FAQ

3M Scotchgard™ PPF Helpfull Installation Preparation Tips

What is paint protection film?

Paint protection film is used to protect the integrity and beauty of your vehicle's paint finish. The 8mil (.008") colorless urethane film adheres to the vulnerable painted areas of the vehicle (ie. hood front, fenders, side mirrors, grille, front bumper, etc.). 3M paint protection film is one of the most advanced, thoroughly tested, protective films you can apply to your vehicle today.

Does it really stop rocks from chipping the front of my car?

Yes! The paint protection film material was originally designed by 3M engineers to protect the leading edges of aircraft propellers and rotor blades from rock chips. The film was then used on helicopter rotors in the Vietnam war and eventually used by professional race car teams. Now it is finally available for the general public to protect their personal vehicles. Small rocks, stones, and gravel are no match for this product.

Is installation difficult? Can I do it myself?

The installation difficulty varies depending on the vehicle. Some vehicles are more difficult than others. Vehicles with heavy contours can take more time and patience to install a kit properly (4-6 hours). We provide you with detailed written instructions and installation videos with your delivery.

Our videos show the process of a typical installation. Lots of our customers choose to install the kits themselves and have great success. Customers also have the benefit of our years of installation experience. We are always available for questions and additional instruction by phone at 844-951-3354, 6 days a week if needed. Also, if you decide you do not want to attempt the installation yourself, we can always assist you in finding a 3M-certified installer or XPEL-certified installer in your local area.

I can't find my car model in your online catalog?

We are constantly updating our database with new models as they are released from 3M. We have thousands of patterns available to you in our database for automobiles, motorcycles, and RV's that are not featured on our website. If you can not find the kit that fits your needs then simply send us a message our call us at 844-951-3354 to request a custom quote. We will create a custom listing for the parts that you have requested. It's that easy.

I saw a cheaper alternative for the same kit you offer. Will you match the price?

Many times the competition has used patterns that do not provide the same coverage or have fewer parts to cover your car. Call us at 844-951-3354 and we will take the time to help you compare our kits to the competition. Often we will either beat the competitors price or offer more coverage and more parts to protect your vehicle.

Is headlamp film different than paint protection film?

3M Paint protection film is 8 mil in thickness. We use this film for all of our kits including headlight kits. Others will try to sell you on paying more for 12-14 mil films claiming that it gives better protection. In our experience we have found that this not true. These films are more difficult to install and can actually damage your headlights because they capture more heat under the film.

Does the application of these kits adversely affect the illumination of my lights?

Clear headlight protection film blocks less that one tenth of one percent (0.1%) of the light produced by your headlights. You will never see a difference in the illumination of your vehicle's lights.

My headlights are heavily contoured. Will I be able to install your kit?

Our headlight film can be heated with a hair dryer to make it more pliable. Warming the material will help soften the film and conform to heavily contoured headlights and tail lights. Some kits offer multiple-piece headlights for heavily-contoured lenses. You can also opt to cut the same headlight pattern on the thinner 8-mil film if you are worried about the installation being too difficult.

Do you sell bulk film?

Yes! Please visit Our Store to order bulk film.

How long will it last?

Most of our products are warranted for 5-10 years or more if installed by a certified 3M/XPEL installer. Paint protection film has an average life span of around 10 years. The clear bra should be treated and maintained just like your car. Keeping the vehicle in a garage, waxing the car and bra with spray waxes and washing the vehicle regularly will help the clear bra looking new longer.

What is the Warranty?

10-year warranty is available only when installed by authorized 3M installer. If the warranty is important to you be sure to ask your installer about their certification with 3M. The 3M installer will issue the warranty card upon installation to confirm this warranty. 3M guarantees the film will not yellow, crack or peel when applied correctly. The film is warranted for 5 years from date of purchase, however the warranty will not cover any damage caused by ordinary wear and tear, accidents, misuse or improper installation.

Will my paint fade differently under the film than it does on the rest of the car?

No. UV rays will pass through the film. Your paint will not fade differently from the rest of the vehicle.

What is the return policy?

Here is a link to Our Terms and Return Policy.

What areas of my car will be covered by the kit?

We offer the best coverage possible for all makes and models but each pattern is unique to that specific vehicle. Most complete kits will include partial hood, fender tips, side mirrors and front bumper. Additional options may include headlights, grilles, cab tops, rocker panels, a-pillars, and trunk ledge strip for the rear bumper. As the customer, you get to pick and choose which options you prefer.

How is the kit applied?

Clear bra installations are similar to installing window tint. Paint protection film and the painted surfaces are sprayed with a soap solution. The clear bra section is aligned into position, and then the soap solution is squeegeed away. If the paint protection film section is difficult to lay down, the alcohol solution can be used to adhere the section.

How do I install this kit myself?

We honestly feel this is a do-it-yourself product because our 3M Paint Protection Film is so easy to work with. Our written instructions and online video instructions are easy to follow and understand for the DIY installer. If you prefer to have your kit professionally installed, please contact us and we will refer you to a 3M professional certified installer in your area.

Is there a 3M-Certified Installer in my area?

3M has trained thousands of certified installers. We can easily help you find a local 3M-certified installer if you decide not to install the kit yourself. Most likely we can give you a few to choose from so you can choose the best installer for a reasonable price.

