Considering Paint protection film (PPF)

[SaratogaLefty]

I’ve been invited to come see Xpel PPF being applied to a Lucid starting tomorrow. This shop is the largest Xpel installer in Georgia. This will be their second Lucid.

Since I’ve never has PPF applied to any of my cars I’m curious about the process.

Being a retired engineer I’m interested in the technical details.

I’ll see if I can video some of the steps.

Ask them about the new Fusion+ PPF

 

[steveairgt]

Ask them about the new Fusion+ PPF

Absolutely. Thats on my list of questions as well as another product I heard about called Kavaca. I'm interested in their thoughts on both.

 

[hydbob]

I asked a couple ceramic pro guys about kavaca and they didn't like the performance of it compared to the normal ppf + ceramic

 

[DeaneG]

Having done front-clip PPF on a car, and finding it not particularly worthwhile, I'd consider PPF on only the vertical front part of the Air's "bumper". That'll catch 95% of the rock chips at little cost and bother.

 

[steveairgt]

Having done front-clip PPF on a car, and finding it not particularly worthwhile, I'd consider PPF on only the vertical front part of the Air's "bumper". That'll catch 95% of the rock chips at little cost and bother.

What is front-clip PPF?

 

[DeaneG]

What is front-clip PPF?

Bumper, hood, front fenders. The parts of the car most likely to be hit by flying stones. I didn't PPF my Model 3, and it has about five small stone chips after four years. Our 2021 Volvo EV has one stone chip, also no PPF. Both are easy enough to fill in with Dr Colorchip or similar for $50, not worth $5K for full PPF. Depends where you drive I suppose, but I live a few miles from a gravel quarry.

 

[groundhog]

Bumper, hood, front fenders. The parts of the car most likely to be hit by flying stones. I didn't PPF my Model 3, and it has about five small stone chips after four years. Our 2021 Volvo EV has one stone chip, also no PPF. Both are easy enough to fill in with Dr Colorchip or similar for $50, not worth $5K for full PPF. Depends where you drive I suppose, but I live a few miles from a gravel quarry.

Deane, I do not see Lucid listed on the Dr. Colorchip website.

 

[DeaneG]

Deane, I do not see Lucid listed on the Dr. Colorchip website.

Just Black and Gold colors available for now. I'm sure they'll have the full range this year. https://drcolorchip.com/product/road-rash-kit/

 

[steveairgt]

I decided to get my AGT wrapped with paint protection film (PPF). I’m still waiting for my car to arrive. So I’m doing the research now. Today I visited the top XPEL installer (AP3 Atlanta) in Georgia and a national dealer of the year for the past 3 years. So they know what they’re doing. They were wrapping their second Lucid Dream Edition today. I got a real education on the process.

Here is a video I took. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wTCndTyWF5CN_X18Ty61wrilxeeuRY3a/view?usp=drivesdk

 

[Thinjake]

Is a wrap to change the color (say the mysterious blue floating around) the same as PPF? If so, does it cost the same for a color change vs. clear? If not, does a wrap provide any protection that would negate the need for PPF?

 

[hydbob]

Before the wraps were vinyl and not as robust as PPF, but now there are PPF wraps in color but limited. Vinyl will not protect as well as PPF but will be better than nothing.

 

[steveairgt]

Is a wrap to change the color (say the mysterious blue floating around) the same as PPF? If so, does it cost the same for a color change vs. clear? If not, does a wrap provide any protection that would negate the need for PPF?

I asked that very question. Changing the color uses a vinyl wrap and its much much thinner than a PPF for protection. PPF is 8 mils think. Vinyl color change wrap is about 2-3 mils. You can pierce

 

[Easyrider949]

Got a chance to stop by the PPF shop to check on the progress. They got the tinting done and now working on the PPF (Xpel Ultimate Plus) Next will be the ceramic coating on top of the film and the Wheels. She is sitting next to some other exotic cars getting their fashion makeup done!

 

[Thinjake]

I have a question....I have never "wrapped" a car nor used PPF, nor ceramic. If I wanted to "black out" the chrome frame from the hood to the trunk, how do they do that? How do they match the black paint from the actual car? Do they match it perfectly or will it look slightly different?

 

[scubastevo80]

I have a question....I have never "wrapped" a car nor used PPF, nor ceramic. If I wanted to "black out" the chrome frame from the hood to the trunk, how do they do that? How do they match the black paint from the actual car? Do they match it perfectly or will it look slightly different?

They would have to use a "wrap" in a black of your choice (satin, matte, etc). The colors are limited, but I'd expect they'd be able to find a close match. I'm intending to do the same to mine when I get it as I'm not a fan of chrome/light silver accent on the front. I'd also want to debadge the front letters assuming that's possible.

 

[Thinjake]

I'd also want to debadge the front letters assuming that's possible.

Thanks for that info. What does "debadge" the front letters mean?

 

[scubastevo80]

Thanks for that info. What does "debadge" the front letters mean?

Remove them so it no longer says "L U C I D" on the nose trim. If that's not an option (assuming they're not just stuck on via 3M tape/glue), I'd also wrap them in a black color.

 

[HC_79]

Remove them so it no longer says "L U C I D" on the nose trim. If that's not an option (assuming they're not just stuck on via 3M tape/glue), I'd also wrap them in a black color.

They're actually backlit, I don't think you can just remove them.

 

[Volund]

They're actually backlit, I don't think you can just remove them.

Exactly what I was about to say too, it has its own light underneath, if you covered it, if it's not a thick material, it might even shine through lol

I saw a video where someone put a car cover on it and you can see the LUCID lighting up from underneath

 

[Demosthenes]

Remove them so it no longer says "L U C I D" on the nose trim. If that's not an option (assuming they're not just stuck on via 3M tape/glue), I'd also wrap them in a black color.

I wanted to paint the lettering on the front and when my PPF/ceramic/autoshop guy went to do it, he took apart the front to try and isolate the lettering for painting but took one look at how complex the internal engineering is in that area and 100% decided to not touch it. So instead ended up ‘wrapping’ or covering the exterior lettering with a navy wrap instead of painting (did manage to paint the rear lettering and Air symbol though). So yeah I think physically removing the lettering on the front will be challenging.