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PPF / Vinyl Install Expectations - Air bubbles and dust particles normal?

20K views 19 replies 16 participants last post by  djborden 
#1 ·
I just had PPF installed on my full front clip (hood, bumper, fenders, headlights and side mirrors). I also had them wrap my chrome trim and door handles in a matte charcoal vinyl color. Also had them tint the windows all around including the windshield.

I just got the car back 2 days ago and I know the air bubbles are supposed to go away - but my question is - how 'perfect' should I expect the installation of these items to be? I am VERY meticulous so I will notice pretty much any imperfection - which is why I had the PPF installed in the first place because a rock chip would drive me nuts! However - there are several air bubbles under the PPF and there are a few spots on both the PPF and the vinyl where it looks like some dust or dirt got underneath.

In my opinion since I paid $2500 for the PPF, Vinyl and Tint there should be ZERO imperfections - but I don't know if I'm being crazy or not. Before I go back to the installer asking him to fix the issues I thought I would ask you all for your opinion first. See photos below - is this 'normal' or should I absolutely go back to the installer and ask him to fix these issues?
Hood Automotive lighting Automotive tire Azure Motor vehicle
Grille Automotive lighting Hood Automotive tire Azure
Automotive tire Motor vehicle Hood Automotive lighting Vehicle
Hood Grille Automotive design Automotive tire Automotive lighting
Motor vehicle Automotive lighting Hood Automotive design Automotive tire
Grille Automotive lighting Automotive tire Hood Vehicle
Hood Bag Textile Sleeve Grey
Hood Cap Motor vehicle Hat Automotive lighting
Hood Automotive tire Automotive lighting Tire Road surface
Automotive parking light Automotive lighting Automotive tire Hood Tire
 
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#3 · (Edited)
This is definitely NOT the way it should look. I am a fanatic about these kinds of things looking perfect, when I had my PPF done, I examined it carefully for a long time and didn't see a single bubble, not a single one.

Also..... Did they do any paint correction? It does not look like it to me, from the pics its hard to see if the issue is in the paint or trapped between the paint and the PPF.

If it were me, I would ask hem to do it over again and by that I mean:
1- Remove PPF from any body panel that has any signs of correctable paint flaws such as DA marks, dust or bubbles
2- Do paint correction paint correction (and after paint correction but before PPF you should inspect)
3- Reapply the PPF

When complete, you should not see any correctable paint flaws, dust or bubbles.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the quick replies everybody! Glad to hear I'm not a psycho.

How about the tint job? I know it's hard to get every single air bubble out - especially on big parts like the windshield - but what is an 'acceptable' level of air or dust particles in a tint job? Is it fair to expect zero bubbles?
 
#9 ·
How about the tint job? I know it's hard to get every single air bubble out - especially on big parts like the windshield - but what is an 'acceptable' level of air or dust particles in a tint job? Is it fair to expect zero bubbles?
That's going to be near impossible, in my experience. Small bubbles, fields of small bubbles on a large piece, "halo" around the text on the glass, stretch marks are all somewhat normal in limited quantities (and kind of hard to see, unless you're looking into bright light). Large bubbles aren't good. Hairs trapped under the film - yes, that's what those are, at the bottom of the windshield, so eeew - are unacceptable.
 
#12 ·
Shops don't perform their work in a particulate controlled clean room so they will typically warn the customer that dust can get caught underneath the film during install. The service report from my shop had a discretion at the bottom about this. However, with that said, this PPF install still looks pretty unacceptable to me.
 
#13 ·
No way I'd live with that. my DIY PPF installations look better than that and I'm no professional. Air bubbles do not go away. Liquid bubbles will evaporate, air bubbles will stay forever and require a syringe with a fine needle to suck the air out. Sucking the bubble out should only be used as a last resort because the bubble will show up as a ring in the film when removed.

AFA the trapped hair goes - Yuck, That never should have gone undetected.

I'd bring it back and have them do it again.
 
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