Great Video and info...As a person with 2 vehicles with PPF...both bought brand new 2018 Mustang GT (Orange Fury) and a F150 Raptor (White)..The Raptor Has the Xpel Ultimate and the Mustang is SunTek.. The suntek is thinner and it just couldn't handle the hits from the highway driving, rips in plastic from rock hits, eventually it starting hitting the paint. The Xpel ultimate on the Raptor was great, went off roading and got tree branch rash on the sides and once washed and left in the sun, it self healed itself, but after about 4yrs, the oxidation started building up on the film and it looks terrible. So I contacted Xpel and told them about it and I was told that I should have installed a ceramic coating on it, it should be Xpel brand or it can void the warranty on the film...I don't even think Xpel has a ceramic coating in 2017. I clayed and machine polished the whole vehicle and the film looks new again. I recently sold the vehicle to the dealership and they didn't even care that I have the whole vehicle covered in Xpel, including the front bumper, LineX the whole undercarriage or even have brand new tires on it. They wanted to see the odometer and if the vehicle has been in an accident. So to me, I will never have a PPF installed on any of my cars again. My New Tesla Model X will be here in a month and I have an appointment to Tint the windows ONLY. Oh I forgot to mention all the dirt that gets into the edges which you will NOT be able to remove and what about when you take your car back to the dealer for work, you think the tech cares about your PPF or getting grease on the edge somewhere? 10K to cover a whole vehicle, you will never get that money back and you will have to put up with the dirt on the edges and the oxidation that builds up on the film here in Florida in my case. Save your money and just keep you car clean and once in a while touch up...Touching up must be done in very thin layers at a time and 2-3 layers of clear coat on to of it. the rest of the money you save, take nice vacation....my 2 cents.....Thanx for the video and your time creating it.

I have not experienced any of the negatives that are being mentioned. I care a lot about how our Teslas look and having rocks chips is not ok in my mind and PPF was a life saver. My 2018 lrm3 PPF still looks great. I wash my car about every 1-6 weeks and the PPF still is holding very well. I have a ceramic coating on top of our PPF film.

Love the installers honest reviews!!! Love that he tells the truth that you don’t neeed ppf if you’re not intending to keep the car forever and if it’s not a rare 1of1

I have my whole Rivian R1T covered in PPF and I couldn’t be happier. Being able to have it be clean all the time using touchless washes and a microfiber wipe down and no swirls at all is pretty fantastic.

Kyle... To your point. MOST people don't care about 'Ripping their EV's around Lap Tracks.' 'Driving their EV's and jamming on the brakes to see how they perform'. Etc..etc.. I would say the majority of the things Kyle speaks on are NOT the issues the majority of people who purchase vehicles care about. So... you see my point? Coleton is a 'Detailer'. He sees these little imperfections that most people don't see nor care about.

I love my ppf, I've had it for more than a year and it has not turned yellow. The peace of mind it gives me is incredible. Great video guys!

The comparison of rock chip correction vs ppf full cost absolutely made this click in my mind Thank you for being so objective!

It comes down to $....like everything folks. Ive had PPF for my last 3 cars with $ ranging from $2500(full hood and front only) and the whole car($9K). I was extremely lucky to have come into some extra $ at that time. Of course the PPF, when done right, prevents the rock chips a lot and self-heals yadda yadda. If i have the $ i get it but I'm not gonna put myself further into serious debt with a full PPF for $8K after just buying a new $60-80K car. If you dont have the $ then stop sweating it folks and enjoy your car and the small amount of chips and dings your gonna get. Any one who thinks they are buying a Dr Colorchip kit and its gonna be a perfect fix that you wont notice is loco for the average person. Anyone who maxes out their credit cards to drop $7-10K on PPF is also loco. Get what u can afford but get it done right or not at all. Bc when you really think of it $9K is a whole lotta $ that could be used for many other things than on your car. Its like people dont realize that $2K-$7K is someones mortgage, electric, gas, school property taxes payments guys....get real. This thing has escalated from clear bra to insanity. The average car price is way way up and the average amount of $ we pay in the US for car maintenance/repairs is around $12K a year and wer'e gonna spend $2-7K on PPF? Lets see what happens this upcoming year when auto repos are projected to be at an all time high for the suckers that got swindled last year with the dealer mark-ups. Thx for video guys...very well done.

