As soon as you drive your car off the dealership, it’s exposed to various hazards such as insects, stones, birds, and UV rays that could damage your car’s paint job. Fortunately, there are affordable solutions available to protect your car’s paint and keep it in top shape for a long time.
Protecting Your Ride From the Unexpected
the importance of paint protection for car owners and three options for achieving it.
- The first option is to spend a lot of money on repainting the car every year.
- The second option is to have an expensive XPEL or Suntek PPF kit installed by a shop.
- The third option is to do it yourself with a precut Paint Protection Kit made with 3M™ Pro Series Paint Protection Film.
Types of Damages
1. Salt and sand are useful for melting ice and providing traction on roads, but they can cause significant harm to your car’s paint. Salt is corrosive and can cause paint to flake off and create rust, which can ultimately result in a hole in the metal. Sand can also damage your car’s paint, especially if you frequently drive in areas with sandstorms or near beaches.
2. Stone chips are common when driving on rough or gravel roads, and can cause damage to the paint and metal of your vehicle. These chips can create dents and leave behind a speckled appearance, and can even cause more serious damage to the bumper and hood.
3. When your car is exposed to sunlight for extended periods, it can cause fading, cracking, and yellowing of the paint. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is particularly harmful and can affect your car’s appearance. If you live in a sunny region like the American Southwest, your car is more vulnerable to UV damage. You can help prevent this by parking your car in a shaded area, but using paint protection film (PPF) offers great UV protection.
4. Environmental fallout refers to pollutants that can damage your car’s paint, such as acid rain, brake and rail dust, and pollen. Acid rain, caused by industrial emissions and natural phenomena like volcanoes, corrodes paint and causes flat surfaces to deteriorate. Rail dust, consisting of tiny steel particles, can come from car brakes or nearby railroads and sticks to the paint. Pollen, though seemingly harmless, is acidic and can cause paint erosion. These pollutants can cause significant damage to your car’s paint, making paint protection essential.
5. Getting in and out of a car can result in scratches around the door handles caused by items we carry or brushing against the side of the car. The frequency of scratches is related to how careful we are when entering and exiting the vehicle. Inserting the key into the door and missing the keyhole can also lead to unsightly marks on the car.
6. Bird droppings contain acid that can corrode the paint and clear coat of your car, leaving marks on the surface. However, the heat of a sunny day can worsen the effect by causing the clear coat to expand and contract, forming around the bird droppings and causing an etched effect or dull color.
7. Insects that hit your car at high speeds can leave behind stains that contain chemicals that damage the paint. The sheer volume of insects that can hit your car while driving can quickly cover and remove the protective layer of your car’s paint, resulting in discoloration and marks.
How Does PPF Protect My Car?
wrapping your calipers can protect them from damage and prolong their lifespan, optimize resale value, add a personal touch, make a temporary change, increase visibility, and give you the opportunity to get to know your car better during installation. Caliper wraps are affordable and easy to apply, making them a versatile option for car customization.
3M™ Paint Protection Kits: Precut for the DIY Installer
the importance of protecting your car from various hazards and offers precut kits made from Scotchgard™ Pro Series Films to protect different parts of the car such as the A-pillars, door cups, hood, fenders, bumpers, and side mirrors. The PPF film provides protection against various elements such as salt, sand, bug hits, rocks, bird droppings, and UV rays without degrading the paint job. These kits are designed for easy installation and customization options are available based on your preferences. The kits can be purchased individually or as a complete kit for full coverage.
Some of the different components you can purchase PPF for individually include:
- A-pillars
- Bumper
- Door cups
- Door edges
- Door handle cavity
- Fog lights
- Front and rear bumpers
- Headlights
- Painted side mirrors
- Partial/full fender panels
- Partial or full hood
- Rocker panels
- Roof
- Side pillars
- Taillights
- Trunk and trunk ledge
- Wheels