[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by turbojg

and the clear coat can offer a lot of the protection that the PPF can. (Maybe even better in some cases because of how hard it is) .

This is not true whatsoever, and one of the things that's over sold on these "hard" ceramic coatings. The only benefit they bring that also is an overlap with PPF is that they can help to prevent light swirls and marring from dirt when washing because the dirt rinses off much more easily. But as far as impact protection from bugs and stones? The best ceramic coating in the world won't do crap to prevent damage.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

This is not true whatsoever, and one of the things that's over sold on these "hard" ceramic coatings. The only benefit they bring that also is an overlap with PPF is that they can help to prevent light swirls and marring from dirt when washing because the dirt rinses off much more easily. But as far as impact protection from bugs and stones? The best ceramic coating in the world won't do crap to prevent damage.

I wasn't referring to "ceramic coat" but the factory clear coat. I've had lots of scuffs and scratches in the clear coat that I have been able to buff out.

[Jrsred10]

The great thing about most of the newer ppf is no buffing. Rub stuff off dry if you want. Put it in the sun and it’s back clear as day and shiny as ever.
You have to think this tech will be in the standard finishes one day just like the big part of the grill on the ix is self healing.

PPF is too dang expensive but if you have lots of bugs in your driving environment and like to wash your car that is enough reason to go with it. Hard water from sprinklers is another great reason. Normal contaminants become visitors instead of of residents on or in your finish even if you don’t wipe them off right away or buff them out later.
Only hard impacts really kill ppf within its lifespan.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by turbojg

I wasn't referring to "ceramic coat" but the factory clear coat. I've had lots of scuffs and scratches in the clear coat that I have been able to buff out.

Clear coat isn't infinitely buffable. In some cars, the clear is so thin, you might only get two full corrections before it's too thin to polish again. Some it's more. Depends on how thick the clear is. 3-4 mils....eep. 6-9, you're good. More than that...your car's already been repainted.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Clear coat isn't infinitely buffable. In some cars, the clear is so thin, you might only get two full corrections before it's too thin to polish again. Some it's more. Depends on how thick the clear is. 3-4 mils....eep. 6-9, you're good. More than that...your car's already been repainted.

Good advice! So far I have been lucky the scuffs I get are usually in different spots. In addition what I focus on with buffing is to get the paint to flow and polish out the surface with a very fine compound rather than using a coarse compound and removing lots of paint. It takes longer but worth the effort. I'm also fortunate in that I have years of experience painting and buffing cars so I have a really good feel for technique and how much paint I am removing. Can't say I have ever buffed through the clear coat (knock on wood).

I'm used to glass smooth finishes that I have wet sanded and buffed so my M4 has more orange peel than what I am used to (even though it is comparatively smoother than most cars) so I have been tempted to buff it out. However I have been restraining myself until maybe a year or two where I may have accumulated some other things that need buffing. Like you said one needs to be careful how much clear they remove.

[biggripper]

I’ll tell you this. If I was looking to buy a used M3 or M4 part of my research would be to find out if the car had PPF on at least the bumper. I would almost certainly look elsewhere if the answer is no. So not only does it provide protection and peace of mind it will also help with resale even if it doesn’t increase the value of your car, it will at a minimum make it more enticing for future buyers.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by biggripper

I’ll tell you this. If I was looking to buy a used M3 or M4 part of my research would be to find out if the car had PPF on at least the bumper. I would almost certainly look elsewhere if the answer is no. So not only does it provide protection and peace of mind it will also help with resale even if it doesn’t increase the value of your car, it will at a minimum make it more enticing for future buyers.

I wouldn't necessarily walk away from a deal if it didn't have PPF (as long as the paint was in VERY good condition). That being said, I would definitely be more interested (apples to apples) and perhaps even pay a tiny bit more for a car that had quality ppf applied from new or almost new. To me it also says something about the previous owner and how they looked after the car (not implying that those who don't get ppf don't maintain their cars...but yeah).

[CMW33]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Know your use case.

Spot on but I might amend:

Know your use case.

Know your installer.

Know yourself.

I'm in the no PPF crowd because I have a low miles/low highway car and a rock chip isn't gonna keep me up at night. Plus, the money people pay for a PPF job has attracted lot of borderline fraudsters, and while a rock chip won't keep me up at night, being taken for $5000 by a shit install definitely will.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by biggripper

I’ll tell you this. If I was looking to buy a used M3 or M4 part of my research would be to find out if the car had PPF on at least the bumper. I would almost certainly look elsewhere if the answer is no. So not only does it provide protection and peace of mind it will also help with resale even if it doesn’t increase the value of your car, it will at a minimum make it more enticing for future buyers.