Guys,honestly thank you so much for this video. I’m due to have a new electrified GV70 arrive at end of Feb. For me, it’s an expensive car and so wanted to protect it and went through all the reasons you discussed, protect value, keep looking nice (self healing etc), peace of mind re paint qty etc etc… I’ve been going backwards and forwards over whether or not to ppf with full ceramic (front only or full etc) for the past month. I live in UK and quotes for full ppf are between £4.5K and £8k. The car is metallic grey and the thing with me is that I thought it would be nice to have the XPEL stealth satin finish so you get that light matte effect without the painful paint maintenance you have with factory finish matte paint. I only keep cars for about 3 years normally then move on. This new car is a 3 year lease however I may decide to buy at the end of the lease as residuals are high right now so lease monthly cost is lower and over the course of my lease contract/period there’s currently a reasonable chance the residual value will drop when I come to have purchase option in 3 years. Anyway my logic is that if I decide to keep the car then I get a vehcile where I know the history and know it’s still factory new. Although I was leaning towards full ppd with ceramic, think now I will go with full ceramic coating and then just correction work later. Your chat about use case really helped, the car is for occasional family holiday trips, work and school runs. I am a car geek for sure and love all things cars but this video has really helped me keep that in check and save the money (for the family holiday spend instead 😊) - thank you. Love the channel - so many right choices made off the back of watching !

Best discussion I've seen on KZfaq on this topic. Balanced and objective. Thx!

Nicely balanced discussion on both sides of the question. I have PPF on my truck and my sedan and yes it protects. Both have ceramic coating and that does make a noticeable difference to the appearance and washing. My gripe is the full hood on the sedan was $650 back in early 2020. Hood lasted great for 70-days only to have a huge hit from road debris that did remove a quarter size section of the PPF. No warranty and did not want to spend the money for replacement. So it is a personal choice based upon your driving and maintenance methods. Being an IDA-member I do appreciate the value to the customer and the cost of both installation and maintenance.

I have a full PPF and ceramic coat on my Taycan for 2.5 years and 60k miles. It makes me feel so much more comfortable. I do foam cannon washes still but not super regularly.

Very helpful discussion. I ceramic coated my wife's car, and it's a delight to keep clean. I also PPFed the front end to see how I like it. So far, so good. Edges are wrapped, and they seem to be sticking. I won't be doing much if any off-roading in my R1S. But I'm nervous. The car is much more expensive than any other car I've owned, and I want to preserve its good looks. $7-$10K for a full wrap? That's a really big deal for me. So I don't know if I'll go that far. Because of the squared-off R1 front end, I'm tempted to just PPF the front end and then ceramic coat everything.

This was a great and informative video. Changed my approach to my new car. Thank you

I just got a new car, and want to protect it, this video was super helpful in helping me make a decision. I would love to ask something... In recent years the market has been focusing on paint protections, ceramic coatings, PPF's and so on to protect the paint or value of vehicles. Why not have a professional Body Shop do the corrections and even fix dents and re-paint the entire vehicle per OEM specs? Seems to be way cheaper than all these specialized treatments that provides "protection for the paint" instead of "restoring the paint " by re-painting. Again thank you so much for the honesty and neutral format of this video not be pushing a specific product. Keep up the good work guys! Subscribing!!!

Thanks guys , thought about PPF a lot but after all is a car and utility , not gonna car dictate to me what to do with my money , I’ll take care of it as much as I can but no PPF for a car that probably just gonna have for 6 or 7 years , never had it before and always had and bought new cars and this time is same !

I have a 2022 VW GTI R with full body PPF for a year & 1/2 now. Best decision I've made. Just bought a Corolla GR Circuit and yes, it's getting full body PPF as well.

I have ceramic coated my first Tesla M3. After the first year and a few rock chips to the windshield and bumper I took it back and had them add PPF to the leading edges, the headlights bumper, A-pillar, and mirrors. That's the way it's been for 5 years now and it's still looking good, despite the ceramic now being past its warranty. I just bought a new2me MX that had full PPF and ceramic coating and it looks brand new despite being 7.5 years old (VIN in the 600s). Survived all those Boston winters with aplomb, and just a single rust spot starting to develop around one red wing-door switch.

I had a clear bra installed on my 2010 white lexus rx350 in 2010 for $650, front bumper half hood, and side mirrors. I sold it in April 2023 with 148,000 miles and no yellowing, no chips and a few scratches in the clear bra on the bumper that were noticeable only on close inspection. I always garaged it and washed it myself every week. Also never drove it in the rain, which is easy in Southern California. I will be getting the same treatment on my new GV60 next week. This stuff works great.

