[a1gio2]

Hi all -

I'm sure it's been discussed, difference being is that now there's some road time on these cars and that might change your responses.

Anyone regret PPF/Ceramic due to the cost/benefit ratio?

Anyone not have PPF/Ceramic and wish they did?

This stuff is A LOT of money. Sure, great work, great shine, great protection...but in my case, we're talking about a $6,500 investment to protection the high impact areas with PPF, ceramic coat and interior coat on a black interior.

Worth it? Any of the three more worth it than not (PPF/Ceramic interior/Ceramic exterior)

[Gfit]

Dozens of threads on this. If you are trying to make a cost/benefit analysis or consider it an investment the numbers will never add up.

[JeetG80x]

Originally Posted by a1gio2

Hi all -

I'm sure it's been discussed, difference being is that now there's some road time on these cars and that might change your responses.

Anyone regret PPF/Ceramic due to the cost/benefit ratio?

Anyone not have PPF/Ceramic and wish they did?

This stuff is A LOT of money. Sure, great work, great shine, great protection...but in my case, we're talking about a $6,500 investment to protection the high impact areas with PPF, ceramic coat and interior coat on a black interior.

Worth it? Any of the three more worth it than not (PPF/Ceramic interior/Ceramic exterior)

Drove the car for 3 days before PPF, got 2 small paint chips on the front bumper....
And if you are planning to lower your car, the thicc thighs might become target of small rock chips.

If you want to maintain the paint in good condition, get the PPF ASAP!

If you don't want to spend too much, protect hood, front bumper, mirrors, headlights and anything carbon fiber.

[LuckyBrand]

Also depends are you leasing or buying the car and how long due you plan on keeping it? If it's just a few years I say no and take that money and spend on mods etc. If it's long term I think it can be a great thing. Sometimes I will consider getting rid of a car if it starts getting tore up with chips etc so keeping it long term changes. PPF can help keep it looking great for many years.

[Znomorph4theWin]

PPF all the way…

[nosbocaj]

I personally only do frontal or partial frontal, plus the side skirts. I never saw the need for the full car. My local shop can do this for around $2k, which for a car I plan to own 4-5 years, is worth it. I had it on my M2 and it paid for itself a few times over. Most notably, a car brushed me in a parking garage and the PPF took the entire brunt of it. That would have easily been a few thousand in paint repairs.

I've never done ceramic so I can't speak on that. I might with my G80, but not right away.

[e46e39g80]

I debated this and decided to get impact zones PPF and full ceramic for the following reasons:
-I’m purchasing car with intent to own long term
-local roads in NYC are terrible, debris everywhere
-I park outdoors in my driveway, so the car is subject to environmental issues like pollen, birds, my neighbor’s lawn crew blowing clouds of dust everywhere, etc

Ideally driving car straight from dealer delivery to detail center in May. Much as I don’t want to immediately part ways with the car, nor pay additional $$$, I feel I’ll appreciate it long term.

[Anderson11]

I regret not having a full front and side skirts done upon delivery. Within 800 miles I had 2 small rock chips. Rock chips scream here I am on Dravit Grey. I have booked an appointment with a local shop but could not get in until 5/15. I will be taking a 2k road trip in mid April. Dr. Color Chip is sitting here on my desk for touch up prior to the wrap. I would do it ASAP..

[Humdizzle]

depends on a number of factors.

if its a daily i would at least do the front end. otherwise no.
dr. colorchip is a cheaper option
you will never recover the 6500 of a full clear bra on the resale

if your car is black it will really help keep it clean and avoid swirls. so you're very picky about small chips and swirls it may help keep you sane.

it is installer dependent as well. are they using a precut piece or putting a blade to your paint? will you see lines in the paint where two pieces of clear bra meet? do they wrap the edges? do they use a clean room ? i had it done on a black car a few years and found a hair and specs of dust trapped under the bra.

[Aalfred]

Picked up my car from PCD and straight to PPF as I was driving back 900 miles. Did full frontal and side skirts. If you are one of those who switch cars every 3 yrs or planning on leasing it, or if small scratches doest bother you, then dont do it. If not, then atleast get the full frontal PPF. I did the exterior ceramic too as in WI we get snow a lot and the road salts are everywhere and I didnt do full body PPF so did the ceramic instead. I plan on keeping mine atleast 5 yrs or atleast when the crazy ADM's on a GT3 come back to earth....whichever is earliest...lol

[BenJ]

Front facing areas (high impact) and full ceramic is what I did.

