PPF Pricing Quotes - Got the most eye watering one ever

[ToddRGuy]

So I’ve been getting some quotes for services on my G60 that’s waiting for carrier assignment. I’ve put PPF and ceramic on the last two vehicles I’ve purchased, and have been really pleased with the ease of detailing when installed. I’m looking for PPF, Ceramic and Tint.

I’m in a new State, so there is bound to be some pricing variability. In the past, it’s really come down to review satisfaction, experience level of the installer, and some answers to questions regarding how they deal with cuts, edges, and such.

Most of the installers have been within +/- $700 of each other with the higher price point ones also offering some addition protection areas in both ceramic and PPF that the others did not.

I found an installer that had good reviews, a very professional website, instructional videos, and recommendations and was pretty impressed with their Visual galleries. I asked for a quote for XPEL PPF, Ceramic, and Tint.

I must say that between California and Ohio. I have never seen anything like this. I raised my first eyebrow with one hour of paint correction stage 1 being listed at $800. I’m clearly not going to go with this particular installer, and they are welcome to charge whatever they want for Services as it is their prerogative, but I must seriously question how they are able to remain in business.

I have removed identifiable information because I’m not wanting to disparage them, only to see if anyone else has ever seen pricing like this: $8924.53. 🤯😳

[ppointer]

Couple of things: firstly, is the 4-year and 8-year ceramic an either/or? Not both?

Anyway, I had our Ohio-based '22 540i done when new two years ago for about $2k. That included whatever polishing was needed on a brand new car, PPF on the front bumper, front of the hood, and the mirrors. Included ceramic, too.

I also just had daughter's e90 PPF redone last month. They needed four hours to remove the old PPF, then $1200 or so to apply the new. No ceramic on that car.

Back in 2021 I had the full treatment done to a low-mileage, new-to-me 335is, down in south FL. Cost down here for that car was about $2400.

[chefwong]

Nothing out of the ordinary on your listed work order - similar to what Market Rate will be in my area...on all the line items

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by chefwong

Nothing out of the ordinary on your listed work order - similar to what Market Rate will be in my area...on all the line items

Interesting as it’s about $6000 more than quotes in my area.

[MilehighM3]

Overall that’s quite high. Tax on labor huh? That’s unusual.

[M-technik-3]

Quick google search show is taxable. Not sure what PPF rates are in my area as I don't have a car that I would deem it's needed on. I do many of these so called shops do offer financing on getting just a car detailed with ceramic coating.

[IanH]

Ppf is overpriced, paint correction is included in the ceramic options, tint is overpriced. Whoever prepared the quote doesn't understand how to use the software basically.

I would look for a smaller shop that doesn't act like they are a factory.

[nerdogray]

PPF installers have infested the middle TN area, yet somehow the competition hasn't reduced prices, which are very similar to those. They all oversell and underdeliver... at best.

[Pathy01]

Those prices don’t seem completely out of line for a high quality job. Without knowing the shop and seeing examples of their work, I’m not going to judge whether or not they’re worth a premium price, but all shops are certainly not equal in their attention to detail and quality of work. Since you didn’t remove the name of the shop, I looked at their website and they seem to be a high end shop that I’d expect to pay a premium for. If their facility and work match up, it could be a fair deal, or they could just market themselves that way and simply be overcharging. Only you can decide what’s worth paying for, but no those prices are not outlandish if it’s a top quality shop.

As already pointed out, it does seem that there may be some overlap of services and they have you a selection to choose from, not a quote for the job. It does appear the hours listed are not actual hours and they’ve input things into their system based on a unit of 1 hour for the full price of the product/service, with adjustment factors for different levels of product such as ceramic coating.

[IanH]

The highest end shops in the Boston area are all, quite a lot, cheaper than this quote for each individual service.

Last time I checked Cleveland ain't "hcol"

[cozye]

I paid about 6k for the same job in Louisville from the best guy in town that all the high end cars go to. Xpel. ceramic, and tint. He told me that a full PPF would have run about 9.5k.

