Paint protection film

[gtiaps]

Has anyone had paint protection film put on their R?  Are there any downsides that you didn’t realise when it went on?

I’ve come across 3M VentureShield but who else out there does it?

I’m intending to do a feature in Volkswagen Driver Magazine so any tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I had it done on the bonnet front bumper and mirror caps on the wife's Scirocco back in 2010 and tbh I wasn't that impressed it started to lift in places of curvee.
Had it on about 3month took the car back and had it all stripped off not been down that route since but I assume they have got better...

[mkviken]

The kit I got was bumper, half bonnet, A pillars and about 1/4 of roof

There was also a kit do the sills and lower doors and part or the rear bumper

[Mag_Pie]

Has anyone had paint protection film put on their R?  Are there any downsides that you didn’t realise when it went on?

I’ve come across 3M VentureShield but who else out there does it?

I’m intending to do a feature in Volkswagen Driver Magazine so any tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Is this something that you are looking to apply yourself or just recommended fitters?

Xpel is one of the latest films that I know of.

[deltarikk]

I had my Indium Grey CS detailed just after getting it last year, had Gtech ceramic treatment and also full front end Llumar PPF, this was applied prior to Gtech but they used a different Gtech coating over the ppf so as not to affect its 'self healing' properties regarding scratches.

I'm really pleased I had it done, unless you got really close you wouldn't know its on and its not lifting at all anywhere. I do take a bit more care though when washing around edges like on mirror caps etc.

[mcmaddy]

I would have assumed you would have ceramic coated the car first and then applied the PPF? Surely you can't polish and coat plastic film.

[JoeGTI]

No, I don't think there was ever a film on the wheel arches. On the 3 door they used to (maybe they still do) put a piece of clear plastic on the door sill where it meets the rear quarter. I remember ripping it off after a few weeks as it looked crap.

Mud flaps look chronic on any Golf imo.

[Jim_mk7.5]

Mud flaps look chronic on any Golf imo.

Ha, agreed. There's a place for mud flaps. Land Rover Defenders! 

[hog_hedge]

I would have assumed you would have ceramic coated the car first and then applied the PPF? Surely you can't polish and coat plastic film.

The PPF will need to adhere to bare paint so that means no ceramic underneath. You can polish PPF just like you can polish gloss plastic trim, I would only use a DA with a finishing polish or very fine compound though.

[deltarikk]

I would have assumed you would have ceramic coated the car first and then applied the PPF? Surely you can't polish and coat plastic film.

Seen Hogs reply but yeah the ppf went on bodywork without treatment, rest of vehicle was Gtech CS Black treated and they then applied the CS Light over the top of the Llumar, I'm no detailing expert by any means but it looks excellent and the water beads off the same as it does off the harder ceramic CS Black direct on bodywork.

[Mikea]

Seen Hogs reply but yeah the ppf went on bodywork without treatment, rest of vehicle was Gtech CS Black treated and they then applied the CS Light over the top of the Llumar, I'm no detailing expert by any means but it looks excellent and the water beads off the same as it does off the harder ceramic CS Black direct on bodywork.

I was told that a ceramic coating on the Llumar would damage it, it was maybe gtechniq exo3 which is a hydrophobic coating and is ok as a top coating for the PPF but Llumar has this type of coating built into it.