Tesla Model 3 Highland 2026: PPF Protection, Rocker Panels and Prices

Just ordered a new Tesla Model 3 Highland or had it delivered? Our first protection recommendation is PPF on the rocker panels and on the rear bumper corners facing the wheels. These are the spots where signs of use can start to show quickly. On newer cars we have also seen staining on the rocker panels that set into the surface and could not be fully removed by washing or even polishing.

Restyling Point has worked on more than 2,500 Tesla Model 3 cars. We have worked with the model since February 2019, when the first cars were delivered in Finland. In this guide we explain which areas we consider most important to protect, how the packages differ and when a ceramic coating is worth choosing alongside PPF for your own 2026 or 2027 Tesla Model 3.

If the budget covers one package to start with, we recommend Basic: €399 + car wash. It covers the rocker panels, the lower door edges, the lower front fenders and the rear bumper corners. Front-end protection, inner door sills and other treatments can be chosen after that, based on how you use the car.

We serve Tesla owners in Helsinki and those coming from Espoo, Vantaa and elsewhere in Uusimaa. Our customers from farthest away have come all the way from Oulu to Helsinki to have their cars protected.

Why protect the Tesla Model 3’s rocker panels first?

By rocker panel we mean the outer body surface below the doors, running between the front and rear wheels. Depending on the car and the cut, the area to protect is roughly 15–30 centimeters high and about two meters long on each side.

It is a different area from the lower outer edge of the door or the inner door sill you step over when getting in.

In our experience, the rocker panel is the most critical targeted protection area on the Model 3. Sand, gravel and stones thrown up by the tires wear the surface. The result can be heavy wear and paint coming off.

We have seen damage on one customer’s Model 3 after just 87 kilometers of driving. This is our own observation from one customer car, not a mileage limit that applies to every car. It does show, however, that a new car does not automatically stay damage-free for long.

Wear on the rocker panels can go unnoticed at first. Later the difference stands out: the rest of the car looks clean, but the lowest part is clearly worn.

Why can the Model 3 Highland’s rocker panel turn brown?

Starting roughly with 2024–2025 cars, we have noticed changes in the surface texture of the rocker panel and in how easily it cleans. On some of the surfaces we have worked on, dirt sets into the texture so that the rocker panel stays brownish or off-color after cleaning.

In our experience, the change is especially noticeable on white, red and blue cars, but we have also seen it on black ones. This is an observation from our work; we have not confirmed the exact change in the manufacturer’s materials or when it entered production.

Can a stained rocker panel be restored by polishing?

We have tried restoring these surfaces with different polishing compounds and pads. In the cases we have handled, the original color could not be fully restored.

That is why we do not recommend counting on being able to bring the rocker panel back to like-new condition by polishing later. A permanently changed surface or paint that has come off may require a repaint.

For this reason we recommend preventive PPF protection before wear and staining set in. The film forms a separate layer on top of the original surface, so dirt and wear hit the film first.

If the car has already been driven, we inspect the surface before installation. PPF does not remove marks left underneath it, so we go over the achievable result in advance.

The Basic package: the most important lower body areas of the Model 3

Basic €399 + car wash includes:

• rocker panels on both sides, 2 pcs;
• lower outer door edges, 4 pcs;
• lower front fenders, 2 pcs;
• rear bumper corners facing the wheels, 2 pcs.

Basic is our first recommendation when the goal is to protect the lower body surfaces of the Model 3 that take wear in everyday use. It is also a targeted package for customers who do not want to film the whole car.

For the customer, the benefit means a better chance of keeping the car looking clean and less worry about wear on exactly these surfaces. A car with film is washed and cared for as usual.

Basic does not include the hood, the front bumper, the inner door sills, the loading edge protection or the upper parts of the doors.

Why are the rear bumper corners included?

In our experience, the bumper corners near the rear wheels, facing the wheel, are the second most important targeted protection area on the Model 3. Sand and stones thrown up by the tires wear them.

The side corners of the bumper are a different area from the loading edge protection on top of the bumper. Filming the front end alone does not protect these corners.

Mud flaps can complement PPF, but they do not guarantee protection for the surfaces next to them. Dirt that collects under the flap mounting and possible rubbing points are also worth keeping in mind.

Tesla Model 3 PPF packages and prices

Once the lower body is taken care of, the next choice is about the front end and how much of the car to protect.

The prices below include 25.5% VAT. A car wash is added to the exterior PPF packages. The total price and the exact cut lines for your car are confirmed in the quote.

Core: hood and front bumper – essential protection against flying stone chips

Core is a good fit when you want to focus the budget on two front-end areas. The film gives them extra mechanical protection against impacts while driving.

The front fenders, headlights, mirrors and the Basic lower body areas are not included in Core.

