Taking care of new 4Runner

Hey everyone,

I just bought a 2024 Underground TRD Pro with the following dealer accessories included:
-All Weather Cargo Mats
-Black emblem overlays
-Cargo cover
-LED interior light upgrade
-LED under-car puddle illumination
-Paint and Protection Film - Hood and Door Package
-Phone cable charge package w/ two front USB ports
-Predator Pro Step Bar
-Touch keypad

My question is regarding the PPF on hood and door. If I want to maintain the paint as nicely as possible, should I have this factory PPF removed and replaced with something like XPel or is the factory PPF great? What about ceramic coating? Would I just throw that on top of the PPF? If I were to do any of this, would I need to hand wash the car thoroughly beforehand or can the installers ensure that it is spotless before application? I've always driven beaters and rarely taken to the reckless drive-thru car washes. Sorry if this question has been addressed already, new to the forum.

 

Toyota has nothing to do with PPF or no such thing as factory PPF. Dealerships give contracts to small business to install PPF, Tint, Security systems, etc..

Me personally won't feel comfortable removing the PPF already installed.

 

I pulled it off. If you do the entire panel that's one thing, but otherwise you'll need new PPF in 3-5 years and/or will need paint correction to clean up the transition. I'm not a dumbass opening my doors and don't have kids so edge guard makes no sense for me.

Ceramic on the other hand is a good call. It's a layer of protection if you live where they salt and if not, it's protection from the oxidation that UV exposure can cause. Strip wash, clay bar, polish if desired, and apply.

 

I removed the installed PPF off the hood and fenders within the first week of ownership. Came off easily, I didn't want to leave it on and become more of an issue in the future. If I was to do PPF I personally would go with the complete hood, front end as I do not like to see the edge part way up the hood. I've had PPF on other cars, it definitely helps protect the paint from stone chips/damage and will give you some peace of mind if it's really a concern of yours to keep the truck in perfect condition.

 

Yeah I heard that factory PPF if garbage. If you wanna get a quality job done they could easily pull it off and re-do it.

I was torn between PPF or ceramic coating. I endure much more tree sap and bird crap than highway driving (fast flying pebbles) so I went with ceramic coating. It makes it easier to clean it. I might just never get a re-application…and maybe just get a new paint job 5-10 years later instead (let the rocks & bird crap fly!! I’ll just break the bank later for a paint job). Also included in this strategy is that I’m second guessing the color that I went with, so there’s that too.

You can of course get both as well, ceramic coating over a PPF.

 

There is no PPF on the hood of my Nauti Blue 4R and there are numerous nicks, chips and a few scratches in the paint. The wifes Hot Lava '16 RAV4 has dealer installed PPF on the front 1/2 of the hood. The PPF has lifted a teeny-tiny bit at the back edge. Less than a 1/2 of a pencil eraser in 3 places. It is not a big deal, it has been 8 years now. The paint is starting to fade, and you have to look hard to notice it. The casual observer won't see the difference. But the hood is nick and chip free. I ceramic coated the PPF for the 1st time last week. It'll be a while before I see how that eventually turns out. So far, so good.

In your case OP, I'd PPF the entire hood. I wish I would have. You won't get the fading line like the RAV4 is starting to develope and will have nice looking paint years down the road.

 

I PPF'd the entire front end. Full hood, bumper, headlights, painted mirror caps and fenders. Also added cups behind the door handles to prevent finger nail scratches. Everything forward facing that catches hard impacts when from highway driving. Planning on keeping my new '24 TRD OR for the long haul so wanted to keep it looking sharp.

 

+1 on the door handles. Damn Nauti Blue may as well be black. Shows every little imperfection.

 

Hi there and welcome, sounds like a nice looking truck...

You must be in SET, cause GST doesn't offer LED puddle lights or the touch keypad.

How does the touch keypad look and function? I wanted one, but my dealer said they couldn't do it...but I could purchase it and have service install it for ~$1000

That PPF was part of the protection package installed at the port?
Or dealer installed?

Mine did not come with PPF, I am having Xpel PPF installed on the front fenders, hood, and bumper.

If you take your to an Xpel dealer, they will remove the old film and do paint corrections before installing their Xpel product on the vehicle...you dont need to wash it first

I've had other cars ceramic coated, its done over the Xpel...not sure I will do the 4Runner with ceramic coating

Ceramic coating care means no car washes, except by hand...and every few months treating it. I use reload every few washes
https://www.carpro-us.com/latest-arrivals/carpro-reload-2-0-500ml-17oz-new/

Xpel on the front clip and full ceramic coating may be over $3000...

With ceramic coating, you dont wax or polish the car...but water beads up nicely

I handwash my ceramic caoted car, then use a gas powered leaf blower to blow it dry and just clean the windows

 

The dealer stuff stucks.

 

Yikes! That's exactly why I removed the installed PPF...Get full PPF coverage if you can!

 

I need to remove it but it's going to suck. It seems goo gone will soften the adhesive with dirt in it so then I can scrape off with a plastic edge but then I'll need to wax the area. The internet suggests pouring boiling water on a towel on the area.

 

Is that black line just where the PPF ends, and dirt collected?

 

I would never put PPF on my truck. The amount of money & time that I spend to have it done isn't worth it. I wouldn't get a real return on investment. Plus, this isn't a damn Ferrari, it's a fucking Toyota. If your hood has 10 less paint chips than my hood that'll net you another $200 during re-sale time. If that.

Oh, and don't go thinking that PPF or ceramic coating will protect you from rock chips, road grime or paint fading. It does help, a little. But it's not the shield that people seem to think it is, or make it out to be. But I digress.... It's your money, wrap the entire truck if you want and if that gives you peace of mind. But there are better ways to spend your money.

 

I'm in the same mindset now. I had factory PPF (Dealer installed PPF) on my Venza. After 5 years I notice the PPF had become more yellowing than non PPF paint. Also the seam is no pronounced with more dirt and what not at the edge. Again my Venza was white so color change is more visible. May be not as bad with other colors. Not sure..

Edit -
Just saw what @whippersnapper02 posted. Mine was not that bad but would be in that state if I kept the vehicle longer or parked out side I guess. Anyway the quality changes as different dealership uses different companies / contractors.

 

wait for hot summer day. sun will do all heating for you without damaging clear coat. use alcohol but not on hot surface
ppf on roof and whole hood save from rust after bird poop and front stones. same windshield frame pillars.
all front facing metal painted surfaces has to be protected, plastic not really matter, it is not rust.
sides cannot be protected from shopping carts and other drivers doors, ppf or ceramic
door edging damage entirely depends how YOU open the door, not other drivers, where you park
car wash makes the clear coat dull, wash by hand and color will shine
hand coat spray waxing after wash repels water and dirt very good

 

a new painted hood is like 500$? how does that compare to the cost of ppf?

 

I'll offer a different opinion. I had 3M installed on front, partial hood, mirror fronts, and behind the rear wheels on my 2003 Corvette, and similarly on my 1998, 2003, 2005 4Runners, and 2019 Tundra. I still have my Corvette. The 3M has two direct hits from rocks that did not penetrate the film or damage the paint. My Toyotas had multiple hits over the years, and all sold for premiums prices because of the film. In each case, the first person to come and see the vehicle, bought it. XPEL was the first thing I had installed on my new 2024 4Runner TRD Off Road.

 

Not in SoCal. You can plan for about $1k per panel regardless of whether it's a door, hood, bumper or fender.