Nasty old Paint Protection Film on your car? Here's a safe way to remove it!

[@peacems]

Pffft! That's not a difficult PPF removal job! Try removing 20 year old 3M that is now cracked into a million bits and is hard as nails. After an hour you want to stab yourself.

[@vnyeu]

If car alsways not in garage that alsways under the sun for few years. Remove film us impossible.

[@aomaggots-]

Gatekeeping lol

[@danielmaddox-or2xh]

Happening to me left a gray stain can’t tell if it’s still on their or paint damage

[@345detailing4]

For a super easy way to heat up the section easily, lay a drying towel across the ppf and pour hot water over it. It will hold in the majority of the water and make removal easier. Heat guns work great but the hot towel is even safer. Also, just a tip, but inspect the paint prior to removal. Often with repaints, if the paint was not cured properly or even if the paint job was not the best, pulling clear can be an unfortunate side effect. Obviously in this case you guys know the vehicle, but if it’s a customer vehicle get a little background info first. Always better safe than sorry

[@AMGDEE]

So what you say a steamer is better to use rather then a heat gun ?

[@jomari369]

I was faced with the same problem. I used 3M Auto Adhesive remover. Works great.

[@LS1LE]

This is the best ppf removal video I’ve found! It gives me a clear idea of what I will be facing, thank you!!

[@joeymcquilkin3670]

Abso-Freaking-Lutley ! I literally just posted the same comment lol And boy was I drastically unprepared not having this stuff & knowledge !!!

[@LCF0110]

Thinking about doing this to my 2015 Nissan Rogue but second guessing myself after watching this. I didn’t think about the paint color being different when it comes off :(

[@Anddapizzaplease]

​@@LCF0110use a paint cleaner, do the whole car of course, then polish it, NuFinish or whatever you prefer.

[@patoroyal]

I made the mistake of buying a truck with PPF on it and will NEVER do that again. It was peeling off and the detail shop charged me $800 to remove it than called me up wanting more money to make the paint look good again. Removing it is about the same as getting tint off of windows.

[@67Jeff]

Boy I wish I would of had that chem when I did the daughters 2001 Lexus what a pain. Thanks for the info. Happy New Year.

[@gabrieltinajero8388]

So you have to repaint the areas that were not protected to match the area that was??? So why even use a clear protector? Doesn't make any sense

[@itekani]

That's why you need cheramic paint coating too.

[@robertwhitman1981]

the intent of the film is to protect the finish, but it doesn't work well, it doesn't last. It's a failed product.

[@fairydust-ky4oc]

I used a plastic razor blade and gasoline. It didn't remove paint or clear coat. Put a soaked towel on each place and left for a while to soften then scraped. Used it with a blow dryer in some places. Gas worked better than laquer thinner. No damage but it was a nightmare.

[@cgttc04]

Do you toss the towels that are full of adhesive? If not do you wash with your other towels?

[@omisan771]

Should I just remove it before it gets old and brittle on my truck? How many years until it's much harder to pull off?

[@vj5183]

Trying to clean it off my 2010 Tundra.... it's a nightmare. Get it off.

[@yourdailyblockchain]

Wow - almost makes me want to re-think having Pf installed and just ceramic coat instead?

[@simd510]

Seems useless to me. Just get any rock chips repaired if needed...

[@ibsn87]

This car would have maybe 10 micro stone chips. But instead needed several people. A days work. A cut and polish, and possibly a re-spray. Thank god we wrapped it in the first place and put up with ugly wavy, cracked PPF for years, so that now someone else can enjoy the fresh hood of an old car.

[@PaulDo22]

Exactly

[@annenominous7220]

you gotta be kidding me, right, 10 micro stone chips (whatever that is) can be polished, touched up, clear coated, and polished again in about an hour. one person. instead of PPF + PPF removal, + full paint correction. PPF is a scam.