Essential: wider front-end protection

Essential adds the front fenders, headlights and side mirrors to the front-end protection. It is a sound choice for regular highway and freeway driving, for example.

Essential does not include the Basic areas. If you also want to protect the rocker panels and rear bumper corners, compare it with Advanced.

Advanced: the front end and the key lower body areas together

Advanced combines the protected areas of Essential and Basic. It suits customers who want to cover both impacts from the front while driving and the surfaces that take wear near the tires.

The upper parts of the doors, the roof and other surfaces outside the package are still left without PPF.

Ultimate: wide protection for the whole exterior – maximum peace of mind

Ultimate suits owners who want broad protection for the exterior and want to keep the car looking good over a long period of ownership. It can bring more complete peace of mind than protecting individual areas.

Gloss keeps the glossy look of the surface. Matte or satin film changes the reflections and the look of the car. The result is judged from a material sample.

Protecting the whole exterior does not automatically include the glass, the interior, the door openings or every special material. Here is a video of a brand-new Tesla Model 3 Highland just protected with Ultimate PPF Gloss film.

PPF does not make a car damage-proof. Its job is to reduce the risk of certain surface damage on the protected areas.

Inner door sills and loading edge protection: practical extras for a family car

Inner door sills get hit by shoes, children’s things and sometimes pets’ claws. Protection is especially useful in a car that people get in and out of often or that carries children.

We plan the cut to cover the suitable painted sill and the black sill or trim strip, depending on what has been agreed. Check that the strip is included in your quote.

The inner door sills are a different area from the lower outer door edges covered by Basic.

Loading edge protection, in turn, protects the suitable painted loading surface next to the trunk. It is a recommended extra when you lift strollers, bags or sports gear into the car.

Four inner door sills add up to €316. The windshield pillars and other individual areas can also be assessed separately. You do not need to buy add-ons twice if they are already part of the package you chose.

PPF or ceramic coating for a Tesla Model 3?

PPF protects against mechanical wear. A ceramic coating makes upkeep easier. Polishing reduces visible defects in the paint.

Ceramic coating is a popular extra among our customers. It can be combined with the Basic or Advanced package, for example.

The value of the coating shows in everyday life: properly cared for, the surface is easier to clean and the car is easier to keep looking sharp. A ceramic coating does not, however, replace PPF on the rocker panels, nor does it make the paint scratch-proof.

How much do polishing and ceramic coating cost?

In Restyling Point’s general price list, ceramic coating starts at €599, and the polishing of at least one step that is part of the prep work starts at €199.

For a new car, polishing and ceramic coating therefore start at €798. Any more extensive paint correction is priced based on the condition of the paint.

Why is a new Tesla polished before coating?

Transport, storage and the delivery wash can leave marks on the surface. The car is inspected and prepared so that it is ready for the coating. A new car does not automatically need heavy or multi-step paint correction. How strong the treatment is depends on the condition of the surface and the agreed goal, avoiding unnecessary removal of material.

Is it worth coating the wheels too?

The goal of a ceramic coating on the wheels is to help dirt come off and make cleaning easier. It can reduce the effort that goes into upkeep.

A wheel coating does not prevent curb damage, nor does it replace the right way of washing. Coated wheels also need cleaning products suited to their materials and the coating.

Tinting the Tesla Model 3 rear window: one piece or a visible seam?

When the goal is an even tint over the whole rear window, we recommend installing it from a single piece of film with no visible seam.

The Model 3’s large rear window, which runs high up into the roof, needs the right film size and experience with installing on this model.

Tinting only the lower part leaves a cut line that can be visible from inside. A two-piece installation can leave a seam. Partial tinting can be a deliberate choice by the customer, but the area to be tinted and the result have to be agreed before the work starts.

Why does the quality of the first installation matter?

If the tint has to be removed and redone, the work also affects the area of the rear window’s defroster lines.

In our experience, damaging or lifting the defroster lines is a real risk to keep in mind when removing film from a Model 3 rear window. It does not happen every time, but removal should not be promised as risk-free.

If the damage means the rear window has to be replaced, the rough cost based on our experience is about €1,200–1,400, including the glass and the replacement work. The actual price is checked for each car.

Choose an installer who knows rear windows, such as Restyling Point, and agree in advance who is responsible if old film has to be removed.

Watch our video about a customer’s experience with rear window tinting.

Color change wraps, colored PPF and Pillar Delete

If your goal is to change the look of the car, the options include vinyl wrapping, colored PPF and wrapping individual body parts.

The mechanical protection of a vinyl wrap should not automatically be equated with PPF. With colored PPF, the material’s properties, shades and installation are checked separately.

What is Pillar Delete?

Pillar Delete here means wrapping that changes the look of the pillars between the windows above the body. Black details can visually join the glass surfaces and change the look of the car’s side profile.

