PPF and Ceramic Coating
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@Gandor I hope you enjoy your GT4 for many years and your PPF performs up to and above your expectations for your entire ownership experience!
Our BS has now had XPEL PPF (full frontal, rockers, rear bumper) and Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating (entire car, including wheels & calipers) for 3 months/900 miles (Covid19).
I was concerned that PPF would dull the radiance of our Sapphire Blue Metallic paint, but not so far. Perhaps the ceramic coating deserves some (or much) of the credit for allowing the paint color to shine through, as if there was no PPF. I'm still somewhat apprehensive about wear over time (yellowing, orange peel, etc.). Regardless, it has already paid dividends preventing rock chips I was certain had occurred, but did not. In addition, our garage is fairly crammed (2 cars, a golf cart, and chest freezer) and I often brush up against the back bumper to charge the golf cart, but still no scratches.
Am curious how easy washing and drying will be, especially with our new Master Blaster Air Force Revolution...just haven't had to yet.
Chose XPEL because their US corporate office is ~40 miles from here. More Important, during the pre-installation visit, I figured the owners of the 20+ high end cars (Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens, AMGs, etc.) under their roof chose THIS shop and XPEL for a good reason. The shop foreman indicated they receive a steady stream of high end cars shipped to them for PPF application from all over the country, although mostly from our five state region.
My understanding from others is most PPF products are similar with only subtle differences and that product installation is the key critical component. I have no allegiance to XPEL or their proprietary ceramic coating and would have gone with 3M Scotchguard or SunTek, had I lived near one of their corporate offices having a similar high quality installation reputation.
I plan on keeping our BS for life or at least 10+ years, whichever occurs first. Thus, stay tuned for an annual wear update, provided I haven't shuffled off this mortal coil.
Full disclosure, I am a retired banker and have/had no affiliation in any way (manufacturing, marketing, installation, financing, etc.) with any of the aforementioned products or services.
Our BS has now had XPEL PPF (full frontal, rockers, rear bumper) and Fusion Plus Ceramic Coating (entire car, including wheels & calipers) for 3 months/900 miles (Covid19).
I was concerned that PPF would dull the radiance of our Sapphire Blue Metallic paint, but not so far. Perhaps the ceramic coating deserves some (or much) of the credit for allowing the paint color to shine through, as if there was no PPF. I'm still somewhat apprehensive about wear over time (yellowing, orange peel, etc.). Regardless, it has already paid dividends preventing rock chips I was certain had occurred, but did not. In addition, our garage is fairly crammed (2 cars, a golf cart, and chest freezer) and I often brush up against the back bumper to charge the golf cart, but still no scratches.
Am curious how easy washing and drying will be, especially with our new Master Blaster Air Force Revolution...just haven't had to yet.
Chose XPEL because their US corporate office is ~40 miles from here. More Important, during the pre-installation visit, I figured the owners of the 20+ high end cars (Porsches, Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens, AMGs, etc.) under their roof chose THIS shop and XPEL for a good reason. The shop foreman indicated they receive a steady stream of high end cars shipped to them for PPF application from all over the country, although mostly from our five state region.
My understanding from others is most PPF products are similar with only subtle differences and that product installation is the key critical component. I have no allegiance to XPEL or their proprietary ceramic coating and would have gone with 3M Scotchguard or SunTek, had I lived near one of their corporate offices having a similar high quality installation reputation.
I plan on keeping our BS for life or at least 10+ years, whichever occurs first. Thus, stay tuned for an annual wear update, provided I haven't shuffled off this mortal coil.
Full disclosure, I am a retired banker and have/had no affiliation in any way (manufacturing, marketing, installation, financing, etc.) with any of the aforementioned products or services.
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24 Posts
great info...my installer is using EXPEL as well and has 100+ all 5 star yelp reviews and been doing high end super cars so im very confident with his work. He also gave me heads up on the headlights having issues over time and suggested i redo them every 3 years. From what i hear the yellowing part has been better and should not be problem for at least 10yrs.