I did PPF on the full front and mirrors for only one reason. My commute to work is through a years long road works project and within a few months of owning the car the windshield got two cracks and everyday I could hear the car being hit with stones. I wish I would’ve done it as soon as I purchased the car. I was very satisfied with the install. I am one of those who wants my car looking as good as possible and take great care when washing and detailing it. I paid $1600 for my PPF and the full car would have cost $5100. If not for the road works issues, I would’ve done ceramic coating.

To pay 7k for PPF and have it redone in 5 years at the same price or even higher due to inflation, is absurd, how many people dump 14k into a car every 10 years? Not many I assume, also to the other gentleman’s point, I have a white Tesla, if it were to turn yellowish on me I would be furious. I think PPF is useful for some people that do a lot of off-roading or do a lot of long trips but if not probably not worth the money

2021 Volvo XC40 T5 R Design, Polestar Performance upgrade in Bursting Blue metallic with black roof. I leased it and had it professionally cut, polished, PPF'd the front 2/3's of the car ( full panels from front bumper to the rear doors) then ceramic coated everything including wheels/trim/glass...I did the front 2/3's for rock chip protection and decided to do the a and b pillar because of the soft gloss black paint there always showing swirls plus my mom gets in the front passenger side a lot and has mobility issues and has to grab the a pillar tightly to help get herself in...the decided to add the whole doors to help with small scratches and door dings from idiots who park too close. you can see a difference in the depth of the paint gloss from rear door to rear quarter panel but I do feel better getting it done. How ever now that its been a year and a half you can tell the PPF'd panels don't clean up as nice as the rear of the car....the PPF is softer and clings onto the contamination more over time...need to get a maintenance detail done but who has time during the holidays to leave there car for day or so...lol. Anyway, love this channel and btw the Audi looks great!.....and I don't even like black vehicles haha

Thank you for the great info. More to learn before my decision on new Audi SQ8 Daytona Gray Pearl. Ceramic on everything for sure. PPF on entire front, mirrors, and door handles if I believe I can tolerate the difference in appearance between the natural paint and PPF surfaces from a side view. Rock chips are a mental drain.

I had PPF done on my car and STILL got a stone chip that perf'd the PPF!

I always find it interesting when someone says “just pull the PPF off and the paint is perfect”. My guess is they’ve never done it to see not only how to properly remove it, but what it leaves behind. The last 911 we did, it took 2 days to safely remove the old film and another 2.5 days to correctly and safely remove all the adhesive and paint correct (polish) the car all before Another 2 weeks to get the new film on. Point being, for a fully covered car,it’s not just pulling it off and the paint is perfect. Yet another pro - con to consider before deciding on PPF.

The rear quarter panels on my Model 3 are also trashed at 50k miles. The only area I regret not adding some Porsche style stone guards...

Great video guys! I almost ppf my Lexus but then figured it wasn’t worth paying 7-10k … and the yellowing … and hard rock chips will still break the film

I have had 5 vehicles coated without any of the issues mentioned in this video except 2 little spots on the front grill of my wife's 2018 toyota highlander gets dirt at the edge of the film. I had the nose and hoods filmed in 2021. After many rag / brush type carwashes, no discoloration, with Xpel. My current 2020 bmw z4 is wrapped all around with Suntek 3 months ago. So far so good. It has a ceramic impregnated film which makes washing very easy. It has a waxed feel after just mild soaping and hand drying. Dirt just slides right off. Since it's a convertible and never goes through the carwash like the highlander i never need to wax it to still have it look like new, as i bought it with 11K miles several months ago. Cost $5K at KOD graphics in Fishkill,NY. Its my 5th vehicle done by these guys and they are very good. I also have a 2022 white toyota tundra that had the nose done that goes through the same rag / brush carwash with zero problems. I was told by my installer to avoid touchless washers as the higher pressure touchless jets could lift the paint. Also not to let the guys at the wash prewash the filmed areas with the high pressure wands as that could lift the film as well. I have also read/heard that Teslas have notoriously soft paint and desparately need as much film as the owner can afford. 2 white vehicles , no yellowing as of today. 10 year warranty on expel and 12 year on suntek. Time will tell.

