Precut PPF install
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,431
Likes: 3,990
From: Cincinnati, OH
Precut PPF install
I'll be taking a trip from NKY to NY in July. My 19 GS with EOS front splitter has a couple of rock chips in the splitter and in efforts to preserve the front end I was thinking to put on a PPF.
I'm pretty handy and have done vinyl wraps in the past so I figured a precut PPf film can't be THAT bad to protect all the front leading faces of the car.
I came across these and was wondering if anyone has experience with them?
https://www.rvinyl.com/Chevrolet-Cor...PPF-Bumper-Kit
Overall seems pretty straight forward:
I'm pretty handy and have done vinyl wraps in the past so I figured a precut PPf film can't be THAT bad to protect all the front leading faces of the car.
I came across these and was wondering if anyone has experience with them?
https://www.rvinyl.com/Chevrolet-Cor...PPF-Bumper-Kit
Overall seems pretty straight forward:
Last edited by smitty2919; Jun 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 733
From: Phoenix, Arizona
I was going to do this as well then decided against it. I had all the pieces in my eBay cart then backed out and had an installer do it just this week. He used 3M, not Xpel which was ok with me as I don't need to pay for the big brand name. He charged me a couple of hundred to install all the front nose pieces including a portion on the hood right above the nose and the headlights as well as the rocker panels from wheel to wheel. When I picked it up he reminded me how challenging that nose was and that I probably didn't want to get into it or ruin the film trying and have to buy another kit.
I also have experience with car wraps, specifically air release versions, but PPF is much thicker and no air release. I'd call around and find a shop that isn't the Lambo and Ferrari shop and see if you could get that done for a reasonable price. If you go for it, good luck - and the PPF is worth it even if you already have a few chips
Let us know how it goes
I also have experience with car wraps, specifically air release versions, but PPF is much thicker and no air release. I'd call around and find a shop that isn't the Lambo and Ferrari shop and see if you could get that done for a reasonable price. If you go for it, good luck - and the PPF is worth it even if you already have a few chips
Let us know how it goes
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,431
Likes: 3,990
From: Cincinnati, OH
I was going to do this as well then decided against it. I had all the pieces in my eBay cart then backed out and had an installer do it just this week. He used 3M, not Xpel which was ok with me as I don't need to pay for the big brand name. He charged me a couple of hundred to install all the front nose pieces including a portion on the hood right above the nose and the headlights as well as the rocker panels from wheel to wheel. When I picked it up he reminded me how challenging that nose was and that I probably didn't want to get into it or ruin the film trying and have to buy another kit.
I also have experience with car wraps, specifically air release versions, but PPF is much thicker and no air release. I'd call around and find a shop that isn't the Lambo and Ferrari shop and see if you could get that done for a reasonable price. If you go for it, good luck - and the PPF is worth it even if you already have a few chips
Let us know how it goes
I also have experience with car wraps, specifically air release versions, but PPF is much thicker and no air release. I'd call around and find a shop that isn't the Lambo and Ferrari shop and see if you could get that done for a reasonable price. If you go for it, good luck - and the PPF is worth it even if you already have a few chips
Let us know how it goes
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,431
Likes: 3,990
From: Cincinnati, OH
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If you have some experience installing wraps, you may be able to install the PPF. Good luck - hope it turns out great.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 787
Likes: 127
From: Connecticut
These are the challenges you will face:
1 - Stretching. You pull on one side and it affects the other. Your want for example, to stretch the PPF so it properly surrounds the headlights. Its a lot harder than you may think. Like in the video he does one side first (emblem to headlight). What he doesn't mention is that if you use too much film on one side, the other side can be short.
2- Bubbles and any kind of dirt. Make sure your hands, tools and the surface is extremely clean.
3 - Be patient, its a lot more work and time than you think.
4 - You can stretch the PPF a lot, but pull too hard and it will damage it.
Good luck! My front bumper home install came out perfect. I would say I was at it 3 hours.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,431
Likes: 3,990
From: Cincinnati, OH
I installed a pre-cut expel on set on my C7 including the front bumper. Its not rocket science but I will tell you it is an art form and i give good installers a lot of credit. Especially when I see a job well done. A good install has perfect edges, no bubbles and nothing under the film.
These are the challenges you will face:
1 - Stretching. You pull on one side and it affects the other. Your want for example, to stretch the PPF so it properly surrounds the headlights. Its a lot harder than you may think. Like in the video he does one side first (emblem to headlight). What he doesn't mention is that if you use too much film on one side, the other side can be short.
2- Bubbles and any kind of dirt. Make sure your hands, tools and the surface is extremely clean.
3 - Be patient, its a lot more work and time than you think.
4 - You can stretch the PPF a lot, but pull too hard and it will damage it.
Good luck! My front bumper home install came out perfect. I would say I was at it 3 hours.
These are the challenges you will face:
1 - Stretching. You pull on one side and it affects the other. Your want for example, to stretch the PPF so it properly surrounds the headlights. Its a lot harder than you may think. Like in the video he does one side first (emblem to headlight). What he doesn't mention is that if you use too much film on one side, the other side can be short.
2- Bubbles and any kind of dirt. Make sure your hands, tools and the surface is extremely clean.
3 - Be patient, its a lot more work and time than you think.
4 - You can stretch the PPF a lot, but pull too hard and it will damage it.
Good luck! My front bumper home install came out perfect. I would say I was at it 3 hours.
My other option is to make my own PPF panels to cover some of the larger "frontal" areas of the car. I thought to lay down some painters tape, trace out an outline then transfer the shape to the PPF film.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 787
Likes: 127
From: Connecticut
Great response thank you! Judging by that video, laying down vinyl and having to deal with "fingers" bunching up seems trickier to deal with.
My other option is to make my own PPF panels to cover some of the larger "frontal" areas of the car. I thought to lay down some painters tape, trace out an outline then transfer the shape to the PPF film.
My other option is to make my own PPF panels to cover some of the larger "frontal" areas of the car. I thought to lay down some painters tape, trace out an outline then transfer the shape to the PPF film.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,431
Likes: 3,990
From: Cincinnati, OH
The door sills are definitely on my list and will most likely be a "custom cut" approach.
I'm looking at pre-cut kits and it's interesting the 3M ones do not include the headlights...I wonder why.
The more I look into this the more I'm thinking to tackle it. Just need to make sure I find a reputable place to buy it from.
I'm looking at pre-cut kits and it's interesting the 3M ones do not include the headlights...I wonder why.
The more I look into this the more I'm thinking to tackle it. Just need to make sure I find a reputable place to buy it from.
