[KevinC]

Originally Posted by MVista

My installer told me Xpel is a bit thicker but they only use Suntek because it looks glossier. I have no experience with Xpel but I can tell you the Suntek looks very good. Almost as good as naked paint.

While my car was in getting done with Xpel, a floppy-breasted Suntek rep made a sales call on the shop, talking up some new kind of film they were offering. After she left, shop manager explained how they are Xpel's largest dealer in the state and Suntek has been after their business for a long time. He said they make a decent product but they prefer Xpel. I can't even tell anything was done to my car - impossible to spot seams unless you feel for them (i.e. on the hood), just as glossy as the now-detailed & sealed paint. I'm sure they're both great products.

[M2BSM17]

I got PPF on my OG M2. It got some dings in the PPF, and even a couple of small dings though the PPF and into the hood paint. I traded the car in and didn’t get that investment back. More importantly, I decided I prefer the feel/look of the paint without PPF. My M2 C I didn’t wrap and I already have more mileage on it than I had on the OG M2 and the paint still looks great. It’s definitely a personal preference, but I won’t put PPF on any of my cars moving forward. There isn’t a right or wrong answer, just personal preference.

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Foggins

I know, I know...I shouldn't rely on forum advice for something that I should be able to decide on my own. But for this one, I am literally smack dab on the fence so wanted to share my thoughts and get some forum wisdom back for my incoming M2C:

Reasons to get PPF (full front end):
- obvious protection
- warranty through XPEL
- costly, but not outrageous ($1600-$2000 quotes so far)
- good for resale value (I know I shouldn't talk resale value for a car I haven't even purchased yet, but see below)

Reasons to not get PPF
- have owned 20+ cars and have never PPF'd any of them...and yes, many have been nice cars as well (several M's, AMG, Porsche). Fortunately, never had any significant issues with no PPF, and I am VERY OCD about my cars and detailing
- when washing and seeing the paint, I can see a difference in gloss/clarity in PPF paint vs naked paint, and I much prefer the untouched paint
- my car will be HS, I think the dirt in the seams on the front end will drive my crazy
- my work commute has decreased dramatically due to working from home post Covid, to the point where I used to drive 10k miles per year, but that will drop to about 3k-4k per year, plus we have decided to keep my younger son's Jetta while he goes off to college so the M2 will mostly be a weekend only car
- I have car OCD and my average length of ownership is around 18 months

I know this is a beaten to death topic, but hey...thought I would throw it out there anyways

If you've had 20+ cars and never cared before why would you care now. Seems like you already know that it's not something you need.

I know that it drives me crazy to not have it on a new car, but that's just me. Obviously you're built different.

[David1]

I think I am done with all these films. The film gets damage just like paint and looks like shit just like a chip. Its just a different looking chip. My past two cars have had stuff go all the way through the PPF and damage the car anyways and on one dented the hood on my beautiful Lemans Blue E92.

[yuriydee]

Originally Posted by KevinC

impossible to spot seams unless you feel for them (i.e. on the hood), just as glossy as the now-detailed & sealed paint. I'm sure they're both great products.

How long have you had yours? I have xpel for a little less than a year so far and I definitely se a little yellowing on the sides and bottom of the front bumper. The hood is still in good condition though.


I paid close to $3k for PPF and got the whole front done with the hood, the mirror caps, the rock guards and side skirts and few more spots. Hard to say if it was really worth the money but it does give me a peace of mind. I do see some rock chips in the front bumper that definitely wouldve chipped the paint if it wasnt for the PPF, but again its not very visible unless you look for it.

[Uscray]

I had Xpel ultimate on my m235 for 3 years and it still looked perfect when I sold it 2 months ago. Xpel has a 10 year warranty against yellowing so if it is a problem you can get it replaced.

[Steelguin]

I cant see spending that money on it. I don't want to argue with everyone just stating my opinion. I know some of you love this stuff. I have never had it, sold traded many cars , never was an issue. I just hand wash and wax the car and if it gets some small rock chips over years ill be ok .

[Uscray]

It is totally a personal preference. I hate it when I get my first rock chip so for my OCD tendencies I like it.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by yuriydee

How long have you had yours? I have xpel for a little less than a year so far and I definitely se a little yellowing on the sides and bottom of the front bumper. The hood is still in good condition though.

Less than 3 months. But I had film on my Z4MC for 8 years from new. Not sure what kind of film it was - 3M maybe? But it held up pretty well. I lived in metro Phoenix then, which is where windshields die at a record pace, and the same garbage peppers your entire front end. Almost a necessity up there.

[BGR]

95% of rocks hit the front 1/3rd of the hood and bumper. For $800, I’m getting those area covered 10/10 times on a $60k car. The ppf itself may not add value when it’s time to sell, but on a car like this, if you have to respray the hood/bumper, it will absolutely detract from the value.

[ROASTM]

Originally Posted by pacook81

I'm similarly OCD and have never done ppf before. I have decided to do front bumper and partial hood with mirrors when the M2 arrives. I think that ppf doesn't reflect the light as a pristine paint job would and chose not to do the side of the car. I've ordered subtle front mudguards to protect the sides of the car as much as possible.

