I was recently working on another black Porsche 997, only this one had some neglected PPF on the leading edge of the frunk and front fenders. There was probably PPF on the bumper cover as well, but it was removed long ago. The PPF that remained was well past its prime.
PPF has a lifespan. If the car is stored outdoors, then that life is generally 5-7 years. This example was probably almost 18 years old and really needed to go, but where to begin?
I usually test a corner before diving into a project like this. Is the PPF still somewhat pliable or rock hard? Is it over original paint or a questionable respray? Is it badly cracked or still in tact? The answers to those questions will help determine how much of a nightmare removal is going to be. I generally assume a project like this (front end only) is going to take me 16-20 hours, and that proved about right.
The keys to removal are gentle heat, plenty of plastic razor blades, and lots of patience. For heat, rather than using a heat gun, use a steamer or get a tea kettle and pour near-boiling water on a microfiber towel to soften the adhesive. Carefully use the plastic razor blades to get under the PPF. If you’re lucky, you can get a couple of fingers under it and pull it back on itself to remove it in sheets.
If you’re unlucky, like I was, you’ll just going to have to scrape this off. You’ll probably find the film coming off easily but the adhesive staying behind. If that’s the case, don’t panic and don’t try to scrape it off at the same time as the film. Once you’re done working the film, spray Goo-gone liberally, and then scrape the adhesive off with more plastic razor blades.
Once you get the film and adhesive mostly off, use a dual action buffer and compound the paint to remove any residual. Then polish as usual. If your PPF is as old as this was, you may find the unprotected paint has faded more than the paint under the PPF. But if you are patient and use the right polish, you can hide the lines pretty well.
The work on this car was focused primarily on the paint, but I didn’t want the interior to remain neglected so I focused on the main areas of wear which were the steering wheel, shift knob and ebrake handle. These changes really brought this car back to life and will bring the owner many years of enjoyment.
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