Color change PPF is paint protection film with the color built in. XPEL COLOR changes the color of your car and protects the paint under it at the same time. Nothing gets sanded or sprayed, and your factory paint stays where it is.
It’s for people who want a new color, a two-tone or a satin roof without repainting the car. When you want the original color back, the film comes off.
We do color change with film, not vinyl. We’re an XPEL Certified Installer in New Rochelle, and our collision shop is under the same roof, so panel prep and disassembly are everyday work here.
Color PPF vs. vinyl wrap
A vinyl wrap changes the color. Color PPF changes the color and protects the paint.
| XPEL COLOR PPF | Vinyl wrap | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Self-healing urethane film | Thin vinyl |
| Thickness | 8 mil. XPEL says about 60% thicker than vinyl | Thinner |
| Chip protection | Yes | Not a protective product |
| Self-healing | Yes | No |
| Expected life | XPEL says 10+ years | XPEL says a few years before it degrades |
| Look up close | Close to factory paint | Can show texture |
| Manufacturer warranty | 10 years from XPEL | Varies |
Want to keep the color you have? See clear XPEL paint protection film. Want your color in satin? See XPEL STEALTH PPF.
The 16 XPEL COLOR finishes
XPEL COLOR comes in 16 finishes across gloss and satin. Colors look different on a screen, under shop lights and in daylight, so ask to see a physical sample before you decide.
Whole car or just part of it
Not every color change has to be the full car.
| Option | What it covers | Why people do it |
|---|---|---|
| Roof and pillars | Satin or gloss black over the roof | A floating-roof look |
| Small accents | Mirror caps, splitters, diffusers and vents | A sport-package look |
| Hood and front fenders | A two-tone front end | Color plus chip protection where the car takes the most hits |
| Full color change | The whole car, with door jambs and under-edges where disassembly allows | A new color, top to bottom |
| Stripes and liveries | Cut from color PPF | Accents in the same film as the rest |
How we install it
A color change is as much a body shop job as a film job. How long it takes depends on the car, the number of panels and how far it comes apart. We’ll give you a schedule once we see it.
Inspect and correct
Dents, chips and failing clear coat get dealt with first. The film will show anything sharp under it.
Clean and decontaminate
The paint gets a full decontamination and wipe-down. Anything left on it stays under the film.
Take it apart
Badges, handles, lights and trim come off, and bumpers and mirrors where the design allows, so film wraps the edges.
Pattern and cut
Patterns are computer cut where a good one exists for your model. No cutting with a blade against your paint.
Apply and tuck
Film goes on wet, then heat helps it follow the body lines. Edges get tucked wherever the panel allows.
Reassemble and inspect
The car goes back together, cures indoors, and gets checked panel by panel before you pick it up.
In the shop
Real photos from our shop.
Taking care of it
Color PPF is low maintenance, but gloss and satin have slightly different rules.
- Wait 72 hours before the first wash.
- Hand wash out of direct sun. Touchless washes are fine. Brush washes are not.
- Keep a pressure washer at least 3 feet away, and never aim it into an edge.
- Satin: no wax, no gloss sealant and no polishing. It leaves shiny patches you can’t undo.
- Gloss: a ceramic spray or sealant made for PPF is fine.
- Get bird droppings, bugs and sap off quickly.
- Light swirls heal with heat. Warm water works.
Many people add ceramic coating over the film to make washing easier.
What the warranty covers
There are two warranties: XPEL’s on the film, and ours on the install.
What isn’t covered
Impact damage. Rocks, road debris or anything else striking the film isn’t covered by XPEL or by us. XPEL also excludes scratches, water spots, damage from improper care, and non-XPEL coatings over the film.
Two honest limits
Film can’t save paint that’s already failing. Delaminating clear coat or a lifting repaint can come off with the film, and we’ll tell you at inspection. And if a panel gets refilmed later, XPEL notes the new piece may show a slight difference in hue.
Why people bring it to us
- XPEL Certified Installer, with more than 4,000 Porsche 911 PPF installs in the last ten years.
- Collision and PPF are both in-house, so prep, disassembly and edge work happen under one roof.
- We primarily work on BMW and above, and we accept all cars.
- Pickup and delivery is free locally, out to about Greenwich, CT. Farther out it may cost extra.
Finishing the rest of the car? See XPEL window tint, wheel powder coating, caliper painting and exotic car customization.
Tell us about your car
Send photos of the car and the color you have in mind. We’ll tell you what makes sense for your model and which panels are worth including.
Request an Estimate
Tell us about the car and what you'd like done. We call back the same day. On a busy day, by the next morning at the latest.
Common questions
For a high-end car, we think so. XPEL COLOR is 8 mil self-healing urethane, it comes with a 10-year XPEL warranty, and it protects against chips. Vinyl isn’t a protective product.
Not healthy factory paint when it’s installed and removed the right way. Paint that’s already failing can come off with the film, and we flag that at inspection.
Sixteen, across gloss and satin. Ask to see a physical sample before you decide, because colors look different on a screen.
XPEL says 10-plus years with proper care, and the warranty runs 10 years against yellowing, cracking, blistering and delaminating. Real life depends on how the car is stored and washed.
Yes. Roofs, mirror caps, hoods, splitters and diffusers can all be done on their own.
It’s worth telling your insurer, and New York expects the color on record to match the car. Check with your insurer and the DMV for your situation. We can’t advise on your policy.
Old vinyl has to come off first so we can check the paint. A well-adhered, fully cured repaint is usually fine. One that’s lifting or unknown isn’t, and we’ll say so.
Wait 72 hours, then hand wash with a pH-neutral soap. Never wax, polish or use a gloss sealant on satin film. Touchless washes are fine, but brush washes are not.
Where we work
Our shop is in New Rochelle. Pickup and delivery is free locally, out to about Greenwich, CT. Farther out it may cost extra. Customers come to us from:
Enthusiast Auto Works
55B Plain Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Open Monday to Friday
(914) 630-1668 · Contact us