What do you guys do to protect your front end against rock chips? I regularly drive 100+ miles a day now.

I see three choices:
1. Put blue painters tape on the front end during the week during the drives and take it off on the weekends. I went to Home Depot/Walmart yesterday thinking I would make a bulk purchase of tape....until I found out each roll was about $4. Also, a rock will chip the front end even with the tape.

2. Shell out some $$ for the leather bra. This might be the way to go since I can take it off an on somewhat quickly. Plus it will look better than blue painters tape.

3. Get the clear 3M type bra. I don't like this option.

Question. Will the leather bra leave marks on the car from flapping in the wind? Will it accomodate the OEM lip I have? Are there places to buy blue painters tape in bulk for CHEAP?

Thanks!

 

take out the front bumper or wrap the intire care with bubble wrap... rofl

you worry about taping them... it would cost you time, money, and it would look ridiculous.. when you can repaint for less than $300 when its going to be really bad (1-2 years later)...

 

Duplicolor makes a spray on bra. I don't think it's a longterm solution, though.

http://duplicolor.com/products/shield.html

 

^^ thats just for bugs joo... lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shamoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
3. Get the clear 3M type bra. I don't like this option.

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this is your best option, like it or not.

 

just avoid hitting teh rocks and **** that fly up.. thats what you have suspension for .
seriously.. i put over 30K on my car in less then 2 years and yea it had rock chips but it isnt that bad when u think about it.. gives u a reason to paint later on

 

dont drive it

 

3M will cost you around $400 to $700 maybe more... and the edge will start to collect dirt and it will form a line.. then you going to have 2 tone car... .. specially you have GPW

 

for reals tho just watch where your driving sometimes its unavoidable and look out for cows and deers and your set!

 

saran wrap your car,

 

then ziploc to keep it fresh? lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FR-MOB: Jerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then ziploc to keep it fresh? lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

ziploc leaks...vacuum sealer FTW!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ReddotsS2K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont drive it </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's about it. IMO, the other methods of protection really aren't practical if you ask me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SilverDc2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">saran wrap your car,

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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by FR-MOB: Jerk &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">then ziploc to keep it fresh? lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Nishant &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

ziploc leaks...vacuum sealer FTW!!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

u guys are crazy

 

the 3M clear bra is your best option.

 

GPW will form that dust line like somebody mentioned. As far as my GPW was concerned, I just put that white vynil decal sheeting all over the front end, with some blue tape, whenever I hit the tracks. As far as the streets go, about 3-4 layers of wax did it for me.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shamoo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">What do you guys do to protect your front end against rock chips? I regularly drive 100+ miles a day now.

I see three choices:
1. Put blue painters tape on the front end during the week during the drives and take it off on the weekends. I went to Home Depot/Walmart yesterday thinking I would make a bulk purchase of tape....until I found out each roll was about $4. Also, a rock will chip the front end even with the tape.

2. Shell out some $$ for the leather bra. This might be the way to go since I can take it off an on somewhat quickly. Plus it will look better than blue painters tape.

3. Get the clear 3M type bra. I don't like this option.

Question. Will the leather bra leave marks on the car from flapping in the wind? Will it accomodate the OEM lip I have? Are there places to buy blue painters tape in bulk for CHEAP?

Thanks! </TD></TR></TABLE>

The leather or vinyl bra isn't bad. It'll do the job but will discolor over time and wear out with moisture/heat. Plus, you don't want to have the bra on in wet conditions. Water will be retained behind it the next day if it's sunny.

I don't like 3M paint protectant film or stoneguard or the other stuff. It's sticks out like a sore thumb for something that's meant to be invisible. If it isn't installed properly, it'll discolor too.

I would get the bra or just repaint/refinish your bumper every few years.

 

Star Shield Armor .com clear bra using 3M material. I run it on all my cars. DC5 Jared has it installed on his black s2k. If it is installed correctly and taken care of, it'll stay "invisible". Then again, the whole point of it is to protect the front end and not improve the look of your car

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jarel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> not improve the look of your car </TD></TR></TABLE>

why protect it if looks dont matter? isnt that the point of all this bra talk?

 

Clear bra is your best bet. If you can find a good company to do it, some guarantee their work. So if it bubbles they will replace it. I had a company tell me that if it ever discolors or bubbles they would replace it free of charge. And if you don't like that line from the 3M film. I had them cover all entire hood and the whole fender. You had to actually look for it to see it.

 

how much does it cost?

 

well just for half the hood and fenders it's like 500-600ish but i wanted the entire hood and the fenders covered (Wasn't an S2k) they charged me another 100. But it's well worth it

 

drive slow ~~!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by inline976 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Clear bra is your best bet. If you can find a good company to do it, some guarantee their work. So if it bubbles they will replace it. I had a company tell me that if it ever discolors or bubbles they would replace it free of charge. And if you don't like that line from the 3M film. I had them cover all entire hood and the whole fender. You had to actually look for it to see it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

yikes...if its installed correctly, bubbles shouldn't happen. discoloration happens over time and how you take care of it. yellowing can also be caused by the type of film that is used (i.e. avery, etc). 3M is the best film out there imo. Most kits that are made are just for the front end, meaning it stops at a certain point, depending on the vehicle. It usually costs a little more to actually cover a complete hood/fender/etc. But film can be applied to different areas of the body (cab top, pillars, door handles, trunk area, side skirts, etc)

 

if i wanna protect something againts from rock chips, it would be the windshield... F@ck the bumper and the hood... those can be repainted..