[HoodooGuru]

First time BMW owner here taking delivery of a 2025 X5 50e in Skyscraper Gray Metallic next month (owned, not leased). I've owned various other brands and models before (Acura MDX, RDX, Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, Infiniti G35, Toyota 4Runner, & Ducati Multistrada V4S, Ducati Diavel 1260S) and have had many of them clear wrapped at the front to protect the finish from all the rock chips typically seen from highway road trips.

From X5 owners experiences here, is the paint/clearcoat finish on the BMW X5 robust enough to deal with road rash in 5-7 years ownership? Or, should I consider investing in clear wrap to protect this vehicle for the long term?

Appreciate the feedback and experience-based opinions here.

[TurtleBoy]

Welcome to the forum. Heck no, you will get tons of little paint chips/dings. Whether those will bother you will likely determine whether you want to get PPF. I don't have any on the X5 but did get the full front end, fenders etc. on the M340i figuring it was an Individual paint and I should protect it. Turns out the paint dings on the X5 don't really bother me and I likely will not get PPF on my next one.

[NbyNW]

I’m waiting for the delivery of a 50e also and debating the same thing. Sapphire black so chips and dings probably more noticeable. At a minimum I’ll do the headlights.

[BlkGS]

Don't do PPF on headlights, it accelerates the wear of the PPF and reduces light output. Where you might get 5yesrs out of a PPF on paint, you'll get like 2-3 on headlights if used a lot.

Personally, I think a touch up solution like Dr colorchip or others is a better choice..PPFs always look like crap after a while if exposed to the elements.

IMO, apply a ceramic coating for ease of cleaning and buy a touch up kit.

[iX nOOky]

Try this if you are cheap: https://lamin-x.com/bmw-x5-40i-50e-2...bSljvQ3G6PLsxt

[Aimster82]

I have a lot of paint chips... I guess I could technically fix them with a toothpick and touch up paint but it doesn't bother me as much as my wheels hitting the curb

[Clk Group]

Had mine done and would not be without.

If you're close to Greenville, SC, Extreme Auto Spa does all the PPF for the BMW Spartanburg track vehicles.

https://www.extremeautospa.com/clear-bra-highway

[MikeX521]

100%

A little over a year with mine. 27k kms.

Clear ppf entire front. Never do partial panels. You must do it soon after you take possession or honestly don’t bother. Once you get chips and put ppf on you can get little bubbles or pockets where those chips are.

Still looks new. No chips.

I also did ceramic coat.
Washing the car and maintaining are a breeze.

[Crusje]

Do chips bother you? Dr colorchip is $50 vs 3k ppf. You won't get your money back so only you can decide. Mine has 2 chips, bought touch up paint a few months ago and still haven't fixed it.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Hmmm, I have ppf my headlights for many years with no issues whatsoever...interesting comment

[MG50eM]

I’ve been through this thought exercise twice in the last two years due to a trade assist, and landed in the same spot both times.

You’ll get people on here who swear by ppf and others who shrug it off.

I’ve decided that this is purely a personal economics decision.

If you have the resources to pay for ppf and are willing to pay for it to be replaced (possibly repeatedly) when it gets visibly dinged, go for it. The “self-healing” qualities of ppf can take care of some impacts, but not all. This could result in marks in the ppf that bother you just as much as rock chips. Even acid from bugs can mark up the ppf.

Plus, with the varying skill levels of ppf installers, you could end up with a subpar install (I’ve seen a number on these forums and in person).

Of course, without ppf, rock chips will require touch ups.

I have an individual color 2025 50e (Malachite Green Metallic II), and decided that a good touch up kit ($50) and a good detail once in a while results in far better outcomes for my money.

When I picked up the car from the dealer, I had my detailer do a basic paint correction and apply gtechniq CSL ceramic coating for $900. The result was a deeper and cleaner paint color even though it was essentially straight from the factory. That, to me, was worth the money at a fraction of the cost of ppf.

These are cars being driven on roads…They are going to get damage. But, let’s be honest, none of the cars we are talking about are collector’s vehicles (where the paint may be difficult to find). Not sure how many on here even keep their cars beyond the warranty.

You just have to decide how you want to spend your money to keep your car looking the way you’d like it.

I’ve touched up one rock chip on my bumper; it took 5 minutes and no one will ever know where. Hard to know if the same rock would have resulted in enough damage to ppf that one would want to replace the ppf piece for $400+.

