PPF self install

[Cartlin]

Hello all,

I have a 2 door Heritage Limited Edition and I have no choice but to park beneath a very dirty oak tree which may or may not have roosting peacocks form time to time. I need PPF on the top side only, so thinking about getting a roll of XPEL Ultimate Plus clear wrap and doing a self install on the hood and top surface of the hardtop. The sides are not as difficult to reach and clean, so really I think the top is most important. Currently I need cleaner wax to remove the oils and crud from these trees. I cannot cut them down or park elsewhere. I have no option for building a garage, or installing an awning, or killing the peacocks and other animals. I just need to protect this paint.

I can remove all the panels and work on a table top, so as a rookie installer I'm thinking I can do a pretty decent job after watching instructional videos.

Any thoughts on this product or strategy? Ceramic will cost me the same as the wrap material and will only last 1-2 years best case (outdoors in Florida sun). Materials to cover the top surfaces will be around $1200.

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[WheresMyBronco]

FYI, you can DIY a ceramic coat for much much less than the $1200. If you don't care to polish your hood before coating, you can probably do it for $100. PPF sounds better for this case but thought I'd throw that out there.

Anyway, I'm also not sure how well the ppf would stick to the hard top. It might be fine but it's also pretty expensive so I'd order a sample piece and see how well it sticks. Maybe order another sample piece to try on the hood since PPF is more difficult to work with than regular vinyl.

 

[userdude]

I feel like you can probably do the hood ok, but I'd still stop by a shop and see what they'd charge. It might be similar to buying a whole roll. The cost is the manpower/time, and the hood shouldn't be difficult since you can open it and get around easily.

The top is going to be tougher. You can put material on it, but one, it may mess up the top's plastic (it's... delicate), and two, may not stick very well (you may not care about this as much).

There's a couple of companies that make pull over covers for the top part (not the hood). I would probably look at something like that, if it's not too onerous to put on.

Another thing you could do is see if there's a size of tarp that goes over the full top and maybe a little on the sides, get some bungees and see if you can DIY something. This seems the cheapest, if you can find the right size tarp.

The windshield, get some clear or tinted ceramic tint installed, or ExoShield if you want to be spendy.

 

[Cartlin]

Thanks for the ideas and advice. Are you questioning the top because they are normally a flat finish? The HLE has a gloss finish as smooth as the painted hood. My plan is to remove the hood and top so it is easier to work around. This stuff is very expensive so I won’t want to make any mistakes.

Originally o was thinking about a tarp that would attach to the accessory mounts above the windshield but I couldn’t really figure out a good scheme for the rear, and then the hood is still left exposed.

 

[userdude]

Thanks for the ideas and advice. Are you questioning the top because they are normally a flat finish? The HLE has a gloss finish as smooth as the painted hood. My plan is to remove the hood and top so it is easier to work around. This stuff is very expensive so I won’t want to make any mistakes.

Originally o was thinking about a tarp that would attach to the accessory mounts above the windshield but I couldn’t really figure out a good scheme for the rear, and then the hood is still left exposed.

Ford will negate your warranty putting cleaning chemicals on it; if you put ppf or xpel on it, I would assume you're just forgoing your warranty. Keep in mind the tops aren't that great as-is, so you probably want to keep the warranty intact. FYI.

Ford has also struggled to produce the white tops. They're not covered; I believe they're molded in color.

I would think if you covered the hood and windshield (ppf and ceramic tint), then got a tarp a little bigger than the top's top surface, you could buy some bungee cord and loop it around the mirrors and taillights or somewhere on the wheel. I would watch if it's windy.

If that sounds tedious, you might consider selling your top and getting an Armadillo, which you can paint or cover as you want. Expensive option, though.

 

[DillonC]

The windshield, get some clear or tinted ceramic tint installed, or ExoShield if you want to be spendy.

Exoshield and window tint are installed on opposite sides of the windshield

 

[userdude]

Exoshield and window tint are installed on opposite sides of the windshield

I swear I've seen it on the outside...

 

[DillonC]

I swear I've seen it on the outside...

Exoshield is on the outside, but window tint goes on the inside.

