Ballpark costs for PFF

[HDPete]

Now that the RS6 PE is at the port, I'm thinking about a paint protection film. Any experiences on ball park costs for a self heal film? I've been quoted £3k which seems rather steep.

Also any recommendations on good installers between Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton, Salisbury?

Cheers

[MikeFish]

I paid about 700 and something pounds for the front end including grille, lights, splitter, mirrors etc. and it was whole bonnet and whole wings. But I had a detail done at the same time so all the prep work in getting the paintwork ready for wrap had been done by the detailer.

[MikeFish]

Well worth the money though, and I'm going back to have doors protected.

[HDPete]

Well worth the money though, and I'm going back to have doors protected.

thanks Mike.

Is that self healing?

[MikeFish]

Yes, it was.
Some films heal better than others. I had a combination of the Suntek and 3M Ventureshield films used on mine. One has a better sheen and better self healing (I think this was the Suntek) so was used for the big panels which were prone to stones like the bonnet and wings and the other film is better for complicated areas such as the bumper.

[wrekka]

Now that the RS6 PE is at the port, I'm thinking about a paint protection film. Any experiences on ball park costs for a self heal film? I've been quoted £3k which seems rather steep.

Also any recommendations on good installers between Poole, Bournemouth, Southampton, Salisbury?

Cheers

3K will be for the whole car though, although some well-known PPF companies will charge even more than that.

[Kal]

I haven't found cheaper than £4000 for the full car, £1500 for the front.

[kerniez]

Mine is just in for detailing at the moment with a Ceramic paint protection film. I understand that this not only protects the paint finish but also makes it easier to clean! I'll post some images when it is done - just could be another option as the lower film in front of my rear wheel arch has discoloured and gone yellow.

[Kal]

Isn't ceramic paint protection a coating and not a film?

[HDPete]

I've had the Range Rover ceramic coated and it does clean easily, but it doesn't stop hedgerow scratches. At least a PPF should be able to heal some of these out. (Or don't let the wife drive anymore)

[RossDagley]

Ceramic paint protection provides protection for the paintwork against washing induced swirl marks only. It doesn't provide any protection at all against stone damage or hedgerows etc.

I had the full front of my B8 RS4 wrapped (by http://www.showtrax.net), for £960, including the full bonnet which was an optional upgrade. I think the half bonnet was about £150 cheaper. I'd imagine the C7 RS6 would be fairly similar in price, perhaps 10-20% more for the increase in size. The package I had was the (front half of the) front wings, full bonnet, full bumper, headlights (critical!), and wing mirrors. Worth its weight in gold. I sold the car without a single stone chip despite 16k miles (most of which were high speed/autobahn stuff!). Mine was wrapped in 3M. I was disappointed with the gloss on the full bonnet - they offered to redo it as it wasn't as glossy as the wings, but I never got round to it. Alex the new owner is happy with it I think though, so perhaps I'm just fussy

[kerniez]

I think wraps are great if you want to change the colour or design of a car. My problem with the clear films is that they do discolour, if I look at the lower film on the rear wheel arch it is a different colour to the upper film - Very frustrating.

Each to their own but I thought I would give the ceramic a go to see the finish and durability.

[RossDagley]

Each to their own but I thought I would give the ceramic a go to see the finish and durability.

I'm not knocking your decision. The ceramic coating just doesn't have anything to do with stone or 'proper' scratch protection. I'm just making that clear for others reading this that a coating is not an alternative for a ppf.

I have a car in for detailing t omorrow that's getting ceramic coating coincidentally.

[MikeFish]

I had my car protected with G-techniq crystal serum and PPF apllied too.
The PPF wont protect against bush scratches if the rip the film. It will only self heal is it hasn't asctually been ripped to it can protect gainst light bush scratches but not those horrible deep ones.

[Kal]

I highly recommend ceramic coating, especially if you get your car washed from a standard car wash place as it helps prevent swirl marks and fly splats etc. come off easily. Sadly it didn't help when a kid decided to scrape his bike down 2 panels of my previous car.