New 2009 2010 BMW Z4 - ZPOST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   New 2009 2010 BMW Z4 - ZPOST > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > General BMW News and Cars Discussion

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-04-2021, 07:14 PM   #23
Glen e
Retired from BMWNA
198
Rep
184
Posts

Drives: ‘21 X2 m35i
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Fort Lauderdale

iTrader: (0)

I’ve been Detailing for 20 years , and was a general mgr of a BMW dealership and a BMWNA rep for 20 years. here’s my answers to your questions.

Do not confuse PPF with ceramic. Paint protection film is to protect against rocks and debris that would damage your paint finish. Is usually put on the front of cars. A ceramic will not protect you against the rock bashing into your car. It is used to keep the car clean and you don’t have to wash it as much.

XPEL is a great product. Go to their website and look for a detailer that applies it. Don’t let anybody charge you a huge amount to put ceramic over a PPF, because there is no prep. Paint needs to be polished and that’s quite a bit of labor so that’s why the cost goes up before a ceramic goes on , however with XPEL PPF you don’t do anything except wipe it down and apply the ceramic.

Anything that you have put on a car by a dealer can be taken off with a random orbital and polish application. A polish Such as Maguires 205 will work fine. Then A wipe down with the paint cleaner such as Carpro eraser and you’re ready to put on the ceramic. Everything a dealer sales for protection is total crap. It is usually a polymer, it is not a ceramic, their cost is about 60 bucks, and the sky is the limit on what they charge. They have nobody really trying to put it on and they certainly don’t do the right prep. Because it would take entirely too much time. It’s a wipe on/walkaway product that is nothing but dealer profit. Dealer Paint Protection is the new rustproofing scam…
__________________
Glen
Ft Lauderdale
'23 228i GC

Last edited by Glen e; 10-04-2021 at 07:24 PM..
Appreciate 1
      10-06-2021, 07:45 AM   #24
BobBMWX3
Second Lieutenant
164
Rep
276
Posts

Drives: X3 M40i 22
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: VA

iTrader: (0)

Thanks Glen. The dealers always look at me like I am crazy when I decline whatever special paint protection they offer. A dealer doing a full car protection in an hour is not going to do anything.

I have always taken to the cleaning and waxing myself at home. Using ONR (Optimum No Rinse) is quick. Using a detailing spray for drying, and then a spray on wax keeps things looking good for a long time.

I have never added a PPF. Unless you do the whole car, you will get chips and feel bad. I have always noticed cars with a PPF, lines, coloring, etc.
Appreciate 1
      10-06-2021, 07:53 AM   #25
MD707
Second Lieutenant
436
Rep
281
Posts

Drives: 991.2 GTS
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: North London

iTrader: (0)

I am blown away by these prices.

Full 5 year Labocosmetica on mine was about £600. So $850. That includes full paint correction before application (albeit on a new car, but one prepped by a dealer, so nicely swirled and scratched). 1.5-2 days labour. Market forces I guess.

I have PPF on the rear bumper lip but don't like the hard edges of it, which you can see up close.
Appreciate 0
      10-06-2021, 08:02 AM   #26
Westside Guy
Brigadier General
Westside Guy's Avatar
United_States
5482
Rep
4,270
Posts

Drives: 2022 Z4 M40i, 2021 228i GC
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Thanks Glen for that detailed explanation. I knew that the Luxcare treatment was bogus and that was confirmed to me by the shops that I visited for either PPF or ceramic as they said it would come right off. I totally agree with you that treatments like Luxcare are no different than the old rust proofing/ undercoating scams that the dealers used to push on their customers.

Everything I have read about Xpel tells me it is a great product and I have moved forward with an allover approach for my new Z4 using their Ultimate Plus product.
Appreciate 0
      10-10-2021, 10:59 AM   #27
Westside Guy
Brigadier General
Westside Guy's Avatar
United_States
5482
Rep
4,270
Posts

Drives: 2022 Z4 M40i, 2021 228i GC
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Hallandale Beach, FL

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Quote:
Originally Posted by Glen e View Post
Do not confuse PPF with ceramic. Paint protection film is to protect against rocks and debris that would damage your paint finish. Is usually put on the front of cars. A ceramic will not protect you against the rock bashing into your car. It is used to keep the car clean and you don’t have to wash it as much.

XPEL is a great product. Go to their website and look for a detailer that applies it. Don’t let anybody charge you a huge amount to put ceramic over a PPF, because there is no prep. Paint needs to be polished and that’s quite a bit of labor so that’s why the cost goes up before a ceramic goes on , however with XPEL PPF you don’t do anything except wipe it down and apply the ceramic.
Hi Glen,
Many thanks for your guidance, I just finished having Xpel PPF applied allover my Z4 and I am about to have the shop apply a ceramic coating on top of it. He is a authorized Xpel dealer but he recommended using Ceramic Pro’s products instead for the ceramic coating over Xpel’s Fusion Plus product. He recommended applying 2 coats of Ceramic Pro 9H and then a top coat of their Ceramic Pro Top Coat on top of the PPF.

Based on your comment about the low cost of applying ceramic over PPF what do you think is a fair price for this job?

Last edited by Westside Guy; 10-10-2021 at 11:08 AM..
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:33 AM.




zpost
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST