self install 3m ppf

[Zach-91]

I'm very tempted to buy a precut 3m pro series ppf and try to do a self install on my 2019 rst. Wanting to protect the color matched front from rock chips. Has anyone on here tried going this route and if so, any opinions on the install?

I've done quite a bit of paint correction on the last several vehicles and have plenty of experience doing my own work, but have never tried a ppf. Price for the precut kit seems pretty good. It just isn't worth it to me to pay over $1000 to have the stuff put on but for $280 and a afternoon I am highly considering it. 

[Zach-91]

And just to expand a little, I watched a few videos on the install and seems that the most difficult thing is when you have a double angled corner like a couple spots on the bumper where the recess for the grill is. Rest of the pieces look pretty easy. so I feel pretty confident in being able to do it with some patience and a heat gun. Just wanting to know if there are any success or horror stories before diving into it. 

[CMillSilverado]

I tried this on my wifes Audi A5, my experience was a total fail so I ended up just paying for my new Silverado to have it all done, was $900 for the entire front end, yes OUCH!

 

The problem I had was with the stretching and pulling, once you have it on one spot good it didn't line up  on the other side and then you went back and forth. I was able to get the hood piece on since it was fairly easy but had to pull the mirrors and bumper stuff off as it looked like crap. Even the hood is just ok compared to the hood on my turck.

 

I did do my MTB with good results though, much easier since it's done in strips and not big areas.

[lerbud]

Its not too bad.  I did the 3M ppf myself and it turned out well.  I did not get the pre-cut stuff.  I just bought some rolls of 12", 6" & 4".  Cost less than $100 and looks fine.  I did they same on my old Sierra and wife's car and they held up fine.  I also recommend putting it on the headlights.  It saves them from wear and tear and the plastic from fading.

[Zach-91]

3 hours ago, lerbud said:

Its not too bad.  I did the 3M ppf myself and it turned out well.  I did not get the pre-cut stuff.  I just bought some rolls of 12", 6" & 4".  Cost less than $100 and looks fine.  I did they same on my old Sierra and wife's car and they held up fine.  I also recommend putting it on the headlights.  It saves them from wear and tear and the plastic from fading.

Where did you buy the rolls from and how did you cut it? Just get it close to size and then cut around the edges after it was all in place? I was considering buying the kit for the grill, bumper, fenders, mirrors, & hood then getting a small roll to do the headlights and maybe rockers and lower door sills since these could just be rectangle strips. Although I'm guessing this stuff probably cuts pretty easy if you have a new/really sharp blade. Messaged the company on ebay selling the kit and they told me the warranty covers yellowing for 5 years which is my biggest concern. Although if I find it easy enough to cut my own and am able to do patches for cheap, I really wouldn't mind. 

[Zach-91]

3 hours ago, CMillSilverado said:

I tried this on my wifes Audi A5, my experience was a total fail so I ended up just paying for my new Silverado to have it all done, was $900 for the entire front end, yes OUCH!

 

The problem I had was with the stretching and pulling, once you have it on one spot good it didn't line up  on the other side and then you went back and forth. I was able to get the hood piece on since it was fairly easy but had to pull the mirrors and bumper stuff off as it looked like crap. Even the hood is just ok compared to the hood on my turck.

 

I did do my MTB with good results though, much easier since it's done in strips and not big areas.

Yea, this is what I'm worried about. Seems like one of those things that I might look back on and wish I had just paid the install money. I imagine the hood being pretty easy on these trucks, it's the grill and bumper curves that I am not so sure about. 

 

When you say it looked like crap, do you mean creases in the wrap or uneven finish or just overall alignment issues?

[lerbud]

I trimmed it as best I could before installing it. I used scissors. It is hard to cut once installed.  

[CMillSilverado]

53 minutes ago, Zach-91 said:

Yea, this is what I'm worried about. Seems like one of those things that I might look back on and wish I had just paid the install money. I imagine the hood being pretty easy on these trucks, it's the grill and bumper curves that I am not so sure about. 

 

When you say it looked like crap, do you mean creases in the wrap or uneven finish or just overall alignment issues?

All of the above, lines in the film from stretching, bubbles, alignment these guys know there stuff from failure I'm sure. I think if I had the time to do a few of these I would figure out the tricks.

 

Theguys that did my truck kept it overnight so they could get it good and stuck then pulled it around the corners the next morning.