My 2005 UL has a clear film on the front of the hood. Is this original to the car or applied by a PO? It's done a good job of protecting the hood from rock chips but now lots of cracks are forming in the film. Does anyone know if it could be removed safely without damaging the paint?

 

Clear film does not come from the factory if that's what you mean. Old film can be difficult and time consuming to remove but generally it can be done without harming the paint I've done it a few times. It helps to use heat but too much will make the film curl. You want to pull off the film in as biggest pieces as possible.

I suggest watching a few videos on how to remove PPF.

 

Not knowing how long the protective film has been on as well as the condition of the underlying paint.......I would consider taking it to a professional (that specializes in protective film) for removal. If not done correctly, you risk the removal or damage to the underlying paint which might require a complete repaint of the hood and adjacent fenders and areas for blending. I've had this protective film on every car I've owned except for my LS. Yes, heat is required and very careful removal. Good luck.

 

My hood protective film began to peel and looked very dirty. A professional cut off a quarter of an inch of the protective film which made it look like new again.
Will that work for you?

 

Thanks for the replies folks. I have looked at a few YouTube videos on removing the clear film but wanted to check in here as well. The film was on the car when we got it about 6 years ago, so don't know when it was applied. The paint on this car is in very good condition and looks fine underneath the film. The car has always been garaged while we have owned it.

The reason we want the film removed is because it is crazing, or cracking, throughout. It is not peeling up anywhere and is not dirty, just getting ugly from the cracking. I will check with a detailer.