Great info for making a decision! I think I’ll go ceramic coating, just need to figure out if I want to do diy or pro…

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: [00:29] Pros and cons of PPF: There are cases where PPF is absolutely necessary and some where it's not [01:35] New car PPF: Consider doing full PPF on a new car [02:44] Partial PPF: Opting for partial PPF can lead to uneven look over time [03:27] Edges: Seeing edges of PPF is a common complaint [04:06] Bug stains: Bug stains can get trapped under PPF and stain the paint [04:49] Yellowing: PPF can yellow over time, especially on light colored cars [05:18] Dirt accumulation: Edges of PPF can trap dirt, especially noticeable on white cars [05:31] Plaid Model S: PPF is recommended for high impact areas on cars like the Plaid Model S [05:45] Cost: PPF installation can be expensive [05:59] PPF quality testing: Different PPF brands and their qualities will be tested on the channel [06:13] Non-wrapped edges on PPF: Opting for non-wrapped PPF edges can save money but looks less appealing [06:41] PPF doesn't enhance look: PPF's main purpose is to protect the paint, not enhance the look [07:08] Cost of PPF installation: A proper PPF installation can range from $5,000 to $10,000 [07:51] Benefit vs Cost: The high cost of PPF might not justify the benefit for some drivers [08:18] Full car or no car: installer recommends covering the entire car with PPF or not at all [08:33] PPF lifespan: PPF typically lasts 5-10 years and needs to be removed and replaced [08:46] PPF yellowing: PPF, especially on light colored cars, can yellow over time [09:02] Improper PPF installation: Poor installation can damage the car's paint [09:58] High quality PPF: Properly installed PPF can be virtually invisible [10:11] Rock chip protection: PPF's main benefit is protecting the paint from rock chips [10:25] Scratches and good wash routine: A good car wash routine can minimize scratches making PPF less necessary [10:40] PPF on off-road vehicles: PPF traps dirt on off-road vehicles [10:53] Consider car usage before installing PPF: Decide if PPF is necessary based on how you use your car [11:22] PPF for maintaining car look: PPF can simplify car care routine [11:36] PPF can hide minor dirt trapped underneath [11:50] Non-PPF car maintenance: Requires touch-up paint and polishing [12:19] PPF for maintaining car look: PPF can simplify car care but might look less appealing [12:48] Improper PPF installation: Poor installation can cause peeling edges and dirt accumulation [13:29] PPF for car enthusiasts: PPF is ideal for those who care about minute details on the car [13:43] PPF not for everyone: Most people don't keep cars long enough to justify PPF [14:12] Ideal use cases for PPF: Expensive car, off-roading, and avoiding brush car washes [14:25] Half car PPF is not recommended: Opting for half car PPF provides minimal benefit [14:53] PPF on expensive cars: PPF might not be necessary for very expensive cars [15:08] PPF vs. car lifespan: Consider if you'll own the car long enough to justify replacing PPF [15:20] Comparison to 90s car care trends: PPF is similar to outdated trends that prioritized protecting the car over aesthetics [15:49] Cost comparison: PPF vs. occasional touch-up paint [16:03] Ideal use case for full car PPF: Classic car that you intend to keep forever [16:46] PPF not necessary for all cars: Minor touch-up paint can address scratches on some cars [17:15] Alternative to PPF: Paint correction and ceramic coating every 5 years [17:44] Resale value and PPF: PPF might not increase resale value for mass-production cars [18:11] Importance of PPF installer: Choosing a skilled installer is crucial for a good PPF job [18:52] Weighing pros and cons of PPF: Consider the trade-off between rock chip protection and aesthetics [19:20] Cost comparison: Paint correction and ceramic coating vs. PPF [20:00] Ideal use case for ceramic coating: Cars that won't be prioritized for rock chip protection [20:28] Ceramic coating vs. PPF look: Ceramic coating can achieve a better look than PPF [21:08] Cost comparison over time: Ceramic coating might be more cost-effective in the long run [21:23] Ceramic coating vs. rock chips: Ceramic coating doesn't prevent rock chips but touch-up paint can address them [21:37] Worst case scenario with ceramic coating: Worst case might require repainting the car [22:21] PPF and ceramic coating can be used together depending on the car's use case [22:47] PPF recommended for cars driven on roads with frequent rocks [23:15] Not all Rivian owners need PPF unless they go off-roading frequently [24:12] PPF vs. ceramic coating decision depends on how much the car will be cared for [24:41] Cost comparison: Full PPF vs. ceramic coating [25:21] PPF not recommended to preserve resale value [25:35] Ceramic coating not recommended to preserve resale value [26:03] PPF is a good option for cars that will be driven in harsh conditions [26:17] Replacing PPF every few years is an option for long-term car ownership [26:45] PPF can be good for cars with expensive paint jobs [27:11] Cars kept in a garage might not need PPF for aesthetic reasons [27:52] Benefits of ceramic coating for car owners: easier cleaning, longer lasting gloss, better protection [28:07] Ceramic coating recommended after PPF for better cleaning [28:49] Ceramic coating protects against: water spots, bugs, grime [29:18] Key benefits of ceramic coating: easier cleaning, longer gloss, repels dirt [29:59] Ceramic coating can be applied to trim, wheels, and other car parts [30:40] Ceramic coating benefits all cars [31:06] Ceramic coating protects paint on older cars during washing [31:34] PPF and ceramic coating recommended for cars kept long-term [32:03] Decision on PPF and ceramic coating depends on how long you plan to keep the car [32:46] Don't invest in PPF or ceramic coating for leased cars [33:13] Decision on PPF and ceramic coating is financial: weigh the cost vs. the benefit for your car ownership experience [33:29] Cost of PPF and ceramic coating can be justified as a percentage of the car's value [33:56] Partial PPF application is not recommended [34:23] Half hood PPF is pointless because the bumper is equally exposed [34:38] Headlights are the most expensive parts to repair on the front of a car; consider including them in PPF

