GT4 any problem areas with PPF? - Page 2 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

When I had my GT4, I had some issues above the front spoiler area. As I purchased the car the second hand, I had a warranty on the PPF fitted, so they promptly re-installed it. Just ensure you are using a good firm that offers a guarantee.. G

Personally I didn't go full PPF. I instead found a well regarded XPEL installer who would do a custom install for me as i felt track wasn't enough, and full was too much. I went for full track pack, then also had extra pieces added on the rear bumper sections and the roof leading edge and A-pillars. All areas were also wrapped where possible, instead of going to edge. Bonnet. Front Wings (inc fuel flap cover) Headlights/indicators. Front bumper. Door Mirrors. Sills and side pods/inlets. A-Pillars including leading edge of the roof. Rear sections behind rear wheels on the back bumper. Pics are half way down this page if you want to see the finished result: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Hi guys, taking delivery of my GT4 in roughly 3 weeks time and I'm getting full PPF on arrival. For those who have had their GT4's PPF'd, are there any troublesome areas? I've had PPF on cars in the past and there have always been a few areas where it can be difficult getting PPF on without creating air bubbles or seams showing. The most obvious problem areas I can foresee are: The recessed GT4 lettering on the side air sccops The GT4 badge on the back bumper (may just get it de-badged to make this easier) Door handles Spoiler Side mirrors Just want to get some feedback on people's experience on the quality of their PPF installation. Edited by DallySingh on Monday 27th February 10:58

kmpowell said: Personally I didn't go full PPF. I instead found a well regarded XPEL installer who would do a custom install for me as i felt track wasn't enough, and full was too much. I went for full track pack, then also had extra pieces added on the rear bumper sections and the roof leading edge and A-pillars. All areas were also wrapped where possible, instead of going to edge. Bonnet. Front Wings (inc fuel flap cover) Headlights/indicators. Front bumper. Door Mirrors. Sills and side pods/inlets. A-Pillars including leading edge of the roof. Rear sections behind rear wheels on the back bumper. Pics are half way down this page if you want to see the finished result: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... Car looks awesome mate. Did you get the side scoops PPF'd - Where it has GT4 in recessed letters? If so, any air bubbles present or did they cut around the letters?

On the high impact areas ask them to double up the layers. Like the side scoops and wheel arches for example

DallySingh said: Car looks awesome mate. Did you get the side scoops PPF'd - Where it has GT4 in recessed letters? If so, any air bubbles present or did they cut around the letters? Yes, complete sills and side scoops/pods. He cut out the recessed letters in the PPF.

Hi all, For anyone who has their side blades/air scoops PPF'd, would you mind sharing some close-up pics? I'm due to collect my GT4 next week and it's going straight for a PPF installation. The company I'm using are very credible but they've said they can't guarantee the side scoops will be air bubble free if they PFF the recessed GT4 lettering. I've actually spoken to quite a few installers and they've all said the same thing. Even vinyl wrap installers have said the same as I considered getting that area wrapped in a carbon fibre vinyl. The guys I'm using are thinking of a few alternatives now but they'll have a better idea once they have the car. Here is what the Xpel template looks like for that area. The cutout is not around each letter which would've been better. What I don't want it ending up looking like is this as it's a real eye sore: On Rennlist I've seen a few installers in the US manage to cover the entire area but it's difficult to say whether over time it would start bubbling up.

That's how mine is done (XPEL template), and the cut-out of the areas is smooth & clean. The white car you have pictured has been shockingly cut out which would have been down to the installer. To be honest, you can't see the outline unless you are inspecting it very close-up with a camera, meaning pictures of it dramatically enhance the cutline.

kmpowell said: That's how mine is done (XPEL template), and the cut-out of the areas is smooth & clean. The white car you have pictured has been shockingly cut out which would have been down to the installer. To be honest, you can't see the outline unless you are inspecting it very close-up with a camera, meaning pictures of it dramatically enhance the cutline. I have a feeling the PPF on that white car has been manually cut by the installer as opposed to it being a template. How close are your edges to the lettering mate. Does the edge of the PPF literally stop as the recess for the letters begin?

DallySingh said: I have a feeling the PPF on that white car has been manually cut by the installer as opposed to it being a template. How close are your edges to the lettering mate. Does the edge of the PPF literally stop as the recess for the letters begin? This is mine (excuse the dirt). As I said though, photos enhance the shape-line dramatically, in normal view you wouldn't even know a shape-line was there: Edited by kmpowell on Wednesday 8th March 10:22

kmpowell said: DallySingh said: I have a feeling the PPF on that white car has been manually cut by the installer as opposed to it being a template. How close are your edges to the lettering mate. Does the edge of the PPF literally stop as the recess for the letters begin? This is mine (excuse the dirt)... Ok, yours looks a lot cleaner and tighter than that white GT4 I shared an image of. Cheers for sharing the picture mate, I feel a lot better knowing that's what the Xpel template looks like. It's a shame that recess is so tight. I'm going to ask my installer to "try" and do a complete wrap of that area but if they can't do it without air bubbles appearing, I'll be happy having it like yours. Here's an image I found on Rennlist where they've covered the entire area. God knows how the installer did it but surely if the Americans can do it, so can us Brits

