Ppf
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 38
From: Branford Florida
Ppf
Hi I recently bought a used C8 with ppf installed and the job is absolutely terrible. Not sure if the original owner did it or a shop. If a shop did it they should not be doing it. The edges of the film do not wrap around the edges of the body panels and there are several areas where they tried to butt the film together. Really looks bad. I clay barred the car and the clay got caught on the edges and looks like shyt. My question is can the installed film be removed without doing damage to the paint? Although it does protect the paint it just looks terrible. I would like to replace but not sure it can be removed safely. Anyone remove theirs safely? Thx in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,145
Likes: 340
From: Just About 40 Min's from NYC
Yes the big name manufacturers advertise it can be removed "By a professional " I know some of the installers claim they ceramic the edges to protect them. I would suggest finding a quality vendor to re install and as part of his job have him remove it
Good Luck , What was the need for clay barring? once the PPF and ceramic go on there is no need to clay bar
Good Luck , What was the need for clay barring? once the PPF and ceramic go on there is no need to clay bar
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 310
Likes: 94
From: Chicago
I'm hearing mixed reviews on PPF. For the amount of money folks are spending on PPF you can get a new paint job. Also i hear that PPF isn't immune to rock chips. Supposedly it does protect the paint but the PPF gets damaged or scratched via rocks and then it looks like **** and needs to get redone.
Curious to hear some more honest opinions on PPF
Curious to hear some more honest opinions on PPF
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 13,602
Likes: 12,864
From: Virginia
I'm hearing mixed reviews on PPF. For the amount of money folks are spending on PPF you can get a new paint job. Also i hear that PPF isn't immune to rock chips. Supposedly it does protect the paint but the PPF gets damaged or scratched via rocks and then it looks like **** and needs to get redone.
Curious to hear some more honest opinions on PPF
Curious to hear some more honest opinions on PPF
And I drive my cars in a fashion that I RARELY get any damage and any slight damage I have gotten, I got expert repairs a LOT cheaper than what PPF costs. Of course it's up to the individual what they do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,648
Likes: 2,933
From: NW Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
.I would find a reputable installer and pose these questions to them. From what I understand, it is best done by the professionals and can be removed safely without hurting the paint. There are some Youtube videos on removing ppf film you can check out. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...g+ppf+from+car
Racer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 310
Likes: 94
From: Chicago
These were his questions, not whether its worth it or what's your experience with ppf. Those have been .
I would find a reputable installer and pose these questions to them. From what I understand, it is best done by the professionals and can be removed safely without hurting the paint. There are some Youtube videos on removing ppf film you can check out. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...g+ppf+from+car
.I would find a reputable installer and pose these questions to them. From what I understand, it is best done by the professionals and can be removed safely without hurting the paint. There are some Youtube videos on removing ppf film you can check out. https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...g+ppf+from+car
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,648
Likes: 2,933
From: NW Indiana
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2016
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I'm addicted to PPF. I will not drive my toys without it on the front cap, mirrors, pillars and windshield. Otherwise, I would need a paint job every so often, along with multiple windshield repairs and/or replacements. BTW, my car is Red Mist Metallic. To paint my front end would cost about 4500. PPF is far less for me and I am able to capture some of that cost when selling or trading the vehicle. To each their own though.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Wisconsin
I would watch some YouTube vids on removal, it's got to be time consuming and the cost would be expensive. I've removed wraps, it's a pain in.. especially if done right and old. Heat and hoping it comes off in sheets.
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Yes, in most cases PPF can be removed, but I would leave it to a pro installer.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 145
Likes: 56
From: Republic of Texas
It isn’t that hard to remove, especially if it isn’t that old. The film needs to be heated before pulling it, so you can use a heat gun or a steamer. I’ve tried both and I prefer the steamer. If heated too much, the film rips easier. Use the steamer to loosen the glue and start pulling back a corner, then keep steaming and pulling. You can order plastic razor blades to help you pull up an edge and then grab it with your fingers.
If you hear a “pop”, that’s the glue separating from the film and staying on the car. That residue can be removed, but it’s a pain. It’s easier to take your time and keep the film heated as you pull back.
If you hear a “pop”, that’s the glue separating from the film and staying on the car. That residue can be removed, but it’s a pain. It’s easier to take your time and keep the film heated as you pull back.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 427
Likes: 121
Hi I recently bought a used C8 with ppf installed and the job is absolutely terrible. Not sure if the original owner did it or a shop. If a shop did it they should not be doing it. The edges of the film do not wrap around the edges of the body panels and there are several areas where they tried to butt the film together. Really looks bad. I clay barred the car and the clay got caught on the edges and looks like shyt. My question is can the installed film be removed without doing damage to the paint? Although it does protect the paint it just looks terrible. I would like to replace but not sure it can be removed safely. Anyone remove theirs safely? Thx in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 20,318
Likes: 1,905
From: Huntingdon Valley Pa/ Town of Webb NY
Been using ppf for over 20 years, and there is nothing worse than a bad ppf job. I have removed it from my cars, and many others, never any paint issues from removing, usually the longer it's been on the tougher it is to remove
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 144
Likes: 38
From: Branford Florida
Well the car is a 2021 with the shyty ppf on it. After rubbing my hand across the areas without the ppf it felt like sand all over the car. As far as doing the ppf I did clay bar it and it did remove the rough feeling there also. I did not know that the clay would damage the film. It doesn’t look like it’s damaged. As I said earlier really a bad job of ppf installation, I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them. The edges and the corners are starting to come up in some areas also. If anybody knows that the ppf will be damaged from the clay bar please let me know.
If it has damaged it then I might as well remove the ppf and have it redone.
If it has damaged it then I might as well remove the ppf and have it redone.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 427
Likes: 121
Well the car is a 2021 with the shyty ppf on it. After rubbing my hand across the areas without the ppf it felt like sand all over the car. As far as doing the ppf I did clay bar it and it did remove the rough feeling there also. I did not know that the clay would damage the film. It doesn’t look like it’s damaged. As I said earlier really a bad job of ppf installation, I will take some pictures tomorrow and post them. The edges and the corners are starting to come up in some areas also. If anybody knows that the ppf will be damaged from the clay bar please let me know.
If it has damaged it then I might as well remove the ppf and have it redone.
If it has damaged it then I might as well remove the ppf and have it redone.