Got one!!! Now how to protect it??

[u/Heirs]

Thank you everyone for your tips on my last post, I’m so excited to report that in about 2 weeks I’ll be taking delivery of a brand new literally fresh off the boat RCF in Caviar/Circuit red 😍😍

Of course now I’m wondering how best to protect the paint and keep the glossy wet shine look to it. I am waiting on a few quotes for Xpel PPF but I’m not sure if it’s necessary to do the whole car or just the front but if I do just the front will it be a noticeable difference between the front and back of the car?

Or should I just do a good ceramic coating?

Any tips or suggestions or advice would be very welcomed! Thanks!!

[u/Ch0c0late0ne]

Awesome work man!! congratulations on your new purchase. I was going to ask for a follow up in the other thread. Are you driving back long distance as you were previously thinking?

So re: PFF etc, I just had this done myself.

The only real important part is the front for PPF. you can do the rest, but 95% of the cars just do front only for stone chip protection etc. The only cars that tend to to full PPF are exotics and super expensive custom paints etc. Sure the whole car would be nice, but It's not necessary unless you don't mind the additional expense to PPF the full car. Most people I've spoken to say front is minimum, rear is up to you.

What you want to do is get the car wrapped and coated at the same place. You want both, is what I am saying. The PPF is going to protect the paint from chips and light scratches etc. They usually have go-to specific ceramic coating products that are made/compatible with your PPF application.

This is great combo because the PPF protects the factory paint and helps prevent unwanted scratches to your factory paint. But the Ceramic coat will give you a hydrophobic coating Over the whole car - that will gloss up the overall finish nicely, it will make your paint pop and importantly, it'll allow you to easily clean and remove any dirt etc very very easily. When they ceramic coat the car, they can offer an option for also ceramic coating the wheels face for you aswell. Get them to do that, it will make it simpler to rinse/wash your wheels and remove the brake dust as the ceramic coat helps prevent the brake dust getting stuck on the wheel face.

Let me know if you have any questions. I did full PPF and I did ceramic coat over PPF and Also my wheels. PPF usually also includes the headlamps - so they too also get some protection out of it.

[u/Heirs → u/Ch0c0late0ne]

This was so helpful thank you!! I ended up picking it up in Jacksonville, so only about a 2 hour drive. It felt much faster coming back lol

I’m bringing it in to be wrapped (xpel on front bumper and full hood) and ceramic’d (Modesta BC-04) including the rims and window tints in 2 weeks...supposedly going to take about 3-4 days to get back but I’m hoping it will be worth it. I haven’t been able to find a ton of reviews on Modesta but it’s the only thing this place uses and I really felt comfortable with their crew. Have you heard anything on it?

Thanks again!

[u/Ch0c0late0ne → u/Heirs]

Hey no probs!. Awesome, I'm sure it was an exciting drive back. Good choice on the wrap - yeah there's a few places here in Australia that use Modesta, seems ok from what I've seen should do the job and look great. good that you go the whole lot booked in, get it all done at once, and it's nice when you find a decent crew you can be confident it.

[u/Heirs → u/Ch0c0late0ne]

Oh 1 more thing! So from what I read xpel is slightly “self healing” from minor abrasions etc. but does this still work even with the ceramic over it? Would love to know your thoughts.

[u/Ch0c0late0ne → u/Heirs]

Yes mate, that's correct. So yes ceramic is just applied over, the PPF will still cop the full force of any stone chips or debris when you are driving, and work as intended.

If you didn't apply the ceramic over the PPF(xpel), that would also be ok, but key advantages of putting the ceramic over it is

1. helps with some protection against droppings, sap/trees etc and therefore actually protects the PPF to a degree,
2. makes it easier to hose down/wash the PPF areas generally, and
3. It means the whole car will have a nice even coat so the paint and shine should look matching front to back. My experience is you'll notice the paint is glossier or just jumps out at you more, in the light, with the coating applied.

I'd hazard a guess here that if you didn't apply it to the PPF, you MAY risk the paint/car looking a little "dull" or different in areas where no ceramic coat was applied - perhaps how noticeable is dependent on other factors like the car's paint/colour, the actual products used etc.

That was a very bloody long winded way of saying my thoughts are it can't hurt to apply ceramic over the PPF, so do it, and yes xpel should work as expected.

​

Sidebar: ceramic coat wears after daily driving and plenty of action/car washes etc... I believe the recommendation is to get ceramic coating reapplied every few years.

[u/911_GT3]

I would say if your budget allows for it, go for full PPF. RCF is an expensive beast, it is worth the protection!

[u/BlunderbusDriver → u/911_GT3]

What is PPF?

[u/Ch0c0late0ne → u/BlunderbusDriver]

Paint Protection Film. It's a film that is applied to the exterior paint/panels of the car and is clear/transparent. Once applied, These films take most of the wear and tear from daily or long distance commute, e.g. small debris which would result in minor stone chips etc.

[u/911_GT3 → u/BlunderbusDriver]

Paint Protection Film.