With an ever-increasing number of consumers adding paint protection film to their vehicles to protect against stone chips and road sand and other road-borne and airborne particles, more and more automobile dealerships are offering this profitable add-on straight from the showroom floor. Such is the case with the paint protection film installation to be chronicled on the following pages.

Many of today’s newer vehicles employ some very elaborate bumper configurations with shapes and recesses that can be quite difficult to wrap, and the Maserati Gran Cabrio is no exception.

Here, we demonstrate a front bumper installation taken place at Ferrari–Maserati of New England in Norwood, Mass., and performed courtesy of Autobahnd International of Mansfield, Mass. The 2010 Maserati Gran Cabrio is a showroom car for Ferrari-Maserati of New England.
Though a variety of paint protection films from various suppliers are available on the market, for this installation we use Haartz’s DefenZall™ Paint Protection Film. As with any product and its use, it’s always advisable to follow the manufacturer’s recommended instructions.
The following photos and comments are intended to provide a general guideline for ensuring a quality paint protection film installation.

>> Step 1: Some basic tools will be needed for a quality paint protection film (PPF) installation. We recommend a stable, flat work surface as well as a high-quality squeegee, trimming tool, micro-denier towels. As well, you’ll want two squirt bottles, one containing a 75%-water/25%-IPA (isopropyl alcohol)/four drops of baby shampoo solution; the other will contain 100% IPA (isopropyl alcohol).	>> Step 2: Start the installation process by thoroughly cleaning the surface to be covered. We recommend using 100% IPA and a micro-denier towel to safely remove any dust or residue on the vehicle.
>> Step 3: Completely wet the vehicle surface with the water/IPA solution.	>> Step 4: After removing the film from the release liner, completely wet both top and bottom surfaces of the film with the water/IPA solution.
>> Step 5: Start on one corner and apply film to the bumper. Don’t worry too much about alignment at this point as the slip solution under the film will allow you to move the film into exact position later.	>> Step 6: Continue placement of the film by wrapping it across the front of the bumper and lightly tacking it to the opposite corner.
>> Step 7: Starting at the middle of the bumper, center the film around any ornamentation.	>> Step 8: Tack the film down with the squeegee. Remember to keep ample amounts of the water/IPA solution on the film surface to prevent scratching the film during tack down. Work the film outward toward the bumper corners with the squeegee.
>> Step 9: Be sure to keep the vehicle surface wet with the water/IPA solution. You can lift the previously tacked bumper corners and re-apply the water/IPA solution if necessary to ensure good slip when getting the film adjusted into its final position.	>> Step 10: Move the film into position on the bumper end and tack down with the squeegee. Again, be sure to apply plenty of the water/IPA solution to the top surface of the film while using the squeegee.
>> Step 11: For difficult contour areas, use some 100% IPA on the vehicle surface and the underside of the film before tacking into position. This will help the adhesive to tack up more quickly and allow the film to stay in position.	>> Step 12: Using the squeegee, finish tacking the film into place on the bumper and repeat this procedure on the opposite side of the bumper.
>> Step 13: After tacking the film securely to both bumper ends, carefully trim any excess film from around wheel wells, leaving about 1/4" or larger of excess film.	>> Step 14: With finger pressure, gently wrap the excess film around the inner wheel well surface.
>> Step 15: Carefully trim excess film from the grille opening, again leaving about 1/4"-1/2" of excess film for edge wrapping.	>> Step 16: As before, use finger pressure to gently wrap the excess film around the inner surface of the grille opening.
>> Step 17: Once again, trim excess film from the hood opening, leaving about 1/4"–1/2" of excess film.	>> Step 18: Wrap the excess film into the hood opening area.
>> Step 19: Next, carefully trim out any film covering lights and vent openings. For any recessed openings, leave about 1"-2" of film (depending on recess depth) and wrap the film into the horizontal surfaces all around the recess.	>> Step 20: Use the squeegee with the 100% IPA solution if necessary to wrap the film into difficult recess areas.
>> Step 21: We recommend applying heat to all edge wrapped areas such as wheel wells, light/vent openings and hood openings. Use a heat gun on low setting and apply gentle pressure with your fingers to ensure the film is securely attached to these areas.	>> Step 22: Finally, wipe down the completed installation being sure to remove any excess solution. This will impart a high-gloss appearance to the film, sending the message to the customer that they have spent their hard-earned money on a quality paint protection film installation.
Gordon Goodwin is sales manager at The Haartz Corp., Acton, Mass.