DallySingh said: Ok, yours looks a lot cleaner and tighter than that white GT4 I shared an image of. Cheers for sharing the picture mate, I feel a lot better knowing that's what the Xpel template looks like. It's a shame that recess is so tight. I'm going to ask my installer to "try" and do a complete wrap of that area but if they can't do it without air bubbles appearing, I'll be happy having it like yours. Here's an image I found on Rennlist where they've covered the entire area. God knows how the installer did it but surely if the Americans can do it, so can us Brits There's no way I would be happy having the recessed letters fully covered, particularly not in this country with our varying cold/hot temps. I think in reality, in the immediate short-term you would probably get away with it, but even though I'm not a PPF installer I would bet it would lift from the recessed area over time if you did a complete cover. As said though, close up pics dramatically show-up the lines, and TBH until you pointed it out with your thread I wasn't even aware of the cut-out areas as it's not noticeable by eye. Edited by kmpowell on Wednesday 8th March 10:43

kmpowell said: DallySingh said: Ok, yours looks a lot cleaner and tighter than that white GT4 I shared an image of. Cheers for sharing the picture mate, I feel a lot better knowing that's what the Xpel template looks like. It's a shame that recess is so tight. I'm going to ask my installer to "try" and do a complete wrap of that area but if they can't do it without air bubbles appearing, I'll be happy having it like yours. Here's an image I found on Rennlist where they've covered the entire area. God knows how the installer did it but surely if the Americans can do it, so can us Brits There's no way I would be happy having the recessed letters fully covered, particularly not in this country with our varying cold/hot temps. I think in reality, in the immediate short-term you would probably get away with it, but even though I'm not a PPF installer I would bet it would lift from the recessed area over time if you did a complete cover. As said though, close up pics dramatically show-up the lines, and TBH until you pointed it out with your thread I wasn't even aware of the cut-out areas as it's not noticeable by eye. Edited by kmpowell on Wednesday 8th March 10:43 That's a very good point regarding the weather in the UK and the film expanding and contracting due to the varying weather temperatures. You've convinced me mate. I'm going to stick with the standard Xpel template. My car is black so I think it will be even less noticable. I'm really OCD when it comes to stuff like this (as you may be able to tell haha).

DallySingh said: You've convinced me mate. I'm going to stick with the standard Xpel template. I personally think that's your best option. It'll then come down to the quality of the installer. I think you've been given an unfair example with the white car, it's shockingly bad, as if it was cut out in the dark using a blunt kitchen knife, after 12 pints of strong lager! I've mentioned on here a few times that if the installers are very busy they will cut corners (no pun intended), so finding a well regarded local approved fitter is my advice.

DallySingh said: Here's an image I found on Rennlist where they've covered the entire area. God knows how the installer did it but surely if the Americans can do it, so can us Brits The installer will have heated the film and the panel to get the film to follow the creases like that. I'd be interested to see how it looks a year on, if any stress has been left in the film it'll ultimately pop back out and look a bit s t. re the rear badge and front crest a good PPC installer will remove any badges and PPF under them then reapply the badges. At least that's how mine is done. It also appears they've taken the door handles off to get the film behind the handle and removed the mirror caps to edge wrap.

b0rk said: DallySingh said: Here's an image I found on Rennlist where they've covered the entire area. God knows how the installer did it but surely if the Americans can do it, so can us Brits The installer will have heated the film and the panel to get the film to follow the creases like that. I'd be interested to see how it looks a year on, if any stress has been left in the film it'll ultimately pop back out and look a bit s t. re the rear badge and front crest a good PPC installer will remove any badges and PPF under them then reapply the badges. At least that's how mine is done. It also appears they've taken the door handles off to get the film behind the handle and removed the mirror caps to edge wrap. I don't understand why installers don't do a completely flat installation over the side air intake scoops and then cut an incision in the middle of each letter and wrap the remaining PPF inside the letters on each side. I'm far from an expert so could be talking out of my ars* but the PPF would be completey flat that way so no possibility of air bubbles and as the seam is inside the letters, it will be less obvious to the eye.

DallySingh said: I don't understand why installers don't do a completely flat installation over the side air intake scoops and then cut an incision in the middle of each letter and wrap the remaining PPF inside the letters on each side. I'm far from an expert so could be talking out of my ars* but the PPF would be completey flat that way so no possibility of air bubbles and as the seam is inside the letters, it will be less obvious to the eye. You mean have a centre cut along the middle of each letter? To “cut” the film the installer will need apply quite bit of pressure to the film which is kind of hard when it’s over a recess. You’d get all sorts of wonkyness along the cut. Basically it’ll look a bit s t and/or installer will “cut” the paint.

