[Stuabroad]

Bought my 2019 X5 beginning of May with 40k on the clock. Took it to a well-known detailing shop and had a single stage polish, ceramic wrap and PPF in all the usual areas. Vehicle already looked brand new before i got all that work done, it looked even better after. However, 4 months on the PPF is peeling around some of the edges. I've done only local driving in the city and a couple of small < 200km trips to the countryside and even then hardly had any bugs. Vehicle gets babied and washed once a week carefully. We're getting ready for the Canadian winter up here, I’m concerned this is going to get worse. The PPF is looking dirty where it's getting exposed underneath Before I go have a conversation, just wanted to get everyone’s opinion - this PPF shouldn't be doing this after 4 months - right? LOL

*Apologies if the images aren't crystal clear

[Prince Thundernight]

Worrying

[bvrider1]

my ppf has been on for yrs. The shop you went to did a bad job. There is a 10 yr warranty that is offered for any certified install on ppf too. Might be time to do that but pick another shop.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Stuabroad

Bought my 2019 X5 beginning of May with 40k on the clock. Took it to a well-known detailing shop and had a single stage polish, ceramic wrap and PPF in all the usual areas. Vehicle already looked brand new before i got all that work done, it looked even better after. However, 4 months on the PPF is peeling around some of the edges. I've done only local driving in the city and a couple of small < 200km trips to the countryside and even then hardly had any bugs. Vehicle gets babied and washed once a week carefully. We're getting ready for the Canadian winter up here, I’m concerned this is going to get worse. The PPF is looking dirty where it's getting exposed underneath Before I go have a conversation, just wanted to get everyone’s opinion - this PPF shouldn't be doing this after 4 months - right? LOL

*Apologies if the images aren't crystal clear

I have my PPF on for 2 years and have not experienced any peeling like seen in your photos.

After 4 months this definitely should not be happening, take your car back to the shop and insist that they correct the issue!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

my ppf has been on for yrs. The shop you went to did a bad job. There is a 10 yr warranty that is offered for any certified install on ppf too. Might be time to do that but pick another shop.

The length of the warranty depends on the brand of PPF installed and whether you have purchased it from an authorized shop. Both Xpel and Stek give you 10 years, Ceramic Pro is 12 years and others can vary.

[Stuabroad]

Thanks for the feedback. I've dealt with this shop before and never had any bad experiences and the ceramic coating looks to be good.

Looks like they used this stuff:

Premium Shield Elite Nextgen Paint Protection Film

https://premiumshield.com/


Convo this morning:

Shop: That'll just need trimming, that's very typical and why I mention coming back for trims in a month or so. It's just more visible because it's white

Me: How do you mean trimming. Not trying to be difficult, I don't really know much about putting new PPF on a car, but it looks to be worse than just needing a trim. My concern is all the crud from the winter is going to make this worse.

Shop: I trim off a small amount up to where the film is holding. White will always accumulate dirt and stuff on the edges but trimming that extended edge makes it much less

[Stuabroad]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

The length of the warranty depends on the brand of PPF installed and whether you have purchased it from an authorized shop. Both Xpel and Stek give you 10 years, Ceramic Pro is 12 years and others can vary.

Apparently Premium Shield Elite is lifetime

[AZHusky]

Originally Posted by Stuabroad

Thanks for the feedback. I've dealt with this shop before and never had any bad experiences and the ceramic coating looks to be good.

Looks like they used this stuff:

Premium Shield Elite Nextgen Paint Protection Film

https://premiumshield.com/


Convo this morning:

Shop: That'll just need trimming, that's very typical and why I mention coming back for trims in a month or so. It's just more visible because it's white

Me: How do you mean trimming. Not trying to be difficult, I don't really know much about putting new PPF on a car, but it looks to be worse than just needing a trim. My concern is all the crud from the winter is going to make this worse.