In the version Restyling Point recommends, the line can be continued with agreed wrapping on the front fenders and the trunk lid. This way the details form one consistent whole.

Protection for the screens and other interior surfaces can be assessed at the same time. The interiors of the Highland and older Model 3 versions differ, so the solution is chosen for the specific car.

What should you keep in mind between the Highland and older Model 3 versions?

The basic idea of protection is the same: identify the surfaces that take wear in use and choose a suitable treatment for them. Body part shapes, surface materials, equipment and film cut lines are, however, checked for each model version.

Fog lights, the center console or other details of older cars are not carried over as such into the Highland package descriptions.

Nor does a paint thickness measurement or the factory of an earlier car alone tell you the condition of the paint on a 2026 car. Any repaints and the condition of the surface are assessed car by car.

If the car already has protective film pieces or a coating, tell us before booking. That way we can assess how they affect the planned work.

How do you wash and care for a protected Tesla Model 3?

Rinse off sand and loose dirt before a contact wash. Use products suited to the car, the film and any coating.

Tesla’s washing instructions give 30 centimeters as the minimum distance between the pressure washer nozzle and the car’s surface. The film’s instructions may require a greater distance. Keep the nozzle moving and do not aim the spray under the edge of the film.

Tesla also warns against acidic and some strongly alkaline cleaning products. The product and the dilution are chosen according to the instructions for the car and the installed materials.

When washing, also check the area around the mud flaps, the door seals and the edges of the film. If a body part or seal rubs against the paint, the cause is found before adding local protection. Film does not replace fixing a bad fit.

In what order are PPF and ceramic coating done?

Tell us about all treatments that have been done or are planned before booking.

Our starting point is to install the film before a ceramic treatment that is compatible with it. If rustproofing is also planned for the car, the order of work is agreed with the installers so that compounds or other residues do not get in the way of the film’s bonding surfaces.

A coating or rustproofing that has already been done does not automatically rule out film. Any extra cleaning needed is assessed in advance.

How do you recognize a quality PPF installation?

Besides the material, what matters is surface prep, suitable patterns, how the edges are finished and quality control.

At Restyling Point the work follows written work standards and quality control, not the installer’s mood, opinion or feeling. For the customer, this should show as a clear scope of work, an agreed result and responsibility if a problem comes up.

Before booking, go over:

• the areas to be protected and any cut lines;
• the total price and the work included in it;
• how long the car will be away;
• instructions for the first wash and for care;
• the warranty terms for the material and the installation.

Close-ups of edges, corners and similar installations help judge the quality of the work better than just a photo of a clean car taken from a distance.

Frequently asked questions

Can a used Tesla Model 3 be protected with PPF?

Yes, if the surface is suitable for treatment. We have also protected a Model 3 that was about three years old and had been driven 150,000 kilometers.

With a used car, the condition of the surface and the customer’s expectations are what matter. Film does not remove stone chips or stains underneath it.

Does self-healing fix all scratches?

No. The feature can even out certain light marks in the film’s top layer under conditions set by the manufacturer. It does not fix deep cuts, film that has been cut through, dents or paint damage.

Can installing or removing the film damage the paint?

No. Only if a body part has been repainted and the film has been slapped on less than 4 weeks after painting is the risk of the paint coming off high.

Are the film edges or bubbles visible?

At Restyling Point, 99% of the edges are wrapped out of sight under or behind the body panel. Our goal is for the film to go unnoticed. There are no bubbles.

Does PPF hold up in a Finnish winter?

A material suited to winter use is chosen, and its care instructions are followed. The product’s operating conditions and warranty are checked before installation. If you notice a change at an edge, contact the installer before trying to fix it yourself.

What does the 10-year warranty cover?

The model price list mentions a 10-year warranty. The exact coverage, the responsibilities for the material and the installation, and the care requirements are set out in the written warranty terms. The warranty does not mean protection against all external damage.

When should you book protection for a new Tesla?

Get in touch while you are still waiting for the car to be delivered. We can agree on a preliminary time and adjust it once the delivery date is confirmed. Changes and final availability are agreed separately.

Planning early makes it easier to protect the paint while it is still flawless. If the car is already in use, we inspect its condition and recommend a package that fits the situation.

Get a free protection recommendation for your Tesla

With the Model 3, we recommend starting with the rocker panels and the rear bumper corners. After that, you choose protection that fits your mileage, how you use the car, how long you plan to keep it and your budget.

Tell us the car’s model year, the expected delivery date or the current mileage, and what you want the treatment to achieve. You do not need to know anything about films or packages in advance.

Get a free expert recommendation

Restyling Point Oy
Kääpätie 6 G, 00760 Helsinki
044 5050 624
info@restyling.fi