PPF for carbon fiber roof G80

[areddy]

Hi all - getting full front PPF, but wondering if it’s worth getting the CF roof PPF’d as well for $500?

Car is garaged and will barely do 8k miles a year

[sean2648]

Definitely worth it to PPF it.

[Yuille36]

I had my F80 M3 roof covered in PPF. Most definitely worth it in my opinion.

[IanH]

Buying my brother's RS4 we flew to VA to pick it up, and on the 3rd hour in the car we took a rock that made a golfball sized dent in the roof from a truck that was many many car lengths in front of us. Sounded like a gunshot went off in the cabin.

On one hand PPF probalby wouldnt stop it, but on the other, a smaller rock wouldve been stopped and its basically impossible to repair the CF roof without a visible repair area.

[Yuille36]

This was a response I received from another poster, when I mentioned that I covered my roof in PPF due to oxidation or yellowing.

Basically, clear coat does not yellow. Gel coat will yellow and deteriorate because it is sensitive to UV rays. Clear coat protects it.
Unlike normal body paint, carbon fiber and gel coat are more likely to peel off than normal body paint due to expansion and contraction problems caused by heat. In the case of a carbon roof, delamination is more likely to occur between the gel coat and the clear coat. Certainly the protection film will protect the clear coat, but the protection film itself will yellow. And when you remove it, the clear coat may peel off.
High quality clear coat is the best choice for UV protection. Protection film is recommended for stepping stones. Afterwards, if you get hit by a skipping stone, please close it with clear coat as soon as possible, even if it is just a touch-up. It may peel off rapidly from there.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Yuille36]

Originally Posted by IanH

Buying my brother's RS4 we flew to VA to pick it up, and on the 3rd hour in the car we took a rock that made a golfball sized dent in the roof from a truck that was many many car lengths in front of us. Sounded like a gunshot went off in the cabin.

On one hand PPF probalby wouldnt stop it, but on the other, a smaller rock wouldve been stopped and its basically impossible to repair the CF roof without a visible repair area.

Unfortunately, PPF will not save you from golf ball size dents. But can in most cases save you from small rocks skipping off of the roof, and UV damage. In my case they first clean the CF roof, then used a clay bar to remove contaminates, then did a 2-Stage compounding and buffing process to remove oxidation and scratches. Before applying the PPF and ceramic coating it. And I think that it came out beautiful. And most importantly, I have a 10-year warranty on the PPF, and 6-year on the ceramic coating.

[IanH]

My point to illustrate with the RS4 story is that even if you drive it very little you can still get a major impact, and we were being quite careful.

[Yuille36]

I understood that fact, and to my point is protection from oxidation. We all know that CF left in the sun, will start to turn yellow. And that is the gel coat, and not the clear coat. It's better to have some protection than nothing at all. Could PPF have save you with that dent No, but in some cases of small rocks maybe. So is PPF worth the cost, from my point of view yes, it is.

[jdl5068]

if i ever get back to this "luxury" used car dealer i must take pics of the older M cars with the neglected CF roofs on them they have sitting there. They most certainly will yellow and if a chip gets through the clear, forget it. It just unravels and cracks more so quickly it'll make your head spin it seemed.

I really must go there and put it on this thread, it's like they only sold the most trashed euro luxury cars there are. so sad

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Yuille36

Unfortunately, PPF will not save you from golf ball size dents. But can in most cases save you from small rocks skipping off of the roof, and UV damage.

You forgot to mention bird droppings which left unattended can cause damage!

[Yuille36]

Bird droppings is the worst as the enzymes in their poop etches away your clear coat. And depending how long it's been sitting on the clear coat, will require compounding and polishing to remove the damage.

[bousquettucker]

500 is a pretty good price to ensure it lasts that much longer

[Equilibrandt]

I've seen quite a few videos over the last few years of people peeling off the their yellowed PPF on their CF roofs (to apply fresh PPF), just to accidentally peel of the the CF gel coat along with it.

Tread carefully.

[NWH83]

$500 is a great price, especially if it comes with a warranty. Just got a quote for $600 here (Northern California) with a 10 year warranty.

[Yuille36]

The issue I see is owners leaving their PPF on entirely too long. Even if the PPF has a 10-year warranty.

[NYR]

Originally Posted by Yuille36

The issue I see is owners leaving their PPF on entirely too long. Even if the PPF has a 10-year warranty.

How long is too long?

[Yuille36]

I don't rightly know, but I have PPF that has been on my E63 AMG for about 7 years, and I'm having it removed next year.
My shop guy said that my PPF is old technology and that the new stuff last 10 years.
But it all depends on whether or not the vehicles spend a significant amount of time in the sun, such as Arizona.
And has the PPF started to get cloudy looking, like on headlights.
But guys that do this kind of stuff for a living will definitely know new from old.
When I bought my M3 it still has the PPF that was installed when the car was brand new, so I'm having that removed next year as well.
But honestly, the PPF looks good, I don't see any yellowing or cloudiness in it. But I'm no expert.

[peterfromsd]

Worth it. Had a rock hit just above my front windshield and hit the front of the roof and the ppf took the damage.

[Yuille36]

Originally Posted by peterfromsd

Worth it. Had a rock hit just above my front windshield and hit the front of the roof and the ppf took the damage.

Well, that testimony is all we need to know.