[dudley@07726]

Full Xpel PPF 10 year warranty + Full Ceramic Wheel Coating and Full Ceramic Tint from best guy in SWFL. $8390

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by cozye

I paid about 6k for the same job in Louisville from the best guy in town that all the high end cars go to. Xpel. ceramic, and tint. He told me that a full PPF would have run about 9.5k.

Yeah, this quote was only for the full front hood, not an entire wrap.

[_GRAYGHOST_]

Watch out with XPEL. I didn’t go with them because they only warranty the ppf if you only use their ceramic coating. And my installer’s opinion was that their ceramic wasn’t as good as others.

For my G80 in South Florida, I paid $4800 for ppf (Need to remember the brand) on the full car (all exterior painted surfaces and headlights, interior CF trims except the buckets, and not full coverage on sills) $500 for a stage 1 correction. Not sure how long it took him but I think it was like 3 hours. The ppf has a “ceramic” layer that lasts about a year so I didn’t do ceramic coating on top just yet

[tdott]

I don't think the hrs are for the paint correction, more like a qty of 1 for their single stage paint correction package.

When looked at individually, prices don't seem that out of the norm if it's a top tier shop working on high end cars.

The coating prices could be on the high side, but it's impossible to tell since the brand isn't shown/listed. If it's something like Modesta or other high end, it could make sense. If it's prosumer or an entry level pro coating, then perhaps it could be over priced.

[sean2648]

1. Forgot to remove the shops information at the bottom of that first picture.

2. Esoteric is a pretty big name in the detailing world (they run a store), and from what I know put out good work on the service side, but you pay a little for that name.

3. The PPF portion of the quote is priced pretty well.

4. 1 stage paint correction is a bit high. And PPF hides minor defects very well to the point you wouldn't need a paint correction on any panel the PPF is going on, so that can be cut out of the price. If they are telling you it needs it before PPF goes on, they are trying to milk some money.

5. Looks like they are giving you 2 options for the coating, not making you buy both. Their CRM just doesn't do a good job of splitting it into options that you can select. 4 year "consumer + coating" vs 8 year professional coating with warranty. A little high on both quotes, especially if you are getting PPF as well. *Edit. Definitely high on the coating, didn't read they don't include glass or wheels at that price. We are at $1500 to do the entire exterior for our professional coating on that size vehicle. That is all paint, trim, lights, plastic, glass, and wheel faces.

6. Tint isn't outrageously high, we operate out of a smaller area so our tint prices are lower. For example, for that size vehicle for full ceramic we would be at about $550.

*Added notes

Shop supplies is basically that shop's way of covering the 3.5% fee that they incur when taking credit cards. They won't list it as that, but that's what it is. And then many states have services as being taxable, just depends. Quick search for Ohio shows that it is. You can ask for their "cash price" if you are wanting to get rid of those few %.


I own and operate a full-service detail shop specializing in PPF, tint, ceramic coating, and most other services you would need for a vehicle. As well as a detail supply store. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by sean2648

1. Forgot to remove the shops information at the bottom of that first picture.

2. Esoteric is a pretty big name in the detailing world (they run a store), and from what I know put out good work on the service side, but you pay a little for that name.

3. The PPF portion of the quote is priced pretty well.

4. 1 stage paint correction is a bit high. And PPF hides minor defects very well to the point you wouldn't need a paint correction on any panel the PPF is going on, so that can be cut out of the price. If they are telling you it needs it before PPF goes on, they are trying to milk some money.

5. Looks like they are giving you 2 options for the coating, not making you buy both. Their CRM just doesn't do a good job of splitting it into options that you can select. 4 year "consumer + coating" vs 8 year professional coating with warranty. A little high on both quotes, especially if you are getting PPF as well. *Edit. Definitely high on the coating, didn't read they don't include glass or wheels at that price. We are at $1500 to do the entire exterior for our professional coating on that size vehicle. That is all paint, trim, lights, plastic, glass, and wheel faces.

