I know, that’s what I’ve always thought.
And the thing is that, for the most part, you only notice most stone chips up close, maybe when washing the car. But if you stand back a few feet and ask a random person, they probably wouldn’t be able to tell.
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I agree with that, but the physiology is also probably that you notice on your car. As in how many times in life where something you’re emotionally connected to (i.e your car, maybe something which makes you proud in the house), has something which makes it ‘not perfect’ and someone who isn’t connected says ‘only you’d notice that’, or ‘no one would notice that’? Which may be true, but not the point.
So although I understand the ‘thing’ behind it, my beef is I detest giving my car for ANYTHING to someone as in so many things in life, I’m disappointed when I pay someone to do something to something I’m emotionally connected to.The OP’s unfortunate situation being a prime example. For similar reasons, I’ve stayed away from undersealing. I’ve seen all the faff involved, and I think of what could go wrong, which often does when someone does something to my pride and joy, so I don’t bother.
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Hmm! Did the sales blurb say “PPF coating with simulated chip marks and scratches preinstalled for that authentic well used look”.
Not sure that I would be happy with it. I mean, you have PPF added to prevent the car getting chips and minor scratches. Some of those edges have started to peel and will only continue to do so as moisture and shrinkage take effect. The PPF should either be applied well round the curved edges so as to terminate on a flat surface or cut short of the edges (which may not look that tidy). If it isn’t there is a good chance that it will peel away.
It does depend on your purpose for having the PPF applied. Is it to make the car look immaculate or is it to keep the original paintwork immaculate for when you sell the car on (after having removed the PPF)?
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I know. In june 2022 I did PPF strips on the door shunts of my Mrs MINI as a precautionary measure for paint rub (if you’re ever bored, google image ‘MINI F56 paint rub’, to see what I mean). Me and my Mrs did it, complete with a squeegee, the strips, correctly prepared surface, and correctly diluted baby shampoo. 3 years on they;re still fine and look better than the job the OP had done on his car!
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For my Evora and one of my Elises, I had Steve Baker (a highly skilled - and mobile - PPF specialist @ paintguard.co.uk) install front end kits whilst the cars were still at the dealer (newly delivered cars, that is).
The end results are absolutely outstanding with a glass smooth finish that matches Lotus’ glass smooth paintwork to perfection.
Highly recommended.
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I understand the theory that it stops paint chips. Wouldn’t a flying stone that would otherwise chip the paint damage the PPF?
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Oh I get it, I used to be the same, and it still bugs me a bit when I find a new flaw on my car, but I’ve learned to accept that it’s not perfect and it never will be since it’s not a show car, as long as it looks good overall, I’m happy.
It does help that I bought mine used and was already “broken in”, hahaha. Finding the first flaw on a new car is a lot more painful.
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How are you getting on in terms of your conversations with the company that fitted your PPF film, Robin?
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There is some very sound general advice at this link on how to go about resolving issues with poor workmanship from a garage:
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I totally agree with you its very bad. I. If they will not refund I would name and shame them on YouTube. Was this done by a dealer?
Fortunately they’ve agreed to a refund on proof of removal. Which is currently booked for the 25th.
Unfortunately while peeling some back to ensure a white dot wasn’t a stone chip, I’ve just found more cut lines in the clear coat that will need wet sanding. This is on a brand new MX-5. I’m gutted to say the least.
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If those scratches within the red circle are not covered by PPF, you could ask whoever is re-doing the job to polish then apply a small piece of PPF on that section.
PPF can hide scratches:
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They look worse in the photo than real life and I find they disappear when wet. So I just contacted my new installer and they said they’ll be able to lightly wet sand and polish if needed before reapplying the new PPF.
I’ve just bought two new piano black wing mirror covers off MX5parts.co.uk to replace the ones I have with cut lines.
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As much as I would love to name and shame I said I wouldn’t, especially now I am expecting a refund on removal.
I can name the new installer though. These guys seem pretty legit: elitefinishsolutions.com. I visited yesterday and the owner was pleasant to speak to and invited me back when they would have finished the cars they’d just started that day. Has anyone heard anything about them? They have a good online presence, XPEL authorised and have plenty of good reviews and repeat business. Plus they specialise in detailing and PPF whereas the company I used before specialise in vehicle graphics and wraps.
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And so predicted.
So essentially, other people will happily use this outfit which did a total train wreck on your own car, due to being totally and blissfully unaware of who there are, due to this internet thing of non naming, despite whining on about it intensely enough.
The same old same old internet grievance pattern.
Let us just hope some poor soul on there on here, or on some other forum, don’t wind up paying shed loads of money, post 1.6 grand, and uploading train wreck photos from the same ‘unknown, unnamed’ PPF outfit.
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I think that it would be appropriate for anyone considering PPF to contact the OP via a private message to identify the original PPF installers. Done this way it is not on a public forum as such and the original installers would not be aware where any poor review came from.
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Poor them lol
Sorry mate, but you appear to have capitulated. There is no way that this shambles should be costing you any money at all. Have they not agreed to replace the covers that THEY damaged?
Agreed to a refund on proof of removal.. What does that mean? Are they trying to say that the damage to your brand new car was not their fault?
They should be falling over themselves to offer to pay for the damaged covers and a professional Mazda re-spray of the damaged paintwork. Then a free re-install of the PPF (after sacking the Saturday boy) with a stipulation that you DO name them so that they can establish some sort of positive reputation. Since they haven’t done that, then they are just a bunch of cowboys as far as i can see.
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Ones which people may use none the wiser, too.
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