Wind Chill Pearl - Warning

[glibglob]

I do a decent amount of driving on back roads with dump trucks. Even with far follow distances chips are inevitable.

Wind Chill Pearl apparently has no perfect match for touch ups. I think it will be fine for me but figured I could mention my findings!

From Dr Color Chip:
“Your vehicle has a tri-coat / 3-stage color, meaning it was painted with a base coat, pearl coat and a tinted clear coat. Our paint is a single stage formula and there is not a single stage formula that matches exactly. However, the paint you receive should allow for a close color match and yield far better results than using regular touch-up paint. Please check the box to acknowledge this.”

 

[NoMe cruiser]

Yes chips are inevitable. Even if you don’t tailgate chips will occur from oncoming traffic. Ppf will help protect obviously. Even body shops will have a hard time to match a pearl panel but a good shop can get it right. I do like the fact that wcp has an extra layer of paint/color than most vehicles. We paid for it though.

 

[glibglob]

Wish I had gotten the front PPF’d immediately. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with bugs either

 

[NoMe cruiser]

I’m kinda hesitant about ppf. I never had it done. My theory is that it’s not gonna last forever and when it “deteriorates “ removal is probably a pita and there is bound to be some degree of fading. Every vehicle I’ve owned has small chips and upon trading them in the dealer never has mentioned it.

 

[Colorado]

I’m kinda hesitant about ppf. I never had it done. My theory is that it’s not gonna last forever and when it “deteriorates “ removal is probably a pita and there is bound to be some degree of fading. Every vehicle I’ve owned has small chips and upon trading them in the dealer never has mentioned it.

We've had PPF put on our cars for many years, going back to my wife's 2003 Avalon (with factory-installed clear bra). That's nine cars (we had homes in AZ and CO and so had a lot of cars). We've never had an issue with the PPF deteriorating except on the Avalon, which was parked outdoors in AZ after we sold it. The Arizona sun and heat will destroy anything.

Our installer previously used 3M clear bra but has used Xpel material for many years now and it holds up great. First thing I do on new cars is is wash the and clay bar the paint and have clear bra installed. He comes to our house and does it in the garage. I sold my 10 year old Highlander with over 100k miles and the clear bra still looked like new.

BTW, when we sold our 2009 Prius, the dealer was amazed at the paint condition on the front end. She said most Prii look like they'd been sand blasted. Ours was pristine with no paint chips thanks to the PPF. I believe it made a difference in the price we got.

 

[glibglob]

Yea my tint guy does the xpel stuff, thanks for sharing your experience. I think once I fix the chips myself I’ll be seeing him.

 

[DudewithaLC]

First trip my LC went on after I picked it up was, two days later, a trip to my local PPF installer. They used Xpel and the result is fantastic. I'm a bit of an OCD guy when it comes to paint so I had them do all the piano black in addition to the front end and door cups. If I had the money I'd have had them do the whole thing, but that would've been another $3k they tell me.

I had my wife's Sorento done earlier this year as well. In my opinion, great investment as I intend on keeping my LC for as long as possible and want to keep it in as best shape possible during that time. It's not about resale for me.

Second thing I did after the Xpel was installed was ceramic coat application. I had good success with my wife's Sorento and building on that, tackled my LC and it turned out excellent. Plus I saved myself obscene money in not having a shop do it for me. Ceramic goes over the Xpel too by the way.

 

[Syed117]

Mine came with ppf from the factory. I doubt it's the best stuff but wonder how it will hold up.

Only covers about a foot of the hood, the front painted sections and the mirror caps.

 

[Ditchnap]

This is typical of all pearl paints, regardless of color or manufacturer. They are insanely hard to match.