[@ibsn87]

@@annenominous7220 brah. Calm down. That’s exactly what I’m saying. 😂

[@Tom-ff3ql]

Ppf installer for 7 years, we just use a good steamer to soften it up and comes off clean, doesn’t peel paint or break off like that. If it’s shitty ppf/ been on there for more then 10years then yes this can happen. But it’s not vinyl.. using a heat gun doesn’t work the same way for ppf

[@__JAG__]

Have you tried boiling water? Watched a video yesterday and he had the same issues. Then tried boiling water and it peeled off with ease and left to no residue.

[@1Mutton1]

ok great advice for NEWish protective film. How about some advice for OLD protective film. What solvent means I dont need to heat and hack at it for hours.

[@ronbaer67]

i know i am late to the party but there is a product that works great on OLD film. its made by crystaltek(west end products) and is called vinyl off and they also have a more "aggressive" one that is made for the reflective vinyls and 5-10 minutes in the sun and spots of film will literally separate from that panel

[@1Mutton1]

@@ronbaer67 thanks. Yes, quite late indeed. Will see if I can get it where I am.

[@MegaMajormax]

How does KCX Eulex compare to Optimum's T.A.R. remover?

[@joeymcquilkin3670]

SO GLAD I watched this video before removing the PPF off of my car! THIS STUFF IS AMAZING! *I bought a 2012 Civic that is in great mechanical shape but needed some maintenance and aesthetic love, ie; PPF on the bumper, headlights, 1/2 hood, 1/2 fenders and various other frontward facing components - this clear bra has been on the car since it was new and it is old and beat up and discolored etc, I bought a heat gun and thought that’s all I needed bcuz I couldn’t find any videos indicating what may actually be beneath the surface but now I know this would have been a disgusting mess that wouldve sent my ocd into overdrive lol (I know it’s not good to use a lot of pure alcohol on paint but that’s all I could discover in other videos, people would just act like it was no big deal and tear off the bra and there’d be a small bit of residue that they’d rub alcohol on an the video is over lol) THANK YOU GUYS FOR POSTING THIS AND CLEARING THIS UP! ordering a bottle of Eulex tonight!

[@uhZeny]

Results and thoughts of the product please?

[@therideszz]

How was it?

[@badkid73]

Just use a steamer. Apply steam in small areas and then immediately peel. Same with window tint.

[@sammyg805]

Pls I don’t know if you can answer this. My car has the protection film but I didn’t know when I bought it.. it’s peeling around the boot area and that’s how I noticed. Could I just trim around it because I don’t really want to rip it all off or can it be repaired ? Thanks

[@markmed9091]

I have it on my 13 year old SRX . It’s not lifting , but looks like black mold under the sheets . Is there a way to clean that out without removing the plastic sheets ?

[@reefgratos2035]

You didn't mention in the video.l but what were the reasons to remove the ppf? And what about half ppfed panel? Like the hood that was partially ppfed,, the sun usually beat up the paint and it changes color over time.. were you able to normalize the hood color with a compound? Can we still see the ppf area?

[@gtranquilla]

Hail damage requires removal of ppf if you are doing hot glue PDR

[@ch9nnel99]

I’m about to try this and I’m thinking, because it’s so brittle I’ve had really good luck using steam on similar vinyl films on house windows

[@tingsgwan]

Is paint peeling a possibility? And how can you avoid it, will microfiber towel work or scratch ? Thanks for any help

[@jewetts]

Yez, paint peeling is a possibility. On my Porsche, the factory PPF pulled the paint off the aluminum hood.

[@tingsgwan]

So I went to a pro he suggested wait for a very very hot Florida day and once it's been in the sun for a few hours then peel it up towards you slowly, I worked but it was very tedious work and took and hour each half of the hood and another hour or so for the two sideview mirrors door handles and door jam trim and rear bumper then I used Kochchemie EU adhesive remover when the sun wasn't so hot and the car cooled a little as it will evaporate faster in the sun. All worked so so well. Car looks great now

[@MyGuyKirby]

Just how often does PPF need to be replaced to avoid the brittleness or glue failure? Many brands now have a ten year warranty but road rash can dictate a fresh install

[@robertwhitman1981]

if you've ever had to remove it you don't want it back on the car

[@MyweathernetreportsBlogspot]

Never had PPF on anything. Wondering if my 2024 GMC Sierra headlights and taillights need it added to them? Not garage kept. 🙏

[@CSJiGSaW08]

Have you guys tried steamers over the film to remove each pull you do?

