Any experience about stone chips/damage from the rear tires kicking things into the lower end of the rear side panel given the rear tires are so exposed/ uncontained at the back. :willy
concerned about paint chips
- Thread starter canuck
- Start date
Hi canuck,
Many are applying 3M clear bra type material over that and many other areas. I let them tell you the details.
Allan
Many are applying 3M clear bra type material over that and many other areas. I let them tell you the details.
Allan
Mine came with a small section of 'Armorfend' on the lower sills just forward of the rear wheels. I have always assumed this was a factory fit.
Stonechips are one of the hazzards of driving a low car - however it's probably a $2k job every 18 months or so to have some paint blown over the offending areas.
There is a paint repair product called 'Langka' which I have found extremely good on chips - I'm sure if you Google it, you'll find it. It does actually work! A huge leap of faith was required when I've used it on $250k + cars!
I personally don't like the clear 'bras' all over the bonnet - I had it on one car and hated it. I'd rather have a good paint shop attend to the car once in a while.
Stonechips are one of the hazzards of driving a low car - however it's probably a $2k job every 18 months or so to have some paint blown over the offending areas.
There is a paint repair product called 'Langka' which I have found extremely good on chips - I'm sure if you Google it, you'll find it. It does actually work! A huge leap of faith was required when I've used it on $250k + cars!
I personally don't like the clear 'bras' all over the bonnet - I had it on one car and hated it. I'd rather have a good paint shop attend to the car once in a while.
Neilda,
A very wealthy friend of mine feels the same way. When ever I mentioned a bra, he would give me crap and say, "just have the front reshot". When you think of how expensive clear bra applications are, it may be right.
You mentioned the factory putting protection on the tail end of the rocker panel (just infront of rear wheels), I just noticed that on one of the last GTs I've looked at. I was wondering if all the cars (even '05s) had it.
Allan
A very wealthy friend of mine feels the same way. When ever I mentioned a bra, he would give me crap and say, "just have the front reshot". When you think of how expensive clear bra applications are, it may be right.
You mentioned the factory putting protection on the tail end of the rocker panel (just infront of rear wheels), I just noticed that on one of the last GTs I've looked at. I was wondering if all the cars (even '05s) had it.
Allan
canibl
GT Owner
I was with a chum last weekend who bought a 2 year old 575 from a Ferrari dealer (he's always wanted a 575 to go with his rapidly building collection). 16,000 miles and it had Armorfend on all leading edges and halfway up the hood/bonnet. I had a very close look at it, firstly it needed replacing/removing (a specialist job) as bits were peeling and some was sun damaged/faded/opaque, some big stone chips had gone through the Armorfend and the regularly waxed bare paintwork was a slightly different color to the paintwork under the armorfend.
Many dealers over here will put Armorfend (or similar clear protective films) on new 'test' cars and then remove it when the car is to be sold - which tells you something.
I know there will be some fans of armorfend here - but my own experience of these protective films is that they're not actually saving you any money and are an irritant if you keep your car clean and waxed. I had a Murcielago in pearlescent yellow and paid $1,000 or so (from memory) to have the Armorfend - it did it's job but looked bad as I'd always see the leading edges of it, I always had to run my fingernail along the edges to keep the wax out etc etc. Also the plastic doesn't have the same shine as bare paint.........
I think a visit to the paintshop every couple of years will cost about the same.
Many dealers over here will put Armorfend (or similar clear protective films) on new 'test' cars and then remove it when the car is to be sold - which tells you something.
I know there will be some fans of armorfend here - but my own experience of these protective films is that they're not actually saving you any money and are an irritant if you keep your car clean and waxed. I had a Murcielago in pearlescent yellow and paid $1,000 or so (from memory) to have the Armorfend - it did it's job but looked bad as I'd always see the leading edges of it, I always had to run my fingernail along the edges to keep the wax out etc etc. Also the plastic doesn't have the same shine as bare paint.........
I think a visit to the paintshop every couple of years will cost about the same.
It probably depends on whether you want to track your car or not. I had a 3M clear bra installed and it looks great. We removed the factory applied protective film on the front and rear of the rocker panels and placed some 3M down the entire rocker panel areas. As I will track the car, my previous experience has been that the clear bras are worth the time and money. The 3M products now have a clear coat surface and "shine up" very well. The final appearance will depend on how well the installation is done. Mine was installed by a small company in Baltimore, and it looks great on the Midnight Blue.
KJD
GT Owner
tiger 6 said:
What areas other than the rocker panels did you do? Who was the 3M installer in Baltimore and what did they charge? I'm in NoVa as you know and every dark Lexus, Jag, Porsche, etc. I've seen around here looks atrocious, all leading edges, lots of thick plastic, etc. I'm not one to re-spray my cars but the 3M work I've seen to date in the D.C. area sucks. :frown
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
Hate the film, it turns yellow after a while in the sun. Just ordered a custom bra and mirror covers. Cost the same film. When you get 'stoned' with the film you get the same pits on it as the paint would without the film. After a while the film looks like hell. I started with 3m film, have used several thicknesses, installers, all with the same ultimate crappy results. That's my two cents.
fjpikul
GT Owner
Bony, is it your car at Speedlingerie that they're using as the template? I put my order in 3 weeks ago and haven't heard a thing. They thought it would be beginning of April and bug season is starting here. If you hear anything, please let me know. Thanks. FJP
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
not mine, that is a slow model with the heavy strip, pulley and borla... can't remember the guy's name... wait... yeah, now I remember, his first name is Mario... :cheers
private inside dig... but I have an order in for a set from them.
private inside dig... but I have an order in for a set from them.
fjpikul
GT Owner
Did they give you any kind of date? Pure white should be easy, but mine's red/white stripe and they promised the stripes would line up perfectly. What kind of wax have you used? I think I'm going to order some Zaino. It's still been too cool and rainy here in the midwest to get much done or go for any long drives, but any day now the sun will pop out and with it comes the bugs. Sunday on the golf course at 45 degrees we already had knats. Again, if you hear anything, please let me know. Thanks FJP
B O N Y
MODERATOR & FGT OWNER
No date promised, they are doing Mario's car first. After all he is a kind guy and they are using his for the template. Hopefully mine will be finished and tossed in Mario's Gt for the ride back to the Valley.... :wink
Awsum GT
GT Owner '18
That's my car at the bra shop. I hope to pick it up Thursday. It's the only day not raining this week.
fjpikul
GT Owner
Awsum GT
GT Owner '18
I have photos of the prototype and it looks great. I will post photos as soon as I have the final product.
fjpikul
GT Owner
NJF
GT Owner
Awsum GT
GT Owner '18
I will have photos of custom bra with matching stripes all color coded to match your GT's along with side mirror covers and a link to their site sometime tomorrow. It sounds like they will also have one for the Heritage Edition GT's!
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