[Porsche2018]

I am curious, what if any paint protection options 718 owners are choosing. If your choosing a PPF, which one you choose, and why? If you are not using any PPF, why not? If your going with ceramic coating which one did you choose, and why?

 

[ritchieg]

I have a 2016 Macan and 2017 718 Boxster. I had Sapphire V1 by Fight Shield put on both cars and am very pleased. It is a nano coating developed for airplanes and converted to a car version. It is 9 times harder than clear coat, you never have to wax or polish it and I just hose the cars and dry them. It has to be applied by a specialist because the initial prep of the car is very very important. Any flaws in the paint will be magnified because the gloss of the paint really shows. On the Boxster I had Expel Ultimate put on the whole front of the car and then Sapphire V1 on top of it.

 

[trusted]

I'm in the nothing at all category. I enjoy meticulously detailing and waxing my cars on the weekends. Dr Color Chip is my friend. I tried some and I feel aftermarket coatings or films alter the original paint appearance. But I understand if someone wants to go that route for ease of up keep and additional protection.

 

[4802]

I have a 2016 Macan and 2017 718 Boxster. I had Sapphire V1 by Fight Shield put on both cars and am very pleased. It is a nano coating developed for airplanes and converted to a car version. It is 9 times harder than clear coat, you never have to wax or polish it and I just hose the cars and dry them. It has to be applied by a specialist because the initial prep of the car is very very important. Any flaws in the paint will be magnified because the gloss of the paint really shows. On the Boxster I had Expel Ultimate put on the whole front of the car and then Sapphire V1 on top of it.

I don't believe that Sapphire V1 is available in the U.K & I'd certainly never heard of it. There are some ceramic coatings but information & reviews are just about none existent so I simply wouldn't want to risk them. I've yet to see a protection film applied on any vehicle that I'd personally be happy with, so that's a total none starter. Therefore, pretty much like "trusted" it's polish, wax, clay bars & a paint chip repair kit for me. I have to say that if that Sapphire V1 was available I'd probably investigate because it certainly sounds good, but again I do rather enjoy detailing the car. As a matter of interest, are any of these ceramic coatings prone to yellowing over time?

 

[GregW]

I had Opti-Coat Pro on my Impreza and it sat in the Australian sun all day at work--often coated with cement dust from the factory next door and/or coated with parrot poo (they sometimes ate the most intensely coloured dark purple fruit).

Five years later, when I sold it and bought the Boxster the paint still looked better than the day I picked it up from the dealer.

The Boxster now has the improved Opti-Coat Pro+. The improvements are the coating is now 2 (optionally 3) layers with the top one glossier than the factory coat. The hardness has been checked by our CSIRO and it's HARD. Dirt washes off VERY easily and water beads like the car has just been waxed.

No plastic bra 'cause we have minimal issues with stone chips but lots of blowing dust and sand, and really hot sun.

Greg

 

[agent 86]

I personally installed Xpel Ultimate on the areas of my car most likely to be hit by road debris. I went with minimal coverage. Front bumper, mirrors, rocker panels and bikini cut for the hood and fenders.

I wash, and clay bar. I polish and wax with orbital buffer. No coatings.

I think one advantage to light colored cars is that swirls, and scratches are not easily seen.

 

[Porsche2018]

I had Opti-Coat Pro on my Impreza and it sat in the Australian sun all day at work--often coated with cement dust from the factory next door and/or coated with parrot poo (they sometimes ate the most intensely coloured dark purple fruit).

Five years later, when I sold it and bought the Boxster the paint still looked better than the day I picked it up from the dealer.
Greg

Five years with the Pro and it looked better....impressive. Was the Impreza a DD?

 

[GregW]

Five years with the Pro and it looked better....impressive. Was the Impreza a DD?

Yes--DD. It was an 80 Km round trip to work 4 days a week with some days further to outside locales.

The Pro came with a lifetime guarantee (as does the Pro+) as long as you went back yearly for an inspection. I didn't bother after the first 2 years so the guarantee reverted to 5 years (7 for the Pro+).

I had it checked before I sold it and it didn't even need a claying. I would certainly recommend it.

Five years ago there were very few alternatives, now there are many and some of them sound good too. I'd be checking the costs, the guarantees, the on-line car forums for reviews, and the applier. Opti-Coat will only sell the Pro and Pro+ to trained appliers.

I bought the "amateur" version (no longer available) after I saw the car and did my motorcycle with it. It wasn't hard to apply to the small areas on the bike but the preparation was not trivial. (Wash, correct the paint so it's glossy and free from swirls and other marks, clay, wash again, dry, wipe down with water/isopropanol mix, and then apply.) The result was excellent, and still is.

Greg

 

[RussellHodgson]

I think I may be in the minority, but I have nothing on the car - just paint. I've never put anything on my cars. Over time they do get the odd paint chip, but nothing out of the ordinary. My 9 year old Cayman's paint is in excellent condition, and you only notice scratches, etc, if you look closely.

 

[geemman]

I am curious, what if any paint protection options 718 owners are choosing. If your choosing a PPF, which one you choose, and why? If you are not using any PPF, why not? If your going with ceramic coating which one did you choose, and why?

I went with the PPF and am very happy with the results. I had the entire front end, mirrors, rocker panels and a strip behind the rear wheels. I heard certain things about ceramic pro and decided against it.

This is the company I used in Fremont, CA Premier Auto Services - Premier Clear Bra - Premier Clear Guard - Paint Protection Film

 

[Porsche2018]

I went with the PPF and am very happy with the results. I had the entire front end, mirrors, rocker panels and a strip behind the rear wheels. I heard certain things about ceramic pro and decided against it.