[@AMGDEE]

That’s what I’m trying to figure out now

[@JazzW5254]

What’s an equivalent to eulex ? Where I am I cannot readily get it , it will take weeks and I need it in days.

[@WolfLarson]

Help! I think my heat gun was too hot and the plastic film fused with the glue into a goopy coat. When I remove the heat, the goop gets hard, when I apply the heat it gets super sticky. I tried applying WD-40 while it was warm and it just cools it off and becomes hard. Ideas??

[@RoadTripTravel]

Thanks for the video. So, I'm a little confused...you said something about having to re-paint the mirror after removing the PPF? Will the paint be okay after removing? How well can you blend in the paint after compounding, polishing and waxing? Thx!

[@user-nf5zt4kr6p]

He said it was because it wasn’t fully covered. So uv damage to the non covered area. Which leaves a line.

[@lagrant3914]

Nice... but real world scenario ... what do you do for ppf that is old and full of fracture lines and very brittle? The kind that won't let you pull up like you demonstrated in the video because it tears waayy to easily People's Choice Mobile ✌🏾

[@WolfLarson]

same

[@davidlegg9700]

I use a steamer and plastic razor blade

[@brionbell]

Scrape it off with a hardwood or plastic scraper. Use a bit of paint-safe solvent.... DONE!

[@fairydust-ky4oc]

I'm dealing with old brittle crap too...Anyone have any idea what I can do with that?

[@stevejordan9567]

I have a 1999 Mercedes with ppf on the hood. I’m going to take it off but am not looking forward to doing it.

[@rickycherry9052]

I looked at the tagged products, didn’t see that chemical. Can someone please help me determine which one it is? Thanks in advance!

[@maciek8673]

All your ik sprayers are with meguaiars atomizers or what brand it is? Im looking for something durable.

[@henrystowe6217]

what happens when the ppf is cracked all over?

[@michaelbrindle7154]

Can you follow the same guidelines on a satin Mercedes paint?

[@grand04gt]

That looks like a pain. I hate removing PPF but if you use a kettle and pour a little bit of boiling water it works wonders.....but still not a job i would want to do lol

[@grand04gt]

And likely that would not help when it breaks off in tiny little pieces like that

[@dunnoyolo2238]

Could you use Goof Off to remove glue ?

[@rizwankhanjara8376]

Would it be preferable i ppf my 2017 mazda 6, hood hit with rock chips ard 20 something. First paint correction and then ppf

[@robertwhitman1981]

never put that film on your car

[@MB-js4us]

If I have an adjustable heat gun, what's a good temperature to use that won't damage the paint?

[@serenityjewel]

I would try with boiling water first or boiling water on a towel. Consistent heat will work to loosen the glue better than a heat gun. Look in the comments for how to do it or do a KZbin search.

[@BenR99]

I own a cleaning company I need some rags also need to remove some of this off my f type mirror

[@thardyryll]

It should be noted that the Eulex solvent costs $34 a liter and at this writing is sold out. Try lighter fluid.

[@brianmchale6668]

I've never done this but I would have tried a little more heat.

[@sonar0085]

Tar X works best for ppf removal abit costly

[@heatherkimbrel1287]

I’m trying to get the film off of my son’s car but it is so thin it literally is hardly coming off inly tiny tiny pieces. We’ve tried the high pressure steam still not helping. Is there anything else we could do?

[@DB-qm4jx]

How did it turn out?

