Forum induced dilemma

[True-Blue]

I having a Dilemma, and it’s all your fault

Well, not everyone’s… but forum content is affecting my decision making

I received my car back from my friends body shop on Monday night after a front end refresh. We’re talking top quality job here, bonnet stripped completely back to bare metal etc. the paint looks incredible, far better than it left the factory… so very, very happy on that score.

However, I’m now convinced that I should have the front bumper and Bonnet PPF’d and hear-in lies the problem. I’ve bought brand new cars in the past and never worried about stone chips before… but now I’m feeling a bit paranoid.

I also tend to let my head rule my heart, and my sensible side is saying - PPF is really bloody expensive, you’d be better off selling the car and buying something more expensive instead. This is compounded by the fact that I have a brand new set of KW coilovers, that I could also get my money back on and this would put my ‘newer’ car budget at a higher price point again.

The PPF is effectively ‘dead money’. If I have it done, but sell the car in future, I can’t see the car fetching much more for the outlay… I don’t like loosing money on cars

Anyone want to talk the sense OUT of me

 

[Scubaregs]

I'd ceramic coat instead. Much less outlay than PPF although less protection granted, but it will make it far easier to keep clean.

 

[Nanu]

Yep, ceramic is the way to go

 

[True-Blue]

Ceramic coatings don’t really prevent stone chips… I don’t think?

If I pay for PPF I’ll probably ceramic coat it afterwards anyway though

I’ve used the CarPro consumer coatings before to very good effect.

 

[john-e89]

Keep it, PPF it, if nothing else you'll be able to look at it all the time with a fresh chip free bonnet. Also will help with resale price when the times comes. You'll be able to add a good £500 to the ask for the protection and looks.

 

[Zedebee]

I doubt you would be able to charge extra just because your car has PPF, but the real value is saving you the cost of another front end refresh down the line. Heaven only knows how much that cost you. The better decision (they are always better with hindsight) would have been to sell the car before the refresh, because you are unlikely to get much of that back either. Of course, if you are keeping the car, it’s all money well spent on making your P&J look/stay nice.

 

[True-Blue]

I doubt you would be able to charge extra just because your car has PPF, but the real value is saving you the cost of another front end refresh down the line. Heaven only knows how much that cost you. The better decision (they are always better with hindsight) would have been to sell the car before the refresh, because you are unlikely to get much of that back either. Of course, if you are keeping the car, it’s all money well spent on making your P&J look/stay nice.

It’s been done by a very good friend, so considerably below market rates for such work. With a wheel referb it would be one of the very best E89 30i’s available, virtually showroom. I think the paintwork would definitely impact the price I’d be able to achieve for the car in a positive way, but if I’d pay market rates then your 100% correct.

I told him I intended to keep the car, so he’s gone above and beyond, it’s stunning. I think I’d still be close to break-even on it in the current market

 

[True-Blue]

Keep it, PPF it, if nothing else you'll be able to look at it all the time with a fresh chip free bonnet. Also will help with resale price when the times comes. You'll be able to add a good £500 to the ask for the protection and looks.

I’m putting some feelers out to see it if I can achieve a palatable price for the bonnet and front bumper / complete front end. Thanks John, this is the kind of ‘man maths / thinking’ I need to be convinced to adopt

 

[Scubaregs]

Even PPF won't prevent all stone chips.

 

[True-Blue]

Even PPF won't prevent all stone chips.

Granted, but I believe the self healing ones / higher end films do a pretty good job…. Obviously anything too big, heavy or fast is still likely to cause damage.

 

[1536Z4]

I also tend to let my head rule my heart, and my sensible side is saying - PPF is really bloody expensive, you’d be better off selling the car and buying something more expensive instead.

You would still be in the same position regarding protection and probably even more so as it is a more expensive car :wink:

 

[True-Blue]

I also tend to let my head rule my heart, and my sensible side is saying - PPF is really bloody expensive, you’d be better off selling the car and buying something more expensive instead.

You would still be in the same position regarding protection and probably even more so as it is a more expensive car :wink:

There’s some more ‘man logic’ for me to digest, Hmmm :wink:

 

[Maria1]

Not really hijacking this but you are local to me so I was just wondering who your bodyshop was in case i need remedial work in the future.

 

[True-Blue]

Not really hijacking this but you are local to me so I was just wondering who your bodyshop was in case i need remedial work in the future.

I’ll ask him if he’s happy for me to pass on his details, but he wouldn’t be doing and kind of forum discounts. He is incredibly busy, and only really does work for me because we’ve been friends for years. He’s not at the cheaper end of the market either.

 

[Stash36]

Any pics mate,?

 

[True-Blue]

Any pics mate,?

Yes, in this thread on page 3

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=134949

 

[True-Blue]

So, after a fair bit of thought, I’ve decided not to go down the PPF route.

I’m getting quotes of between £1400 - £1600 for the front end, and £950 - £1100 for partial front, which is bumper and about 25% of the bonnet.

As much as I really want to do this, it’s a disproportionate amount of the car’s value and it would be cheaper to get the whole front end stripped and painted again.

I’ve also spotted another car I fancy, so I might advertise this car to see if there’s any interest, although it seems the sports car market is almost dead currently. It’ll certainly be no hardship to keep it.

 

[BMC_Kid]

PPF’d and ceramic coated. We don’t plan on getting rid of the car for many years to come. Since the paint, once it was corrected, was show car like, and I can’t stand rock chips, and the roads are so bad, we opted to go the route of full front PPF.

Edit: the lower panel that runs from the front fender and then below the door was included and protected. They wrapped the PPF over the edge and into inside lower sill.

 

[True-Blue]

I had one in this colour with a contrasting back roof. I corrected the paint myself and applied a ceramic coating, it did look great when the sun was out.