GT4 any problem areas with PPF?
Discussion
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:
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
Edited by DallySingh on Monday 27th February 10:58
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&...
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&...
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?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 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.
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.
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?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.
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)...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.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
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.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
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
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 st.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'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. 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.
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.
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.
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