Paint Protection Film for MKIV

[Peeker]

I know there is a regional discussion about the PPF. I posted to it but realized it is not on this forum so I am re posting here.

For those who may be considering Paint Protection Film, autotrimdesign.net now has a MKIV precut kit. Their prices are going up! I just paid $480 with shipping for the nose area kit. Michael, at auto trim design, says the install is pretty straight forward for someone who does this professionally and the install time is 2.7 hours.

I figure I just paid a lot of money for a beautiful paint job and want to keep it nice as long as possible.

[Hacksaw84]

Have you installed this (or had it installed) or just purchased it?

[Peeker]

Just purchased this am for mine and a buddies her in KC.

[SnakeBitten14]

I bought some 3M stuff on amazon. I was just trying to keep cone rash down so I installed it myself. Not great but you can't tell from anything over 10 ft.

[JohnK]

What do you know about the InvisiGard film? I can't find any information on it anywhere on the web other than their website. I like the idea of a pre-cut kit but wish it was made out of XPEL or another well-known product.

[cgundermann]

I know there is a regional discussion about the PPF. I posted to it but realized it is not on this forum so I am re posting here.

For those who may be considering Paint Protection Film, autotrimdesign.net now has a MKIV precut kit. Their prices are going up! I just paid $480 with shipping for the nose area kit. Michael, at auto trim design, says the install is pretty straight forward for someone who does this professionally and the install time is 2.7 hours.

I figure I just paid a lot of money for a beautiful paint job and want to keep it nice as long as possible.

I'll be interested to see how it turns out. Historically, there has been a lot of fails in trying to apply protective film to the front end of the MK4 because of the complex curves. I've applied to various areas of mine, but gave up on the nose...

Chris

[Peeker]

All I know about invisigard is what I’ve read on their site, it is an 8 mil film. Since it is the only company that makes a precut clear bra for both MK III/IV we are kind of at their mercy if you want to protect your front end without breaking the bank. They say it is a 2.7 hr application so even if the shop rate is $125/hr, it shouldn’t cost more than $400. Once I have it applied, I’m waiting for paint to cure, I’ll be sure to update.

[CraigS]

Best of luck to you. I have tried diy-ing it on another car. Threw out the first attempt. The 2nd set is on there and working but has a lot of cut lines where I cut it into smaller sections and then joined them. I will be looking for a pro installer when the weather warms up a little more.

[Inman Lanier]

Peeker - did you ever install invisigard and were you happy with the results?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Inman, don’t put anything on that fresh paint for at least 90 days.

Jeff

[Inman Lanier]

Inman, don’t put anything on that fresh paint for at least 90 days.

Jeff

Thanks, Jeff. Understood. Do you have a preference that you use?

[BlueSilver]

I have no first hand experience using the clear protective film but on the indianmotorcycles.net forum others have said the 3M clear film will yellow after some time. They recommend using XPEL film and say it does not yellow after some time.

[timspx]

I had a traveling paint protection film vendor come to my shop and install a front pre-cut pattern and rear spats after I painted my mk4 back in 2017. Watching a pro do it was cool. I probably could have done it, but would have wasted product, patience, and lots of time. It took him about three hours. I think I paid something f like $600 total. After he finished, he said he would not do another one again - because of all the contours. I still have his business card and will see if he will do the coupe I am currently building. ��
It was well worth the cost! The film was self healing too. I don’t remember if it was xpel or 3m. I'll see if I can find a couple pics to post.

[Inman Lanier]

Please do. Thanks

[DanQ]

I just ordered 3M PPF on Amazon and plan to cover the running boards on my '33 Hot Rod with it. Luckily, that area is straight and flat so I don't anticipate any problems installing it myself. I don't plan to step on the running boards myself, I just want it there for the person who accidentally slides a shoe across it. I decided to go with full-fenders and running boards after seeing so many rock chips on the bodies of these cars. The tapered body is directly behind the front wheels.

[cv2065]

I had my last car done and it was a couple of thousand dollars. A local shop that specializes in PPF for Teslas and other higher end sports cars was excited for the challenge, as they had never done a Cobra before, but later said it was the most challenging car ever. I only had a couple of seams on the entire car and they did an amazing job, but I wouldn't try by myself. That cost included the windshield, which I highly recommend.

[CaptB]

Is film better than ceramic coating the paint? Seems that a film would start having problems over the years but if you applied ceramic coating every few it would do well.

[cv2065]

Is film better than ceramic coating the paint? Seems that a film would start having problems over the years but if you applied ceramic coating every few it would do well.

Ceramic is another animal. Micro thin layer that helps with fade and keeping the car clean but doesn't protect from rock chips and scratches. High end PPF is 10 mils of plastic protection that doesn't yellow and gives that tough road protection. Think of 1 mil as the thickness of a sheet of paper or one coat of paint. Many different grades where you can have up to 10 years of protection. Ultimately it will have to be replaced at some point and you have to maintenance it a certain way. I found that quick auto detailer does well. I understand if you don't replace it within the given life cycle that it can damage the paint.