Shop: I trim off a small amount up to where the film is holding. White will always accumulate dirt and stuff on the edges but trimming that extended edge makes it much less

I dunno, that sounds like a cop out answer to me. I've never heard of trimming. Had mine installed on one of my vehicles when it was brand new and the PPF is still going strong no peeling 10 years later.

Trimming to me seems like just a "bad fix" option as now you're going to have even less coverage/protection for the paint and what's to say it doesn't keep peeling up?

[Pheonix]

Man, those are terrible and sorry you have to deal with it.
Trimming is normal when doing PPF but the edges should not lifted and had all kind of crabs built up.
Have both of my M3 and a DD done with partial PPF and never have issues with the edges.
Most likely they have a defective material or the PPF is so bad and the Adhesive never "cured".
Definitely push for a re-do but not sure if I would want the same Film (let alone the same installer).

[chris719]

Yeah this is a shit install or adhesive.

[shimmy23]

looks like they coulda used more tack solution on the edges. heat also helps to let the slip solution dry out. this is common but not entirely a normal thing. a good install doesn't have this issue

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Stuabroad

Convo this morning:

Shop: That'll just need trimming, that's very typical and why I mention coming back for trims in a month or so. It's just more visible because it's white

Me: How do you mean trimming. Not trying to be difficult, I don't really know much about putting new PPF on a car, but it looks to be worse than just needing a trim. My concern is all the crud from the winter is going to make this worse.

Shop: I trim off a small amount up to where the film is holding. White will always accumulate dirt and stuff on the edges but trimming that extended edge makes it much less

I have seen several white cars with PPF and none that looks like this. This is not normal trimming, it was a terrible installation.

You should ask them if this will reappear on the edges every time they trim the PPF and at what point will they simply replace the PPF.

[Burrcold]

That's a terrible PPF job. Not even close to any edges at all. Brutal. Hopefully you didn't pay much.

[gameson]

when you guys say warranty, does it refer to the time the PPF can be installed on the car without affecting the original paint? or warranty of any defect workmanship or peeling, etc that they will replace it if within the warranty period?

[bvrider1]

peeling, lifting of edges, defects in the material itself.

Originally Posted by gameson

when you guys say warranty, does it refer to the time the PPF can be installed on the car without affecting the original paint? or warranty of any defect workmanship or peeling, etc that they will replace it if within the warranty period?

[gameson]

Originally Posted by bvrider1

peeling, lifting of edges, defects in the material itself.

so how many years can PPF stay on the car before it starts sticking on the car paint or hurting the original car paint? does it vary by brands or is there a general guideline?

[shimmy23]

Originally Posted by gameson

so how many years can PPF stay on the car before it starts sticking on the car paint or hurting the original car paint? does it vary by brands or is there a general guideline?

general rule i'd say is 5-10 years. the low end being if you live in a sun state and leave your car outside overnight/all day.

however, ppf will never ruin your paint when removed properly. sure it will be harder to remove and become brittle as it ages but it should not damage your paint in any phase of its life

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

general rule i'd say is 5-10 years. the low end being if you live in a sun state and leave your car outside overnight/all day.

however, ppf will never ruin your paint when removed properly. sure it will be harder to remove and become brittle as it ages but it should not damage your paint in any phase of its life

I have seen PPF that has been on cars for the longest time being removed by the shop I went to without any paint damage.

[P1]

That is a horrendous looking and very amateurish PPF install. What on earth did they do in that second picture? Looks like a kindergartener did this during this lunch break.

I'd ask for those areas to be 100% redone. Completely unacceptable.

[Housekeeping]

I’d never ppf a white car, that will happen sooner than later….although 4 months is too soon.

[Davesrb]

That is definitely an unacceptable instal, even if they used pre cut PPF. Plus, in some of the pictures it seems to be discolored, like it is turning amber already....

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Sy1616

I’d never ppf a white car, that will happen sooner than later….although 4 months is too soon.

We will have to agree to disagree on this. I have seen several white cars with PPF and after a few months they look perfectly fine.