[KevinGS]

Depends on your level of OCD.

IMO, PPF > Ceramic/Paint Correction, but I have both.

Thus, if I could only get one, I'd get PPF. The shine and durability of ceramic is OK, but you can get 97% of that shine with a good clay bar and a good wax. If I had it do all over again, I would have just a bought a good dual-action buffer and kept the paint/PPF up myself...though it does require some work, and there's a risk of messing up your paint if you're not careful.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Almost all PPFs have ceramic infused in them. No need to ceramic on top.

[Trojan4evr]

PPF all the way. I spent $5k on the costume front, fenders, roof, rocker panels and the high impact areas. $2k extra would have done the whole car and I'm absolutely regretting not getting it.

[skyline408]

You have to ask yourself ;

Do small scratches and chips bother you?

If so, PPF is probably for you.

Want to mention that this new current generation of PPF film is NOTHING like films in the past.. say 10 years ago. Those film yellow and have a nasty orange peel look to them. They also feel somewhat rubbery to the touch.

Currrent stuff (stek dyno) is completely clear and feels like clearcoat. You would not be able to tell a panel has been protected vs. bare paint.

[skyline408]

You have to ask yourself ;

Do small scratches and chips bother you?

If so, PPF is probably for you.

Want to mention that this new current generation of PPF film is NOTHING like films in the past.. say 10 years ago. Those film yellow and have a nasty orange peel look to them. They also feel somewhat rubbery to the touch.

Currrent stuff (stek dyno) is completely clear and feels like clearcoat. You would not be able to tell a panel has been protected vs. bare paint.

[xShadows]

I got my whole car PPF'd ($5500). I was side swiped on the highway and it dented the rear quarter and damaged the PFF and their front tire tore up the PPF on the door, but the paint was fine. The paintless dent guy pulled out the dent and we re-applied the PPF on the rear quarter and door. ~$2000 repair vs almost $8000 at the body shop and them having to put paint on my individual color car that would most likely never match or look right again. I'll never not have PPF on a car again.

[Alvinmark12]

PPF the front,mirros and side skirts. Then buy Adams spray on graphene coating do it yourself. Works great just have to reapply every 6 months but the cost is 40 bucks a bottle.

[silversnl]

I originally decided against a PPF. I have a Frozen Portimao Blue M4, and thought "nah, I'll be good." Then I did a cross country drive, and now my front end is peppered with small rock chips. Multiple thousands to re-paint the front end.

I wish I had done a PPF right out of the gate, but I am going to get it done in a couple months.

If I didn't have the matte paint, I would likely have gone with a ceramic coating. But with the matte paint, and the fact it cannot be touched up, I'm going to spring for the PPF. Plus, it's a 10 year PPF, so averaging out the cost makes it a much easier pill to swallow.

[nosbocaj]

Originally Posted by Anderson11

I regret not having a full front and side skirts done upon delivery. Within 800 miles I had 2 small rock chips. Rock chips scream here I am on Dravit Grey. I have booked an appointment with a local shop but could not get in until 5/15. I will be taking a 2k road trip in mid April. Dr. Color Chip is sitting here on my desk for touch up prior to the wrap. I would do it ASAP..

I hear you. I bought mine from a dealership in NH and drove it to MD. It's got 600 miles and already two pin sized chips and a scratch in the clear coat. Luckily I have an appointment next Monday for frontal PPF. Over the weekend I'm going to buff the scratches and colorchip it before the xpel goes on. I wish I could have taken it straight to PPF, but it just wasn't in the cards with the roadtrip. Oh well.

[m4ml]

I'm not going to provide any new information, but for me it's simple...

My F82 was Ceramic Pro Gold and it looked STUNNING. But, ceramic coatings do nearly nothing for protecting the paint from rock chips (I don't care what the marketing says, my F82 front end said something different). So PPF for sure for me.

What I absolutely loved about Ceramic Pro Gold was how easy it made it to wash the car: once a week soap it, spray wash it, spray rinse it, blow dry, detail, done. So ceramic coating for sure for me.

[2011ninja]

I’m a high speed cannonball driving machine.

PPF is a must for me.

My drives are typically blasting down the Highway. Gotta protect the nose.