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30 Posts
I keep going back and forth on this topic. My previous car had PPF and ceramic coating. Someone parked way too close and the PPF protected my front bumper from that scratch but it still smudged the film. Took the car to the installer and he applied some heat to fix the smudge but it was never the same. He said that he was afraid of applying too much heat and damaging the bumper. As far as ceramic coating, it was great for like a month, I noticed that the Porsche with a good wax beads up water wayyy better, it has amazing paint and clear coat from the factory, that’s just my observation so far..With ceramic coating if it rained and the car was not dry right way the water would dry on the clear coat and leave stains..Now ceramic coating on the rims was totally worth it! Extremely easy to clean the rims..Maybe I need to pony up more $$ for the high end brand ceramic coating but ugh it hurts..
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I had both PPF and the ceramic coating installed on my 2019 Carmine Red Boxster immediately after taking delivery of it last year. It did not dull the paint (IMO) and even appears to have made it more lustrous. After almost 14 months I see no degredation at all but the car is garaged every night and, although my daily driver, only sits in the hot Florida sun when I drive somewhere and have to park it. Its been said the car washes itself in the rain and, although that is a bit of exageration, it is not far from the truth. Washing it is very easy. With a clean microfiber mitt, a hosed down car, and Dawn dish liquid, I wash the car, rinse it, and then literally blow it dry with a Master Blaster. In the spirit of full disclosure, this is a pain in the ass in a hot sun because the wet soap dries too fast so have to do sections at a time but without a hot sun it is easy and quick. The PPF and coatings over the whole car were expensive but I am very pleased I had it done. They also coated the wheels with the ceramic coating but I think that was a waste because the brake dust still needs to be scrubbed off, not just wash away as the shop that did it said it would.
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PPF is just another leyer of protection so its not something will make the car unbreakable...for something like possible rocks chips and light scratches, having PPF is better than none. My installer said the self healing on the PPF is for small scratches.As far as ceramic coating i had that on my range rover before from dealer and they still recommended once a year wax.
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2,537 Posts
Ceramic coating from a dealer. 🤣
I got the OptiCoat Pro+. Guaranteed for 10 years. I was told not to bother waxing 'cause wax wouldn't stick to it. A previous car with OC Pro (no +) was still in showroom condition after 5 years in the Australian sun, daily concrete dust, and occasional purple parrot poop (from eating native berries).
I got the OptiCoat Pro+. Guaranteed for 10 years. I was told not to bother waxing 'cause wax wouldn't stick to it. A previous car with OC Pro (no +) was still in showroom condition after 5 years in the Australian sun, daily concrete dust, and occasional purple parrot poop (from eating native berries).
My car went from the ship, to my dealer, and then to my detailer where four coats of Ceramic Pro were applied December 2018. Top coat renewed this January. Regular washes, both two-bucket and rinseless, and still repels water, bugs, and the occasional stone. Had one or two tiny stone chips that the top coat renewal reprotected to some degree. Tracked only two weekends last year but lots of twisty country road time. After track marbles, gravel, broken asphalt, bugs, bird crap (various colors), and the usual wear and tear, body paint in great shape.
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2,229 Posts
I inherited a pretty extensive PPF application on my CPO 718 S.
Would you recommend anything on top of the plastic wrap, or just brushless washing?
Would you recommend anything on top of the plastic wrap, or just brushless washing?
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2,537 Posts
I have no experience of ceramic on top of PPF. I think that PPF is probably better at chip and real scratch protection, not sure about shine, micro scratches and UV. A good ceramic makes dirt less 'sticky' and washing much easier; brake dust just washes off. I know some people have both, the ceramic on top of the plastic. I hope they will comment.
Brushless washing is much better. Two bucket wash and non-mineral water rinse is best. I've seen a beautiful black 911 turned almost grey with washing micro scratches.
Brushless washing is much better. Two bucket wash and non-mineral water rinse is best. I've seen a beautiful black 911 turned almost grey with washing micro scratches.
My car is going for Suntek Ultra PPF on July 9th. Before it goes my friend and I are gonna decon and polish the paint before it goes. Then we are going to use gtecnique halo on the ppf and crystal serum light and the non ppf’d areas.
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96 Posts
If'n ya don't wanna go full-on ceramic on top of PPF, Kamikaze Overcoat or Polish Angel Cosmic Spritz are 2 nice ceramic-infused spray sealants that work well on PPF.
Adds a touch of gloss, excellent hydrophobic/self cleaning characteristics and a bit of protection.