This was really helpful. Thanks guys. I was going to do a video specifically about the RAV4 Prime and the importance of getting PPF. Definitely got me thinking the other direction. You really did a great job of talking about the pro's and con's of PPF and also ceramic coating.

Excellent discussion. Wrapped many cars (all wasted money upon sale) and still on the fence. BTW I hear STEK is the most premium but never used it.

I bought full PPF on my Rivian and absolutely think it was the best thing for me. I don't have a pro detailers eye like Coleton so any minuscule imperfections will not bother me. What makes it worth it is the fact it does look great all the time, it is easy to go through touchless car washes with little maintenance and still have great paint underneath.

My 3M ppf developed fungus or mildew UNDER the ppf. First time under warranty. Second time, I had to pay to have it picked off, it wouldn't even peel in large pieces. Protected the paint but was a nightmare very quickly. And the dirt lines on the edges, perennial problem.

My whole car has xpel ppf & specific ceramic coating ( Gyeon ppf Coating). No issue at all with bug stains and yellowing. There are also detailers like Gyeon ppf maintain to give more protection for your film appearance. I had way more issues with C Quartz Finest vs ppf , which is a professional high grade coating: removing small stains left easily scratches and generally lot of swirls marks ( even more visible due to the extreme gloss of the coating ). Sure a big thing is install quality of the ppf and edges can get dirty without proper frequent and proper washes.

Did full PPF on my 2021 Model Y. Peace of mind is great. With hindsight however should have done more research into cars with PPF as some of the ends are not tucked away nicely and grim is already building up. However, you do not see this unless you look very closely. Overall I am happy with my decision.

In Alberta, you most definitely have to PPF your vehicle as in winter they put less salt and more gravel in the snow. I’m taking my new CX-9 to PPF on Friday.

I love PPF. Our Teslas 2018 lrm3 blackand 2020 lrmy white are all fully PPF and we would have gotten a number of nicks and scratches from rocks in the road over the years without the PPF. Not seen any yellowing on our white car. I am less concerned about any potential small bug marks vs. getting my paint nicked by rocks. I also keep my car clean and I don’t ever leave bugs on for long nor bird poop.

I live in Arizona where you really can’t do a drive on the freeway without getting some kind of chip. Getting windshields replaced for example is very common cause rock is everywhere. I usually only get my front bumper and full hood with PPF (my highest impact areas) but living in the desert for me it’s an absolute must unless you want your car to look like Swiss cheese after a year especially with a lot of highway driving. The other thing to is I very rarely ever keep a car longer than 5 years so if it were to yellow after that, not my problem but like others have said many shops come with very long if not lifetime warranties so some worries that were mentioned shouldn’t be an issue.

Just picked up a2023 Q5 black with 300 miles on the OD stone chip the windshield back to the dealer for a new windshield and had PPF installed to the front windshield, headlights and mirror back There are some maintenance products available to preserve the film

Thank you for the video. So even with a ceramic or graphene coating over the PPF its much more susceptible to bug etching than paint work sans film?

I needed this video. My job does require a bit of driving but its only to school not really on the freeway either. With that ill probably only get a ceramic coat.

My XPEL has a no-yellow warranty, and still looks clear and like new 2 years later. Note that i'm in the toronto area, so not as sunny as SoCal, and its garaged so I'm sure that helps. (White Model 3LR)

I got PPF for bugs, rocks and other debris that usually chip my paint or or bug bodies are tough to remove.

What film are you using for it to turn yellow so quick after a few weeks? 3M? No issues with Xpel and Suntek in my experience. And have had five cars done.

