3M matte PPF

FISH22 · 09-11-2022, 08:24 AM

Shortly after purchasing my G80 end of April 2021, I decided to do a DIY PPF job on the hood. A bulk sheet of 3M matte (72"x72") was about $180. I wasn't too happy with how Xpel stealth changed the Frozen White finish (tested with a small Xpel stealth sheet) , so decided to give 3M a try. Cheaper and easily attainable.

Fast forward to now; about 16 months since install. My G80 is a daily, sits outside most of the time. Car and film have been properly ceramic coated (by me). The film has not only yellowed/browned, but it has become murky. Just a heads up to anyone looking into 3M film. I'm a huge 3M fan, but this surprised me. May be a non issue with other colors and maybe the gloss film. But on Frozen White, it really started to change the finish.

///MeraldCity_G82 · 09-11-2022, 10:44 AM

Stek is the best from my experiences. Not sure how it looks over a base Frozen paint though.

FISH22 · 09-11-2022, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///MeraldCity_G82

Stek is the best from my experiences. Not sure how it looks over a base Frozen paint though.

I might grab bulk of some other brands and do some more real world testing.

beden1 · 09-11-2022, 06:36 PM

I have Alpine White and live in SE Florida. I decided to forego PPF because of the yellowing factor. I had XPEL on our white Mercedes a number of years ago and it started yellowing about a year after the car was brought down from PA, even though it was always garaged.

Draper · 09-11-2022, 06:45 PM

3M film had yellowing 10 years ago when it first came out. I had it on my E90 M3 and it was a lot like what you describe with a haze/cloudiness to it.

Sad to see they still haven't figured it out.

FISH22 · 09-12-2022, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beden1

I have Alpine White and live in SE Florida. I decided to forego PPF because of the yellowing factor. I had XPEL on our white Mercedes a number of years ago and it started yellowing about a year after the car was brought down from PA, even though it was always garaged.

Yikes, that's unfortunate. I guess us with white cars would be the only ones to truly notice this. Really makes me glad I decided to avoid any full PPF, to have it yellow so quick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draper

3M film had yellowing 10 years ago when it first came out. I had it on my E90 M3 and it was a lot like what you describe with a haze/cloudiness to it.

Sad to see they still haven't figured it out.

I was hopeful with 3M, but looks like they haven't improved their film quality.

Turbodu07 · 09-12-2022, 05:47 PM

Just started looking into the ppf stuff. I'd like to wrap my incoming Black M3 with stealth ppf however, I would not being doing this myself.

Is yellowing a thing with ppf? That could turn black into some ugly ass color that I don't want to see...

Hutchinson04 · 10-31-2022, 08:22 PM

I have used expel and 3M. Both yellow within a year or two depending on how much your car is outside in the sun. Most PPF installers will tell you it should be replaced every two to three years.

Forzanerazzurri · 10-31-2022, 10:54 PM

Don't most films have a 10 year warranty against this stuff? That said every old film I've ever seen removed has had some yellowing to it but it's only noticable when it's taken off and rolled into a ball. If you have a white car I'd also expect to notice it. For what it's worth stek is a far far better film than both 3M and Xpel in my experience for ease of install, resistance to yellowing, glossiness, clarity, water repellency and lack of orange peel.

09-11-2022, 08:24 AM	#1
FISH22 Colonel 5414 Rep 2,030 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Competition Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Chesapeake, VA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 BMW M3C [10.00] 2011 BMW M3 [10.00]	3M matte PPF - Beware Shortly after purchasing my G80 end of April 2021, I decided to do a DIY PPF job on the hood. A bulk sheet of 3M matte (72"x72") was about $180. I wasn't too happy with how Xpel stealth changed the Frozen White finish (tested with a small Xpel stealth sheet) , so decided to give 3M a try. Cheaper and easily attainable. Fast forward to now; about 16 months since install. My G80 is a daily, sits outside most of the time. Car and film have been properly ceramic coated (by me). The film has not only yellowed/browned, but it has become murky. Just a heads up to anyone looking into 3M film. I'm a huge 3M fan, but this surprised me. May be a non issue with other colors and maybe the gloss film. But on Frozen White, it really started to change the finish. Attached Images
	Appreciate 2 Southern328.50 beden1512.00 Tweet Quote

09-11-2022, 10:44 AM	#2
///MeraldCity_G82 Captain 1144 Rep 679 Posts Drives: 2021 BSM M3C Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Seattle iTrader: (1)	Stek is the best from my experiences. Not sure how it looks over a base Frozen paint though.
	Appreciate 1 FISH225413.50 Quote

09-11-2022, 06:36 PM	#4
beden1 Lieutenant 512 Rep 426 Posts Drives: '23 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	I have Alpine White and live in SE Florida. I decided to forego PPF because of the yellowing factor. I had XPEL on our white Mercedes a number of years ago and it started yellowing about a year after the car was brought down from PA, even though it was always garaged. __________________ '23 BMW M4 Competition xDrive Coupe; '11 BMW 335is Convertible (DCT) SOLD; '12 Porsche Carrera GTS Cabriolet (MT) SOLD
	Appreciate 1 FISH225413.50 Quote

09-11-2022, 06:45 PM	#5
Draper Brigadier General 3467 Rep 3,998 Posts Drives: M4 Comp / Macan Turbo Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Denver iTrader: (38)	3M film had yellowing 10 years ago when it first came out. I had it on my E90 M3 and it was a lot like what you describe with a haze/cloudiness to it. Sad to see they still haven't figured it out. __________________ Current: G82 M4 Comp xDrive // Frozen Deep Grey Current: 95B.1 Macan Turbo // Dark Blue Metallic - for sale
	Appreciate 1 FISH225413.50 Quote

09-12-2022, 05:47 PM	#7
Turbodu07 Private First Class 185 Rep 142 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 6SP Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	Just started looking into the ppf stuff. I'd like to wrap my incoming Black M3 with stealth ppf however, I would not being doing this myself. Is yellowing a thing with ppf? That could turn black into some ugly ass color that I don't want to see...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2022, 08:22 PM	#8
Hutchinson04 Second Lieutenant 867 Rep 222 Posts Drives: G82 M4 convertible E23 7 Serie Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Hutchinson Island iTrader: (0)	I have used expel and 3M. Both yellow within a year or two depending on how much your car is outside in the sun. Most PPF installers will tell you it should be replaced every two to three years.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-31-2022, 10:54 PM	#9
Forzanerazzurri Banned 6920 Rep 3,277 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Coupe/G80 M3CX Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 BMW M3 Coupe [0.50] 2022 BMW M3 Competi ... [5.12]	Don't most films have a 10 year warranty against this stuff? That said every old film I've ever seen removed has had some yellowing to it but it's only noticable when it's taken off and rolled into a ball. If you have a white car I'd also expect to notice it. For what it's worth stek is a far far better film than both 3M and Xpel in my experience for ease of install, resistance to yellowing, glossiness, clarity, water repellency and lack of orange peel.
	Appreciate 0 Quote