UV protection headlight PPF film/wrap

[Meds]

Does anyone have experience with PPF wrap/film that claim to be UV resistant?

I've recently polished my headlights and want to ensure they stay as shiney as possible. I've applied the perspex sealer and also a coat of wax that should help but I'd like something more permanent.

There seems to be a huge price difference from a £5 no-brand cheap small roll of film that claims to be UV resistant, to some very expensive branded stuff and mostly only avaliable in long rolls.



Any ideas?

 

[Rucky]

i used UV protective lacquer on my X5 and will be doing the Z4 this spring as soon as it warms up.
https://e-tech.uk.com/e-tech-restored-headlight-clear-coat

 

[TriggerFish]

I used Lamin-X on my Volvo. The headlights on that went cloudy, and I restored them with the Meguiars kit - including their sealer. It had gone cloudy in the same way a year or so later.

I redid them, and then applied the sealer (I think) and Lamin-X over the top. It hasn't shown any signs of degrading so far, and that was about a year ago I think. The film itself is thick. Like 2-4mm thick I'd guess, and it really does give piece of mind it'll actually protect them from chips/rocks, which the thinner films (like you'd use for tinting foglights etc) or sprays don't really give, even if it doesn't help with UV (which it does seem to be doing, so a win/win).

 

[Meds]

i used UV protective lacquer on my X5 and will be doing the Z4 this spring as soon as it warms up.

I've considered a spray sealant. But my concern is me screwing it up and it looking bad, then needing to mechanically remove it to try again. I can see myself getting in a right mucking fuddle, tbh.
What was the application/finish like?

I used Lamin-X on my Volvo.

Yes films like Lamin-X seem ideal, even on their promo video it shows a Z4 headlight. Haha, they know!

 

[plenty]

I used a £20 PPF kit from eBay. Too early to tell how well it prevents UV, but the fit and quality seemed ok. And unlike a sealant it also helps protects against stone chips (useful when bi-xenons are close to a grand per set).

 

[Rucky]

Rattle can finish was perfect, 3 coats, no runs or drips. The lacquer resists chips at least as well as paint and if it does get chipped I will just cut it back with 400/600 wet and dry and reapply. I was worried it might peel but no signs yet.

 

[Meds]

I've emailed a few local car wrapping places to see what they can offer, if they dont want the job then I'll probably get the Lamin-X pre-cut films.

 

[pvr]

Just as a semi related bit of nonsense, did you read about Aviva cancelling insurance as a car had PPF on it which was not declared? Thread on Pistonheads if you need some coffee time reading ...

 

[Meds]

Just as a semi related bit of nonsense, did you read about Aviva cancelling insurance as a car had PPF on it which was not declared? Thread on Pistonheads if you need some coffee time reading ...

Oh my days.

 

[mmm-five]

Just as a semi related bit of nonsense, did you read about Aviva cancelling insurance as a car had PPF on it which was not declared? Thread on Pistonheads if you need some coffee time reading ...

Admiral repaired my car, but wouldn't pay for the PPF to be replaced...but at least they didn't cancel/void the policy.

 

[Meds]

https://www.topwrapz.com/post/bmw-z4-e85-e86-headlight-protection-ppf-45-00

Another option ^^

 

[mmm-five]

https://www.topwrapz.com/post/bmw-z4-e85-e86-headlight-protection-ppf-45-00

Another option ^^

But remember to select the 'clear' version (both now £54 a pair) if you don't want to look like a chav and risk an MOT failure from a strict MOT tester.

 

[Meds]

I booked my place in the chav category when I tinted my fog lights yellow.
It would be 100% clear for the headlights, though.

 

[RobertJames]

Cheap PPF may yellow quickly, while quality UV-resistant films last longer. For headlights, it’s worth investing in a reputable brand.

 

[Rockhopper]

I’m told that it’s actually more expensive to make film etc that isn’t UV resistant because the materials used in its manufacture naturally have that property.

 

[sylvancove]

I’d go with a proper headlight PPF rather than the cheaper generic film. Since you’ve already polished the headlights, the main benefit is that a quality film can help protect the restored surface from UV exposure while also taking some abuse from stones and road debris. That gives you more protection than wax or a sealer alone.

I’d also pay attention to the film’s thickness, optical clarity, UV resistance, and warranty rather than choosing purely on price. The installation makes a difference too, especially around the edges and curves of the headlight. If you want to compare what professional installers are using, click here is one reference worth checking out. OC Tint Solutions specializes in automotive protection films, so it can give you a better idea of what separates proper PPF from the thin generic films sold in small rolls.

 

[CanardAlsace]

UV resistance is unfortunately a difficult subject when it comes to any kind of plastic and particularly clear thin films. There are endless technical papers and books written on the subject ! . There are also standard tests that the auto industry does on everything from textiles, to interior plastics, to paints but are usually measuring color fade.

The issue for plastics usually is about protecting mechanical properties (impact resistance tear strength etc) and aesthetics (protection from yellowing, cloudiness, chalking on the surface).
Certain plastics have base UV resistance others like your polypropylene garden chairs are quite poor. One way to boost it UV protection is to include certain chemicals in the formulation… carbon black and titanium dioxide are often used (no good in transparent plastics). , but you have some very expensive chemicals that provide UV protection by interrupting breaking of the polymer chains and oxidation. Another method is to use certain pigments that change color to mask the UV yellowing of the plastic.

The problem for thin films, is you need a lot of these expensive chemicals to have sufficient ‘reservoir’ to give reasonable lifetime. As a side note- yellow color is actually very good at blocking UV … (look at your pharmacy medicine bottles.) but yellow headlights might have been the in thing under Maggie T but they look strange.

Moral:
- don’t expect a lifetime of service. It will degrade… only a question of how quickly.
- the best is probably the most expensive. Go with people’s experience, but note UK is going to be different than Texas or the South of France.
- Cheap probably means not much protection.

 

[Rockhopper]

I did my headlight for the umpteenth time six weeks or so ago but this time i gave them a blast with a can of clear coat from Lidl. They are still spotlessly clear.