GT3 PPF - Page 2 - 911/Carrera GT - PistonHeads UK

Which model GT3/ age of car what mileage p.a. and usage?

av185 said: Which model GT3/ age of car what mileage p.a. and usage? 991.2, car is low miles no marks or chips, mainly road use with very occasional track use.

What's peoples thoughts on PPF. Is there any negitives? Would you do the full car or just front and quarter? Edited by J13NY S on Monday 19th June 10:55

Most people would get it done. I wouldn't. YMMV. You're not looking at a rare car where the original paintwork might be worth looking after so to me it boils down to the financials and personal preference. PPF has become quite expensive so it's definitely not a no-brainer IMHO. Do you track a lot and/or drive in groups on the road where driving close to other cars gives a higher risk of picking up stone chips? Are you someone who wants to have a showroom fresh car 24/7 if at all possible and look after the interior as much as the exterior? Do you personally want to maintain the original paint on the car or are you happy to get parts repainted if they get really peppered?

I get both PPF and ceramic oh my cars. I have had the experience of getting lots of paint damage on tracks and the protection works. Also very easy to wash the car. I generally completely PPF up to the A pllar plus above windshield and rear arches.

RDMcG said: I get both PPF and ceramic oh my cars. I have had the experience of getting lots of paint damage on tracks and the protection works. Also very easy to wash the car. I generally completely PPF up to the A pllar plus above windshield and rear arches. So you just PPF the more vulnerable areas? If you PPF the front wings can that create a colour difference between the wings and doors etc?

J13NY S said: av185 said: Which model GT3/ age of car what mileage p.a. and usage? 991.2, car is low miles no marks or chips, mainly road use with very occasional track use. Just sold my white 8.3k mile 2018 991.2 GT3 CS which had no ppf whatsoever and was literally mint although didn't use the car during the winter or gritted roads which is largely responsible for road rash especially of you live in the far north. In standard form the 991.2 GT3 is actually better protected than many Porsches with standard factory fitted rear quarter protection and protection behind the rear wheels. Many swear by ppf but imo it is vastly overrated and grossly overpriced and has many disadvantages as a product and personally have never bothered with it on any of my cars. Other opinions are available. :

Twinfan said: Most people would get it done. I wouldn't. YMMV. You're not looking at a rare car where the original paintwork might be worth looking after so to me it boils down to the financials and personal preference. PPF has become quite expensive so it's definitely not a no-brainer IMHO. Do you track a lot and/or drive in groups on the road where driving close to other cars gives a higher risk of picking up stone chips? Are you someone who wants to have a showroom fresh car 24/7 if at all possible and look after the interior as much as the exterior? Do you personally want to maintain the original paint on the car or are you happy to get parts repainted if they get really peppered? I do have an element of OCD in me, I do like to look after things but at the same time do like to use them. Edited by J13NY S on Monday 19th June 11:37

Never bothered me but I buy cars to drive not stare at paint . I can’t get my head around paying 3-5k when I’ve never spent more than £500 to get a respray when it’s time to sell . I wouldn’t criticise anyone for doing it though , your money so whatever makes you comfortable .

My current car is the first car I have had PPF'd. Ceramic coated and extended PPF, front, wings, A-pillars, mirrors, boot lip etc. It was a brand new car, done less than a 1000 miles before having the above done, it was booked in but in a backlog, it still had stonechips, not that I could see but they noted it when machine polishing etc. Is it worth it? Hmmmm, certainly ceramic coating works a treat and the car looks cleaner for longer (black), PPF is hard to tell, I'm sure if it wasn't they're would be lots of noticeable chips being a black car, but it's impossible to quantify in all honesty. Would spend the money again, if it was a keeper then yes.

J13NY S said: So you just PPF the more vulnerable areas? If you PPF the front wings can that create a colour difference between the wings and doors etc? I started to to it after a week at the Nürburgring with a brand new M6 which looked like this end of week and needed a new paint job No colour difference: Here is my 992 RS which has just been done Friday: All of the below have had PPF and ceramic and no colour difference was visible- all were tracked and had a lot of fairly high speed driving, all Vmaxed. Still have most of them. : I have done other (primarily) road cars and have only had excellent experience. I am aware that some factory PPF in early cars turns yellow but I have had no issue with my cars.

