[hadrianwells]

Something happened this week that I am still annoyed about, so I wanted to ask here before I do anything. I have a 2021 Lexus LX with paint protection film on the hood, front bumper and mirrors. Last Saturday I took it to a detailing place for a quick interior clean, and I also asked them to give the outside a light polish since the car looked a bit dull. When I picked it up, I saw a few fine swirl marks on the hood that were not there before, and one short scratch near the edge of the bumper. The staff said the film is soft and that marks are normal after polishing. I was not sure what to say, so I just paid and left. At home I looked at the car under my garage light and felt a bit sick. A friend who has had film for three years told me not to panic and to look up affordable habits for long lasting PPF before I let anyone touch the car again, because he said many people damage the film by letting the wrong person polish it. I read a page about PPF dos and don’ts online that evening, just to understand the basics. It talked about self healing, heat, strong cleaners and why machine polishing needs care, in easy words. It helped a little, but I still have questions for people who have been through this. Is it true that light swirl marks on film can disappear by themselves in the sun, and how long does that usually take? What about the scratch near the bumper edge? Does self healing work on a scratch that feels sharp when I run my nail over it? Can film be polished at all, or is that a bad idea from the start? Some people say a soft pad and low speed is fine, and others say never to touch it with a machine. Which one is right? Another thing is the edge. I am worried the polisher caught it, and I see a tiny lift where the scratch is. Can a lifted edge be pushed back down, or does it need a full panel replacement? Should I go back to the same place and talk to them, or is it better to take the car to the shop that installed the film and ask for their opinion first? I do not want to start an argument, but I also do not want to pay twice. If you had something similar happen, please tell me what you did, if the marks went away, and how much a repair cost you. Also, what should I say to a detailer next time so they know the car has film? I use the car every day for work, so I cannot leave it for many days. Even a small tip will help me a lot. Thanks for reading, and sorry for the long message.

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