6. Tint isn't outrageously high, we operate out of a smaller area so our tint prices are lower. For example, for that size vehicle for full ceramic we would be at about $550.

*Added notes

Shop supplies is basically that shop's way of covering the 3.5% fee that they incur when taking credit cards. They won't list it as that, but that's what it is. And then many states have services as being taxable, just depends. Quick search for Ohio shows that it is. You can ask for their "cash price" if you are wanting to get rid of those few %.


I own and operate a full-service detail shop specializing in PPF, tint, ceramic coating, and most other services you would need for a vehicle. As well as a detail supply store. Feel free to ask any other questions you may have

Thank Sean, I appreciate your feedback. I've heard that they do quality work, and their reviews definitely support this.

There were a few things about the quote I found confusing. The "4-year ceramic coating" is I assume the XPEL coating. The other coating is listed as "304 - Coating - ESOTERIC Signature Ceramic Coating". Which is not clearly indicated. I don't know if that references some proprietary coating that they have manufactured?

Just for reference, here are some quotes I've received thus far from other places within 60-mile radius:

Full front PPF - $2195
Ceramic coating wheels, glass, paint trim $1295
Tint, sides and rear XR plus - $699
** Bring to their location (50 miles) vs local shop they work with locally, reduces price by $500. Total: $3689 (with tax)

Full Front PPF - $1,695
Ceramic Coating - $779 (Does not include wheels/calipers)
Tint, sides and rear XR Plus - $436
Total: $3,099.15

I'm inclined to go with the middle ground, as he includes the wheels and calipers. Also, their PPF package includes Entire Hood, Full Fenders, grill, mirror caps, lights and rear luggage area.

Lowest quote, PFF: Excludes Grill, lights, rear luggage area.

The G60 has such an unusual bumper in the M Sport variety, I'm assuming they make a DAP cut kit for these weird things?

[dudley@07726]

Originally Posted by _GRAYGHOST_

Watch out with XPEL. I didn’t go with them because they only warranty the ppf if you only use their ceramic coating.

Nonsense. Received replies from Xpel after they received paperwork from the installer about my 10 year warranty.

[Westside Guy]

Make sure to put PPF on the rocker panels, A pillars, headlights and mirror caps!

[tdott]

I would consider ESOTERIC really high end, have you seen their facilities?
The prices makes sense now, and I'd probably consider it low for their level of expertise.

I personally wouldn't ppf over paint without paint correcting it, but everyone is different, I want it to be as perfect as it can be before I put ppf over it.

[chefwong]

Originally Posted by dudley@07726

Nonsense. Received replies from Xpel after they received paperwork from the installer about my 10 year warranty.

It is accurate. I believe the new policy came out this year...or somewhat within the last year...you need to use *xpel* coatings/sealants and no other brand....for the warranty...

I don't read much into warrantys' though as IME, my experience:expectations of a warranty comes from the shop level and not the manuf. My shops operates as such as (manuf warranty).....as it just makes a good customer experience to address the issue vs. waiting to do XYZ from the manuf. on a -warranty claim-

[ToddRGuy]

Originally Posted by tdott

I would consider ESOTERIC really high end, have you seen their facilities?
The prices makes sense now, and I'd probably consider it low for their level of expertise.

I personally wouldn't ppf over paint without paint correcting it, but everyone is different, I want it to be as perfect as it can be before I put ppf over it.

https://youtu.be/U2jZNKYALSc?si=bxXolHWwBqtsCi1m

I would agree, they are clearly high end. I also wouldn’t do PPF or ceramic without correction. Perhaps the pricing reflects their typical exotic clients, but to be honest $9k+ for a G60 doesn’t seem worth the price point. If I had an M5 then perhaps.

I can justify 5% of the vehicle cost but at 12-13%, I’ll pass and select an installer that’s more in line with market rates in the area.