My 991.1 , had no PPF, my now 991.2 Full PPF I would always have it done , my 991.2 is in far better condition for it, up to the same usage point.

I did, so would recommend. About £5K for full coverage

franki68 said: Never bothered me but I buy cars to drive not stare at paint . I can’t get my head around paying 3-5k when I’ve never spent more than £500 to get a respray when it’s time to sell . I wouldn’t criticise anyone for doing it though , your money so whatever makes you comfortable . Same for me. As a secondhand buyer I'd take advantage of the the money the first owner stumped up for PPF that they'll never get back and would purchase one with PPF. Would I ever go to the expense of having it applied? Nope.

franki68 said: Never bothered me but I buy cars to drive not stare at paint . I can’t get my head around paying 3-5k when I’ve never spent more than £500 to get a respray when it’s time to sell . I wouldn’t criticise anyone for doing it though , your money so whatever makes you comfortable . Note to self: Never buy a car after your ownership.

Thanks for all the comments, very helpfull. I think I'll go for it, just need to decide if I do the front or full car.

J13NY S said: Thanks for all the comments, very helpfull. I think I'll go for it, just need to decide if I do the front or full car. Imo, if you are going there with it , get full coverage.

Make sure you go to a reputable installer. For example XPEL has a 7 year warranty. I`ve done all my cars that I trackday and the grief its saved me from pays for itself. The rubber marks come off much easier and some of those bigger lumps that hit the car would have scratched the paint but with the self healing characteristics of the XPEL , a kettle of hot water and they vanish. The GT3 bumper is a bit tricky and so after 2 years I could see a corner starting to lift and gather dirt. Installer re done it as part of the warranty. You can get stung by "boutique" places , you know the sort that like to blow smoke up their own backsides on youtube but there are plenty of people that have been in the business for way longer and know their stuff.

Far Cough said: Make sure you go to a reputable installer. For example XPEL has a 7 year warranty. I`ve done all my cars that I trackday and the grief its saved me from pays for itself. The rubber marks come off much easier and some of those bigger lumps that hit the car would have scratched the paint but with the self healing characteristics of the XPEL , a kettle of hot water and they vanish. The GT3 bumper is a bit tricky and so after 2 years I could see a corner starting to lift and gather dirt. Installer re done it as part of the warranty. You can get stung by "boutique" places , you know the sort that like to blow smoke up their own backsides on youtube but there are plenty of people that have been in the business for way longer and know their stuff. Absolutely correct. I go to a hand wash and know the guy well. He told me that he has seen many expensive cars come in with new PPF and in some cases the quality is so bad that he would have rejected the ar immediately. The people I use also do new cars for the dealer and know their stuff including a very thorough paint correction before PPF application. Surprisingly they have found that pain quality on new cars is quite variable. The mentioned that Porsche is generally very good - except for PTS cars which is not great.

throt said: Imo, if you are going there with it , get full coverage. For any particular reason?

Interesting what RDMG says about the inferior quality of PTS paint. I would say Porsche standard factory paint is finished to an average to good standard only.

J13NY S said: throt said: Imo, if you are going there with it , get full coverage. For any particular reason? You see less dirt build up on the films edges Example, my gt3 is solid white, the rear wide arches look so crisp and clean cause its one complete piece of film, which obviously deletes the shark fin. I use refineddetail.co.uk , based in Henfield, BN5 9SL , always immaculate work and a pleasure to deal with, is Richard.

I had the Porsche shark fins applied over the PPF, as that area can suffer a lot of abuse

av185 said: Interesting what RDMG says about the inferior quality of PTS paint. I would say Porsche standard factory paint is finished to an average to good standard only. I think it reinforces the need to get really competent people to do the PPF/ceramic only after they have done a very thotopugh paint inspection and correction. Not a simple job but they don't miss much.

So more £££ then - paint inspection, paint correction, detail the car, fit PPF, inform insurance company of modification, potentially pay higher premium.....