I work in the mountains full of redwood trees where my white truck is pelted with violet color stain droppings. And they are really difficult to remove. Getting PPF on hood and roof this week. Hope it doesn’t stain the PPF film.

Great vid!! I'm getting a new BMW X5 soon in Noth QLD Australia. Will never be driving off road but will do a fair bit of highway driving. The roads are sealed but not the best quality with a fair bit of loose stone. Also there is ALOT of bugs. Would it be worth it to spend the money in PPF or just touch up stone chips when they get noticeable? Thanks

PPF works great on plastic headlights (prevents yellowing). Eventually PPF will yellow but it's cheaper than a new headlight.

Does the brand stek and expel turns yellowish in a white vehicle as well in your experience?

I´m debating if I should PPF my Model Y. I just bought it used, it is black and I was told that colour is so thin that it would be ugly after a while. So I´m thinking, I want some protection. If I would do it then I would do the whole car. Then wax it regularly. Would you do it on used cars? The car is 6 months driven around 8700 miles.

Having PPF done now, it will be ready Friday. HOW DO YOU WASH THE CAR WITH POF.

I've done the full gamut. Ceramic, Partial PPF and Ceramic, Full PPF and Ceramic. Personally, I'm for full PPF. Paint chips bother me far more than minor PPF blemishes and edges. The gloss levels on my PPF (Suntek and STEK) are crazy good. Bug etching is reduced since I have ceramic over top. And, for all the highway driving I do, getting full PPF was a must. My 2007 Infiniti M35x had no PPF and the bumper looked like the surface of the moon. Granted, that was after 285k miles. My Teslas are both fully wrapped in PPF. My 2022 Model S Long Range has STEK DYNOGray! I've also had PPF save my butt several times. I've had so many things fly up onto my car, dent the panel, and tear the PPF...but I was able to remove the PPF and do some PDR instead of a respray. Totally worth it, of course, in my opinion.

What do you recommend for a tesla model y used primarily for daily driving to and from work/school within city and the occasional road trips and camping? Ceramic coating or PPF or PPF w/ ceramic coating?

I PPF my new Genesis GV60. Is charcoal grey matte finish. I did it because of the matte finish. Matte finish paint is more delicate than gloss finish. Do you recommend it on matte finish or did i made a mistake?

I like the PPF! nut i also have lived without it! I don't tail gate especially big trucks! I will place another car in between me and a big truck and fall in behind a car behind a big truck! however i would like to have it, but hard to find installers in Joplin mo.~ great Info~

Now that Coleton has shown you the "light" you can never unsee the defects.

I had by black metallic car fully PPF'd recently. I was concerned about the loss of gloss and shine but I cant tell the difference from when the car had no coating on it. I think PPF tech has moved on such that loss of gloss and shine is no longer an issue.

Have you tried Dr. Colorchip for paint chips? Do you know if it is safe on ceramic coatings?

I did the partial hood for my IS and full hood for the LX. Both cars are white. I should have not been cheap and done the full hood and fenders on the IS with the wrapped edges. You honestly can't see the film if you do the full front, and let's be honest, the leading edges are what's going to take the abuse. I thing PPFing a whole car with the roof and rear bumper is madness. Putting some kind of hydrophobic sealant on the PPF makes it bead up just like the paint. I also like how on a used car the PPF will hide some blemishes in the paint and plastic surfaces like headlights as it sort of mimics several layers of clear coat. I'm not an expert, just spouting opinions but doing a full front leading edge is the best compromise for me budget and utility.

It´s worth it for expensive cars, if you have a Honda Civic as I do, I don´t think it´s worth it. Perhaps for mirrors and bumper, but nothing more than that. Fantastic video.

What’s your recommendation for a color change wrap film….glossy, high clarity, no orange peel?

I have a 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance solid black. It was a must that I got a full PPF and I must say it is the best purchase that I have made. It is absolutely worth it. I have always been the type of car owner that needs my car too look brand new inside and out. I never purchased a black car because of the upkeep. But PPF has my car looking brand new after almost 9 months of ownership. My black paint always looks new and shiny and when I clean it, it's super easy. But the best part of purchasing PPF is ithe peace of mind. On the highways if I see or hear a rock(s) hit the front of my vehicle, I'm not worried about any damage. I have exited my vehicles on multiple occasions after I heard a rock strike my front bumper and you can usually see where the rock struck and all I have to do is wipe and its gone without any damage to the car or PPF. PPF is a must especially for Teslas.

