How does the paint hold up without PPF?

[Adcampo]

I have a G80 on order and as I'm obsessively waiting for status codes to change, I"m considering PPF.

Generally I only keep cars 2-3 years and don't expect anything different with the G80. With that said, I don't usually get PPF done and just enjoy the car. I'd rather not make the additional investment.

I will put about 15k miles a year on the car in a mix of city and highway. Northern VA roads which are very good. Just curious how susceptible is G80 to rock chips.

[///MPhatic]

Are you kidding me?

VERY susceptible to chips, especially in 15K miles with partial highway.

PPF is a small price to pay for perfection at trade-in time.

Just do the high-traffic areas; front bumper, side skirts, behind the tires and FOR SURE the rear flares.

[shimmy23]

only keeping the car for 2-3 years? lease? ppf seems hardly worth it for that period of time.

[Prince Thundernight]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

only keeping the car for 2-3 years? lease? ppf seems hardly worth it for that period of time.

Lease, it isn't your car. Totally NOT worth it. My previous two cars were leased, and while I did tint the windows on the last one, I didn't PPF.

Picked up new car two weeks ago, which I'm buying, and got immediate PPF on the front areas.

[///MPhatic]

1. Nothing in the OP said anything about leasing.
2. When you lease you're still responsible for "average wear and tear", so if you live in an area where you're prone to get an excessive amount of chips, then it's still worth it to add PPF in the high-traffic areas (front bumper, side skirts, behind the tires).

Blanket statements don't work when everyone lives in different areas. Some guys drive 35 mph to work and back, zero need for PPF, other guys are doing 90 for 10 minutes on truck routes, so it just depends.

My 2018 M2 with 25K on the clock (mix of city and highway) looks brand new. The $2800 worth of PPF I have on it was beyond worth the money.

[Adcampo]

Thanks for the comments.

Not leasing. I’ll likely not get PPF. Haven’t done it on any of my previous cars, but not sure it’s worth starting now.

I’ll spend the money of some Ind stuff and mid pipe.

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

The paint on these is pretty weak. Even on 3k miles, I already have quite a few tiny chips, particularly behind the front wheels. If I had to do it over, I'd have gotten the front, hood, fenders, A pillars, mirrors, and rocker panels done before I had even left Spartanburg (because there isn't anyone here locally that can count their balls and get the same number twice as far as installing PPF).

But it's kind of a personal thing. How much wear can you tolerate? For people like me, this car is kind of the pinnacle of what I'll ever have, so it causes me more stress than it would for someone who is financially well off enough to just be able to say "ah whatever, I'll just have it shipped to X shop that knows what they are doing for paint repair or respray."

This will be my daily driver and generally I obsess less with a DD. That being said, I’ve bought a few new M cars over the years and that first chip kills me.

We’ll see how it goes. I got a local quote of $1800 for all the areas you mentioned.

[nerdogray]

If they do a good job, that sounds like a good deal to me. All of the installers around here are AWFUL and charge way, way too much for their "expertise." Bubbas gonna bub.

Detailers aren't much better. Had one put some scratches on end of one of the roof rails (not sure what you call them.. the black trim on the roof), then the next one tried to color it in with a Sharpie as a "fix." Had two say they were going to fill in a chip, and they didn't do ANYTHING.

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by nerdogray

If they do a good job, that sounds like a good deal to me. All of the installers around here are AWFUL and charge way, way too much for their "expertise." Bubbas gonna bub.

Detailers aren't much better. Had one put some scratches on end of one of the roof rails (not sure what you call them.. the black trim on the roof), then the next one tried to color it in with a Sharpie as a "fix." Had two say they were going to fill in a chip, and they didn't do ANYTHING.

That stinks. Where do you live? I’m in the DC metro area. Lots of reputable places, but boy it gets expensive.

[cooolone2]

Agreed with others, today's paint is soft! Certainly not the enamel of old... But if you intend on short term ownership then the $6-7k for a full wrap probably would be eccentric.

Good Luck!

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by cooolone2

Agreed with others, today's paint is soft! Certainly not the enamel of old... But if you intend on short term ownership then the $6-7k for a full wrap probably would be eccentric.

