# Auto Paint Protection Film

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 13, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788 "2013-09-13T19:13:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788/1 "2013-09-13T19:13:31Z")

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I recently purchased a CPO that previously had paint protection film applied, although I’m unsure as to the manufacturer of the product. There’s one small blemish/scuff on the bumper where the film was slightly damaged but it appears that, as designed, it in fact protected the paint underneath from any harm. So I’m leaning toward assuming the film is worth keeping on the car. However, the scuff itself is something I’d like to fix and just doing that one panel would cost 80% of what a full replacement would cost so a complete reinstall was recomended. This would mean having the film professionally removed, the vehicle completely detailed and then the protective film reapplied, no small task so I’d like to make sure I’m reasonably familiar with all the ins and outs beforehand.

I’m curious if anyone has any experience with use of a paint protection film, if there are certain companies like 3M or Xpel that have a line you’d recommend and certainly if there are things to avoid. I’ve done a bit of research already of course but here anecdotes are most welcome. Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788/2 "2013-09-13T20:09:03Z")

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How about just carefully cutting off the damaged portion?

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**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788/3 "2013-09-13T20:57:39Z")

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A good idea and I tried that, sharpest knife and smallest tweezers. Once the film has been lifted, even just slightly, it loses much of it’s 99.5% transparency. You get a donut.

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**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788/4 "2013-09-13T21:42:23Z")

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Good luck…I am also looking at PPFs and it’s enough to make my head spin. There appear to be several variants of just 3M films (e.g., ScotchCal, VentureShield). I’ve heard good things about the premium Xpel Ultimate and the Avery Dennison Nano Fusion, though.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auto-paint-protection-film/668788/5 "2013-09-13T23:58:31Z")

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I had PPF applied to my Prius when it was new. Very satisfied, but unfortunately I don’t recall the brand used. ☹