Twinfan said: So more £££ then - paint inspection, paint correction, detail the car, fit PPF, inform insurance company of modification, potentially pay higher premium..... I keep my cars indefinitely and have had no insurance issues. For me at least it is well worth it.

throt said: You see less dirt build up on the films edges Example, my gt3 is solid white, the rear wide arches look so crisp and clean cause its one complete piece of film, which obviously deletes the shark fin. I use refineddetail.co.uk , based in Henfield, BN5 9SL , always immaculate work and a pleasure to deal with, is Richard. You should not see the edges of the PPF. The people that know what they are doing have plotters that pre cut the shapes needed but the really good guys can stretch that pattern within the software by a few mm which allows it to wrap round the edge of the panel. Personally , if I am PPF'ing then there is no point getting the paint in concours condition beforehand, what's the point ? It will be still be the same when you take the PPF off and ultimately increase the price initially for the extra man hours. The other thing to mention is that it's advisable to double up on the ultra high impact areas like the side spats and rear wheel arches

Twinfan said: So more £££ then - paint inspection, paint correction, detail the car, fit PPF, inform insurance company of modification, potentially pay higher premium..... Good point T about the need to notify your insurers.

Far Cough said: Personally , if I am PPF'ing then there is no point getting the paint in concours condition beforehand, what's the point ? It will be still be the same when you take the PPF off and ultimately increase the price initially for the extra man hours. Eh? This makes zero sense. Once you ppf, you are effectively locking in the paintwork underneath and given it’s the paintwork you see and not the ppf you need a proper paint correction before applying. Just look at the state of the finish on factory prepped ppf on new Ferrari and Porsche for evidence. I’d rather have a proper paint correction and ceramic coating on a new car than be stuck looking at marring and swirls stuck under a ppf if budgetary constraints. Also, don’t get manufacturer installed ppf.

garystoybox said: Eh? This makes zero sense. Once you ppf, you are effectively locking in the paintwork underneath and given it’s the paintwork you see and not the ppf you need a proper paint correction before applying. Just look at the state of the finish on factory prepped ppf on new Ferrari and Porsche for evidence. I’d rather have a proper paint correction and ceramic coating on a new car than be stuck looking at marring and swirls stuck under a ppf if budgetary constraints. Also, don’t get manufacturer installed ppf. Your being a bit over dramatic. If you can tell the difference from a PPF`d car from new without paint correction blah blah blah and one that has been corrected then your a better man than me. Maybe I just prefer to drive them rather than stare at them. XPEL do not recommended to ceramic coat under the PPF so yet another reason not to bother. Read here in their FAQ`s https://www.xpel.com/faq#:~:text=Can%20I%20apply%2...

One thing people don’t seem to mention is the faff factor of PPF. I had paint correction, full PPF and ceramic on a new 992 last year at a place about an hour from me. Each drop off/collection stole a morning of my time and if you’re working all week, eats into your weekend. My scenario was initial drop off and collection five days later. Spotted some dust under the PPF on the bonnet on collection so that was another drop off and collection a few days later. Then had a wonky stone guard on the rear arch so back for that. Somewhere in there I had a six week check. I then had some staining that resulted in the front bumper and rear bumper being replaced under warranty which was an initial trip for inspection and booking in then a drop off and collection. I now have a stone chip on a wing mirror that if was paint would have been a simple touch up but is going to have to go back to the PPF place. The place was great and jumped straight on everything with no quibbles but that’s still a lot a trips and a lot of cash on hour long taxi journeys. Just to really add to the cost and faff factor, on one trip I managed to pick up a nail on route so the tyre went down at the PPF place. Had to get the work finished and then recovered to Porsche for a new tyre all because of a journey I shouldn’t really have had to make. I know this could happen anytime but even so.

av185 said: Interesting what RDMG says about the inferior quality of PTS paint. I would say Porsche standard factory paint is finished to an average to good standard only. My one and only PTS car, so far, had an outstanding paint quality according to my super OCD detailer, he prepared it ceramic coated it and applied PPF. The invoice was suitably low as well due to the lack of time he had to spend on it. Some of my other standard paint colored Porsches have not been as good! One black car was actually dreadful and needed paint on delivery, not a good start. My 4RS is due next week so he will get a guards red one to go over.