stone chip protection

[glamdring]

So, 700 miles into ownership, the inevitable has happened - I've picked up a big stone chip right in the middle of the bonnet. Oh well. It was always going to happen I suppose.

However, this leads me to ask - what is the best way to deal with this? Just down the road in Peterborough I have Paintshield (paintshield.co.uk) who for £1000+VAT will wrap the bonnet, wings and front bumper in their 3M-beating self-healing stone chip protection, warranted for four years.

How does this compare to simply getting the bumper/bonnet etc repainted every X years?

Has anyone used Paintshield or similar - what are you thoughts re. VFM?

 

[john.newland]

Take your car to AMI in Buckinghamshire, had our 997.1 RS fitted with paint protection film there. Recognised by many as the best in the business, and I do not know anyone who has had a bad experience there. They could sort your stone-chip too.

Our car was quite badly stone-chipped (bonnet, front bumper, leading edge of rear wheel arches), so had it repaired and then the film fitted. (Taken on a truck so no risk of further stone-chips!) Paint is still pristine, and film is still well fitted nearly 2 years later.

We had PPF fitted to the bonnet, front PU, front wings, A pillars, roof, doors (Including behind the door handles to prevent nails scratching the paint!) door mirrors, front of rear wheel arches, and edges of all 4 wheel arches.

 

[glamdring]

Hi John; thanks for the info, but with Paintshieild just 10 min down the road, I will give them a go I think (highly recommended on PH also)

Thanks

 

[jdpef356]

John

How does your price compare with the £1000 plus vat Matt has been quoted?

 

[john.newland]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I paid a fair bit more than the £1200 Matt has been quoted (and 18 months ago), but got a lot more of my car covered. I do know the owner of the company, so got mates rates; but I would honestly still recommend them if I'd had to pay full price.

Forgot to add the spoiler is covered too, so basically the only bits of car not covered are the rear bumper, and the rear aspect of the rear wings.

 

[glamdring]

Update:

I have today left the Turbo with Paintshield to have a full exterior paint detail prior to having the stone chip protection applied later this week. All things being equal I should get the car back on Saturday or Sunday.

Having seen the range of cars that they have worked on and a fairly vivid demonstration of the durability of the protection (involving a wire brush), I was pretty sure it'd be worthwhile, because stone chips piss me off something chronic!! They are going to photograph the various stages of the exterior detail whilst in progress, so I will report back in due course.

 

[Clewsey]

Judging from a conversation I was having with Paul Dalton of Miracle Detail (just detailed mine) at the weekend, he rates Paintshield as "the" best protection film. He's tested it pretty intensively and was amazed at what it could withstand.

When I eventually have my front repainted I'll be doing the same [] I'd be interested in your findings.

Simon

 

[glamdring]

Yes, it looked pretty impressive. They took a wire brush and scrubbed it over a bit of the film that was unmarked. Rubbing with the brush left your typical wire brush marks in the film. Poured a cup of hot water over the film a moment later and like that, the wire brush marks were completely gone. Obviously the heat triggers some kind of reaction, but even Paintshield don't know how it works, just that it works. The same thing happens with minor scuffs to the film apparently, as long as the film itself hasn't actually broken.

So anyway I went in to get the bonnet, front bumper, wings and back of mirrors done ... and ended up agreeing to have the entire car machine polished (faint swirl marks in the paint), full exterior detail, and then a complete car kit applied, got a deal on it so am quite pleased. I'll be sure to post some pics when i get it back later this week.

 

[stevesnaz]

Sounds very interesting. Looking forward to the piccies.

 

[garyw]

I think I may be a bit late on application of the protection system []
Front end respray will be my solution...
Matt, do keep us updated on the whole procedure...

garyw

 

[unclewinks]

I've just given up,wash it with my eyes shut[]

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: unclewinks

I've just given up,wash it with my eyes shut[]

Tipex was the suggestion from another owner of a similar coloured car.... []

 

[Clewsey]

Same here Gary. The detailer was having 40 fits when he was examining the front of mine.

Respray and protection on the "growing" todo list!

ORIGINAL: garyw

I think I may be a bit late on application of the protection system []
Front end respray will be my solution...
Matt, do keep us updated on the whole procedure...

garyw

 

[Mike IRL]

This crossed my mind to do as well.

Interested in seeing the pics before during and after too.

My big question though is whether the protection layer will look as good as a well detailed car or will the coating take away from a really nice finish?
I know paint can be pricey but........

 

[glamdring]

i took a look at some 'real' examples whilst I was there on Monday - they had a van and a Ferrari 360 in the workshop - and to my eyes I couldn't even see that the film was on. Tom, the guy who owns the place, says the film actually brings out the metallic a bit more, which is why I went for the machine polish and the full car finish.

Anyway will post some pics when I get her back. Don't like my 320d courtesy car very much #gutless.

 

[Oggy]

ORIGINAL: garyw

I think I may be a bit late on application of the protection system []
Front end respray will be my solution...
Matt, do keep us updated on the whole procedure...

garyw

Having recently had the front end respray, I'm now seriously considering this and phoned Paint Shield today for a quote.

Even with PCGB discount, it's still quite pricey IMO but given I know my lovely revitalised front end will be shot to pieces after first run this yr....is probably worth it !

Very interested to see how paintwork having film applied looks in comparison to adjacent panel w/o it...especially on a dark coloured car.

For that reason, am currently considering just the partial front kit as this will protect most vulnerable area while not making paint finish of whole front end seem any different to doors / rest of car. Of course covering whole car would be solution to that one but I'm afraid that would add too much extra weight []

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Oggy
Of course covering whole car would be solution to that one but I'm afraid that would add too much extra weight []

Every little counts....

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: glamdring
Don't like my 320d courtesy car very much #gutless.

After your turbo? Surely not..........[]

 

[glamdring]

just had the phone call, car will be done by the Friday morning. So, off to pick it up after lunch tomorrow. 3 days start to finish.

 

[911 turbo newbie]

had a car done by this company 5 years ago when they were in grantham, would reccomend them to anybody, a few pics of the car hopefully show what a great job they did, had a total front kit, plus both wings, all doors and sills.