Good Luck!

$6-$7k! Yowza. Definitely not getting that ROI.

[Forzanerazzurri]

PPF isn't about ROI.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

PPF isn't about ROI.

Exactly, it is about peace of mind for those of us that go crazy when we see rock chips, etc. on our cars.

PS, did I say I resemble that description?

[chris719]

If you plan to keep the car a long time I would recommend full PPF. One of the biggest advantages that isn't mentioned much is that you can wash the car however you want and not induce swirls or marring. Most PPF now has a self-healing top layer so even if you do get minor marks in it, they usually come out after time in the sun.

[P1]

It's not terribly expensive to get PPF on just the front clip. That's about the extent I'd go though.

[tturedraider]

My 2006 E90 330i was fifteen years old when I sold it with 116k miles, low for its age, and the paint was in great condition. I drove it on a 2,300 mile round trip from Chicago to Texas each year on interstate highways.

[///MPhatic]

Forgot to post these earlier.

These are my rockers after 19K miles, no gravel, no tracking, mostly in-town, good roads.

From 10 feet it looks fine, but the closer you get, the worse it is.

My rear flares (around the factory PPF) on both sides were about 30% this bad because the factory PPF is way too small, especially right by the wheel arch.

This car should have never come from the factory without full PPF on the rockers, sections behind the tires, and the entire rear flares IMO.

[Clark_Kent]

Given your use case, getting PPF doesn't seem like the highest and best use of your funds for two reasons:

1. You're only keeping the car for 2-3 years
2. You've never gotten PPF previously and it seems you took no issue with rock chips you've picked up.

I think some fall into the PPF trap because "everyone is doing it". If you've had before and have been fine with the imperfections that will inevitably stack up on a road going car, why start now?

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by Clark_Kent

Given your use case, getting PPF doesn't seem like the highest and best use of your funds for two reasons:

1. You're only keeping the car for 2-3 years
2. You've never gotten PPF previously and it seems you took no issue with rock chips you've picked up.

I think some fall into the PPF trap because "everyone is doing it". If you've had before and have been fine with the imperfections that will inevitably stack up on a road going car, why start now?

That’s a good take on my position. I’ve bought 20+ cars, 10 ///M cars and 2 911’s all without PPF. I can appreciate PPF, but I’d likely not want to spend the amount needed to having it done well. From what I’ve read PPF is lot about the installer. I’ve gotten 2 quotes - $1800 and $2500. Full paint correction and ceramic coating drives the price up. I’ll keeping mulling it over as I wait for my car.

[///MPhatic]

Originally Posted by Adcampo

That’s a good take on my position. I’ve bought 20+ cars, 10 ///M cars and 2 911’s all without PPF. I can appreciate PPF, but I’d likely not want to spend the amount needed to having it done well. From what I’ve read PPF is lot about the installer. I’ve gotten 2 quotes - $1800 and $2500. Full paint correction and ceramic coating drives the price up. I’ll keeping mulling it over as I wait for my car.

You don't need full paint correction or ceramic coating on a new car. They will sell you on the fact that nothing is perfect from the factory, and they are right, but PPF covers so many issues, it's like magic. Also, a lot of the PPF out there these days is hydrophobic.

If you're not keeping the car and didn't have an issue with your previous cars, I'd say skip it. For me, I'd sell the car when I was done with it and make money on the back end, so having the front/rockers/flares perfect would be beneficial to me. PFF is like tires; usage is everything.

[snyder268]

Originally Posted by Adcampo

This will be my daily driver and generally I obsess less with a DD. That being said, I’ve bought a few new M cars over the years and that first chip kills me.

We’ll see how it goes. I got a local quote of $1800 for all the areas you mentioned.

1800 for all of those areas is definitely a deal. If quality is good from installer it may be worth the investment

[Adcampo]

Originally Posted by snyder268

1800 for all of those areas is definitely a deal. If quality is good from installer it may be worth the investment

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I may go check out the shop to get a better idea of quality. My car is still a couple months out from delivery.