Skip to content
PPF GUIDE · MOROCCO

What paint
protection film is

The definition, in one paragraph

PPF — paint protection film — is a clear polyurethane film — TPU, or PCU for our G7X — applied over a car's paint so that it takes the damage instead. NexusCo films are 7.5 mil thick, around 190 microns: a flexible layer that absorbs stone chips, wash marks, insects and acidic bird droppings, and filters the UV that fades paint over time. Its topcoat is self-healing, meaning fine scratches close up under heat — sunlight is enough. It comes in a gloss finish, invisible once fitted, or satin if you want to change how the paint looks without respraying. It removes cleanly, without residue, leaving the original paint intact: that is the whole point when you come to sell. Expect at least its warranty term — six to fifteen years depending on the film — provided it is fitted professionally, and it is sold both by the roll to trade and fitted directly for owners.

HOW IT WORKS

A scratch that disappears with heat

Self-healing is not a marketing line, it is a property of the elastomeric topcoat. It deforms under light stress and returns to shape as the temperature rises. Here is what that looks like on a panel.

  1. The scratch forms
    01

    The scratch forms

    A sponge carrying grit, a jacket sleeve, a branch: the fine scratch bites into the topcoat, not the paint. The film has already taken it.

  2. Heat does the work
    02

    Heat does the work

    Sunlight, hot water or a heat gun on low is enough. The polymer regains mobility and the deformation closes on itself.

  3. The surface evens out
    03

    The surface evens out

    The scratch goes without polishing, so without removing material. A polished panel gets thinner every time; a film that heals does not.

Three technologies people confuse

This is the most common confusion, and an expensive one: many owners believe a ceramic coating protects against stone chips. It does not. Here is what each one actually does.

TechnologyProtects againstThicknessLifeReversibleRelative price
PPFStone chips, scratches, insects and acidic droppings, UV≈ 190 µm (7.5 mil)6 to 15 yearsYes, clean removalThe highest of the three
Ceramic coatingChemical attack and UV, makes washing easier. Absorbs no impactA few microns2 to 5 yearsNo, it wears awayConsiderably cheaper than PPF
Vinyl wrapSurface scratches, and changes the car's colour. Does not absorb stone chips≈ 100 µm3 to 7 yearsYesBelow PPF, without matching its protection

The two are not exclusive: a ceramic coating applied over PPF makes the film easier to wash and a little more hydrophobic. That is the usual combination on well-kept cars. A wrap answers a different question — changing the look — and was never designed to take a motorway stone chip.

What PPF does not do

Anyone promising you the film solves everything is setting up a disappointment. Here is the exact line between what it takes and what is not its job.

What it takes

  • Motorway stone chips, the number one cause of paint damage
  • Fine scratches and swirl marks from washing
  • Insects and bird droppings, whose acidity attacks the clear coat
  • UV, which dulls and fades paint season after season
  • Light door and handle scuffs

What it does not

  • A car park impact that dents the panel: film is not armour
  • Paint that is already damaged — it seals it as it is, it does not repair it
  • Existing rust, which carries on working underneath
  • Deep vandalism, a key that goes through the film to the metal
  • Routine care: a filmed car still needs washing

Three things separating a good film from a bad one

01
Aliphatic TPU, not PVC
Aliphatic polyurethane is UV-stable: its molecular structure does not break down in sunlight. Cheap films are PVC or aromatic polyurethane, whose plasticisers migrate and yellow — two Moroccan summers are enough to see it on a white car. It is the most expensive difference to correct, because it only shows up after fitting.
02
What 7.5 mil means
One mil is a thousandth of an inch, or 25.4 microns. A 7.5 mil film is therefore around 190 microns thick — close to double a vinyl wrap, and nothing like the few microns of a ceramic coating. That thickness is what absorbs the energy of a stone instead of passing it to the paint.
03
Does the warranty cover the fitting?
Commercial film warranty: 15 years for G7X, 10 years for G7 and 6 years for S7. Installation is a separate service and is not covered by this warranty. The NexusCo commercial warranty applies to film sold to installers and individual customers. It covers product defects under the warranty conditions. Installation, removal, refitting and installation faults are not covered by this warranty, including when NexusCo installs the film.

Frequently asked

That leaves
the budget

You now know what the film does and what it does not. The pricing page gives the starting figure per package, what moves it, and what the quote already covers.