Is it worth getting Paint Protection Film??? (e.g. Ventureshield)

[Maverick]

I'm almost certain my installer said to stay clear of high pressure hoses in case it lifts the film on the edges.

I use the high pressure hose on the car but take care around the edges, if you want to clean the edge spray it from the film side so you're going away from the edge and keep your distance.

The film will be 3 years old in a week and no signs of lifting anywhere with the film.

[Prodigy]

Turns out the lines I had on my bonnet were a roll defect. No problems whatsoever, Tony at Perth Graphics Centre looked at it and replaced the Ventureshield on the bonnet the next day at no cost. Absolutely perfect nick now!!

Great to hear it got sorted mate, can't fault Tony's work or customer service.

[m_f]

Thanks for responses! Judging from the mixed responses, I guess I have to call up an installer and find out! I think I'm trying to get ready for the delivery and trying to occupy myself in the week prior to picking my new baby up!

[dave_r]

Does anyone know a good installer in Melbourne that can install it for the entire bonnet (not just the leading edge)

I rang a few places when I was looking into it and no one in Melbourne would do anything bar the basic setup. Seems nobody down here is capable. I didn't bother in the end. Got a few marks but I'm over it and saved myself the $1000 on clingwrap.

[REXman]

These various car cling wrap products are made out to be the force shield.

Its really just some thick plastic that sticks to your car.

I love the one where *they say if your car was to be grinded on a wall - the panels will **** up but the cling wrap will be fine. Who gives a crap! If my panels are all busted up, i'll need to pay for insurance to fix my car, then have to pay for the cling wrap all over again!

Biggest waste of money in my opinion..

And you have to contnually up keep it? Fail + fail.

[Maverick]

These various car cling wrap products are made out to be the force shield.

Its really just some thick plastic that sticks to your car.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. The name paint protection film is kind-of a giveaway however. It's no different to fitting a screen protector to your phone or tablet to protect it from scratching.

I love the one where *they say if your car was to be grinded on a wall - the panels will **** up but the cling wrap will be fine. Who gives a crap! If my panels are all busted up, i'll need to pay for insurance to fix my car, then have to pay for the cling wrap all over again!

I'm not sure what you're seeing but the film is a sacrificial layer that protects the paint, there are plenty of photos around of cars that have had their bumpers scraped by other cars or against concrete and when the film has been peeled back there is no damage to the paint.

Here's an example to make it easier to understand.






More info at Ducoscratch

I have zero stone chips after 3 years with the paint protection film, my bonnet is unmarked, I have no marks or scratches on my headlights, no marks or stone chips on my bumpers. The paint in the cup under the door handles is not scratched. I have no marks on my side protection strips. My car has zero paint damage anywhere, no stone chips, no scratches and it's mostly down to paint protection film. Best $811 I've spent.

Biggest waste of money in my opinion..

Good don't buy it then.

And you have to contnually up keep it? Fail + fail.

Continually up keep it? You mean by washing the car as per normal? It actually means less work as you don't have to polish/wax the area under the film.

[Prodigy]

I've always hated having stone chips on my previous cars so when i found out about this product it was a must have for me, i agree it's not cheap but neither is the car it's on.

Each to their own i suppose but so far it has been brilliant with no stone chips in sight and i don't regret getting it done one bit, as for up keep as Maverick has said you have to do nothing out of the ordinary, if anything it is easier to look after than the uncovered parts.

[Rob_R]

Thanks for responses! Judging from the mixed responses, I guess I have to call up an installer and find out! I think I'm trying to get ready for the delivery and trying to occupy myself in the week prior to picking my new baby up!

Hey m_f, how did you go? Did you get onto James at Invisible Bras? He has given me a quote which includes full bonnet. You may already know this but they come to you or if preffered they have a workshop in Moorabin. I think he is based in Scoresby. This is all probably old news to you now but I was interested how you got on.

[m_f]

Hey m_f, how did you go? Did you get onto James at Invisible Bras? He has given me a quote which includes full bonnet. You may already know this but they come to you or if preffered they have a workshop in Moorabin. I think he is based in Scoresby. This is all probably old news to you now but I was interested how you got on.

I haven't actually had a chance to call him yet. I've been busy at work during the day, and when I did have time, I was talking to my dealer etc. I will call him soon though! Just curious, how much is it to have the whole bonnet fitted?

[Rob_R]

I haven't actually had a chance to call him yet. I've been busy at work during the day, and when I did have time, I was talking to my dealer etc. I will call him soon though! Just curious, how much is it to have the whole bonnet fitted?

My quote wasn't itemised and I only asked him to supply a quote which included the full bonnet applied. If you drop James an e-mail you could ask for quote with leading edge of bonnet and full bonnet cost comparison. I could guess what the $ difference might be but that could be fairly misleading if I get it wrong.

[m_f]

My quote wasn't itemised and I only asked him to supply a quote which included the full bonnet applied. If you drop James an e-mail you could ask for quote with leading edge of bonnet and full bonnet cost comparison. I could guess what the $ difference might be but that could be fairly misleading if I get it wrong.

Got a quote from James today. As you mentioned, it is itemised, and there's quite a difference between the full bonnet and the leading edge. But I'm still tempted to do the whole bonnet.

Given all the items he listed, which parts of the car do people think most needs the Ventureshield?

Front bumper
Leading edge of the bonnet and guards with mirrors
Full bonnet and guards with mirrors
Lights
Top of the rear bumper

Does full bonnet+front bumper sound adequate?

[Prodigy]

Given all the items he listed, which parts of the car do people think most needs the Ventureshield?

I had done:

Full Bonnet
Front Bumper including grill & DRL's
Full front guards
Headlights
A Pillars
Wing Mirrors
Gloss Black Trim on doors,
Door Handle Cups
Top of rear bumper.

As a minimum i would get the full bonnet & bumper done as they are going to take the brunt of any debris.

[m_f]

I agree that full bonnet and bumper should be bare minimum.

How come people get the top of their rear bumpers done?

[Corey_R]

I had done:

Full Bonnet
Front Bumper including grill & DRL's
Full front guards
Headlights
A Pillars
Wing Mirrors
Gloss Black Trim on doors,
Door Handle Cups
Top of rear bumper.

As a minimum i would get the full bonnet & bumper done as they are going to take the brunt of any debris.

+1 to the gloss black trim on the doors, and the door handle cups.
The gloss black trim on the doors of VW's is made from a notorious scratchy plastic. It gets "swirl marks" on it far was than using sandpaper on your paint. Cover it with Ventureshield for sure. Also, door cups naturally get scratched to pieces - especially if you've got lady-friends-with-long-nails (or you're a guy who plays guitar like me). Both of those places can use "off cuts" from the rest of the work and cost not much more to do.

I agree that full bonnet and bumper should be bare minimum.

I believe you also need at least the front half of the front guards done - as they're just as prone to stone chips as the bonnet.

How come people get the top of their rear bumpers done?

It's a common area for scuffs, scratches and chips, from people not being careful getting shopping bags, sports bags, luggage, or other items in and out of the hatch etc. When we say "top of rear bumper", it will be in the flat "hatch" portion of the rear bumper and then curve around the bend and stop at the "plate cutout".

[m_f]

Thanks for the comments.

I think the full bonnet package includes front guards. I will most likely get the rear bumper done. Sounds like a good investment for my baby which I just picked up an hour ago!