Paint Protection Film

[travlingman]

Has anyone had paint protection film installed on their truck? Looking at 3M for the front and doing part of the dual fenders to protect from chips. What film did you use and how are the results? Any kind of issues, yellowing, edges show, makes paint look different color?

[Alberta Advantage]

I have 3M film installed on my G37x coupe. Have it on the hood, lower front bumper, mirror caps, and on the front of the rear fender wheel wells. I bought the car new in '09 and had the dealership put it on. Haven't had any issues with yellowing. It is a pretty seamless transition between the car and the film. It isn't very noticeable unless you look very closely at it. When you're 15 feet or so away, it is difficult to tell it's there. The paint looks the same color under the film. There is no discoloration. I did have some 3M film that peeled on the rear quarter panel in front of the rear wheel well which the dealership took care of for me. It lifted in one corner and when they went to repair it/replace it, when they took it off, my paint came off with it. They took it to their body shop and got it repainted/blended it and re-cut the film. I'd suggest getting a shop that specializes in doing 3M or the dealership do it rather than doing it yourself.

[cjf250sd11]

Complete rocker panel coverage here with xpel ultimate film. Best on the market hands down with 10 yr wty. Self healing clearcoat. My other vehicles are done too.

http://www.xpel.com/products/xpel_ul...ction_film.asp

[powerstroke43]

Originally Posted by Alberta Advantage

I have 3M film installed on my G37x coupe. Have it on the hood, lower front bumper, mirror caps, and on the front of the rear fender wheel wells. I bought the car new in '09 and had the dealership put it on. Haven't had any issues with yellowing. It is a pretty seamless transition between the car and the film. It isn't very noticeable unless you look very closely at it. When you're 15 feet or so away, it is difficult to tell it's there. The paint looks the same color under the film. There is no discoloration. I did have some 3M film that peeled on the rear quarter panel in front of the rear wheel well which the dealership took care of for me. It lifted in one corner and when they went to repair it/replace it, when they took it off, my paint came off with it. They took it to their body shop and got it repainted/blended it and re-cut the film. I'd suggest getting a shop that specializes in doing 3M or the dealership do it rather than doing it yourself.

What would be the point of a protective film that protects the paint, but ruins the paint when it gets removed? Doesn't make any sense to me.

[cjf250sd11]

I have seen it removed many times but never witnessed it remove the paint FWIW.

[Alberta Advantage]

Originally Posted by powerstroke43

What would be the point of a protective film that protects the paint, but ruins the paint when it gets removed? Doesn't make any sense to me.

The film partially peeled during some heavy winter driving going up to the mountains, weekend after weekend. All the snow and slush managed to lift a corner of the film and from there, it lifted abut a third of that piece of film. When the dealership tried peeling it off, it took the paint off, down to the primer.

[NsaneFreak]

Have you considered using Lamin-X over the 3m? We have put that on several of our vehicles and never had a problem with yellowing or it taking any paint off.

[srjd]

the 3m is good enough if the person installing it knows what they are doing i have it on my truck for 4 years and its been on lots of dirt roads and abused and power washed and looks brand new still on my other vehicles with painted bumpers i didnt put it on and there were rock chips everywhere and it looked terrible. Also the point it its not supose to come off and be re applied so you dont have to worry unless there is a problem like alberta advantage had and they fixed it anyways so who cares

[HighOn22's]

Is this stuff better than the vinyl that comes on some of the vehicles from the factory? I've noticed that the vinyl the factory uses still allows rock to chip through. I've considered looking into this, but do not want to use a product that will have to be changed out yearly due to rocks knicking up the film.

[Alberta Advantage]

Depending on the areas you're looking at getting 3M or similar paint protection film applied, I'd consider using Line X or similar. The bumpers (front) on these trucks seem to take the brunt of the rock and road debris chips during winter and I figure if the chips go through the paint and primer on the bumper that they'd probably go through any type of film. I had to get the front bumper piece replaced on my G37 because of a hit and run and it was $300. Figure Line X would probably cost about the same if not less. Think I paid $700 for Line X Premium when I got my bed sprayed.