PPF on Headlights | FerrariChat

PPF on Headlights

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by ridege55, Feb 4, 2020.

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  1. ridege55

    ridege55 Formula 3
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    May 9, 2017
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    Manhattan Beach, CA
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    John
    Been thinking of getting PPF for the 458 soon. Any insights on getting the headlights PPF? I have been talking to a few Porsche friends, and they said don't do the headlights. Mentioned that it could de-laminate the headlight. Any truth or concern to this, especially for a 458?
     
  2. Jason B

    Jason B Formula Junior

    Apr 7, 2006
    397
    Hbg, PA
    Not to worry, the new stuff is even better and self healing. I've been using this stuff for many many years and never an issue. If you don't protect them, you're just asking for trouble.
     
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  3. ridege55

    ridege55 Formula 3
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    Thanks Jason. I heard that the headlights could yellow (or delaminate) with PPF over time, or when pulling off the PPF would delaminate the headlight. Not sure any of this is true for the 458, but was just confirming.
     
  4. DoubleD33

    DoubleD33 F1 Rookie
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    May 2, 2012
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    Mine is currently getting Stek on the front clip (not suntek). I should get it back this week and I am getting my head lights done. I don't have any long term history but think it is a good thing to do.
     
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  5. MANDALAY

    MANDALAY F1 World Champ
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    May 23, 2013
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    ANGELO
    Did it on mine Xpel
     
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  6. Viperjoe

    Viperjoe F1 Rookie
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    Did mine with Suntek - no problem.
     
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  7. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    Aug 22, 2002
    18,772
    better off just using ceramic on glass and plastic, in my experience
     
  8. SLDriver

    SLDriver Formula Junior

    May 1, 2005
    651
    Won't do much protecting from rocks and other debris.

    I believe with Porsche headlamps you have to be careful and can't be protected with film. Never had issues with Xpel on my 488.
     
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  9. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    Jul 25, 2008
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    Definitively do wrap the headlights …

    And now, after 3 years you can see some nasty impacts that may have cracked them ...

    Do you have any idea how much it costs to replace one ?

    Over $6000 …(included taking out and installing)

    So what is $ 50 for one wrap ?

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  10. Gh21631

    Gh21631 F1 Veteran
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    Feb 24, 2011
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    The STEK doesn't have as much adhesive and should be safer on the headlights as well as paint.
     
  11. FPFaeth

    FPFaeth Formula Junior

    Dec 3, 2009
    663
    NY
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    Frank Faeth
    Did Xpel on several sets of headlights. Never a problem.
     
  12. DoubleD33

    DoubleD33 F1 Rookie
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    I hope it was a good decision. The installer switches from Xpel to this a few years ago and likes it a lot better.

    I also am a believer that marketing sales and sometimes there are good or better products with less of a marketing budget.
     
  13. Il Co-Pilota

    Il Co-Pilota F1 Veteran

    May 29, 2019
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    I'm told that it is an important nogo.
    There's a chemical in the headlight glass that can react with the glue in the film and dull the glass. I saw two examples of this at a PPF shop in November, where they were redoing an Aventador SV and a 458 Speciale two other shops had previously done. One had been done with XPel and the other with Suntek. Both cars needed headlamps replaced due to this. Asked Adam at Topaz in London, and he concurred. No PPF on headlights!

    Sent from my SM-G930F using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
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  14. Melvok

    Melvok F1 World Champ
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    My headlights were done 4 years ago ... still perfect !
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  15. Caeruleus11

    Caeruleus11 F1 World Champ
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    Absolutely wrap the lights. I don't know what the Porsche people are talking about, theres nothing to de-laminate with headlights. They won't yellow. The thing to worry about is pulling the paint off when they take the wrap off your painted surfaces. A good installer will try to minimize this by using as little adhesive as possible. The bad ones don't know better and use a ton of adhesive and when they go to take the wrap off, the paint will come with it.

    PS I've been getting headlights on cars wrapped for 14+ years with no issues.
     
  16. flifer

    flifer Karting

    Mar 3, 2016
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    Miami
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    Mike
    Seems like everyone who loves PPF on headlights has never removed them before... I have full PPF on my car and this thread kinda scares me... Has anyone redone PPF on headlights and had them not become ruined?
     
  17. ttforcefed

    ttforcefed F1 World Champ
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    I wldnt worry about it. They can get ppf off paint they can def get it off the headlights
     
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  18. Rexcat458

    Rexcat458 Formula Junior

    Dec 11, 2019
    594
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    Steve
    The AFS headlights on my 458 have PPF on them (going on 4+ years) with no problems whatsoever. Both are still crystal clear... Either way is a risk though, no PPF and you get smacked by a rock on one of them and it may need to be replaced.

    Put the PPF on and it might also cause a problem. I should note (if it matters) that my 458 was previously garaged and I also garage it in a fully controlled a/c or heated environment, so UV exposure is minimized... Cheers!


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  19. Solid State

    Solid State F1 Veteran
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    Feb 4, 2014
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    The thing with PPF on headlights is the issue with removal. They will come off no problem but they will remove the top layer of coating on the light. As it was explained to me by two independent PPF installers, the lights have a final coating over the plastic that acts as the last focus control over the light pattern. This always comes off when replacing the PPF. It will cause a noticeable diffraction of the light pattern to those that do it for a living. The average driver may not notice it. I believed their story as couldn't see why they would make it up. IMO still better to use the PPF as it does have a documented advantage in protection especially with these very large and expensive light buckets.
     
  20. HMB-Dino

    HMB-Dino Formula 3
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    I realize that this question is a bit off topic, but the biggest, most vulnerable and probably most expensive piece is the huge windshield. Can anyone point me to thread(s) that cover windshield protection?
     
  21. calder1

    calder1 F1 Rookie
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    Aug 26, 2006
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    We do the headlights
     
  22. racerdj

    racerdj F1 Veteran
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    Jan 19, 2003
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    I have had PPF on all my cars purchased after 2010 with zero problems. I highly recommend as in Indiana I seem to be hit with small stones or pebbles on our patches roads.
     
  23. Bobbodaclown

    Bobbodaclown Rookie

    Jan 3, 2018
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    Robert Green
    I have had PPF on a daily for twelve years and that car sits outside all the time. The PPF is still fine. From that, my theory is that the only reason I will need to replace the PPF on the headlights is if it gets badly damaged from an impact. If that is the case, then it is very likely that without that PPF the headlight would have been toast anyways.
     
  24. todd cloud

    todd cloud Formula Junior

    Jun 21, 2019
    877
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    Todd
    PPF the headlamps. Just bought a 2013 458. The existing PPF was 5 years old and had some hits on it. Pulled the film and the lights underneath were PERFECT. Replaced the film and I am good to go. It is $12,000 to replace and $200 to wrap. Do the math. The 911 GTS in the picture also has film on the lamps.
     

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  25. Bobbodaclown

    Bobbodaclown Rookie

    Jan 3, 2018
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    Robert Green
    Congrats. Lovely car. To take your comment to the next logical step, if the PPF hadn't been on the headlamps in the first place, they would have been toast anyways.
     

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