Has anyone applied DYI PPF on the nose of their 5.0?

[Centex]

I've never had any PPF (paint protection film) on any vehicle, much less DIY, curious if any have applied it to the full nose of their 5.0?

• Does it make the de-bugging chore (which has never really been much of a chore for me) any easier than just the well-waxed / polished gelcoat surface?
• Does it help long-term preservation of the front decal/sticker?
• If you've done it, what specific product / sources did you use?
• Any idea if removal of the PPF would 'lift / damage' the ETI decal/sticker?
• Any cautionary tales relating to the stuff?

Just curious, thanks in advance for any shared experience / thoughts.

 

[JohnK-ESC]

Alan, ours in not a 5.0 but since you mentioned "any vehicle", I'll just say that in 2017 we had a clear film professionally applied, not DYI, to the front end and extending about two feet aft of the front fenders and up the hood of our 2016 Subaru Outback. This was not a DYI project and I honestly cannot remember nor do I think I can find information on the exact product. 125,000 miles and seven year later I can't tell you how happy I am with the results. It is a self healing film, easy to clean and has not in any way done harm to the final finish of the car. I would do the same again in a heartbeat with a future vehicle.

That said, I too have wondered about applying various films to the nose of our 21C. Despite the protection of the front end storage box and even though it is not as high as the nose of your 5.0., it has sustained a rock ding or two and is always full of bugs. I hesitate to apply anything besides generous amounts of Meguiar's Premium Flagship wax because I don't know fiberglass and decals and what the effects of applied film would be.

John

 

[GinoandLinda]

Not so much a PPF, but I am wondering if any has had their trailer professionally wrapped. There are some remarkable videos out there of cars being wrapped that turn out quite nice. From what I have read, a professionally applied wrap will last 5 years and upward and cost $3K - $5K.

 

[Ron in BC]

and is always full of bugs.

We're using our trailer more and more in the Summer and a few days upcountry results in a lot of squashed bugs. I have seen a lot of, usually large trailers and motorhomes, up country and in the Yukon and Alaska with some sort of film protection.

Maybe someone heading to Alaska next year will find an easy to apply protective film and tell us about it. hint, hint.

Ron

 

[bass3180]

Put PPF on the nose of our 5.0 3 years ago and it has made bug cleaning much easier and it seems to be protecting the decal as well. It wasn't a DIY project and I don't know what film they put on it. One thing I noticed was a wicked reflection coming off the camper driving into the sun. Doesn't bother me as a driver but the road signs sure light up and I hope the oncoming traffic isn't too blinded.

 

[WanderBred]

Yeah you can use a 3M clear bra material.

 

[Centex]

Yeah you can use a 3M clear bra material.

That's what I was thinking, it seems to be widely available in many 'grades' and pre-cut sheet sizes.

No shortage of YouTube examples of DIY application, given the essentially flat surfaces with only a fairly gentle compound curve at the upper corners, looks like it'd be a fairly straightforward project.

 

[sameo416]

I used a 3M knock off material right after delivery. It’s been good for big removal and rock chip protection.

The application was easy, mostly. Round the radiuses more challenging. Took a bit to get the hang of it.

I did the inside of the wheel wells the following year.