Do I need to do anything special to maintain the clear bra kit after it is applied?

There is nothing special to maintaining a clear bra. Wash and wax your vehicle as you always have, but stay away from paste waxes and waxes with dyes. These can leave a residue along the edges of the film and some colored paste waxes can actually dye the film over time. Stick with clear spray waxes when possible. Plexus spray wax is a great product for polishing a clear bra. Spray it directly on the bra and wipe with a clean cloth.

What happens when I wax my car?

Q-tips, a soft toothbrush or a microfiber cloth does a great job in removing wax buildup. You also use a strip of blue painters tap on the edge of the film to prevent wax buildup. Abrasive polishes and/or rubbing compounds should not be used on a clear bra.

What if I want to take my car through a car wash?

Once the product has cured on the vehicle for a few days after installation, feel free to run it through any hand wash or brushless car wash. The clear bra will not be affected.

Can I reuse this material once package is opened?

No, paint protection film cannot be reused. The film must be applied to the vehicle once it is removed from its paper backing. Once the film is applied to the car, it starts to adhere and should not be removed. If you were to pull the material off the vehicle after installing, it will begin to stretch and loose its shape.

Will this film product damage my original paint?

No, paint protection film is meant to protect your paint from many damaging agents. It will not damage your vehicle's original (OEM) paint in any way.

Can it be removed?

Yes. The clear bra can be removed safely and easily. Each installer has a unique way of removing film. In our experience the best way is to allow the car to sit in the sun to warm the film. If it is cold outside, you can warm the film with a heat gun but this is not always necessary. Start by peeling up a corner section of the clear bra. When you have a small section free, begin pulling the film towards you at a 20 degree angle. This actually stretches the film and releases it slowly from the painted surface. As new sections release, slowly progress across the vehicle until all material is removed.

Is it really invisible?

3M paint protection kits are not very noticeable to the human eye once they are properly installed. A slight line is visible from certain angles at the top of the hood and fender sections. The grille and bumper kits are nearly undetectable. The average person will walk by the vehicle and never notice it is there until you point it out to them.

Will the kit fit my car perfectly?

Some kits may appear to be shorter then required for coverage. These kits are designed this way to compensate for curves and contours on your vehicle. The kits are meant to be tacked with a squeegee and then stretched into place. Material should never hang over the edge. Kits should be stretched 1/16th to 1/8th of the inch from the edge. This allows air bubbles and solution to be squeegeed out to the edges and released.

How long should I wait before applying the film if my car has been recently repainted?

Always, always, always consult the body shop who repainted the vehicle for their recommendation. Most likely, they will ask you to wait at least 30 days for the new paint to cure before applying the clear bra. Applying a clear bra on a repainted surface can be tricky. A repainted surface, 9 times out of 10, is not as strong as the original paint. If the clear bra installer allows the kit to sit on the surface too long before rewetting it, the adhesive side of the film can adhere and easily pull the paint. Installers must move quickly and maintain a wet surface so prevent damaging the new paint.

Can paint protection film be applied over a vehicle that had the paint touched up?

3M recommends that any repainted surfaces on your vehicle be professionally painted and fully cured before applying paint protection film. If you have touched up scratches or chips with a tube of 'touch-up' paint and then apply paint protection film over it, the film will protect that area until it is removed. If the paint protection film is removed, it is possible the area with the touch-up paint could peel off with the film.

I want to talk to someone at your company before I order. What do I do?

We do our best to answer all calls and emails as soon as possible.
Our hours are 9am to 4pm PST Monday-Friday and 10am to 4pm PST Saturday.
Call us @ 844-951-3354

• Be sure to take a look at our Installation instructions, Pictures and Videos on our website www.carprotectionpros.com. The instructions and videos on these pages provide invaluable information on different installation techniques that otherwise would be very difficult to explain.
• Be sure to overlap strokes to avoid trapping air or solution under the material. Bubbles tend to form most often at curves and contours, so pay special attention in these areas.
• Don't be afraid to stretch the material. The plastic is very resilient and can be stretched extensively without harming the kit. Warm the material with a steamer before stretching. This stretching is imperative for proper fit, as our kits are designed to be stretched to reduce the amount of excess material near the edges of contoured surfaces (fingers).
• Take your time a typical installation can take up to 4 to 8 hours. If the film initially will not stick to convex and concave areas (i.e. around fog lights, air scoops, etc.) give the film time to dry out before gradually working the material in to those areas with a flexible squeegee covered with a microfiber towel, or thumbs, and fingers. This is where patience pays off.
• The material may be gently pulled back up in areas if necessary to reposition the kit, or if you find that you have trapped dirt, air or an excessive amount of solution under the material. Do not worry about small pockets of solution trapped under the material, as over time the solution will evaporate, making the spot unnoticeable. Please let the film cure for 48-72 hours before trying to remove any bubbles. 
• Any attempt to pull the material back up must be done within 10 minutes or less of the initial application or excessive stretching will occur, so check the kit often for bubbles. If you accidentally stretch the material too far, you may end up with the kit overlapping the edges of the panel. Keep the backing material clean in case you need to place the film back on the backing paper.
• If you are uncertain about any part of the installation, please contact technical support at
  844-951-3354. Available 6 days a week.