Have a 1 week old Rav 4 2024, PPF installed at port by distributor on hood and side mirrors. Where do I go to get this removed, a body shop or a detailer who specializes in PPF. Plan on keeping the car forever.

Interesting views compared to other channels. Recommend at the very least the Tesla front fascia because of the large surface area?

I always buy precut kit to do partial protection DIY. I find it it work out best to balance proper protection and cost. It doesn't make sense to spend $6k or more on a non exotic car. PPF or not won't change resell value.

On my Y I had PPF + Ceramic, bugs came right off and sometimes seemed stuck on the ceramic. Hit some tire tread, the black marks wiped right off.

Tesla front end absolutely needs PPF.

Half the problems you're referring to are installer issues, not ppf issues. I'd sooner take yellowing film over a repainted car any day of the week.

I'm going back and forth on this very question. My previous cars always had a ton of rock chips. I like my new used model 3, so I don't want it to get all chipped up. OTOH, it's probably cheaper to have them touched up than to do PPF. The DIY pre-cut PPF kits are tempting, as a sort of middle ground for cheapskates like me. Either that, or maybe going with a vinyl wrap to sort of change things up a bit... because white Teslas are common as heck.

I’m getting any middle of the road answers here. You guys are all over the place.

I paid $5,500 for full PPF (stealth) on my Rivian R1S. They gave me a lifetime warranty and they have been in business for over 20 years. I’m so glad I did it. Not only do I feel more relaxed about taking it off road and on gravel and on the snow and salt, but I also really like the look of it. Here’s the video the shop did of my car. You have to look carefully or you’ll miss it, but in the beginning of the video they do a “before and after” comparison: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/n9KRmsSqnLXDeok.html

What percentage of the cost of PPF will you see back when you sell it? I don’t keep my cars more than nine months.

How do you know which PPF shop is the best? I live near San Francisco. Who's the best there?

Hi, what do you guys think of coloured ppf? Theres definitely no yellowing

I’ve been back and forth with contemplating Full PPF on my new GR Corolla Circuit Edition and I intend to have this for a long time. I hope to be able to pass it down to my now 3.5 year old because I have the tendency to regret selling a few of my cars like my ‘91 MR2 Turbo back in the day. I know it’s crazy to think I’ll have it that long but with the way cars are going I want him to learn to drive a manual transmission and those are going away more and more these days…unless Toyota does what they are planning with an electric car with manual transmission like they are saying is coming 🙏🏼. Part of me thinks it’s like grandmas when I was growing up that had plastic on the furniture…who are you saving it for?! Back in the day when rubber mats weren’t as good as they are today a lot of people I knew would use those over their carpet car mats but they looked horrible…once again who are you saving it for?! Why keep it nice for the next person when you can enjoy it now and just take care of your stuff. When I say take care of your stuff I don’t mean too have to go crazy but just don’t be abusive and a lot of things tend to hold up well. Anyways, I’m only part way through the video and still on the fence if it’s worth the price and in my opinion it doesn’t look as good as well protected paint.

Hi Kyle. I’ve your channel !! My PPF INSTALLER told me NOT to use a car wash can you address this I’m 1 year in on a total wrap bar and new Model X black the car shines like the day it was new. For me I hate hand washing also I was told not to use any sprays or waxes which also bugs me as I just feel like it can always use a quick spray wax detail type spray. Honestly I read back and forth do this don’t do that I’d love to know his opinion and how does he prefer to care for the PPF during years 2 thru 5

can you use both PPF and ceramic coating on top of PPF?

Insightful discussion. Definitely pushed me off of going straight to PPF on all of my cars.

I did a ceramic coating on my Rivian, no PPF.

You can enhance the look if you do a color change PPF or even a stealth matte wrap that is also PPF. At least on some cars, the curves are accentuated in a satin or matte wrap. I just had my blue model 3 wrapped in a stealth matte ppf and it looks amazing. So much better than stock! Expensive but worth it to me. Edges were tucked and I removed the emblems. I also got ceramic coating for easy cleaning.

I have PPF on my Teslas and E46 M3.

An excellent video. I'm about to take delivery of a new Alfa Romeo and have watched lots of videos about the pros and cons of having PPF installed, and this is the most balanced discussion I've seen. Most of the videos are made by companies that are trying to sell PPF, so are hardly unbiased. To date I haven't inspected a car that's had PPF installed, but if it makes the paint look a different colour, that would immediately put me off having only the front end done. As I will only be driving a low mileage each year, and want the car to look its best I won't get PPF fitted but will get a ceramic coating. Thanks again for a very informative video.

why do half? its so rare to get chips past the front wheel, unless the front wheel is throwing rocks at the back.

