TXRubicon

Hate to say it, but this is just how your PPF is going to look as it does its job. This is not the kind of tear "self-healing" is going to fix. My hood is peppered with this kind of stuff after just a year of driving. There's so much debris that gets kicked up just driving about. Some are definitely not through the PPF completely, but there are a couple that I won't know until the PPF is pulled off. I'm certainly not going to go replacing PPF every time there's a small impact. Let the PPF do its job and decide how often you want to replace it for aesthetic reasons.

MEM82

Thanks for all the replies! Thanks TX Rubicon. Agreed!
Unfortunately cleaned up my car and noticed this now. I really got hammered hard by that dirt and rock coming off the trailer.
The Rock crush through the PPF and dented the front bumper. Is there any way to fix this conservatively? without a full respray? Fill in, sand, and then re PPF? The problem is it's a little deformed.
thanks!



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UncleDude

why are you posting screen grabs of your photos?

I would fill it, sand it and use Dr. Colorchip on it then get a new panel

MEM82

Thanks Uncle dude, sorry I have a tendency to take screengrabs. That would be great. Hopefully it can be filled sanded and dr color chip then re ppfed. I was able to find a good Porsche certified shop not too far away. We will see whar they say. Bummer, but it happens!
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slowdown

Honestly, I've moved away from mitts. Nowadays, I just use a folded microfiber towel as the wash medium instead of a mitt. A tip from Larry that's come in handy...

BoxKing

1 Bucket
Zero Grit Guards
1 Wash mitt - I use the wand to quickly spray the mitt prior to dunking back into the wash bucket - never introducing dirt.

Same process above for wheel cleaning - I spray down the brushes/mitts prior to dunking them back into the bucket. Just added the Cyclone Wheel Mitts to my wash, and love them.

Just received a new mitt yesterday and put her to the test. Absolutely fell in love this this thing, IMO the best mitt/pad I have ever used, and the price was on point.
Adam's 10” Professional Wool Wash Pad - Plush Synthetic Car Wash Pad is Gentle On Auto Paint & Accessories Without Worry of Scratches or Swirls - Car Soap & Wax Safe Detailing Tool for Car or Truck… https://a.co/d/9gytvsn

I only use multiple microfiber towels when I do rinse-less washes.

VVG

Might as well add in my cleaning method. I have used this method on all my cars now for over 10 years and it leaves spectacular results.

1. Pressure rinse the vehicle to get off the heavier muck and grime
2. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and add a splash of Griot's Spray-on Car Wash to the bucket
3. Completely soak several thick pile micro fiber towels in the bucket
4. Liberally apply Griot's Spray-on Car Wash to your wet, pressure rinsed vehicle, working 1 to 2 panels at a time
5. Make nice linear passes with the soaked microfiber towels on each body panel to clean the car, then return them to the bucket. Work from the top of the car down.
6. Buff dry as you go with a high quality microfiber drying towel
7. Blow out excess water (optional) with a heated air dryer after cleaning and buffing the entire car.

That's it. Your car will be immaculate, and gleaming when you are done. Twice a year, I apply a "Recharge" coating for my Ceramic. You do not need to do anything else to the vehicle whatsoever. It will just look great, and the less products you need to apply to the surface, the less micro-scratches you will get. I have even used this semi-waterless method on several black cars and the results are spectacular.

Additionally:

1. If the wheels need serious cleaning, I do this first using Griot's Heavy Duty wheel cleaner and a pressure washer
2. I use Griot's Rubber Cleaner on the tires followed by Lithium Wheely Great
3. I use Lithium Trim Serum on all black plastic and Lithium Hyper Cleanse on interior panels

MrFunk

Yep me too.
3-4 plush microfiber towels are more than enough for the spyder. Each towel has 8 sides to it when folded into quarters. During a wash, never re-use a side, never re-use a towel... I find a plush microfiber does a better job than wash mitts and are more gentle on the paint.

TRZ06

I actually find that the biggest issue is people use the stuff to coat not only the sidewall, but it always runs into the first block or so of the outer tire contact patch. Then you drive away and you are slip sliding all over the place and getting understeer city.

I use a small sponge pad and make sure it stays on JUST THE SIDEWALLS. Oh, I use Adams tire dressing and that seems to work just fine. Leaves a nice satin finish, not too shiny or tacky looking.

jamesrg

you and I do it the exact same way and almost the exact same setup.

so we might the same tastes, I would recommend

Dura coat tire shine - look it up, it’s the real deal. Stays on for a good six months and absolutely dry and doesn’t collect dirt

303 aero for plastics, the serum is nice, but as you probably know, it attracts so mist dust, 303 makes the black look new for a handful of washes and doesn’t collect anything

MrFunk

Doing a final clean before winter storage.
Used Sonax Alcantara cleaner... it really brought the steering wheel back to like new! Highly recommended...

rubber_ducky

I’ve used this stuff and agree that it works well.

an equally effective alternative is Koch Chemie Pol star diluted 1:10-15 in a foaming pump dispenser.

MrFunk

Would be curious what others techniques are with the Alcantara cleaner...

I pumped a good amount onto a dry microfiber and scrubbed it into the alcantara which was wet to the touch after...
Waited about 10 minutes for it to semi-dry...
Then took a new damp microfiber and scrubbed down the area...
Waited another 10 min or so and use a soft horse hair brush to brighten up the fibers...
Then I wait until it's fully dried before driving.

BoxKing

Never thought about adding POL to a foaming dispenser. POL is my go to all around interior cleaner, so this tip/advise is going to be beneficial.

Another product spotlight.
Gtechniq EXOv5 - released Q2 2023.

Many of you know my feelings about applying Ceramic on PPF, so I wont go through all of my reasoning's at this moment. EXOv5 is a standalone topper, that has up to two year protection, and is applied similarly to Ceramic. This stuff is absolutely amazing, easy to apply, and my "paint" PPF feels like liquid glass after the application, and post first wash a week later (CP Reset). I bought Gtechnic C2v3 to apply after every 2-3rd wash; one spray into a microfiber per panel. I bought the smallest bottle of this stuff bc I may not keep using it if I dont like the properties after application. Im also eye balling Koch Chemie NMS, adding 30ML to my foam cannon/bucket every 2nd-3rd wash as my sacrificial layer- bc I want to see what the lazy approach looks like.

EXOv5 application process:

Decontamination wash - combination of CarPro LIFT, and DESCALE.
Gyeon Iron - I used a full 1000ML bottle - yes overkill.
Clay Bar- Fine grade
CArPro Reflect polish - went over any stubborn water-spots, and stained areas (lower panels) applied into a plush microfiber.
Gyeon PREP

EXO application - used the supplied applicator, applying to roughly 2'x3' sections at a time. Waited approximately 1-2 minutes, wiped off/leveled and spread the product with the first microfiber towel, 2nd towel to level, 3rd to polish. This was applied to every single portion of the car, trim includes, with the exception of the glass. I ordered the 50ml bottle, and probably wound up with 10ml left.

Avera

All of these Alcantara cleaners are smoke and mirrors . . . wipe with moist microfiber towel then dry with another. Alcantara looks like new.

Avera