[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Chicane_

I may skip PPF on my car (FBG) and just go with ceramic pro for ease if cleaning. It'll be an occasional use weekend toy that shares attention with other cars in the garage.

Ceramic pro can be done on frozen paint without PPF?

[Chicane_]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

Ceramic pro can be done on frozen paint without PPF?

Yes, it can. I did it on my M5 CS without issue.

https://ceramicpro.com/exploring-the...aint-for-cars/

[aj_g80]

Originally Posted by robbys3m3

is there any variation in look between your matte paint and the matte ppf'd areas?

I have a bodyshop down here. So my eye is pretty sharp. And this was my initial concern doing front cap ppf alone.

The answer is no. However, an HDR camera will ever so subtly pick up the slight change. Up close the film dulls the finish a tad bit, but thats about it. When i say dulls, i mean in the regular BMW matte finish there is some level of reflection, with PPF, it kills that reflection a little.

[aj_g80]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

Ceramic pro can be done on frozen paint without PPF?

Yes, but keep in mind, some ceramics will change the finish of the vehicle. It can make it more shiny (this can be good or bad depends what you like) when i say shiny, it could look a little more "glossy"


To really see this, you need to have a bodyshop spray out a card or a panel of some sort, and mask off half and do Ceramic on it. Compare and see what you like. Hope this was helpful.

[aj_g80]

Also, side note.. I did not do ceramic on the CS.

I bought bmw's matte wax. Yes, this is a thing. Hard to find, but i used it and i'm happy. VERY slick, you need alot of microfibers to remove it. This did NOT change the finish (as obviously BMW made product was designed to do) Doubt many know this even exists.

https://www.bmwpartsdeal.com/parts/b...122293949.html


Bought for around 140 and did it myself. Ceramic would cost god knows how much.

[PLF69]

Car arrived in Montreal today, need to sort out the PPF stuff and maybe next week or the other. Getting pumped up

[GreatWhite]

How long does it take usually from "Dispatch from factory" for my car to arrive at local dealership (Houston, TX)?

[Higgs Boson]

Originally Posted by GreatWhite

How long does it take usually from "Dispatch from factory" for my car to arrive at local dealership (Houston, TX)?

This was my timeline. My car went to Galveston like yours will.

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...postcount=1842

[mikecsa]

Can anyone confirm if the red stripe on the grills is painted or a sticker like the rest of the striping?

[Bashar368]

PPF the entire car. It's worth every penny.

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by mikecsa

Can anyone confirm if the red stripe on the grills is painted or a sticker like the rest of the striping?

Sticker

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

Sticker

I still think it's a risk to remove on frozen paint. Also….dare I say….the red stickers look good 😬

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

I still think it's a risk to remove on frozen paint. Also….dare I say….the red stickers look good 😬

Actually ScullyD, I'm with you on that; I think it'd be too risky to remove..... and, imho as you, I think it looks good, but that's just my opinion

[Limegrntaln]

I felt my blood pressure on the rise, with this guy fingering the dirty paint.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I felt my blood pressure on the rise, with this guy fingering the dirty paint.

Dealer sent me dirty pics of the car, I saw finger tips in the dust at a few places hehe

It's just a car, it will hit the track and be used as it was ment to be.

[DO444]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Dealer sent me dirty pics of the car, I saw finger tips in the dust at a few places hehe

It's just a car, it will the track and be used as it was ment to be.

Beautiful.
Bucket seats make perfect sense in this car.
Very nice.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by PLF69

Dealer sent me dirty pics of the car, I saw finger tips in the dust at a few places hehe

It's just a car, it will hit the track and be used as it was ment to be.

I can understand that, but every outer inch of my car is PPFd. Black window trim, roof rails, everything. No seams. So, even after some track sessions, it could still be cleaned good enough to look close to new. My car had 9,700 miles on it, and it's a year and a week old, still no swirls. Looks better than the day it was delivered.

[PLF69]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I can understand that, but every outer inch of my car is PPFd. Black window trim, roof rails, everything. No seams. So, even after some track sessions, it could still be cleaned good enough to look close to new. My car had 9,700 miles on it, and it's a year and a week old, still no swirls. Looks better than the day it was delivered.

I had my 2018 M2 fully wrapped and after 3yrs/27 000km and maybe 35 track days, the front was pretty scared with at least 2 chips trough the paint, the rear quarters were fully blasted, the roof had a small ding, the drivers door had a rock kink trough the ppf, the rest, I now see it as a second skin for high wear areas rather that a total long term solution, I had a friend replace 2x the whole front of is ppf on his 991 Turbo because it just didn't look good anymore.

I can agree that that it can save from swirl marks on a dark/black car but a good ceramic coating can do it too. All ppl I know running McLaren's, Ferraris even GT3s just do full wrap and don't bother, but some attend car shows or Rally's and it does save when there's plenty of ppl close to the car or touching it. Use case I guess but just wanted to say that a full ppf like I had on my M2 didn't save the car from everything.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by PLF69

I had my 2018 M2 fully wrapped and after 3yrs/27 000km and maybe 35 track days, the front was pretty scared with at least 2 chips trough the paint, the rear quarters were fully blasted, the roof had a small ding, the drivers door had a rock kink trough the ppf, the rest, I now see it as a second skin for high wear areas rather that a total long term solution, I had a friend replace 2x the whole front of is ppf on his 991 Turbo because it just didn't look good anymore.

I can agree that that it can save from swirl marks on a dark/black car but a good ceramic coating can do it too. All ppl I know running McLaren's, Ferraris even GT3s just do full wrap and don't bother, but some attend car shows or Rally's and it does save when there's plenty of ppl close to the car or touching it. Use case I guess but just wanted to say that a full ppf like I had on my M2 didn't save the car from everything.

I think in the case of heavy track use, I would ask friends or a shop, if anyone is familiar with double wrapping the high impact track areas? There has to be a way to keep that stuff protected while on track. I know some PPF companies offer a thicker film, 8 and 10 mil. I couldn't be sure if that would help, or not, unless someone had experience with it.

[aj_g80]

xpel has track wrap.

[Limegrntaln]

Originally Posted by aj_g80

xpel has track wrap.

Yeah, that's probably something you can put over the PPF, for another layer of protection. It's made to be removed, as soon as you're done using it.

[Hit_Apex]

Originally Posted by Limegrntaln

I think in the case of heavy track use, I would ask friends or a shop, if anyone is familiar with double wrapping the high impact track areas? There has to be a way to keep that stuff protected while on track. I know some PPF companies offer a thicker film, 8 and 10 mil. I couldn't be sure if that would help, or not, unless someone had experience with it.

My local PPF shop owner tracks a M2CS and prefers to double wrap high wear areas such as the rocker panels. This top layer is then peeled off and replaced as needed.