Mopar Paint Protection Film. Worth it?

[GeorgiaBoy]

Okay, so it seems like the PPF is more what I'm looking for, with my main goal to be preventing dings and scratches and such. I got a quote from a local shop for an "Opti-Coat Pro Plus" (lotta buzz words lol) that's a professional grade ceramic coating (with paint correction) that has a 7 year warranty, which sounds good I guess. But's it's $1600 (plus tax), which is like twice the price of the PPF the dealer offers. Is it really TWICE as good? I doubt it. So I am leaning towards the Mopar PPF.

Do not confuse PPF with Ceramic/Graphine coating. As I understand it, PPF is a clear film that is applied to only areas prone to rock chips and the like (had it on a Lexus and it preserved the front end beautifully).

Ceramic coatings whether DYI or professionally applied last varying periods of time depending on product used and are applied to the entire vehicle, wheels, vinyl and of course all paint. These coatings protect from UV and various airborne contaminants and make maintenance washings easier. I have never had ceramic coating but will on the Limited but still deciding on DYI or professional.

And the PPF goes on first and Ceramic is applied over it. In my opinion PPF is a no brainier. Ceramic, I'll have to noodle out!

 

[AngelPhoenix]

Thanks everyone, definitely helping me sort this out here.

 

[ALT_F13]

I see these $1K+ numbers for PPF install and now I don't understand...

Clear coat purpose is to protect the paint. It is cheap, very durable and you can polish the thick layer of clear coat over 20 times on modern cars (check videos on YouTube how many hours it is needed to polish THROUGH clear coat). Re-applying clear coat is actually very easy if underlying paint layer is not damaged. No color matching, blends easily, DIY-friendly etc.

So you are installing an expensive PPF film to protect the cheap clear coat. Does it really protect the paint from deep scratches that go through clear coat? I mean scratches that you can't just remove with the compound.

What is the point of spending $1K+ on the film instead of just using compound to polish the clear coat? I don't believe that plastic film can be more durable than clear coat. I've checked few videos on YouTube about "self-healing capability" of PPF, but actually it is about you taking a heat gun to remove the scratches. It doesn't seem easier to me that just using compound on the clear coat.

Something like ClearBra on the hood makes perfect sense - it protects from chips. But installing it on sides of the car, the bed etc... More like a marketing gimmick.

 

[OleNavyMane]

So, does the MOPAR PPF get applied to the entire truck or is it only covering the front leading edges and surfaces?

With respect, many here are grossly misunderstanding what you are getting with PPF. I have PPF applied to my entire truck on the black paint. Not only can you tell a difference but that difference is a huge positive. It really elevates the appearance of the finished paint making it look like a very high end paint job.

Recently when visiting a dealership for regular service, one of the service techs opened a customer's door right into my door scratching and dinting the door in the process. They paid to have it repaired. At the body shop, they simply removed the PPF at the dinted site and did a paintless dint repair. When they removed the PPF, 100% of the scuffs, scrapes and scratches were contained in the PPF. My original factory paint was unharmed. Went back to the PPF guy to re-install a new piece of PPF--like it never happened.

 

[jimothy]

So, does the MOPAR PPF get applied to the entire truck or is it only covering the front leading edges and surfaces?

With respect, many here are grossly misunderstanding what you are getting with PPF. I have PPF applied to my entire truck on the black paint. Not only can you tell a difference but that difference is a huge positive. It really elevates the appearance of the finished paint making it look like a very high end paint job.

Recently when visiting a dealership for regular service, one of the service techs opened a customer's door right into my door scratching and dinting the door in the process. They paid to have it repaired. At the body shop, they simply removed the PPF at the dinted site and did a paintless dint repair. When they removed the PPF, 100% of the scuffs, scrapes and scratches were contained in the PPF. My original factory paint was unharmed. Went back to the PPF guy to re-install a new piece of PPF--like it never happened.

View attachment 104315

For around $800, it’s gotta be just leading edges. Your whole truck must have been around $5,000-7,000, by my guess.

 

[GeorgiaBoy]

I see these $1K+ numbers for PPF install and now I don't understand...

Clear coat purpose is to protect the paint. It is cheap, very durable and you can polish the thick layer of clear coat over 20 times on modern cars (check videos on YouTube how many hours it is needed to polish THROUGH clear coat). Re-applying clear coat is actually very easy if underlying paint layer is not damaged. No color matching, blends easily, DIY-friendly etc.

So you are installing an expensive PPF film to protect the cheap clear coat. Does it really protect the paint from deep scratches that go through clear coat? I mean scratches that you can't just remove with the compound.

What is the point of spending $1K+ on the film instead of just using compound to polish the clear coat? I don't believe that plastic film can be more durable than clear coat. I've checked few videos on YouTube about "self-healing capability" of PPF, but actually it is about you taking a heat gun to remove the scratches. It doesn't seem easier to me that just using compound on the clear coat.

Something like ClearBra on the hood makes perfect sense - it protects from chips. But installing it on sides of the car, the bed etc... More like a marketing gimmick.

I have a 2013 Lexus GS350 that I did not have PPF applied. And a 2015 Lexus IS 250C that did have dealer applied PPF. Just sold the IS250C and the front end was chip free and looked brand new. The GS on the other hand is beat to hell and back....I suspect that will hurt on trade/sale! Rocks laugh at clear coat, PPF will protect from most rock chips. PPF will be put on the new Limited and new Audi Q5 as soon as they are delivered (not over entire vehicle but on venerable areas!) I would not pay the dealer for "additional" clear coat. How would anyone know if it was actually applied?