[@isrealperez9069]

I've used Goo off that works very well and it's oil-based and it will pick up all this stickiness especially if you're working outside got let it beat up and then it removes it nice and clean

[@doejon6821]

Never mind removing the PPF, where did you get that dope Scally cap?

[@ralphcantrell3214]

The dealer had put that stupid "paint protection" crap on my car before I came along and bought it, and though I did absolutely refuse to pay for it, 6 years later it is cracking, peeling, turning yellow etc and looks like hell. Interestingly, the unprotected paint itself looks new anywhere the "protective film" doesn't exist. My son owns a thriving vinyl graphics business, and wraps/unwraps cars etc all the time, and even he is afraid to touch that stupid stuff with a ten foot pole. My advice is to never buy a car that has it in the first place.

[@johnkim3658]

Basically don't do the film?

[@MrAllie-bf6zt]

PPF sucks! Last car a bought already had it on. Never ever want it on my vehicles again.

[@raynunez4448]

Is it creamic coating safe?

[@b1bo840]

is what ceramic coating safe?

[@biggun7]

What is the average life of a clear bra, assuming regular maintenance and a coating (eg wax or ceramic)

[@paulallenpierceandpierce]

It depends on the quality of the film and the climate where the car is used.. up to 7 years should be safe for high quality films like XPEL.

[@waterdd1]

So would you recommend removing it at 7 years? What is the consequence of waiting later?

[@4amazinggrace]

@@waterdd1 My Toyota Sienna with PPF has been exposed to the Florida sun for almost 8 years. It looks like it has leprosy. After watching this, I don't dare attempt as we have a new one on order and dealer has already inspected for the trade-in. I won't get PPF ever again.

[@waterdd1]

@@4amazinggrace thanks for the recommendation

[@ManansalaBernard]

Good Lord!!! I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

[@thardyryll]

Paint “protection” film gets my nomination - right up there with vinyl siding - for the worst invention of the last century. It “protects” so well that when it fails and is removed the paint has to be … repainted. What a cruel joke.

[@wizkidd947]

only the shit quality ones, other than that - its top tier to avoid stone chips etc

[@becks431]

Wouldn't it be easier to pull toward you, rather than away.

[@Lord_Hiram]

Companies love taking your money to put the PPF on but hate taking your money to take the PPF off lol p

[@mmbnyc2003]

Anyone have luck with eraser wheels?

[@turboman4635]

Why don't you heat it up to make it pull easier

[@simd510]

PPF seems so useless. It starts to look bad, hard to remove, then when its removed the paint doesnt match and needs to be painted anyway... I dont see the point.

[@KnowTheNewOfficial]

Actually real fact is PPF is not the best for any car because PPF is not the permanent solution, after every 3 to 4 years ppf should be peeled off otherwise car original paint might be damaged, and PPF will not be able to protect any car from any small accident Or Big or small scratches, but graphene ceramic coating is the best and there's no side effects like PPF,

[@twanderson123]

Sickening. Pay for something. Pay to to have it removed. Better without the protection. It is maddening for me.

[@hugojimenez761]

That plastic don’t work, damage you paint

[@RajV007]

PPFs are being sold similiar to Pyramid Schemes. All marketing, no content. In most of the cases PPFs which claim to protect the Car Paint are costlier than a fresh paint job. Over a period of 2-3 years, plastic will always deteriorate, however good it is claimed.

[@muhamadbenahoy]

🤐😖😓 😞

[@michaelgambuto4693]

What a mess.

[@itsjustme4222]

That’s definitely not old film, mine is 6 years old and breaks away in pieces 😉

[@4ndr3w70]

*BuT!*

[@brionbell]

Total bullshit!!!! If you do this with a heat gun on any plastic material, you will absolutely RUIN it and will have to repair and refinish the part! Just use a solvent and a plastic or (very hard) wood scraper. NEVER USE HEAT ON PLASTICS. Got it?!? NEVER!!!!

[@TurreTuntematon]

Agree, i was like WHAT? Someone talked about hot water that makes more sense.