This is the company I used in Fremont, CA Premier Auto Services - Premier Clear Bra - Premier Clear Guard - Paint Protection Film

Thanks for the link.....I am located in Texas. If anyone knows of a person that can do either PPF or ceramic coating well in Texas let me know. I have a certified dealer here in the Austin area but he has only 8 reviews. Apparently, he is trained and certified to work with several of the paint protection systems..... XPEL, Suntek, Opti-Coat Pro products, etc.....but only 8 reviews. I will stop by his shop today at 2pm central time and look around. He has about 4 years of experience......which doesn't seem like quite enough.

Still considering just accepting the fact that chips will happen and skip the paint treatments all together......My car arrived in Houston on the 15th of August. Texted my SA regarding the status but need to make some decisions one way or the other real soon.....

 

[ZuffenHouseRules]

My Midnight Blue Metallic 987 Boxster S got hand waxed with Zymol Carbon and the paint looked new after 12 years/50k miles. Of course it lived in a garage and was rarely even parked in the sun all day. But since that holds for my Jet Black Metallic 718 S, will follow the same regimen.

Understand the interest in heavier protection for daily drivers, though.

 

[bgsntth]

I had the entire front-clip covered in 3M Scotchguard self-healing wrap. My Cayman will serve daily commute duties on the I-80 & I-880, which is under a constant state of construction and barrage of gravel trucks. I take insane care of my vehicles, but the front-bumper and hood of prior cars looked like they got blasted by a shotgun loaded with buckshot, and needed to have the hood/bumper repainted.

 

[Porsche2018]

Went and looked at a partial hood done by a local PPF authorized technician using Suntek Ulta and although his work technically is quite good what I noticed was that the film even right after application dulls the paint and has a slight yellow tinge to it. The car was painted in a white metallic color and looks quite nice when not covered by the PPF. I guess either don't get a PPF or do a full hood or whole car but the partial hood is not very attractive.

Funny, he had his red mustang in the shop and the color was quite striking........ I asked what PPF he was using and he said he doesn't have a PPF........go figure....

 

[geemman]

Went and looked at a partial hood done by a local PPF authorized technician using Suntek Ulta and although his work technically is quite good what I noticed was that the film even right after application dulls the paint and has a slight yellow tinge to it. The car was painted in a white metallic color and looks quite nice when not covered by the PPF. I guess either don't get a PPF or do a full hood or whole car but the partial hood is not very attractive.

Funny, he had his red mustang in the shop and the color was quite striking........ I asked what PPF he was using and he said he doesn't have a PPF........go figure....

I would always do the entire hood and never just half. IMHO it doesn't look good when only half of the hood is done.

 

[Porsche2018]

I would always do the entire hood and never just half. IMHO it doesn't look good when only half of the hood is done.

Agreed...until I saw a partial hood I did not have much of an opinion either way but a partial hood is down right ugly.

 

[agent 86]

Went and looked at a partial hood done by a local PPF authorized technician using Suntek Ulta and although his work technically is quite good what I noticed was that the film even right after application dulls the paint and has a slight yellow tinge to it. The car was painted in a white metallic color and looks quite nice when not covered by the PPF. I guess either don't get a PPF or do a full hood or whole car but the partial hood is not very attractive.

Funny, he had his red mustang in the shop and the color was quite striking........ I asked what PPF he was using and he said he doesn't have a PPF........go figure....

That's strange. From all I have read, Suntek is a high quality PPF and should not have a yellow appearance.

I have a partial Xpel Ultimate on my hood and fenders. While you can see where the film ends, it really does not stand out. Xpel Ultimate is crystal clear, and any difference in shine is not perceptable.

You might want to check out a different shop's installation.

 

[Porsche2018]

That's strange. From all I have read, Suntek is a high quality PPF and should not have a yellow appearance.

I have a partial Xpel Ultimate on my hood and fenders. While you can see where the film ends, it really does not stand out. Xpel Ultimate is crystal clear, and any difference in shine is not perceptable.

You might want to check out a different shop's installation.

The dealership is offering Llumar PPF as an option but don't know much about it. I will talk with the Park Place Porsche installer when my car arrives at the dealership which should be late today or tomorrow and hopefully make a decision. There is an XPEL shop located in Austin that I visited a few days ago and let's just day it didn't inspire confidence. Apparently, more important than the PPF you choose is the installer.....

 

[Porsche2018]

I just received an e-mail from an installer about the headlight coverage with either Suntek or XPEL and the installer said both companies cannot warranty possible headlight delamination of the UV coating. Anyone have any idea whether this a serious issue with Porsche headlight coverage with a PPF?

Thread on Rennlist: https://rennlist.com/forums/gt4/894515-xpel-headlight-delamination-issue.html

 

[GregW]

I think I may be in the minority, but I have nothing on the car - just paint. I've never put anything on my cars. Over time they do get the odd paint chip, but nothing out of the ordinary. My 9 year old Cayman's paint is in excellent condition, and you only notice scratches, etc, if you look closely.

I did have a couple of cars that faded badly in the sun (very common here) despite the clear coat, and one where the paint deteriorated to bare metal! So I figured the Opti-coat was worth a try.

I noticed that Porsche now has a 10 year warranty on their paint so any coating may be unnecessary, however I do feel the gloss improved over the factory finish and the easier washing is great. I had the wheels done too and the brake dust just hoses off.

Interestingly the gloss of the Pro+ has improved over the 5 weeks it's been on the car. They say it attains maximum hardness and gloss between 30 and 60 days dependent on temperature.

(I know it sounds like an ad, but the appearance, mar resistance, and washing advantages sold me. YMMV.)

Greg