When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I have Xpel on mine and it's totally worth it. You will get penetrations through the film since it's 8.5 mil. thick. You can replace it if it gets damaged. An installer will use a heat gun or steam to remove the old. It's up to you if you want to have it installed. The gloss with Xpel is fantastic so you shouldn't have any complaints there.
Example - When I got into my first Lexus, the 2006 ES in my signature, I opted for nothing since I didn't know anything was really available at the time either. 5 years and 50k later the front end would have cost $2500 to repaint due to all the damage that was done. I mean the front end was SHREDDED from highway driving, construction zones, etc. Looked like crap. So I opted to go with a new RX instead and ansisted on the protection at my dealer. The only thing at that time Lexus was offering was a $300 small strip across the hood. I called around and found a local guy who did the 3M PPF. I refused to take delivery of the RX until he was able to come into the dealer and do what I wanted covered. He did, other customers saw what he was doing, and now he has a contract with the dealer as well at 8 other dealers around this area.
What happens if it gets damaged? Depends on the damage. A simple scratch can be buffed out as it acts as a sort of clear coat and can be poished, waxed, buffed, etc. If it gets torn from, say, hitting a parking bar or something you can cut away what is scraped or peel off and replace individual pieces.
I won't add any resale value to your car but having a pristine paint job underneath certainly will - especially if you choose to sell it privately. You can peel it off, clean the car, and looks like a babied beast. Just my opinion.
My '20 F-Sport is sitting in my driveway until I get it done this coming weekend, btw
If you plan on keeping your car for awhile, it's worth the investment of PPF to protect your paint. We did XPEL on our MDX since day one of ownership, PPF is holding up well - 3 years now no yellowing, cracking, or peeling and as glossy as the paint underneath. That being said, I'd only do PPF on brand new cars where paint is prep and in near perfect condition. I wouldn't bother PPF a used car where you may already have imperfection on paint. Unless you get it repainted and then PPF.
100% worth it Lexus paint is soft compared to German cars, you will end up with rock chips on the bumper and hood and regret not getting PPF. I recommend Xpel Ultimate, or whatever their latest product is.
Do the full front, the most vulnerable areas are hood, front bumper, and side mirrors. make sure you do full hood otherwise you will have a dirt line if you only do 1/3 hood.
My 2013 had the factory ppf when I bought it 3.5 years ago and zero rock chips. I had it redone with xpel when I changed my front bumper, over 100k miles on the car and zero rock chips on the front end.
I buy used cars so usually they already have some chips/paint damage, but if I were shelling out on a new car I’d almost certainly buy PPF wrap. The front end always ends up looking beat up if you keep the car long term, it would be nice to cut down on or eliminate that. Right when you buy a new car is your only opportunity to really prevent the damage. Another $1500 seems worth it to me when the car is already about $60k, unless you are completely unbothered by rock chips.
Many Lexus colors are multi stagehand difficult to touchup or blend in. So doing chip and touchup repair ends up as a bigger job. That's another good reason for PPF. My aluminum hood on my LS had a golfball size dent. A body shop was going to charge for a full hood repaint. I got a paintless dent repair artist to work it out for $150. He said the PPF held the paint together so he was able to do the job and the film actually shrunk back after a few days making the repair totally invisible. From the previous graphic, I feel that partial front or full front is the minimum I would do on my cars.
06-24-20, 10:09 AM
Paint Protection Film (PPF) is that worth it?
