Got a new 2025 Integra Black Majestic Pearl. Thinking of PPF on front bumper but it is a plastic bumper and from my experience those don't chip easily. Opinions on whether to leave it alone or film it? Got a quote for Autobahn PPF for $850 for the upper and lower bumpers.

 

I've used 3M, XPEL, Suntek PPF on my 3 previous and 2 current Acura. It really depends on:
- how long you will keep the vehicle
- mix of hwy and city driving
- environmental damage potential (acid rain, road salts, hard water, oil/tar, road rash, rock chips, etc...)
- type of film (UV self healing, built in hydrophobic coating, UV haze protection, 5-12 year warranty)
- do you have ceramic coating now (you can put ceramic coating on PPF; but can't put PPF on ceramic coating)
- installer (cut before seam or tuck into the seam for a near invisible look)
- up keep scheduled: clean the car it when it rains, touch car washes, or I'm planning to hand wash/dry only
- may need to clay bar, add coating protection booster, and/or chemical spot remover 1-2 times a year.

I would be worried if the installer doesn't include a color correction step to achieve a pristine shine before locking it in with PPF. I purchased my 18 RLX used in 2019 with 7200 miles with PPF up 18 inches up the hood. No color correct done before adding the PPF and the spider web scratches was locked in under the PPF. I had to remove the old PPF, color correct, and I added Xpel Ultimate on the entire vehicle. I only hand wash at home with microfiber mits and ceramic booster soaps. So far for the last +5 years, a 20-30 minute foam cannon hand wash gets my vehicles back to show room shine.

 

Car now has less than 300 miles on it now. May be able to get away without cclor correct, I would let the installer decide.

About 70miles per day highway. For at least the next year. I am in Ohio.

 

My brand new fathom gray pearl 19 MDX Adv was damaged when the Acura wash attendant cleaned it for the first time prepping it when coming off the transport (probably used worn out wash and drying towels). Sometimes the micro scratches are hard to see in normal light depending on angle; but, it would be easy for the color correction folks to spot with their lighting in the bay. It shouldn't be much of an additional cost or it could be baked into the the PPF price if a little bit of color correction is needed.

 

Congrats on the new Integra. I did a full front PPF on my ITS. The paint on the plastic bumpers on even newer cars will chip with rock exposure. I additionally had the rocker panels done given the ITS has wide tires and will kick up rocks.

As far as a paint correction, I had a single stage correction done on my ITS when brand new, and ceramic coating applied. You'd be surprised how much orange peel is on a brand new car. Generally, you won't need a two-stage correction on a new car unless the orange peel is really bad.

 

Got the upper and lower bumper's PPF with Autobahn. Looks great and some piece of mind bought. What about headlight film? That I think I can do myself.

 

I did PPF on the headlights as well. I didn’t do it myself, but it doesn’t seem particularly hard.