I added ppf on both of my Teslas to protect it against rock chips. The teslas are susceptible to chips on the bumper.

If you ceramic over the PPF, it’s harder and resists bug stains. My PPF on a white car never yellowed.

I have a lifted 4Runner that I use off road. The front has a lot of rock chips. I ended up putting an ARB bumper on the front. It will get damaged. A Tesla is prone to rock chips and I just want to keep the chips away.

So, if most rock chips come from semi's or larger vehicles traveling at highway speeds. It probably can happen on local roads (Under 45 mph). It might look tacky, but just track wrap (xpel sells some) the car for any long highway drives. Kind of half serious but could be an economical solution. I drive the freeway for maybe 10-12 minutes at a time. I can easily just drive local roads everywhere for 90% of the driving I do. I do not have to drive back and forth from work, 1-2 hours on the freeway. Just thinking outside the box a bit. I drove a 2017 Santa Fe Sport for 7 years, took it on multiple trips to Florida and South Carolina. It had some rock chips, but it wasn't terrible. Maybe it's because I do not drive behind semi's. I drive like 10 mph over the speed limit, and stay away from semi's. The worst rock incident I had was driving past Chicago and had it crack my windshield. Maybe it helps I do not live in a big city. So, my incident rate is lower. Just throwing out all the variables. I am trying to decide if I should PPF my car, and I am thinking about just doing ceramic coating now.

Just got a new Stealth Grey Tesla Model 3 Highland about two months ago. I try my best to avoid other cars and drive carefully, have only about 1500 km on the clock and already a few nasty rock chips on the bonnet. I didn't want to put PPF on it originally However, with this thin layer of paint that Tesla applies to their cars I will end up applying PPF I get a mini stroke every time I see a new paint chip. :( I rather have a bit of yellowing and edge peeling on a removable plastic layer than a damaged panel.

Roughly speaking if you keep a car for 10 years does your opinion change for getting PPF?

I'm so torn on whether or not to do mine. The installer wants $2800 for the front hood, bumpers, side mirrors. Not the headlight covers. Seems so expensive for something that is definitely going to have be replaced within 10 years or less. And my car's white! So if it yellows, it's going to look horrible. Any suggestions?

I believe most people assume PPF is forever and not another big job 5 years down the road to make it look great

I was really on the fence whether or not I would do the PPF. I didn't know it would turn yellow. That was a turn-off and I've decided not to go ahead with the film. There are some guys out there that can really touch up your paint when it chips and make it still look like new. On my Model 3 performance, never tailgate, stay clear of all semi trucks. (-:

Interesting - I have two cars both PPF coated but my Land Rover Defender was done after serious pinstripes off-road and a paint rectification on a pale green metallic. I had the front, bonnet/hood and both sides up to the window line treated with Xpel clear gloss self repairing. 3 years down the line the car looks fantastic despite a lot of off-road in the U.K. along heavily overgrown trails and across heather and pine woods. I also run a Mini Cooper S E and had only the bonnet/hood and front wings coated as protection against stone chips. Mini is a darker BMW British Racing Green Metallic and was coated within weeks of delivery. BTW from bitter experience with the Defender Ceramic coating on a vehicle used for a lot of off-road work is a total waste of money, it doesn’t offer enough protection

his definition of "yellow" must be different than mine... I've never seen that on my car

12 years with 3m and no yellow. I do cover the car or keep in shade most of the time.

I have a 992 GTS. Unbelievably i actually drive it. No PPF just wash and look after it. Fed up of reading about all these garage queens. Detailing is only for cars never driven for the rest of us we drive it to work and it needs cleaning again. Within reason when i trade it in the dealer will not give a shit.

We own a 2018 Model 3 and a new 2023 Y. We take a lot of trips to So-Cal and are going to put PPF on the front our our new Y next week. The piece of mind while traveling down I-5 is worth it to me. 2k for the front of the Y verses 6 for the whole car.

You can not easily polish the bugs out from paint. I polish cars for the past 20 years and on dark cars those baked bugs are a nightmare to deal with

Thanks to content creators like Colton, I have ceramic coated my ionic 5 myself. I paint corrected it washed it super good and use Adam's polishes on it. I would never do ppf, I think it looks awful

Wondering what your thoughts are on ppf with a ceramic coating on top…wouldn’t that combination minimize the yellowing effect of the ppf…being the ceramic coating would give a layer of UV protection….