Tesla Model S - DIY PPF - You Can Save THOUSANDS and Do It Yourself!

I have completely wrapped my friends Tesla Model S Plaid with DIY PPF from ‪@DriveProtected‬ and this time, I wrapped the entire car all at once. There is also Stealth PPF available, or sometimes referred to as Matte PPF, is the same 8 mil thick PPF that functions much the same, but it adds a matte finish to give a unique look to your Tesla.
I completely wrapped my Tesla Model Y in clear PPF from Drive Protected Shop a couple times now, and after having hit a few things along the way, it more than paid for itself in protecting the paint from damage. To protect the paint of a Tesla, and to make your car retain that shiny finish for much longer, PPF is the way to go.
The problem with PPF is cost. Most pro's will charge many thousands of dollars to complete the work. For the Model S Plaid, the best quote I got was $7,000. So by doing it myself with Drive Protected, using code BTG20, I was able to do it for nearly $5k cheaper by doing it myself.
You can order the front bumper in 2 ways, a single piece or a multi piece. I highly recommend going with the multi piece front bumper as it not only makes the install easier, but takes less than half the time to install. When using this cut of bumper, make sure you line up the edges of each piece before fully securing the film to the paint.
The 8 mil thick PPF from Drive Protected Shop, both clear and matte, are extremely forgiving and allow you ample time to adjust, remove and reapply before curing. The film is also forgiving in the stretching it does as it can return to close to its original size within reason. So overstretching can happen, but this film is pretty good at not being over stretched.
This Stealth film kit, just like the clear kit, features a self healing surface. What that means is if you were to get light scratches on the surface of the PPF, after sitting in the warm sun for a couple hours, the surface will self heal and the scratches will disappear. This works pretty well and even 2 years later, our clear film was still able to self heal in the sun.
If you are not interested in PPF wrapping the entire car, be it a Model Y or a Model 3, you can also just do the front end. Drive Protected Shop offers 3 front end kits. The most protection includes mirrors, bumper, fenders, hood and a-pillars. The next level, for a bit less money, offers the same but without the A-Pillars. And then finally there is a partial front end that includes the mirrors, front bumper, partial hood and partial fenders. All 3 of these kits are effective at protecting the front end of the car from standard road debris you face on highways.
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[@jeffpatrick787]

I admire your attention to detail. No way in hell I would have the patience to do that.

[@dano9176]

Well done! Nothing wrong with DIY for PPF. Low level of skill needed, high level of patience. I would never hire out for this job, others would never DIY. To each their own.

[@shallenberger57]

I am at 2:40 in the video and I want to add a few hints 1. Ensure you thoroughly clean the floor of the garage to prevent dust from being kicked up during install. If the are lots of shelves in the garage, vacuum those down as well. 2. When you wash the car, ensure you do all the underside lips of the panels where the film will be wrapped. (I see it was covered a few minutes later in video) 3. Wash and scrub your hands very well with the dawn soap prior to applying the film to remove any crud that could transfer to the film. 4. On the door handles, clean very well under them otherwise when you start spraying, dirt can dislodge from there and get under the film. 5. When you do the left rocker panel, crank the wheels to the left to make it easier in that area. Opposite for the right side. 6. If you have access to vehicle ramps or a way to get the car up on jack stands, it makes it much easier to do the bumpers and rocker panels. Also it helps getting to those fingers like on this car. Hope these help...

[@jamesbuchanan3439]

A 54 minute video. It MUST be easy…😉

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

lol. I did it all in 1 video instead of 3

[@akeem11h]

Much needed video 🙏🏽

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@N9752X]

I definitely admire the time and effort that this job takes. Having painted a few cars, it’s actually cheaper (easier?) to paint the car in a decade when it really needs it. In a decade or so, when the ppf has failed and it takes off half the clear coat with it when removed, it’ll be the same end result 😂. The car will only be worth $15-20k then anyway…

[@cozmothe.potato]

Very nice

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

Cheers

[@TheVinceHernandez]

I want to do this to my 22' X, but way too nervous about. I literally have the full matte kit in my cart and just dreading having to wash the whole vehicle and install the kit. How bad would it be I was to do this in sections? like front, sides, rear?

