Q: Does anyone else have a problem with the fog lights?

I install 12 mil on them due to the heat, and I will be scraping them off a mazda 3 on Thursday, they are burnt to a crisp.

I have also had the same experience on an Audi A4, the fogs are on all the time, and they burnt a hole right through the film. I told the guy to watch the film, and if it starts to yellow to give me a call. He called me a few months later and asked if they should be smoking. duh..

Do you offer warranties for that as well?, I will only install them if they are original equipment bulbs and if the fogs can be switched off.

I should add that I have heard of the same problem with mustangs, and celicas

A: You can look at some of my other posts. I almost refuse to install them on anything. I actively discourage their use. I know counter what the marketing machine says, but from my experience they are not worth the risk/trouble. And the so-called warranties, don't get me started....

Paint film good, headlight film bad.

Your results may vary, but I know what my testing resulted in...

A: Do you install these with the wet method or dry? Remember if you install them wet (alcohol/water) that the boiling point of alcohol happens quickly so any heat on the surface (from the bulbs) will cause the moisture to boil and blister the adhesive. Try them dry and see if that helps.

A: Hey guys, forgive a lurking tinter for giving his two cents.

I went through a phase of bulb experiementation back in 01 and as you'all probably know over-wattage bulbs are very popular. This may also be contributing to some PPF failures. I believe the fogs are stock at 35 watts but can be bought at 50 and perhaps 70 0r 100! I fried the stock Lexan lens on my headlights with only going from 55s to 80ies! (Of course I re-aimed my lights downward a little to avoid blinding other drivers.)

A: In the rare instances when film burns, we have found that people either had replaced their OEM bulbs with high-wattage bulbs, or they constantly burn their fog lights for aesthetic purposes, instead of using them when they are 'needed'. Headlight film has a ceiling temperature of 300 deg.! Beyond that temperature, over extended periods with little or no airflow over the surface of the lens, the film can burn. But, since most fog lights are made from glass and are typically located close to the ground where rock damage is more likely, a good 20 Mil. or 40 Mil. film over them is not a bad idea. As I said, burning is very rare, but it can happen if the circumstances are just right.

QUOTE

I almost refuse to install them on anything. I actively discourage their use. I know counter what the marketing machine says, but from my experience they are not worth the risk/trouble. Consider that profit and labor charges amounting to $50.00 per car are achievable. If an installer does 30 cars per month, that equates to an additional $18,000 in PROFITS per year. Not bad for just a few extra minutes of work per car!

If someone insists on non-factory bulbs and PPF steer them towards the high performance stock-wattage replacement bulbs by PIAA...they really work, without frying wires or enclosures.

A: i had piaa's on my old civic and i had clear shield on them and i never had a problem. i put them on wet and suegged them good and heated them up slightly i never saw them blister or smoke

A: QUOTE

Consider that profit and labor charges amounting to $50.00 per car are achievable.

QUOTE

If an installer does 30 cars per month, that equates to an additional $18,000 in PROFITS per year. Not bad for just a few extra minutes of work per car!

If you do go whole hog into it and are installing 30 per month (1-2 per day, every day) you will make some money, and you will most certainly have problems. How much time does it take to fix the problems? What is the labor rate for your time? Could you be doing something else to generate income, income without as many known risks & problems associated with it?

In the end the drawbacks FAR outweigh any profit potential that might exist for our shop.

A: QUOTE

I was referring to profit on labor... factoring labor expenses into the equation.

Of the thousands and thousands of headlight kits we sell each year, the 'problems' we have with our headlight customers (including catalogs) are very few and far between.... (certainly much less than 1/2 of 1% could be considered 'problems'). What problems that are encountered are usually easy to take care of because, unlike ppf, virtually anyone can install or replace a headlight or fog light kit piece.

It is interesting, at least, to note that "problems" are more commonly discussed on message boards than are good experiences. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea about headlight covers. Some of our customers do very well selling and installing headlight/fog light protection and do it as a matter of practice as a complete 'frontal protection package'. Some don't want to fool with them... and that's OK, too.