[Papa]

I've seen maybe one out of ten Cobras with PPF that were done well. Most have wrinkles, creases, etc. due to the difficulty of getting the film to lay out over the compound curves. If you do want to invest in PPF, do your research and find an installer that really knows how to get it right. Most will claim it's no big deal, but the results I've seen say otherwise.

Edit: And don't go cheap on the product itself! I had XPEL put on my truck and it was $1,300 to cover the front with about 20" of the hood and fenders covered.

[Cutter 54]

"A local shop that specializes in PPF for Teslas and other higher end sports cars was excited for the challenge"

To cv2065; Can you share with us the name of the shop that did the PPF? I am in Clermont, Fl and have been considering PPF for the nose and spats professionally. I have not yet started looking. I had Tint World do my long gone Audi S5 on Long Island and was very happy with the result.

[Fman]

Another option for front end protection on a road trip involving freeway driving is a bra. I picked one up from Superformance and it fits perfectly on the Mk4 FFR. Provides a lot of good protection and can easily be removed when you don't need it. Also works great for a track day. I went to a local PPF installer who does high end cars and got quoted $2800 for the front end so I took a pass and went with the $250 bra. I have used it a couple times now and it has worked great, also have had no issues with it scratching the paint (has a nice felt liner on the inside)

https://superformance.com/part/front-end-bra-superformance-mkIII

[JohnK]

Travis, $2,800 seems really high. I had a local shop do the entire front end (back to the leading edge of the hood), complete doors, spats and rear lower quarters behind the rear wheels in XPEL, and ceramic coated everything else - all for $1,800. Mind you, this is Los Gatos prices, which is high even by SF Bay Area standards. This shop does all the exotics (Ferraris, Lamborghini's, etc.) as well as all the Tesla wraps in the South Bay. I removed the headlights, turn signals and quick jacks and they were able to do the entire front end with just two tiny seams on each side under the headlights.

[Cutter 54]

FMan, is that a thin screen built into the bra covering the radiator inlet area? The photo on the SPF webpage shows a nice looking product. And does the top edge stay in place over the front of the hood?

[cv2065]

"A local shop that specializes in PPF for Teslas and other higher end sports cars was excited for the challenge"

To cv2065; Can you share with us the name of the shop that did the PPF? I am in Clermont, Fl and have been considering PPF for the nose and spats professionally. I have not yet started looking. I had Tint World do my long gone Audi S5 on Long Island and was very happy with the result.

Sure. It was Tinterz out by Orlando airport

[Fman]

FMan, is that a thin screen built into the bra covering the radiator inlet area? The photo on the SPF webpage shows a nice looking product. And does the top edge stay in place over the front of the hood?

Yes that is a mesh screen covering the radiator cooling inlet and the bra tucks in under the hood gap to secure at the top. It is a very nice bra and custom made in house by Superformance.

[Fman]

Travis, $2,800 seems really high. I had a local shop do the entire front end (back to the leading edge of the hood), complete doors, spats and rear lower quarters behind the rear wheels in XPEL, and ceramic coated everything else - all for $1,800. Mind you, this is Los Gatos prices, which is high even by SF Bay Area standards. This shop does all the exotics (Ferraris, Lamborghini's, etc.) as well as all the Tesla wraps in the South Bay. I removed the headlights, turn signals and quick jacks and they were able to do the entire front end with just two tiny seams on each side under the headlights.

For $1800 with a ceramic coating sealer is a fantastic price! maybe I need to move back to the Bay Area to save some $$$ ;) That is almost worth me towing my car down to his shop. Do you mind sharing who did it for you? Fortunately after 5800 miles of driving now I still don't have any rock chips but I also do not drive on the freeway at all. I think the freeways are what hammer the front of these cars because they are so low to the ground.

[JohnK]

I'm always happy to recommend these guys:

https://www.deepreflectionsdetailers.com/

Ask for Alex, the owner.

[kobra01]

I had my car done by Premier Armor in Corona California. I’m pretty sure they used an Xpel kit. They did the front up to the hood opening, over the fenders, over door sills, spat area, and behind rear tires. Price was below $1000.
Don’t know if this link will work. https://fb.watch/q4OUhhlHZ4/?

[Cutter 54]

To Fman and cv2065: THANK YOU BOTH.

[Alan_C]

I bought some 3M stuff on amazon. I was just trying to keep cone rash down so I installed it myself. Not great but you can't tell from anything over 10 ft.

I used the same 3M stuff when I drove my car from CA to AZ after moving. The stuff does a good job of protecting the paint, that or I did not hit anything. However, I did hit a light sandstorm on I10 E outside of Blythe CA for about 20 miles. I saw no sandpapering on the paint on the nose of the car. My only gripe was when trying to remove the stuff, in places I did not get the coating thick enough. Where the thickness was too thin, it was a PITA to get the stuff to release from the paint. Where it was applied thicker, like the instructions said to do, it pealed off easily similar to skin pealing after a sunburn. Fortunately, the use of good old WD40 allowed me to remove the thin areas using my fingernails to lift the protectant.
Given the price differential, I would do the 3M spray on protectant in a minute.