I had a mustang last year which I bought brand new and I got a couple of big rock chips on the front of the car within the first 2000 miles which tortured me for the rest of the time which I owned it.

I've been quoted around $1000 for the detail shop to pick up the car from the bmw dealer, detail it and apply front end ppf. I decided to go ahead.

I hear you, but I would get some additional coverage above the factory piece (replace the factory piece with a larger piece). My car has full PPF, and the only spot I have any etches in the XPEL are above/in front of the rear wheels on both sides. I'd imagine some mud flaps would help with this, but regardless, this car's hips are rock magnets.

[DougVA]

I'm a newbie to the PPF world, but had a similar debate with myself in the weeks before my M2C arrived last week. I've reached an internal compromise, which was: front bumper and headlights, only. $680 US for Expel at a very reputable installer. The main factor in my decision? In over 40 years of driving, the only place I have seen significant rock chips and related wear and tear, on all of my cars, is the front bumper area. I just haven't had problems elsewhere. I doubt the PPF will add value to any resale, though. I don't think buyers (except, of course, a select few) really focus heavily on some wear and tear on the front bumper.

[chris719]

I'm torn between doing partial, full, or nothing. Part of me thinks that I should do full or none because partial could age differently in terms of wrapped vs unwrapped surfaces. Maybe it's not a big concern over a 5 year period let's say.

[c1pher]

Originally Posted by Steelguin

I cant see spending that money on it. I don't want to argue with everyone just stating my opinion. I know some of you love this stuff. I have never had it, sold traded many cars , never was an issue. I just hand wash and wax the car and if it gets some small rock chips over years ill be ok .

I have had incredible results simply using Dr. Colorchip. In fact, I buy paint for each car I buy just in case I need it.

[T1313]

Notice that the guys that own the PPF shops all seem to drive Lambos and other big cash cars? It's because people give them $4k for some plastic wrap. PPF is today's undercoating.

Put the fear of damage in the mind of someone buying their new toy and reap the profits. Tell them how exposed they'll be. How their new purchase will be RUINED if they don't protect it right now by shelling out just a fraction of the cost of the vehicle! THINK OF THE RESALE!!!

I'm unconvinced that PPF would be cheaper vs paint repair in the actual long run considering you have to replace PPF again when you 'repair' it. At the same time, lots of dudes on here won't blink at dropping $7k on some spiffy exhaust pipes that add no power at all so I'm obviously not the target demographic!

The biggest proponents of PPF are the guys that sell PPF... and the guys that they talked into buying PPF!

For the record, I think that both old school undercoating and PPF can offer value. Just not enough in most situations.

[SilverM2_CS]

Full Xpel. Double layer on the rear fenders. OEM PPF removed.

[Maynard]

Partial vs. full is, for me a simple one: do full or nothing. Those 'invisible' seams halfway up the hood or fender are indeed visible, and for the few who eventually do remove the covering there is often a 'wear line' or irregularity, and uneven sun fading of the color (probably not an issue with HS). At least go look at a half-panel car that the place has done, before you commit; as you can see, some will find seams totally unacceptable, while others describe them as invisible.

Personally, I share the agony of the conflict in this; not a simple yes/no. I opted to not do it and bank the money for a repaint, if/when I feel the need. PPF always looks yellowed and poor surface to my eye (yellowing noticed on lighter colors, but always with an orange-peel type thick/waviness); this is akin to a marginal paint job - what is called a 'ten-footer'. Add in the issue of needing to replace the PPF if you get a big hit or scrape, and it stops being worthwhile. I do sometimes wish for that 'invulnerability' but not at this cost.

[omasou]

Based on what you said. I wouldn't do PPF.

If you are only doing the front clip then that price is outrageous. If full front means front clip, hood, fenders and headlights then sounds reasonable but I wouldn't do that much.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by Uscray

I had Xpel ultimate on my m235 for 3 years and it still looked perfect when I sold it 2 months ago. Xpel has a 10 year warranty against yellowing so if it is a problem you can get it replaced.

Pretty sure warranty is on the film and not the application.

[Uscray]

Originally Posted by omasou

Pretty sure warranty is on the film and not the application.

Actually some of the better installers warranty more than just the film itself. Extreme Colors Autospa in Greenville SC also covers accidental damage that requires the film to be replaced. They cover pretty much everything for 10 years. They are not the cheapest but have a great warranty and very experienced installers. They are also the official Xpel dealer for the BMW performance center. Just look around a make sure you pick a good company to do the installation. I think the installation is as important, maybe more, than the actual PPF.

[Uscray]

Actually I just reviewed the Xpel warranty page and it does cover cost of installation if the product yellows within the 10 years if it is installed by an authorized dealer. The extra warranty that Extreme Colors and some other dealers offer is if the vehicle is in an accident they will replace the damaged panels for no charge for 10 years.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by Uscray

Actually I just reviewed the Xpel warranty page and it does cover cost of installation if the product yellows within the 10 years if it is installed by an authorized dealer. The extra warranty that Extreme Colors and some other dealers offer is if the vehicle is in an accident they will replace the damaged panels for no charge for 10 years.

That's a warranty!