 

[userdude]

Exoshield is on the outside, but window tint goes on the inside.

I get that. I said I swear I've seen someone show me their ceramic tint installed on the outside (even talked about keeping the little chips and that bugs don't stick to it that easily). They were an installer, so who knows. Maybe I misunderstood.

 

[Bschurr]

Hello all,

I have a 2 door Heritage Limited Edition and I have no choice but to park beneath a very dirty oak tree which may or may not have roosting peacocks form time to time. I need PPF on the top side only, so thinking about getting a roll of XPEL Ultimate Plus clear wrap and doing a self install on the hood and top surface of the hardtop. The sides are not as difficult to reach and clean, so really I think the top is most important. Currently I need cleaner wax to remove the oils and crud from these trees. I cannot cut them down or park elsewhere. I have no option for building a garage, or installing an awning, or killing the peacocks and other animals. I just need to protect this paint.

I can remove all the panels and work on a table top, so as a rookie installer I'm thinking I can do a pretty decent job after watching instructional videos.

Any thoughts on this product or strategy? Ceramic will cost me the same as the wrap material and will only last 1-2 years best case (outdoors in Florida sun). Materials to cover the top surfaces will be around $1200.

Go for it - I have faith in you and think you can do it. Watch some videos, clean & prep properly and take your time. I would suggest that you start with the 2 top pieces since they are small and mostly flat with not a ton of compound curves. And, if you fu@k it up, no one will be looking at the top! Do the hood last once you have mastered the skill.

Best case scenario you crush it and feel really good about your DIY project. Worst case scenario, you take it to a professional and you are out an afternoon of your life and $1200.

You got this!

 

[contented]

A few years ago I decided I was going to put a faux carbon fiber wrap on the roof of my M2. Watched many YouTube videos, bought an online vinyl wrap educational service, etc. Bought extra high quality material to practice with and all the appropriate tools including heat gun. Seems like it ought to be easy. Right? Well, it’s not. Its WAY harder than it looks. I finally gave up, disgusted that I couldn’t master it. Today I use the heat gun for shrink wrap.

Prior to the above I’d hired an Xpel installer I’d used before to put an Xpel Ultimate front bra kit on my M2. After he left, I decided i wanted to add a piece to top of rear bumper next to trunk. I thought how hard could it be? I’d watched the installer do his thing. Ordered the precut piece and installed it. My installation sucked. Ended up calling the installer to come and install a new piece. It’s called paying twice and then some.

My advice, save the money and aggravation. Go with a pro. There’s lots around. FWIW, I used Alan Seligman of Invinca Shield Installers In Longwood, Fla.

 

[Cartlin]

This advice got me to call a local shop in Miami with good ratings, and wow I saved myself a lot of effort in doing so. I was about to shell out $1200 for materials and this shop quoted me over the phone the same material installed for $1400. No brainer.

 

[BroncoDave24]

I saw on here somewhere that someone tried Line-X spray on bed liner on their MIC top. It looked pretty good in the pics. I wonder how that worked out?

 

[BroncoA512021]

Hello all,

I have a 2 door Heritage Limited Edition and I have no choice but to park beneath a very dirty oak tree which may or may not have roosting peacocks form time to time. I need PPF on the top side only, so thinking about getting a roll of XPEL Ultimate Plus clear wrap and doing a self install on the hood and top surface of the hardtop. The sides are not as difficult to reach and clean, so really I think the top is most important. Currently I need cleaner wax to remove the oils and crud from these trees. I cannot cut them down or park elsewhere. I have no option for building a garage, or installing an awning, or killing the peacocks and other animals. I just need to protect this paint.

I can remove all the panels and work on a table top, so as a rookie installer I'm thinking I can do a pretty decent job after watching instructional videos.

Any thoughts on this product or strategy? Ceramic will cost me the same as the wrap material and will only last 1-2 years best case (outdoors in Florida sun). Materials to cover the top surfaces will be around $1200.

Buy a car cover

 

[Cartlin]

Buy a car cover

I may end up doing that but I've had one here for a small car and it's really difficult when using the car multiple times per day.

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