Clear Film Bra / Stone Chip Protection Question

[Oiluj]

Anyone using one of the invisible film products, (3M Stoneguard, Clear Bra), on their Z’s to prevent stone chips?

If so, how long have you had it and how do you like it?

What are the pros & cons?

[JonnyRock]

I'm very interested in this too. I was just on 3M's site yesterday.

Anyone using it?

[snag point]

I did the whole bottom 1/4th of my t-100 toyota pickup, front all the way to the back. I did this 2 yrs ago. My 4x4 has been all over the mts in Washington and Idaho. It really holds up to the rocks and dirt that I throw at it. It still looks great and you can always take it off with no problems left. That being said, it takes time a some degree of skill to get it on correctly. I worried about little bubbles behind the film, and now I know that they leave given time. It should be done in a warm shop or whatever. I love the stuff, is a bit costly. When I repaint I will do the same to my Z. Jon

[zbane]

The only issue I have seen with this type of product relates to wax. Members at the housing development where I work have a black BMW 5 series with this product on the nose. It does very well against rock chips, but when you wax the car, you can see the line where the wax bumps up against the film. At first glance it looks like a scratch going across the nose of the car. Of course if one has a lighter colored car I doubt that this would be much of a problem.

[JonnyRock]

Yea, I'd only get it professionally done. There's a place in Everett, WA that does it, I'll have to call for a quote.

As for the waxing, it says on 3M's site that you can wax over it, so I'd think that simply being careful to wipe off any excess wax along the edges of the film would minimize the "crack" look effect.

[bkelly]

I do this for a living. Here's the problem with putting it on a Z- There is no pattern. It has to be cut out freehand on the car. Out of all the people who say they do this, only about 50% can do a good job. Less than that can cut on your car with out cutting your paint.

The film itself will hold up to a lot but it's not indestructible. 3M is the only brand I will ever use. I've tried others and they will fade/stain over time. Other brands say they're top coated and another claims to be clear coated, but they aren't a true clear coat like 3M. If you use Plexus to take care of it instead of waxing, you won't get any white build up around the edges. That should have been told to the customer of the BMW when he bought it. Like I said, most people who sell this stuff know nothing about it.

If there is enough demand for older Z cars, I can look into getting a pattern designed. I work with several people who can design. If you are interested, post below.

Below is a free hand job on a Benz. It was an aftermarket bumper with no pattern.

[bkelly]

Here's some more pictures. The first two is my car after some jackass hit me. The fender is destroyed, but the paint was protected! The second is another brand of film that was on a car for less than a year. It's BLACK!!!

[Oiluj]

I'm interested in a pattern and think a number of others would be as well.

The idea of cutting the film on the car is waa-ay too scary given I'll have just spent $6 K on a paint Job!

Performance of the film is reported to be very good in protecting paint, so I'm really thinking it would be great for Z's.

This is especially the case after reading the article in the attached link.

http://www.automotivearticles.com/Clear_Bra_3M.shtml

[snag point]

Bkelly is right on target in what I found covering my T100. I used the side protection rubber for a line to hide the top seam on the film. Forming the film around the curve of the car is really hard to do without making ridges in the covering.

[jmark]

I am getting my 07 Nismo front end done with an Xpel kit.

[jmark]

I do this for a living. Here's the problem with putting it on a Z- There is no pattern. It has to be cut out freehand on the car. Out of all the people who say they do this, only about 50% can do a good job. Less than that can cut on your car with out cutting your paint.

The film itself will hold up to a lot but it's not indestructible. 3M is the only brand I will ever use. I've tried others and they will fade/stain over time. Other brands say they're top coated and another claims to be clear coated, but they aren't a true clear coat like 3M. If you use Plexus to take care of it instead of waxing, you won't get any white build up around the edges. That should have been told to the customer of the BMW when he bought it. Like I said, most people who sell this stuff know nothing about it.

If there is enough demand for older Z cars, I can look into getting a pattern designed. I work with several people who can design. If you are interested, post below.

Below is a free hand job on a Benz. It was an aftermarket bumper with no pattern.

bkelly know anyone in Greenville SC area who does excellent work with 3M installs?

[bkelly]

If you don't mind driving, one of the best installers in the country is about 2 hours from you. Give Dave a call- www.speedfilm.net I've flown down and worked with him before, his work is amazing. He's a little expensive (so am I) but like I said, very few installers can install. People don't realize, like a paint job, they're paying for the skill of the installer, not the product used. To show you the service you get with him, he has actually driven to Florida to check on a complaint on a car he did...and it turned out to be nothing. He uses all types of film so just request 3M if you want it.

Be careful when you say Xpel kit. Yes they make patterns, but they have their own film now and it is completely unproven. There has also been a lot of problems with it. I tried it and don't like it. Actually, the pattern you want on your car is from Proform. That pattern covers more of the fender (wraps around the headlight) and hood than the Xpel. It also installs better, which means it's going to look better on your car.