soon. Am i insane NOT to get PPF? Is my car going to have a bunch of paint chips beyond what a normal car would have? I would ideally not like to spend another $8k on the car.. thanks

Good question, and no, you’re not insane for thinking you don’t want PPF or ceramic coating. I think it’s a very personal choice. In my case I chose to get PPF because I still don’t trust Tesla’s paint jobs. Others may feel differently. Maybe they’ve gotten better since I bought my Model 3 in 2018. But that car did not have the best paint job.

And there are other reasons to get the PPF aside from making it look good or to help with what may or may not be a great paint job. The main one is simply to protect the car from stones, keys, or other road hazards. Because these are really expensive cars. But again, personal preference.

If I had bought a different make, like a Lexus, I probably wouldn’t get the PPF. That doesn’t make much sense but it’s the way I feel about it.

 

[McQ14]

I had the same though process on my last MS but did it anyway. I loved it and when I got my plaid I did it as soon as possible. No regrets at all.

You will have more rock chips than a normal car because of more paint surface in front. Especially if you do a lot of highway driving. Plus you get other protection too.

Shop around for installers. $8k would be really high here. Full body here runs around $5k. Many installers will discount for cash as well.

Very good point regarding the additional paint surface in the front that can be affected by rocks, etc.

 

[DBV1]

Hello, I am in new to teslas, ordered a plaid in black arriving soon. Am i insane NOT to get PPF? Is my car going to have a bunch of paint chips beyond what a normal car would have? I would ideally not like to spend another $8k on the car.. thanks

I am same boat as you with being new to Tesla. I feel like I must be insane not to get PPF or Ceramic coating. I really don’t want to spend anymore either for something like that. I have always hand waxed my previous cars and they always looked immaculate. Sure hope my Model S will be the same, as it should be for the price.