Cleaning/restoring clear bra

[GTS21]

I have a 2002 Dodge Viper RT/10, and had paint protection film installed when the car was first purchased new. Its been on there a long time. I dont recall the brand of the film, though i suspect its 3M. Its starting to dull/cloud up a bit. Is there a product i can use to polish it/restore the shine and clarity? The car has always been garaged. Thanks

[helix139]

At this point I would replace the film

[MarcWinkman]

Definitely remove it, have the paint underneath polished up and restored and have new film applied. If I'm not mistaken, paint protection film should be replaced every three years or so.

[helix139]

Definitely remove it, have the paint underneath polished up and restored and have new film applied. If I'm not mistaken, paint protection film should be replaced every three years or so.

Most have a 5-7 year warranty. Personally I'd replace after 3-5 years.

[MarcWinkman]

Most have a 5-7 year warranty. Personally I'd replace after 3-5 years.

Ah, I stand corrected.

[VroomVroom]

I'll offer a dissenting opinion....imagine that. :) Give it a shot, as you really have nothing to lose. Nearly all PPF can be lightly polished. I use a DA (trusty Porter Cable 7424) with Meguiar's 205 and a Lake Country white pad. As an example, the 3M film on my wife's Lexus was installed in February of 2007, and aside from the obvious rock chips and other sacrificial damage, the film looks terrific. (It's been polished three times.) If you're working by hand, try a test spot with a cleaner wax or something like Klasse All-in-One. You can also try a test spot with a chemical metal (or plastic) polish, but be sure to do so in an inconspicuous spot.

Anyway, here's a shot...which is a bit old now (July, 2013), but still representative:


Yours may well be too far gone, but those early films would often turn yellow from severe U/V damage, at which point replacement is the only option. If yours is merely cloudy/hazy, I'd say this is worth trying. Good luck.

[RickFLS4]

I suggest thoroughly cleaning it before polishing or considering replacing it. As I have come to learn, the film is porous so when it starts to yellow or look dull it may just be dirty. Once clean a sealant helps preserve the finish and make it easier to clean going forward. Xpel advised me against using any petroleum based cleaners on the film, and I expect the same is true for all urethane film.

I suggest starting with Dawn (PPF only not paint) with something like a microfiber mesh bug and tar sponge. (I use a soft bristle brush sometimes but maybe not a good idea on older film.). I also recommend Xpel's PPF cleaner and (once clean) Xpel's sealant (or other polish as suggest above). The Xpel cleaner is a little pricey ($20 for a relatively small bottle) so I have been looking for an alternative and came across this but haven't ordered or tried it yet: SimGlas Film Cleaner & Polish. My installer recommend Plex-All (similar to Plexus) but it is petroleum based so I stopped using it although it did put a nice feel on the film after using it a couple of times.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[helix139]

I suggest thoroughly cleaning it before polishing or considering replacing it. As I have come to learn, the film is porous so when it starts to yellow or look dull it may just be dirty. Once clean a sealant helps preserve the finish and make it easier to clean going forward. Xpel advised me against using any petroleum based cleaners on the film, and I expect the same is true for all urethane film.

I suggest starting with Dawn (PPF only not paint) with something like a microfiber mesh bug and tar sponge. (I use a soft bristle brush sometimes but maybe not a good idea on older film.). I also recommend Xpel's PPF cleaner and (once clean) Xpel's sealant (or other polish as suggest above). The Xpel cleaner is a little pricey ($20 for a relatively small bottle) so I have been looking for an alternative and came across this but haven't ordered or tried it yet: SimGlas Film Cleaner & Polish. My installer recommend Plex-All (similar to Plexus) but it is petroleum based so I stopped using it although it did put a nice feel on the film after using it a couple of times.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

I would normally agree but given the age of his film it would likely be better to get it off and apply new film with fresh adhesive. You don't want it to get to the point where the adhesive hardens and damages the paint when removing. Doesn't often happen but it can with older films.

[GTS21]

I picked up some of the xpel cleaner as well as some film cleaner that Adams used to make. Ill give them a try and report back.