Totally irrational thinking. Lots of cars out there are well taken care of with no PPF. Also lots of cars out there with PPF that have dents or paint chips under it.

[biggripper]

Originally Posted by turbojg

Totally irrational thinking. Lots of cars out there are well taken care of with no PPF. Also lots of cars out there with PPF that have dents or paint chips under it.

Irrational is a stretch. I’ll concede, however, that there is some nuance involved and that my initial response was a bit absolutist. One should use judgement and do their due diligence. PPF is by no means a guarantee for perfect paint. I do stand by my assertion that for me are car having been PPFd from day one is a huge selling point.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by biggripper

Irrational is a stretch. I’ll concede, however, that there is some nuance involved and that my initial response was a bit absolutist. One should use judgement and do their due diligence. PPF is by no means a guarantee for perfect paint. I do stand by my assertion that for me are car having been PPFd from day one is a huge selling point.

That's probably true in a lot of cases as a lot of people don't want to have to stay back far enough to avoid stone chips of park their car in the far corner of the parking lot and have to walk.

[FC4]

Hate to shit on this guy's car, but here is a perfect example of how bad PPF looks. Look at the cuts surrounding the grill and the top corners of each nostril. Those will inevitably start catching dirt and lifting, making it look even worse.

How is that in any way desirable?

[PipeM3]

Originally Posted by Berzerker

$2500 is about right. It's 100% worth it.

💯 worth it. Agreed!

[Straykiwi]

I did a full PPF and ceramic coat on the whole vehicle that cost about 7% of the total retail price. Not cheap but since the vehicle isn't cheap either I figured it was worth it. But for me the biggest advantage is its real easy to wash and I don't need to buff or wax it.

[Mamba]

Got only the parts that can’t get buffed out easily ppf’d, like carbon roof, headlights and interior carbon. Also, I’ve got a 5 year dent and scratch repair membership through the dealership that can fix stone chips, scratches and dent for $50 each. So kinda overkill for me to PPF the whole car.

[metalbmxer]

it's a waste of money to NOT get PPF. I found myself paying to repaint the bumper and hood almost 2 years later when I should have got it wrapped on day 1. plus the stealth PPF looks amazing on TR

[buckybadger]

I’d try to do only front bumper and hood at the minimum.

Finding a good installer is extremely important, or better not to get PPF.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by metalbmxer

plus the stealth PPF looks amazing on TR

"TR" Technical Report? Trial Run?

Rule for using acronyms:
Introduce every acronym before using it in the text. The first time you use the term, put the acronym in parentheses after the full term. Thereafter, you can stick to using the acronym.

It is used in text where the term is used many times to save writing out the full word/s many times. An alternate is to supply a list of acronyms of have one available that apply to the context.
If there is one available for this forum I'd appreciate if someone can supply a link.

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by metalbmxer

it's a waste of money to NOT get PPF. I found myself paying to repaint the bumper and hood almost 2 years later when I should have got it wrapped on day 1.

...and how would you have felt if you did have PPF and the damage penetrated through the PPF and into the paint and had to pay to have them repainted and PPF re-applied????

[BroDoze]

Dumb hypothetical argument ^^ You-re reaching.

Most times when something penetrates PPF you’re looking at an insurance claim.

[metalbmxer]

Originally Posted by turbojg

"TR" Technical Report? Trial Run?

Rule for using acronyms:
Introduce every acronym before using it in the text. The first time you use the term, put the acronym in parentheses after the full term. Thereafter, you can stick to using the acronym.

It is used in text where the term is used many times to save writing out the full word/s many times. An alternate is to supply a list of acronyms of have one available that apply to the context.
If there is one available for this forum I'd appreciate if someone can supply a link.

That makes perfect sense for journalism, but i think on an enthusiast forum we all know that in this context, PPF going onto something will most likely be a color. If you've spent any time at all on this forum then you know the color acronyms

[turbojg]

Originally Posted by metalbmxer

That makes perfect sense for journalism, but i think on an enthusiast forum we all know that in this context, PPF going onto something will most likely be a color. If you've spent any time at all on this forum then you know the color acronyms

I've been on here for just over a year and know some of them (like PPF for example) but because the writer doesn't want to take a couple seconds (for a one time usage) to spell out the words I (and a lot others) can spend many minutes trying to figure out what they mean. And yes, because of the context in this type of forum the acronym doesn't mean anything close to the common usage so looking it up online doesn't help.

As I said... I would be even willing to look up the meaning in a list if it was available here. I'm sure there are a lot of new people joining the forum each day that could benefit from it. I'l speculate that a lot of those people won't bother asking and the meaning of the writer's statement is lost.