[NYCMT]

Picking up a BSM G80 soon, and I'm looking for some tips on paint protection. Are most people installing PPF? Full or partial? Thanks!

[pcai]

Unless you want to change the appearance to matte through stealth PPF, I don't think you need a full car PPF which is just $$$. Just do the front, trunk lip, lower front door/side skirt behind the front wheels (this area takes just as much road rash as the front bumper). Possibly the small section on the front of the rear fender flares as well.

[NYCMT]

Thanks. What about rear bumper and doors for street parking and city garages? Overkill?

[oslim]

If I do a ceramic coating, and then put a Ppf on to top, will the ceramic coating loose it's properties? Should I just put Ppf without putting any ceramic before ? Thanks

[emix84]

Originally Posted by oslim

If I do a ceramic coating, and then put a Ppf on to top, will the ceramic coating loose it's properties? Should I just put Ppf without putting any ceramic before ? Thanks

Afaik you can't even put ppf on top of ceramic coating, it won't stick and it's pointless. You do the PPF and then apply ceramic coating on top of it.


And to answer the OP. Yes I'm doing a full PPF, imo paint quality in recent years has been steadily decreasing across all brands, it's becoming ever more brittle, possibly due to eco regulations on what compounds can be used in its preparation. Stone chips drive me nuts.

[M3Fahrer]

Leasing, so no PPF or Ceramic coating for me

[BrooklynGreyM3]

I did the PPF on the front half of the car to include the mirrors. I then had the entire car ceramic coated to include the wheels and brake calipers. I had 2 coats of ceramic applied. PPF and ceramic came out real nice.

[opielm]

Originally Posted by Twixx007

I did the PPF on the front half of the car to include the mirrors. I then had the entire car ceramic coated to include the wheels and brake calipers. I had 2 coats of ceramic applied. PPF and ceramic came out real nice.

What color is your paint?

[Egrunt]

When I had my F80 (2015) I went with just the front portion of the vehicle. When I bought my F90 M5 I did the entire vehicle. At least for me the when I traded the vehicle in 4 years later on my F90 M5 the dealership gave me more money for my M3. The paint on BMW's is not strong and easily chips. After years with the M3 there were no rock chips on the front end. The thing I like about full paint protection is you do not have to worry about paint correction over the years. Even when using a two bucket method for washing my wife's car (GTI) there are swirl marks in the paint that I have to correct once a year with a Flex buffer. She has the front end protected and it still looks great. My M5 is the first vehicle I had the entire vehicle wrapped with Xpel and I would do it again in a heart beat. All future vehicles will have it installed. Wash the M5 and move on. No swirl marks or rock chips in the paint. No paint correction needed over the years since the paint is protected. While not cheap it cost me 6k for the entire vehicle to be wrapped.

[heavyD^2]

I've done full wraps before and decided it was overkill as I have only partial on my X3M and that's good enough. It's a matter of getting the impact areas done as there's not a lot of value in doing areas like the rear 3/4 of the roof, C pillars, trunk, high doors, etc. If the car came with frozen paint I may consider it just because of the difficulties involved in paint correction.

[BrooklynGreyM3]

Originally Posted by opielm

What color is your paint?

Brooklyn Grey

[dialogical]

I'm leasing it so none of this for me.

Here's a question - how much do those of you who lease follow the break-in period? Do you follow it but less strictly? Not at all?

[chicagofan00]

So far I'm planning to do PPF on the front bumper, front fenders, full hood, and side mirrors. Debating on doing the side skirts since I have a feeling the gloss black won't hold up well long term.

[ferrix924]

Originally Posted by pcai

Unless you want to change the appearance to matte through stealth PPF, I don't think you need a full car PPF which is just $$$. Just do the front, trunk lip, lower front door/side skirt behind the front wheels (this area takes just as much road rash as the front bumper). Possibly the small section on the front of the rear fender flares as well.

How much do you think that would cost?

[NinjaBum]

Originally Posted by ferrix924

How much do you think that would cost?

Probably 2-4k depending on the film, installer, work they have to do to correct your paint before applying ppf, etc if I had to guess based on past experience.

My favorite part about ppf as someone else mentioned is the maintenance. It's so easy to wash, water just rolls off of it, and I don't have to really worry quite as much about swirling it.

[jonahk]

Right now I'm leaning towards just front end PPF but weighing options.

