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Gravity PPF & Ceramic Coating

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msaunders9430

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Thinking ahead to Gravity ownership, I plan to have PPF and Ceramic Coating applied asap after taking delivery.

In researching the topic I came across several threads and the most comprehensive one is shown below.
Two questions, for clarification and for possible new info since the thread is from '22/'23.

1. I read about having the installer cut the film so that it goes around the sensors. Has there been any confirmed instances or suspicions of ppf application near sensors affecting ADAS functionality?
2. I didn't see any mention in the thread below or others I read that mention how the application of the ppf should be done on the side view mirrors in such a way to avoid affecting the cameras located on those mirrors. Same application tip as with the sensors; cutout film to go around the cameras? Any adverse effects if too close, such as glare or other negative effects?

Volund

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Hey guys, I've been searching and reading the forums about PPF, Ceramics, Stealth, all of that. But I have some questions and I'd like to put them all in 1 spot so I can finalize and schedule some time on...
  • Like
 
Thanks for searching the forums first! <3

msaunders9430 said:
1. I read about having the installer cut the film so that it goes around the sensors. Has there been any confirmed instances or suspicions of ppf application near sensors affecting ADAS functionality?
Click to expand...
Yes. Multiple confirmed instances where people had to go back to get the sensor PPF cut out. You need to have them cut out the PPF for the sensors because they are inset somewhat, and reflect as a result.

msaunders9430 said:
2. I didn't see any mention in the thread below or others I read that mention how the application of the ppf should be done on the side view mirrors in such a way to avoid affecting the cameras located on those mirrors. Same application tip as with the sensors; cutout film to go around the cameras? Any adverse effects if too close, such as glare or other negative effects?
Click to expand...
Yes. Luckily the one on the inside doesn’t get PPF, since it’s on the inside of the mirror. The outside one you’ll need to cutout the camera, but it honestly helps, because that extremely curved surface is very hard to PPF. Pic of one of mine attached. (Yes I know I need a wash)

IMG_1011.webp
 
borski said:
Thanks for searching the forums first! <3


Yes. Multiple confirmed instances where people had to go back to get the sensor PPF cut out. You need to have them cut out the PPF for the sensors because they are inset somewhat, and reflect as a result.


Yes. Luckily the one on the inside doesn’t get PPF, since it’s on the inside of the mirror. The outside one you’ll need to cutout the camera, but it honestly helps, because that extremely curved surface is very hard to PPF. Pic of one of mine attached. (Yes I know I need a wash)

View attachment 29117
Click to expand...
Thanks.
I'll make sure to mention it to the installer.
I'll probably actually ask them how they handle sensors and cameras and see what they say.
Hopefully they'll say "cut film to go around", which will confirm my choosing them.
 
On a longshot: If there are any forum members living in the Central Virginia area who have used Capital Autobahnd for ppf or ceramic work (preferably on your Air), please let me know your impressions of their work. I've had some friends recommend them, but seeking additional input.
 
msaunders9430 said:
Thanks.
I'll make sure to mention it to the installer.
I'll probably actually ask them how they handle sensors and cameras and see what they say.
Hopefully they'll say "cut film to go around", which will confirm my choosing them.
Click to expand...
Not every car needs you to cut them out. teslas do too, but yeah, you should ask.
 
borski said:
Not every car needs you to cut them out. teslas do too, but yeah, you should ask.
Click to expand...
My opinion is that you never want to modify the sensing in any way in a vehicle where the sensors feed a complex AI. Unfortunately, the current state of machine learning is that it produces systems where it's difficult to characterize the boundaries of where they do and don't work, and the failure modes are often unpredictable and unintuitive. Or to put in more traditional engineering terms: machine learning produces surprisingly brittle systems. So I'd always cut around the sensors in any vehicle that includes a computing platform for current or future AI systems. As AI technology steadily improves, the brittleness of the resulting technology will probably continue decreasing, and someday this will cease to be a concern. But you don't want to be the guy who dies because a protective film caused your ADAS system to take you head-on into an oncoming semi. For now, vendors are having enough trouble making reliable AI for unmodified vehicles, and it's unwise to make the problem harder.
 
zoomzoom said:
@borski

Do you mind sharing which shop you used to get your PPF done?
Click to expand...
OCDetailing (https://bayareadetails.com/). Joe does incredible work. There are other good shops, some of which are less expensive, but Joe has yet to ever piss me off, and that's a big deal. He has re-PPF'd pieces once they were replaced (unless it was a collision, when insurance paid for it), he really cares about making sure it's done really well, etc. The OCD in the name is a diagnosis, not a joke. :)

Here is a page on their website of Lucids they've done: https://bayareadetails.com/lucid-paint-protection-for-bay-area/

Photos of mine: https://gallery.bayareadetails.com/Lucid/Lucid-Air-Dream-Edition-Zenith-Red-Full-PPF-Wrap
Video of mine:

But they aren't the cheapest around. Another good shop some have used (but I have no direct experience with) is Deep Reflections.
 
