Stone Chip Film ... help and suggestions please!!

[NZ_M3]

So ... further to my other post about me getting my car fully repainted - I got it back yesterday afternoon after work :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

And it's looking like bloody brand new :hahaha::hahaha::hahaha:

No doubt I am a happy fella ... but it was straight home and into the garage and parked away. Honestly I have never seen a shinier car before!!


I am now looking at getting that protection film that some of you have on your cars - I was wondering whether a fellow member can help out and point me in the right direction:

1. Those that have installed this stuff on your own - was it hard to do by yourself or is it recommended that the professionals do it?

2. Where do you source it from? Is it pre-cut? What does it cover? I presume bumper, flaps, front guards and the whole bonnet??

3. If it is pre-cut, how much is it and is it hard to post out to New Zealand?


Cheers!!

[shimmy]

i couldnt do it well so i would get specialist to apply it for you.


search for Paintshield, Ventureshield or 3M paint protection for best products by far. You should have franchises nearby

they seem to produce a template the first time they so a car shape and use those templates to cut the material next time round so i guess you could buy the cut sheets but it is very hard to apply well

the accuracy of the sheets is also important. sometimes they cut corners and edges are rough or in the easy and not bst places.

good luck

[scott7]

paint protection film.

I had mine done by a company specialising in it, they had the car for about 9 hours to do all front bumper, third of bonnet, bottom of front and back wings and side skirts, cost me £500 cash.I believe its very difficult to do well and time consuming, if you get it done take ten minutes before paying for it and inspect the job, it wasnt until i had paid for mine and was waxing the car a few weeks later that i noticed a couple of bits i wasnt happy with.

[dave1]

i would'nt bother costs a fortune and looks shit

[Ade]

There are basically only 2 people in the country who are worth considering for this job. The cost for full panel shielding is not cheap, and there are a lot of really poor jobs done on a tight budget.

The end results when done by either of people I know are excellent - you can't see the film at all. If my car didn't have stonechips already, it would be the first thing I'd have done. It's worth the cost.

[Mark CSL]

I have done 4 CSLs now by my self not an easy job but can be done go for the full kit full front wings and 3/4 bonnet thats the best kit

Look here Ryan will ship the precut Kits Postage is not cheap :thumbs:

http://www.autopaintguard.com/

3M is good for the bumper and venture sheld is great for the bonnet and wings :thumbs:

[Jay55]

I would certainly get a pro to install the film

if you want the best in the business i would get Tom at Paintshield to do this for you... or try Nick at ventureshield...

there is several companys which offer venturesheild but some of the the installers are crap so be careful!!!!I would also get the paint perfect before installation as film will just highlight any swirls or defects present

[Jay55]

i would'nt bother costs a fortune and looks shit

film has come along way ...you find most dont yellow like they use too and are not as noticible

its all down to what film you use and how good the installer is...

expensive ??? maybe but certainly worth it if tracking the car

[Rags]

I have Paintshield on my E92 M3, its not cheap but its worth it!

[Rags]

film has come along way ...you find most dont yellow like they use too and are not as noticible

its all down to what film you use and how good the installer is...

expensive ??? maybe but certainly worth it if tracking the car

It is great to hear that a detailing is not totally against it.

The pros:

Almost invisible, protects the car from stone chips(obviously), can still be waxed, 4 year warranty, prevents scuffs as well, doesn't damage the paint, no more sh1t resprays

The Cons: You cannot polish the paint, its not 100% invisible (near enough), you can't correct the paint and have to rely on the film to obtain the shine

[csl_mba]

I have a friend of a friend who has a body shop - the price of the full front end kit is more expensive than me getting the front fully resprayed. :beer:

[Ade]

the front fully resprayed. :beer:

how much? stone chips irritate me.

[csl_mba]

For the bonnet, bumper & wings £500

[Rags]

I do actually half agree and the purist should have paintwork without all this stuff.

However, I bought my e92 m3 with no miles on it. The paintwork had no chips on it.

Yes, the car can be repainted for £500 - £1000 but it will only remain like that for a short space of time.

Imagine this:

You spend £500+ on a front end respray, then you do a couple of track days and it gets sprayed with gritters - stone chips galore

You are gonna be gutted!

Also, when I come to sell my car, it will be free from Stone chips.

For you, £500 front end, few stone chips, come resale? You will still be knocked down and questions about your paintwork not to mention imperfections etc from a spray job! This is not to say my factory paint is free from orange peel!:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::haha ha:

[csl_mba]

^^ I will ask him to apply it with a sponge to get that BMW effect :hahaha: