Paint Protection

[davecunningham]

Am picking up my 911 c4s on Friday and am considering whether the paint protection offerred at opc glasgow is worth doing, I think it retails at 450gbpand is a '3m' product. Does any one have any recommendations on this subject?

 

[NIL98]

Cant vouch for that brand by my '98 C2 had the full factory/OPC fitted Armorfend which certainly did the job for many years. Just saving up to replace it as it has now gone slightly opaque. Front spoiler will need painting as large stones will penetrate it but compared to most 911's I see the film adds years to the life of the paintwork. Highly recommended.

 

[jonathanw]

I had armofend fitted by my opc last year and am very pleased with results. I think its a must for new cars and would always fit it.

 

[pwebb]

For what it's worth - mate had his Cayman done last week - IMHO looks too obvious with the edge lines quite clearly visible and the shine of the paintwork lost. Paintwork silver, so not a dark colour where the problem is worse as white polish residue sits in the edges.

Anyway chips show at least you were trying!

Peter

 

[davecunningham]

Where abouts on the body of the car is the armafend fitted?

 

[Popolou]

[8|]

Alex, did you not see my previous post on VS in your other thread?

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: Popolou

[8|]

Alex, did you not see my previous post on VS in your other thread?

I did indeed, which is what got me thinking about it more. You didn't really say which you would go with.

I have just been advised by Jason in the US - who has tried both on this Cobalt Turbo - that VentureShield is definitley the best.

So I am now just debating whether to do the whole bonnet or a partial cover.

Complete package (half bonnet) is £600, and the full bonnet adds an extra £200. Then there's the price of the extra lower lip pieces I need protecting as I am getting Porsche Exclusive to paint those too.

 

[snarf]

I had Paintshield fit 3M film to my front bumper. Friendly people and job well done, no hesitation in recommending them. BTW I negotiated a small discount off their published prices when I visited their stand at last year's Porsche festival so perhaps you could do the same this weekend, if they're there. The unprotected wings and hood have a few small stone chips so I'm certain the film has saved the bumper. While not obvious the film is visible and doesn't polish-up so well as naked paint so despite the chips to wings etc. I will still only go for the bumper protection next time round.

 

[Sundeep]

THERE IS ONLY 1 CHOICE

Paintshield (3M): http://xpeleu.com/index.php

mention me to Tom and you could get discount [:-]

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: Sundeep

THERE IS ONLY 1 CHOICE

Paintshield (3M): http://xpeleu.com/index.php

mention me to Tom and you could get discount [:-]

What do you base that on, other than being able to get a discount can I please ask? ie. what makes you think 3M is beter than VentureShield?

Quote from Jason in the US on his Cobalt Turbo:

Go with VentureShield! No question about that! I had 3M before but removed it and replaced with VentureShield! Much better product optically. The 3M material is already slightly yellow because of the adhesive which would change the way your paint color looks.

 

[Alex L]

FYI - It's about £1000 for all of the front of the car and will take a day (2 man team) to apply.

 

[Popolou]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

ORIGINAL: Popolou

[8|]

Alex, did you not see my previous post on VS in your other thread?

I did indeed, which is what got me thinking about it more. You didn't really say which you would go with.

I have just been advised by Jason in the US - who has tried both on this Cobalt Turbo - that VentureShield is definitley the best.

So I am now just debating whether to do the whole bonnet or a partial cover.

Complete package (half bonnet) is £600, and the full bonnet adds an extra £200. Then there's the price of the extra lower lip pieces I need protecting as I am getting Porsche Exclusive to paint those too.

Well when i purchased my new 987s, i purchased the full VS kit and applied it myself to the front end, wings and mirrors. That was 2 years ago and the film is still looking as good as the day it all went on. Its a good product but there are differences to the 3M (which is the paintshield product) which not many of us users end up hearing about.

I too did my homework on the issue when i was myself interested in protecting my special colour option from new. Merit went firstly to the quality of the product and looking at the specs, the actual thickness of the 3M with clearcoat is identical to the Venture product without clear (3M is 6mm film + 2mm clear and Venture is 8mm with no clear, but its been some time and i could have the numbers slightly off).

The last time i looked into this was when i purchased it so its likely things have moved on. However, IIRC, VS have come out with a newer film that supposedly improves on the previous product.

The trouble i had was justifying the outlay for the stuff and there seems to be a cartel going on over here with these products. Now, i wouldn't want to step on our Paintshield buddy here, but its far over priced (IMHO of course) for what it is and very shrewdly slotted to the real cost of a front respray. Instead, being a very hands-on person and as i wrote earlier, i purchased from abroad and installed it myself.

Just recently i acquired another full kit and applied it to my CL over the summer hols. It wasn't as difficult as say the porsche front PU, but it came out perfect and almost imperceptible on brighter colours.

They do full coverings but it all depends on whether the shop has the templates and measurements to cut them. Ordinarily, and i may be slightly off here, standard dimensions are only partial front end coverings while individual shops carry out measurements when neccessary for their customers for any sizes that go beyond standard dimensions.

If you feel its best to get this installed professionaly, then the best bet would be to arrange an installation fee privately and order the stuff in abroad. The only difficulty i see with this is that over here, they provide the material inconjunction with the installation and not seperate (unless you need replacements i presume).

BTW, what you heard on theyellowing of the adhesive is identical to what i understood when i made my enquiries (both dealers and customers incidentally).

Hopefuly, this should get you on your way. Without a doubt, its immensley reassuring to know that there is a layer of protection out there from those dreaded stone chips and from what i've noticed, it works.

Best of luck,

Popolou

 

[Alex L]

OK, just had a long chat with Tom from Paintshield.

He says that the type of 3M they use is different from the 3M that is applied as standard next to the rear wheel arches. He said that the 3M stuff they use is definitely the best on the market and there is absolutely no chance of yellowing unless it is fitted by non-experts. This is probably the origin of a lot of yellowing stories that are told.

Anyway, for a full front cover cost is 1200. Members of PCGB get a 20% discount so that takes it to 960.

Tom said he would be down at Ragley Hall his weekend, so I am tempted to pop down at take a look at some of his example cars.

I hear what you are saying Popolu about this being almost as much as a respray but you aren't going to get it resprayed each time you get a stone chip are you. So I would just end up having a bad paint job for a few years before I then did it just before resale.

 

[jason]

I've done a lot of research on this and Paintshield seem to be the unanimous choice of the people I have spoken to.

They seem to have done lots of 997GT3RS and lots of the GT3 boys cars I know and the likes of Sambamans 993GT2 and 997RS.

My 964Rs was with them yesterday and I'm going to pick it up in 10mins!!!![][][]

Go and see them at Ragley and see for yourself?

 

[Popolou]

ORIGINAL: Alex L
So I would just end up having a bad paint job for a few years before I then did it just before resale.

Ouch, i know i couldn't live with that on any of my motors! Nonetheless, i'm sure all the products out there will outlast ownership of these cars.

Regards

Popolou

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: jason
My 964Rs was with them yesterday and I'm going to pick it up in 10mins!!!![][][]

Yes, Tom mentioned your car actually! []

 

[Guest]

Had mine done, its a great product. (Paintshield) Would have been on Toms stand if i hadnt been out of the country.
Damn!

 

[jason]

Well this is what the front looks like with it on.....

and a close up pic