Love OCD. They’ve done every car I’ve owned, except for the Taycan, which was due to a schedule conflict.
Highly recommend them. Been using Joe since he was in Orinda.

-iThinkEV-
 
Over under $8k for full Gravity wrap?
I've seen some outrageous quotes on other cars. $12k+
 
zoomzoom said:
Over under $8k for full Gravity wrap?
I've seen some outrageous quotes on other cars. $12k+
Click to expand...
It depends on where you go. Most places will be over 8k.

Some will be under that, but as always, you may get what you pay for - or it may be great.

Remember that most of what you’re paying for is labor, not materials. What that labor costs is a function of demand (more customers means higher prices), quality (when you do great work and have repeat customers you can charge more), and reputation.

For example, OCD does not use templates for any of the vehicles they wrap. They *can*, but they don’t. They do everything custom, because they wrap and tuck every single edge and make it look almost like the car isn’t wrapped at all.

Meanwhile, I’ve definitely seen some wrapped Air hoods with unsightly seams because they didn’t (or couldn’t) do it in a single piece. Not for me.

But sometimes people do just charge exorbitant prices and exploit folks. That happens too. That’s why reputation matters in this biz.
 
@msaunders9430
You may want to print off a diagram that shows all of the sensor locations of the Gravity when you get your PPF installed. Helps avoid trying to figure out which sensor(s) was ppf'ed over when the error light comes on!😂
 
borski said:
It depends on where you go. Most places will be over 8k.

Some will be under that, but as always, you may get what you pay for - or it may be great.

Remember that most of what you’re paying for is labor, not materials. What that labor costs is a function of demand (more customers means higher prices), quality (when you do great work and have repeat customers you can charge more), and reputation.

For example, OCD does not use templates for any of the vehicles they wrap. They *can*, but they don’t. They do everything custom, because they wrap and tuck every single edge and make it look almost like the car isn’t wrapped at all.

Meanwhile, I’ve definitely seen some wrapped Air hoods with unsightly seams because they didn’t (or couldn’t) do it in a single piece. Not for me.

But sometimes people do just charge exorbitant prices and exploit folks. That happens too. That’s why reputation matters in this biz.
Click to expand...
Respectfully, I asked who you used because that side view mirror looks terrible to me. The cut out is oversized and misaligned for the camera, the relief cuts they made to wrap the bottom side don't even come together. I realize it's a curved piece but it looks amateur to my eye. For $10k+ I better not see a single seem or corner.

I had also seen many people recommended OCD here and elsewhere. Disappointed that this is the quality that can be expected from 'the best in San Jose'
 
zoomzoom said:
Respectfully, I asked who you used because that side view mirror looks terrible to me. The cut out is oversized and misaligned for the camera, the relief cuts they made to wrap the bottom side don't even come together. I realize it's a curved piece but it looks amateur to my eye. For $10k+ I better not see a single seem or corner.

I had also seen many people recommended OCD here and elsewhere. Disappointed that this is the quality that can be expected from 'the best in San Jose'
Click to expand...
This was the first Lucid they did. Many cars later he asked me if I wanted him to rewrap the mirror; I said “not yet.”
 
borski said:
OCDetailing (https://bayareadetails.com/). Joe does incredible work. There are other good shops, some of which are less expensive, but Joe has yet to ever piss me off, and that's a big deal. He has re-PPF'd pieces once they were replaced (unless it was a collision, when insurance paid for it), he really cares about making sure it's done really well, etc. The OCD in the name is a diagnosis, not a joke. :)

Here is a page on their website of Lucids they've done: https://bayareadetails.com/lucid-paint-protection-for-bay-area/

Photos of mine: https://gallery.bayareadetails.com/Lucid/Lucid-Air-Dream-Edition-Zenith-Red-Full-PPF-Wrap
Video of mine:

But they aren't the cheapest around. Another good shop some have used (but I have no direct experience with) is Deep Reflections.
Click to expand...
I used OCD in San Diego, Dustin did fantastic work for ceramic coating on my Tesla Y and the rework after my car was rear-ended and repaired. After 5 years, my car still shines like new after I wash it.
I have already planned to take my Gravity DE to him to put a triple ceramic coat on it, when I finally get my car.
 
scal_air said:
@msaunders9430
You may want to print off a diagram that shows all of the sensor locations of the Gravity when you get your PPF installed. Helps avoid trying to figure out which sensor(s) was ppf'ed over when the error light comes on!😂
Click to expand...
Good idea.

I think I'll print the section of the manual that numbers and labels the locations of the Dream Drive components.

Screenshot 2025-05-25 at 4.33.50 PM.webp
 
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