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944 Posts
In a previous post I indicated my full satisfaction, after 14 months, with the PPF and ceramic coating I had installed immediately after taking delivery. There is also a noticeable absence of the swirls and micro scrathches I typically saw on all my previous cars but I have also been mostly religious in hand washing it with clean microfiber mitts etc.
I suspect just spending a lot of money on the ceramic coating has some sort of placebo effect. I also am sure the higher level of care in how the car is washed and dried also has real and significant positive influence. So, in reality, how effective is the cermic coating in protecting the already robust PPF installed underneath it? I've searched and not found any credible testing to verify the belt and suspenders approach with ceramic coating/PPF really accomplishes anything more than just PPF and careful care. I am not really expecting an answer to this mostly rhetorical question. Although I would do the same again to sleep better at night, I am not fully sold on the ceramic coating as having real world value to anyone other than the people selling and installing it.
I suspect just spending a lot of money on the ceramic coating has some sort of placebo effect. I also am sure the higher level of care in how the car is washed and dried also has real and significant positive influence. So, in reality, how effective is the cermic coating in protecting the already robust PPF installed underneath it? I've searched and not found any credible testing to verify the belt and suspenders approach with ceramic coating/PPF really accomplishes anything more than just PPF and careful care. I am not really expecting an answer to this mostly rhetorical question. Although I would do the same again to sleep better at night, I am not fully sold on the ceramic coating as having real world value to anyone other than the people selling and installing it.
I’ll try to add some value here... Without ceramic, the PPF can/will etch from bird droppings, etc., just like the paint will. Do you care since it’s sacrificial? Well that’s up to you...
Here‘s a thing to think about. Ppf is a luxury; you get bugs and moderate dust on it and no time for full wash? Just go out with a little waterless wash and a MF towel and wipe it off, no worries of scratches, etc.; they will heal. Now, you may have to scrub hard on some of the spots, but still no worries. You ceramic coat that ppf and you no longer have to scrub because the bugs won’t stick as well, and if you leave them on longer they won’t leave a mark on the PPF either since the coating fairly effectively seals the ppf. So ceramic coating takes the PPF to the next level of convenience.
Here‘s a thing to think about. Ppf is a luxury; you get bugs and moderate dust on it and no time for full wash? Just go out with a little waterless wash and a MF towel and wipe it off, no worries of scratches, etc.; they will heal. Now, you may have to scrub hard on some of the spots, but still no worries. You ceramic coat that ppf and you no longer have to scrub because the bugs won’t stick as well, and if you leave them on longer they won’t leave a mark on the PPF either since the coating fairly effectively seals the ppf. So ceramic coating takes the PPF to the next level of convenience.
PPF, ceramic coating, both? What about a good waxing? This, like every other thing about these cars, is not an either/or/and choice. Is it an "investment" (y/n), a daily driver (y/n), retiree passifier that doesn't suck (y/n), tracked (y/n), good country roads (y/n), country roads with lots of gravel/dirt intersections (y/n), garage queen (y/n), or likely some combo of these things? I should ask what you are? A perfectionist, or fanatic, or a worrier, or very responsible, or none or some of these? This is perhaps an incomplete list of combination possibilities, but my point is they range from little or no danger of damage with use, to the opposite; and one level of concern to none. Most of us are probably in between somewhere. For myself, as an example, I'm getting a bit more picayune and particular with age, I'm afraid, but not to the point of being exacting (IMHO). I have four coats of Ceramic Pro put on my car upon arrival. When the weather is nice, I use the two-bucket method of washing. When it isn't, I use the no-rinse wash method. I like the ceramic coating because it protects the paint from these activities and makes the body extremely quick and easy to wash. I do, but rarely, track the car for HPDEs a couple of weekends a year. Carmen has been hit by track marbles and rocks from passing dump trucks on the pretty good country roads we frequent. Her ceramic coating gets updated every year but there are a few nicks you'd have to know about to see, where PPF would have probably saved the ceramic coating. No paint has been damaged. When I bought some CF aero for her (front splitter, rear diffuser, duck tail) I had my detailer coat the splitter and duck tail with ceramic, but being concerned, he PPFed the duck tail and splitter at no cost to me. We had argued lightly about it, but he had the last word. So to each his own, I say.
Large gravel hit from dump truck (about an inch above thumb):
![27502]()
Large gravel hit from dump truck (about an inch above thumb):
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