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Is dealer paint protection worth it?

J

JimKIII

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Sometime in the first of next year I'll be picking up my new 2022 RAM 2500 at Mark Dodge. Then I'll hop in and drive it home across country to the NW. Lots and lots of miles in the middle of winter.

Would it behoove me to get the dealer's paint protection (whatever that is) before I head out for several days on the Hwy? I'd hate to get home and find out that hundreds of miles of winter weather hwy spray and slush have done a number on the brand new exterior.

I've heard that dealer applications of things like that and tinted windows, etc, are better left to 3rd-party shops due to better quality in those shops. However, I won't have the luxury of waiting around for a local shop before I hit the road - or maybe I should.

Thoughts?
 
As someone who has applied dealership packages and detailed privately for high end clients, do not waste a single dime at the dealer on any service they offer.

They are poorly installed and poor quality products, and very very expensive for what you get.

If your concerned about the truck, paint protection film on the front end is a must IMO. If you have the $$, ceramic coating is nice.. but the new waxes and hybrid ceramic wax products are very effective and cheap. Apply 2 or 3 times a year.

Go to the pro's.
 
I would not opt for anything the dealer offers, especially if you are not purchasing from a local dealer. All of these services are done through your dealer and not RAM. With that said in the event you need to make a warranty claim through a different dealer there's a good chance they will turn you away. Also, as stated above these are way overpriced and the products they use are less than ideal.
 
When I bought mine off the lot several years ago, they had applied some kind of paint protection already and wanted to charge me for it, which didn't happen. If you look at the paperwork, you will notice they do not guarantee any needed re-paint will match, only that it will be close.
 
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JimKIII said:
Sometime in the first of next year I'll be picking up my new 2022 RAM 2500 at Mark Dodge. Then I'll hop in and drive it home across country to the NW. Lots and lots of miles in the middle of winter.

Would it behoove me to get the dealer's paint protection (whatever that is) before I head out for several days on the Hwy? I'd hate to get home and find out that hundreds of miles of winter weather hwy spray and slush have done a number on the brand new exterior.

I've heard that dealer applications of things like that and tinted windows, etc, are better left to 3rd-party shops due to better quality in those shops. However, I won't have the luxury of waiting around for a local shop before I hit the road - or maybe I should.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
A detailer could wash, polish and PPF in a day. Maybe you can coordinate with a detail shop local to MD to have all of that done while you’re in town.
 
Greenhills said:
As someone who has applied dealership packages and detailed privately for high end clients, do not waste a single dime at the dealer on any service they offer.

They are poorly installed and poor quality products, and very very expensive for what you get.

If your concerned about the truck, paint protection film on the front end is a must IMO. If you have the $$, ceramic coating is nice.. but the new waxes and hybrid ceramic wax products are very effective and cheap. Apply 2 or 3 times a year.

Go to the pro's.
Click to expand...
When you say, "paint protection film on the front end is a must IMO," does that mean on the chrome? The Bighorn front end looks to be mostly chrome except for the black crosshatch grille. Does the paint protection film go on the chrome pieces that surround the grill and lights, and the chrome bumper too - not just on painted surfaces?
 
JimKIII said:
When you say, "paint protection film on the front end is a must IMO," does that mean on the chrome? The Bighorn front end looks to be mostly chrome except for the black crosshatch grille. Does the paint protection film go on the chrome pieces that surround the grill and lights, and the chrome bumper too - not just on painted surfaces?
Click to expand...
I don't personally do the chrome, as it is quite a bit tougher than its painted counterparts.

But under heavy road debris, the chrome will pit as well.
 
Dont waste your time or money with dealer junk,

But i would try to get an appointment with a company by the dealer who does fluidfilm or corrosion free and have it undercoated before your journey home in the salt and brine on the roads
 
Dealerships offer products based on margin and profits. Reason enough to go somewhere else.
 
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