3M Automotive Protective Film

[CayoHueso]

Does anyone have any first hand experience with 3M Protective Film?

Just picked up my wife's new car the other day and am thinking about getting this installed to help protect the paint.

Thanks,

Brian R.

[sofadriver]

Terrific stuff

I used to vigorously scrub my keys on the 3M protected tank of my ST4s in front of one of my friends. He'd get all freaked out. 

Highly recommended

[Stella]

Get it. 

There are a lot of manufacturers of the protective film.  I have the PermaPlate brand on my company car.  Paint, windshield and leather.  Works great!  I have not had the stuff on past vehicles, I will going forward.

Only problem w/the leather protection is that the dog slides off the back seat so I have to put a rubber backed rug on the seat when he rides in the car.  Otherwise he's sprawled in a heap on the floor.   

At the very least, get paint and windshield protection.  They're all about the same.  Something is better than nothing.

[skurvy]

I used to be a 3M PPF installer. What color is the car?

It's great stuff and it definitely does it's job of protecting the paint. Thing is, just treat it like paint. There is a clear coat on the film so if it gets bug splatter or bird poop on it, make sure to *spray it first* with some detailer and then use a microfiber to clean it. The longer you leave stuff on the film, the better chance it has to etch or stain the film. DO NOT try to wipe it off dry, you'll scratch the film. Of course there are tricks to "healing" fine scratches on the film too.

[CayoHueso]

Terrific stuff

I used to vigorously scrub my keys on the 3M protected tank of my ST4s in front of one of my friends. He'd get all freaked out. 

Highly recommended

thanks very much! I doubt I will "test it out" on her car as she might beat me to death....

[CayoHueso]

Get it. 

There are a lot of manufacturers of the protective film.  I have the PermaPlate brand on my company car.  Paint, windshield and leather.  Works great!  I have not had the stuff on past vehicles, I will going forward.

Only problem w/the leather protection is that the dog slides off the back seat so I have to put a rubber backed rug on the seat when he rides in the car.  Otherwise he's sprawled in a heap on the floor.   

At the very least, get paint and windshield protection.  They're all about the same.  Something is better than nothing.

Thanks for the info. I know there are lots of manufacturers, but I tend to like 3M products as the company has been around for what it seems like forever and never had a complaint about any of their products I've used or seen used. I do find it interesting that you have the coating on a company car as they are typical leased and then sold at auction after the duration of the lease. That's interesting.

We do not plan on putting a coating on the leather as that doesn't interest either of us. Just something on the paint and windshield to cut down on potential of rock chips, bug splatter, and assholes that try to key cars.

I used to be a 3M PPF installer. What color is the car?

It's great stuff and it definitely does it's job of protecting the paint. Thing is, just treat it like paint. There is a clear coat on the film so if it gets bug splatter or bird poop on it, make sure to *spray it first* with some detailer and then use a microfiber to clean it. The longer you leave stuff on the film, the better chance it has to etch or stain the film. DO NOT try to wipe it off dry, you'll scratch the film. Of course there are tricks to "healing" fine scratches on the film too.

The car is black with a tan interior.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning it. I've also heard you don't want to use a high pressure hose as it can "peel" the protective coating. I'd rather not have to find out the tricks to fix a scratch!




Thank you all for the help.


Brian R.

[skurvy]

The car is black with a tan interior.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning it. I've also heard you don't want to use a high pressure hose as it can "peel" the protective coating. I'd rather not have to find out the tricks to fix a scratch!

Once the film is installed properly and left alone for a couple days to set, I don't think it will come off unless someone starts picking at an edge. I went through brushless car washes all the time (some of the cleaning chemicals can be questionable so I always used detailer/microfiber after going through). Black should be fine, I've noticed that when installed on a white car the film can yellow a bit. Then again I think it's because people think it's a miracle product where they get it put on their car and think they don't have to maintain it. That's why I say treat it like a normal painted surface, you can wax it too. If you leave the car dirty for a long time, the dirt can stain the film which obviously makes it more apparent on a white car.

I've had super picky customers complaining about the install on the car. I've installed kits on everything from Minis to Lambos and picked out tiny pieces of lint to make sure it wasn't under the film. It's like putting a cell phone screen film protector on without any bubbles or lint x1,000,000.

In the end, remember it's made to take the abuse of crap kicked up from the road. if you plan on keeping the car a while it's a good investment. If you do a lot of highway driving, your front bumper won't get sand blasted. And if you do a lot of parallel parking in the city, it will save you from paint scuffs.

I have a small piece on my S2R as a tank protector and I have it on my headlight  

[Speedbag]

Yep, good stuff.