[@PerformanceY]

So, 2 bottles. First buttle with alcohol for spraying ppf, second bottle with shampoo, for spraying it as well on ppf? I didn't understand

[@gregpelfrey5303]

The discount code isn't working for me

[@buyya]

Do you have another coupon code?

[@davejohnson6144]

I think the front bumper, headlights, hood and side mirrors is all u need

[@shallenberger57]

Then you haven't seen the side paint on a Tesla after 10K plus miles in Colorado or virtually anywhere else in the country.

[@davejohnson6144]

@@shallenberger57 I live in Beverly Hills so don’t need to worry about that stuff

[@ianbladuell2694]

I don’t have 810 hours to do this so I’d rather just have somebody and get it right than be a hassle and not be perfect

[@KidKick]

The website video instructions says don’t use alcohol for tack solution. Just hot water is best. Can you please confirm?

[@BeardedTeslaGuy]

A lot of people were using too much alcohol, which burns off the adhesive on the film. Hot water can work too, you just need to use more of it

[@ericsawatzky54]

This is Eric from Drive Protected. Like BTG mentioned above, using alcohol can damage the adhesive of the PPF if not mixed properly. Hot water achieves the same result, you just need to use more of it. Hot water will also not damage the adhesive of the film either as you are not mixing it with anything.

[@KidKick]

Thank you both. I think my previous reply was deleted because of adding 𝕏 handle here. But wanted to say I order one using BeardedTeslaGuy code.

[@PerformanceY]

So hot water to spray on PPF to lay it down and water with shampoo to make it sticky. Correct?

[@RT-zg9qi]

DIY PPF on a 100k vehicle makes no sense. Just take it to a good pro and you will not have all those imperfections.

[@nicholasmuni7995]

The guy above is saying you can spend 100 grand you can spend another $ 8,000 on ppf!

[@keithferguson6422]

I agree if you have the money to spend $100k, what's another 5 - 8k. Bearded tesla likes to save money and isn't afraid to take on the job. To each their own :)

[@livegolfismygt]

Yeah but then you can say you did it yourself. It makes it just a bit more of your own.

[@shallenberger57]

There are still people in this country who have the skills to do things on their own. These same people, like myself, got rich and can afford a $100K car because we don't just throw away our money on things we can do ourself. Lastly, I just love doing things that make me feel good about doing them.

[@akeem11h]

@@shallenberger57 AMEN, there are a lot of armchair quarterbacks on social media, most don’t understand the value of hard earned money. Plus when a man can do for himself, well this equals real man 👊

[@tesla-spectre]

Only cheaper if one has a very low hourly rate for oneself. For me it is wayyyyyy more efficient to get it done by a professional. Also considering the quality (which would never be remotely that of the shop I use).

[@akeem11h]

What’s the cost in your area? In Tampa area this is between $3,000-$5,000, this approximately $100-$150 per hour and remember you are not working continuously for 20 hours, your time is broken up doing other money making things.

[@tesla-spectre]

@@akeem11h depends on waht you do. noone needs a full PPT wrap. entire front, mirrors, door sills and some on the back wheelhouses plus a bit under the trunk is sufficient. that is here in the range of 1500-2000$. plus I need at the very least 40hrs and even the it is far least than perfect. that makes it between 40-50$/hr. Even 2x that is wayyyy cheaper than what I make. plus I get a 10yr warranty on the ppf and the guys work and the redo any small thing/ correction for free. I always say: professional result by professionals is worth the money 👍🤷‍♂️

[@nicholasmuni7995]

It's a lot of work you need a garage and it looks like a hobby for you, and after a few times you have done it you are still getting junk under the film, if Tesla didn't have such a crap paint job on the cars it would not be as necessary.