3M Paint Defender Spray Film - Has anyone tried this stuff?

[Healeyalt]

Or tried any other spray-on film protector with good results? My '76 280Z 2+2 was recently freshly painted and I'm trying to figure out the best way to keep it from getting stone chips along the rocker panels and behind the rear wheels. I orderd some MSA custom splash guards, but they are going back. The quality looks fine, but the fit along the body is way too poor in my opinion. And I do prefer the looks of the Z without the mud flaps. So if anyone has any other products they can suggest for keeping the paint protected, that'd be great. (I know this has been discussed before with not much consensus). Thanks. Gary

[Kurbycar32]

While i cant say i have used any of that stuff i did have a conversation with the paint shop about applying it. They said not to put it on the car for at least a month after painting, longer if possible. My car was sprayed with paint designed for heavy industry applications, so its basically got chip guard already

[HaZmatt]

I would recommend a paint protection film like 3M or Venturesheild.

[jfa.series1]

I would recommend a paint protection film like 3M or Venturesheild.

+1 on the above - check with a clear-bra installer for some options.

[Healeyalt]

My car was painted last September just before putting it in storage for the winter so I think it is pretty well cured. I had it painted Blue Jean Blue metallic, which I'm very happy with, but the painter used a white primer underneath so any chips in the paint are really going to show badly. Advanced Auto has the 3M Paint Defender film spray for about $24/can so may be I'll get some and test it on some nonconspicuous area. I thought I read where it may only last for a year before having to be pealed off and re-done, but may be because this is such an occassional driver and always garaged it may last longer.

[Mike W]

In my opinion, the only way to go is with a clear bra. However, you need to be really careful about the film that you choose as they vary greatly in quality and longevity.

After I had my car painted, my son pushed me to do this (he had it done to a new 2010 Camaro he purchased and was sold on the product) and so I went for it. It was not inexpensive like the 3M spray mentioned above, but after almost 2 years I have very minimal chip damage to any of the covered areas. I decided to cover the entire hood (as it is small compared to more modern cars), air dam, headlight buckets and headlights themselves, rocker panels, as well as the front section of the rear fenders in front of the wheels. Essentially any place that was subject to rock chips.

All told it cost me about $800, but given what I spent on the paint and body work, this was cheap insurance to me. The installer also had to make this a "custom" install as they do not make pre-cut kits for our cars. That did add a little to the price, but well worth it in my opinion.

The installer was very knowledgeable about the different types of films and in fact steered me away from 3M. He told me that 3M essentially invented the product, but many other companies have surpassed them with superior films. The one I used on the Z I believe was made by SunTex (I can verify that if anyone is interested) and it is "self healing". If you do get any abrasions on the film, warm water or sunlight will bring it back to normal. He also mentioned Xpel as a good product as well, but preferred the SunTex film.

I am sold on this concept so much that I also did my new C7 Corvette as well as my wife's new Volt. Cars are huge investments and the cost to apply this to me is worth every penny to protect that investment.

Hope this helps.

Mike.

[Healeyalt]

Hi Mike, interesting info, and I'm sure that is a superior way to go. I checked out the installation videos for both SunTex and Xpel. Its pretty cool the way professional installers apply this stuff and work it around the contours. There are installers a couple of hundred miles from me so I am going to keep this approach in mind. Thanks for the ideas, Gary

[ollie]

I have added clearbra on my new cars since 2006, all using 3M. It all comes down to how good the installer is...the first 2 were cut rate and on my most recent car, I paid almost double and it is very, very invisible. It is a 2013 535i M sport and there is a lot of surface area. You want an installer who can custom cut the film instread of using a kit. My 240Z has been extensively restored and I am going to have them do the rockers and the entire front end, same as my daily driver. The new paints chip just by looking at them and I have had to touch my car up quite a bit already in only a few hundred miles....on some levels, I really miss single stage paint.

[bpilati]

I have added clearbra on my new cars since 2006, all using 3M. It all comes down to how good the installer is...the first 2 were cut rate and on my most recent car, I paid almost double and it is very, very invisible. It is a 2013 535i M sport and there is a lot of surface area. You want an installer who can custom cut the film instread of using a kit. My 240Z has been extensively restored and I am going to have them do the rockers and the entire front end, same as my daily driver. The new paints chip just by looking at them and I have had to touch my car up quite a bit already in only a few hundred miles....on some levels, I really miss single stage paint.

I want to hear more about why you chose those locations.