PPF Concerns

Funny your story is exactly like mine. A couple of months back I purchased a 2011 458 and was not satisfied with the condition of the front end. There were a few chips and imperfections in the PPF so I did take the chance and had the old PPF removed and had it reinstalled. It turned out perfect! They did warn me and there is always the chance that the paint could lift. But I think if you have a professional that is very careful you will be OK. Image Unavailable, Please Login

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I wouldn't do the entire car. I struggle with keeping any of that on the car at all thinking the patina underneath could change the paint. I have no proof of this thought but that is what i would do. Now if you're tracking the car, then that is a different story. In the meantime, don't tailgate or follow any gravel trucks ha ha. Congrats on your ride! PS. If the detail shop starts in an area that is inconspicuous they would be able to get a feel if any paint would come up. I think he's just covering his you know what when he says that paint would come up. In fact, seek another shop for another opinion.

 

Yeah I had the PPF redone on my California. It was fine. Professionals can deal with it, but they do warn about the risk of damage to paint. Buy it and love it!

 

I have a Speciale with some clear coat that pulled off when refreshing PPF. It's just something that can happen. Take your car to the best guy in town and cross your fingers. I believe that discussing it beforehand will increase your odds of the shop taking the care that is needed.

I've PPF'd a couple of full cars, including my Italia, but here is the rub, I've not found anyone who properly PPF's the areas that actually get pounded by rock chips. Getting right up to the edge behind the wheels just isn't something they'll spend the time and effort to do, at least not for $8k. I've tried multiple shops in Austin. Personally, I'd rather pay someone $8k to do a great job covering the areas that get hit with rock chips than to PPF the whole car when the odds of a rock chip on the rear deck is virtually none.

Assuming you'll get the subpar job that I always have, the best tip I have is to buy a roll of XPEL PPF door jab from Amazon, then use it to wrap things like the bottom of your door, the edges behind wheels, and any other gaps. That stuff is sooo cheap I freely apply it wherever I see bare paint.

 

I had PPF installed on a car back in Jan of 13.
The film was showing its age so I decided to have it all removed and replaced. Happy that I did so, car looks brand new again…and its black!
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Similar situation here as my film is 10 years old and really looks like it. I will be pulling the PPF and doing the entire car. It simply isn’t worth risking a scratch that could have been prevented. Keep in mind, if your car does not see the sun or a lot of debris, you could get more time out of it. The risk of paint peeling is usually due to previous paint work (common on the front bumper) and if a blade hit the paint when trimming.

Also, my experience with detailers that do PPF has been poor. It’s a different art form. Be sure to set expectations with the installer and see examples of there work prior. The last shop I had an issue with had beautiful cars in the garage but was a horrible experience.

 

Have experience with this... Previous 430, PPF came off perfect and new Xpel applied.

Had old PPF pulled off current 458 and despite being a reputable/knowledgable shop, the PPF pulled off some clear coat. I had to have the center part of the hood resprayed and blended. The clear coat came off around the Ferrari emblem and on an edge to the hood.

Also, if there are small rock chips in the paint because the PPF didn't protect the paint, touching up the spots before the new PPF is applied may (will) pull the touch up paint out of the chip leaving a clear or white spot.

PPF is not the be all, end all of paint protection. Not by a long stretch...

 

Go for it. Not only does PPF protect from rock chips your car looks new and freshly polished all the time. Without PPF your paint is going to kick swirl marks and water stains and all of that. I think its worth the risk. I have had paint peel up on both my Fcars though but it was in places you couldn't really see it.

 

I think another point of view would be:

"What if you don't do the PPF now and waited even longer" the risk of pulling the paint increases even more...

 

I am so sorry to hear that. That sucks.

My theory is that factory applied PPF is the worst. Applying the PPF before the paint has had a few months to harden might be part of the issue here? I *think* that is what happened to mine. Or perhaps I have no clue what I am talking about.

 

When I had my 488 GTB fully wrapped with Xpel my instruction was to cover ever painted surface , EVERY. They did, under the car and also door jams

 

can you provide some pictures?

 

Sorry to hear your experience. Maybe it’s the color? TdF?

One week before they apply PPF? That’s crazy. My shop said 3 months so the paint fully cures. We’ll, who am I to say. They do this stuff all the time.


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the shop will put the new paint under IR lighting

Speed cure. 1 week is fine.

 

Thanks for the candid discussion on this topic… I had the Nero roof of my 488 done in PPF a couple months ago, and I’ve been on the fence whether to have them remove it and try again. There are very subtle “stretch marks” visible around the antenna puck, and they bother me because the roof no longer looks perfect.

The shop is experienced and well-regarded, and ready to replace the PPF to make me satisfied. But part of me worries that pulling up the film, even though it was recently applied, might damage the paint. So… I’m still not sure what I’ll do.