I had full front end PPF on my 18 M2, with Ceramic Pro on everything else. After 28K miles of daily driving and a few cross country rallies I can say front end PPF is 100% worth it. Ceramic Pro made it much easier to clean the rest of the car and just gave it a "pop" that was noticed by people quote often.

My buddy just had his C7 fully wrapped in STEK film and it looks amazing. Being able to do a waterless wash or even take it through a touchless tunnel wash with zero concern is tempting. I had to wait over a month last year for the exact soap I was supposed to use on Ceramic Pro on my M2 last summer and it kind of drove me nuts. Film is much more forgiving. Seeing his car in person makes the decision harder.

For the incoming G80 the cost delta is significant; full PPF is quoting in around 5-6K, vs the 2500 I paid on the partial. I also was super anal about parking the M2 car away from other cars in lots so I've dodged door dings and bumper rubs but I will not have that luxury with the G80 (dad mobile).

The other consideration is a full PPF is going to take my installer around a week, which means I'll lose a week of break in time/summer driving.

This is a lot of words to say I'm undecided, but who knows I could completely change my mind come late June when it finally arrives and I decide that spending 5-6K is worth protecting something I just dropped 80K on...


edit: spelling

[Pantagathus]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

So far I'm planning to do PPF on the front bumper, front fenders, full hood, and side mirrors. Debating on doing the side skirts since I have a feeling the gloss black won't hold up well long term.

I did same as you & added on side skirts. Definitely worth it, they will get completely beaten up in no time

[pcai]

Originally Posted by ferrix924

How much do you think that would cost?

5K+ for whole car. Probably 2K for those areas only.

[pcai]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I've done full wraps before and decided it was overkill as I have only partial on my X3M and that's good enough. It's a matter of getting the impact areas done as there's not a lot of value in doing areas like the rear 3/4 of the roof, C pillars, trunk, high doors, etc. If the car came with frozen paint I may consider it just because of the difficulties involved in paint correction.

Stealth ppf can change the appearance of frozen paints by a significant amount:
https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1816445 (scroll down there's a comparison photo)
There's no way I would want to put stealth ppf over that frozen blue if it changes the paint like that. I think frozen paints just became much less appealing for me...

[SickGTR]

Originally Posted by jonahk

Right now I'm leaning towards just front end PPF but weighing options.

I had full front end PPF on my 18 M2, with Ceramic Pro on everything else. After 28K miles of daily driving and a few cross country rallies I can say front end PPF is 100% worth it. Ceramic Pro made it much easier to clean the rest of the car and just gave it a "pop" that was noticed by people quote often.

My buddy just had his C7 fully wrapped in STEK film and it looks amazing. Being able to do a waterless wash or even take it through a touchless tunnel wash with zero concern is tempting. I had to wait over a month last year for the exact soap I was supposed to use on Ceramic Pro on my M2 last summer and it kind of drove me nuts. Film is much more forgiving. Seeing his car in person makes the decision harder.

For the incoming G80 the cost delta is significant; full PPF is quoting in around 5-6K, vs the 2500 I paid on the partial. I also was super anal about parking the M2 car away from other cars in lots so I've dodged door dings and bumper rubs but I will not have that luxury with the G80 (dad mobile).

The other consideration is a full PPF is going to take my installer around a week, which means I'll lose a week of break in time/summer driving.

This is a lot of words to say I'm undecided, but who knows I could completely change my mind come late June when it finally arrives and I decide that spending 5-6K is worth protecting something I just dropped 80K on...


edit: spelling

Do the whole car!! Like your buddy did. Your paint will always be perfect. Super easy to wash and dry. Both my cars are fully done and if you can swing the cash, it's a must do.

[cpippolo]

Originally Posted by NinjaBum

Probably 2-4k depending on the film, installer, work they have to do to correct your paint before applying ppf, etc if I had to guess based on past experience.

My favorite part about ppf as someone else mentioned is the maintenance. It's so easy to wash, water just rolls off of it, and I don't have to really worry quite as much about swirling it.

What about other paint maintenance (e.g., clay bar, polish, waxing)? How does that work with PPF?

[SickGTR]

Originally Posted by cpippolo

What about other paint maintenance (e.g., clay bar, polish, waxing)? How does that work with PPF?

You can clay it, spray wax ect.......