[iX nOOky]

I see these posts frequently as I'm on a few different vehicle message boards. I wish the X5 had the option for an aero bug shield, that would pretty much keep the leading edge of the hood free of paint chips, and would be easily mounted and removed.

[Stealth7]

You cannot touch up the number of chips you will get--especially the microblasting visible under fluorescent garage lights.

So just decide what is important to you and go with it. BTW, $3k is really a starter price.

[HoodooGuru]

Thanks for all the input. Here in Raleigh NC there are top-rated installers who can do PPF and ceramic coating for around $2k. May explore that option or just a ceramic coating alone.

I’m not familiar with “paint correction.” How exactly does that work, especially on a brand new vehicle that I assume should have “correct paint”?! 😉

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by HoodooGuru

I’m not familiar with “paint correction.” How exactly does that work, especially on a brand new vehicle that I assume should have “correct paint”?! 😉

Don't assume that, they often have fine scratches that need to be taken care of. Here is some info on paint correction.

https://ceramicpro.com/what-does-pai...20or%20removed.

[BlkGS]

Originally Posted by HoodooGuru

Thanks for all the input. Here in Raleigh NC there are top-rated installers who can do PPF and ceramic coating for around $2k. May explore that option or just a ceramic coating alone.

I’m not familiar with “paint correction.” How exactly does that work, especially on a brand new vehicle that I assume should have “correct paint”?! 😉

Cars are largely delivered by rail which embeds tons of iron in the paint. Then new car prep is having a high schoolers wipe the car down so it's clean for the new owner. Hopefully with a clean rag.

My suggestion is that if you're not someone who notices the flaws in dealer new car prep don't worry about any of this stuff lol.

[JeffL0]

I've been doing front PPF including headlights for over 20 years. First cars were both 2002 MB. I've now done a total of 11 cars, so my comments come from fairly extensive experience.

The value of protecting the headlamps cannot be underscored enough. I recall back in the 1990s I took a sparkplug clean through one of my headlamps on a "cheap" car. If that happens on a modern mid to high end car, it's going to be an expensive replacement.

Even on those first gen products, I never saw any yellowing or illumination degredation. The films have come a long way since then, and if installed properly, especially if you do the entire hood rather than partial, you can't even see it.

I had my 2025 50e done, full front, lamps, mirrors, and door edges, and it was mid $2k. We just picked up DW a 2025 X3 and I'm going to do it again. Sure, it's expensive, but IMO, it's worth it. I've been saying since those first cars 22 years ago, that I'd never have another new car without PPF, and I still feel that way.

[drk302]

Our new x50e is in the shop today. This shop is well know in the area for doing many high end exotics and has a great reputation.
The owner suggested doing the entire front clip, including mirrors and headlights. His is seeing much more stone chip damage as vehicles are equipped with and using adaptive speed control. He suggests its use encourages vehicles to follow more closely and frequently than standard cruise control or no use at all.
Interesting.
Regardless, I doubt is makes financial sense to have it installed, but the satisfaction of driving a vehicle without being concerned with the damage is worth it to me.
We have it on our iX and my 911 and have not seen any issues to date.
Be safe, Doc

[BlkGS]

Radar cruise in my opinion followed at a MUCH further distance than most people not using it. I have never driven a car that had radar cruise that followed closer than 1.5 car lengths on its closest setting, usually they follow much further than that.

I think it's the paints. I think that automakers are putting on thinner layers of paint and clear coat, and the paints they're using are just not as tough in chip resistance. They seem to be a lot more UV resistant though.

[dream54ing]

We had PPF install the first day we received our vehicle (purchased with the intend to keep beyond warranty). Arizona is notorious with debris, mostly loose gravel, in our highways, so it a no brainer to get it wrapped. We went with a full front including headlights. Its been well over 5 yrs and the PPF is holding up extremely well. It does have a few larger "dots" in the PPF that rocks hit, but no chip in paint. We have mineral white paint and no one can tell there is a PPF wrap, plus no yellowing which some warned me about. I would go with PPF on any car i purchase in the future.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Unless you are getting your car delivered from paint booth to you, the paint will need paint correction. Heck, I will even challanged what I just said as the paint may have some flaws no matter what

[Stealth7]

If you do anything, should also do the rocker panels, and behind front and rear wheels