 

[GeorgiaBoy]

Also the dealer wanted almost $900 for the IS250 PPF. Finally got it for $300!

 

[AngelPhoenix]

So, does the MOPAR PPF get applied to the entire truck or is it only covering the front leading edges and surfaces?

With respect, many here are grossly misunderstanding what you are getting with PPF. I have PPF applied to my entire truck on the black paint. Not only can you tell a difference but that difference is a huge positive. It really elevates the appearance of the finished paint making it look like a very high end paint job.

Recently when visiting a dealership for regular service, one of the service techs opened a customer's door right into my door scratching and dinting the door in the process. They paid to have it repaired. At the body shop, they simply removed the PPF at the dinted site and did a paintless dint repair. When they removed the PPF, 100% of the scuffs, scrapes and scratches were contained in the PPF. My original factory paint was unharmed. Went back to the PPF guy to re-install a new piece of PPF--like it never happened.

View attachment 104315

Where did you get yours done? And how much was it?

 

[OleNavyMane]

Where did you get yours done? And how much was it?

I got it done here in Vero Beach, Fl Dec 2019. The shop I used wanted $8k, I negotiated him down to $5k. However, I did the prep work myself--claying, de-ironizing, polishing, etc (it's a hobby of mine).

 

[AngelPhoenix]

Das a lotta munnies, geez.

But yeah, no way the dealer is doing the whole vehicle for $800. Or at least it's not with a PPF that actually does anything lol.

 

[OleNavyMane]

Das a lotta munnies, geez.

But yeah, no way the dealer is doing the whole vehicle for $800. Or at least it's not with a PPF that actually does anything lol.

Can't take it with you, right? lol

 

[GeorgiaBoy]

Das a lotta munnies, geez.

But yeah, no way the dealer is doing the whole vehicle for $800. Or at least it's not with a PPF that actually does anything lol.

I assure you it would not be the entire vehicle! Probably no more than front bumper, 1/4 of the hood, maybe mirrors. I was quoted almost $1,800 for front bumper, 1/3 hood, rocker panels, A pillar, mirrors, door handles and a few other areas that I can't remember.

 

[AngelPhoenix]

Can't take it with you, right? lol

I have a shop by me that does PPF on the vulnerable areas, and then an Opti-Plus Pro ceramic coating on the whole vehicle for $1600. That seems like a reasonable semi-middleground to me at this point.

I don't want to spend $5 grand on something like this, but dropping the $800 at the dealer seems like kind of a waste.

 

[OleNavyMane]

Whatever you do, don't pay the dealership money to apply their magical potion to your truck, Whatever it is that is applied will probably wash off with the 1st rain storm. IMHO, you are much better off paying your local shop to do the PPF and coating.

 

[GeorgiaBoy]

I have a shop by me that does PPF on the vulnerable areas, and then an Opti-Plus Pro ceramic coating on the whole vehicle for $1600. That seems like a reasonable semi-middleground to me at this point.

I don't want to spend $5 grand on something like this, but dropping the $800 at the dealer seems like kind of a waste.

$1,600 for both PPF and Ceramic? I was quoted $2,411 for the same coating alone! And $1,800 for PPF only on area mentioned earlier.

 

[AngelPhoenix]

$1,600 for both PPF and Ceramic? I was quoted $2,411 for the same coating alone! And $1,800 for PPF only on area mentioned earlier.

Sorry, I misread the info, $1600 is for the ceramic only. PPF depends on how much/where. So to do what you said and cover edges/hood/other vulnerable spots, probably a grand plus, so that still adds up.

 

[OleNavyMane]

Sorry, I misread the info, $1600 is for the ceramic only. PPF depends on how much/where. So to do what you said and cover edges/hood/other vulnerable spots, probably a grand plus, so that still adds up.

By the way, how long ago did you place your order for your 2022 truck and what is your expected wait time from the order date?

 

[AngelPhoenix]

By the way, how long ago did you place your order for your 2022 truck and what is your expected wait time from the order date?

Order placed on 08/13, had a VIN less than a week later but it seems to be in limbo now with the plant shutdown and them not being sure exactly when 2022 1500 production will start up (apparently they still have some 2021's to finish, which is crazy this late in the year).

I was told "at least 12 weeks" but I figure I'll be waiting a solid 4-5 months at this rate. Mid-December is an optimistic estimate for pick up at the dealer.

edit: there's a whole thread about tracking orders (or very vaguely attempting to lol) here...

2022 Orders

And then tell them it has to be an all-in price of $100 (since that's the full credit you got from Ram for deleting it). Good luck. This whole deal with the TTPMS sensors has got me really annoyed now. None of the dealers are giving straight answers and we have nothing concrete yet from RAM...

5thgenrams.com

 

[GeorgiaBoy]

Sorry, I misread the info, $1600 is for the ceramic only. PPF depends on how much/where. So to do what you said and cover edges/hood/other vulnerable spots, probably a grand plus, so that still adds up.

Still an $800 difference in coating so maybe I should shop around!

 

[cervelo15]

My PPF was $2500 installed….was Xpel brand and they use custom laser cut film that matched the contours, cutouts of the front end. Completely seamless.

Ceramic coat ran me $1600. A lot of the ceramic coat price isn’t so much the coating itself as it is the prep that goes into it. My truck didn’t need much, so he knocked $200 off the final price. read the fine print when getting a quote, some will say ‘level 2 paint correction’ or something of the like. That’s where a lot of the price is com8ng from.

Yes, I know this stuff costs a lot of money, but I saw it as an investment to ensure my truck stays pristine. Plus my cleaning time is a joy to do.