Hi guys, got my car and got it PPF'd. The guys have done a fantastic job though I'm a lil' unsure about the wing mirrors as they're not fully covered. For anyone who has their mirrors PPF'd, is this what it looks like? When the car gets dirty, the seams are very obvious. They nailed the embossed GT4 lettering on the side air scoop. Managed to fully cover it with zero bubbles.

DallySingh said: 'm a lil' unsure about the wing mirrors as they're not fully covered. For anyone who has their mirrors PPF'd, is this what it looks like? That's the standard XPEL template, nothing unusual.

Have they just used a patch for the mirror housing? So not full covering or are the lines the joint marks? Mine for comparison (Topaz) so XPEL film. Only the recess in the top isn’t covered.

b0rk said: Have they just used a patch for the mirror housing? So not full covering or are the lines the joint marks? Mine for comparison (Topaz) so XPEL film. Only the recess in the top isn’t covered. They’ve said they used the standard Xpel template and that’s how much it covers. The lines are not join marks, that’s where the PPF ends and the rest is all unprotected. I can’t seem to see any seams or join lines with yours. Are your entire mirrors covered?

DallySingh said: They’ve said they used the standard Xpel template and that’s how much it covers. The lines are not join marks, that’s where the PPF ends and the rest is all unprotected. I can’t seem to see any seams or join lines with yours. Are your entire mirrors covered? Yes the complete mirror is covered and edge lapped towards the glass. There are lines notability two along the bottom in the photo. The film appears have been a single piece with a very complex cutting pattern that brings all the cut lines together.

b0rk said: Yes the complete mirror is covered and edge lapped towards the glass. There are lines notability two along the bottom in the photo. The film appears have been a single piece with a very complex cutting pattern that brings all the cut lines together. This I believe is the standard Xpel pattern. Do you know whether Topaz used the pre-cut template or have they done a custom bulk install on your mirrors? Seems to be quite a difference between mine and yours.

That’s a completely different pattern to mine. I suspect Topaz may have come up with their own pattern for this panel. The film was all precut. I know they have a cutting machine on site. Edited by b0rk on Wednesday 5th April 13:35

To add some better pics, red is the edge of coverage, yellow is join line. The real lines are somewhat sharper, but iPhone highlighter pen isn’t great on a moving train.

b0rk said: That’s a completely different pattern to mine. I suspect Topaz may have come up with their own pattern for this panel. The film was all precut. I know they have a cutting machine on site. Edited by b0rk on Wednesday 5th April 13:35 You're right mate, it's a completely different pattern. I have read on Topaz' website that they have their own patterns... "All of our paint protection film kits are designed in house from scratch and are not amended from film manufacturers patterns. Resulting in optimum protection in accordance to our stringent Topaz standards." Topaz' wing mirror pattern is definitely better than Xpel's but I wasn't overly keen on how they install PPF on the side air intakes from pictures I saw from other GT4 owners. I'm going to ask my installer to try a bulk installation next week. I've seen a few Youtube video's of people doing this on Porsche's. If it's too difficult, I'll simply leave them unprotected. The current installation is a bit of an eyesore as it's only 60-70% covered and dirt is gathering on the seams making it move obvious. Cheers for sharing the pics by the way.

Just a thought/guess, it It might the patterns are different for track v full coverages?

kmpowell said: Just a thought/guess, it It might the patterns are different for track v full coverages? I didn't think this would be a thing.

If your installer has the design software they could create their own modified pattern or ask XPEL for a template the gives more coverage. I wouldn’t be happy with what they’ve done for you for mirror housing personally. To much missing coverage.

b0rk said: If your installer has the design software they could create their own modified pattern or ask XPEL for a template the gives more coverage. I wouldn’t be happy with what they’ve done for you for mirror housing personally. To much missing coverage. I'll see what they say and post back mate. The rest of the installation is great, it's just the mirrors that let it down.

DallySingh said: The rest of the installation is great, it's just the mirrors that let it down. Just been out to look at mine to compare, and I seemingly have a similar template as you. Having said that... it may just be the reflection in your pic but I would say your mirror coverage has been fitted too far across on the top of the shell. I don't have the same coverage Bork has on his, but seemingly mines fitted slightly differently to yours with no exposed leading edges or impact exposed ares (which is all I am bothered about) Truth be told, there is no perfect fitment, so get out there and drive it.

Has anyone just had the front bumper and side skirts done? I'm awaiting a quote and have never done PPF before so have nothing to judge the quote against. Thanks

lotusgeek said: Has anyone just had the front bumper and side skirts done? I'm awaiting a quote and have never done PPF before so have nothing to judge the quote against. Thanks Based on what you want, I think you'll want an extended kit as described on the bottom of this page: https://www.invisifilm.co.uk/paintprotection I think you'll be looking at circa £1,500-2,000.

DallySingh said: lotusgeek said: Has anyone just had the front bumper and side skirts done? I'm awaiting a quote and have never done PPF before so have nothing to judge the quote against. Thanks Based on what you want, I think you'll want an extended kit as described on the bottom of this page: https://www.invisifilm.co.uk/paintprotection I think you'll be looking at circa £1,500-2,000. Thanks, much appreciated 👍