How is your paintwork holding up? Chips?

[Alext]

Hey guys how is your paintwork holding up vs stone chips and other environmental factors?

My dealer gave me such a fantastic price on the new car, I have a little cash left over to spend so am going to be getting most of the hood, front bumpers & side skirts, mirror caps, front of rear arches etc protected in the new Ventureshield that incorporates its own clearcoat.

Has anyone had any recent experience of doing their bonnet with paint protection film?

[Memphis1]

I think the white and jet black might get more than the metallic colors, I have 8k miles and a few thousand were racked in long highway trips but have not a single chip on my DSB

[Alext]

Thats good to hear memphis. The space grey I saw had nil chips I could pick up and recently I saw a metallic black 2004 3 series that had extensive highway driving that had only a couple of minor ones.

After about 3 months of ownership my Jet Black BMW had 3 obvious stone chips right in the middle of the bonnet that annoyed me no end after a 4WD with no mudflaps overtook me like an idiot on a single lane road at high speed.

But the paint would have got damaged even if it was metallic in that situation so have decided to get most of the bonnet done!

[MDLFCS]

Memphis, did you have your paintwork treated or taken care of in any way? I am surprised that you have no chips at all. Mine is the DSB as well.

I have one chip on my front bumper at 25 miles, another in the same bumper at 40 miles. A chip on my hood/bonnet last night around 1800 miles with three chips in succession done by a single pebble. All happened in the summertime!

I recommend that you have the full hood/bonnet wrap when you can. I heard on this forum that a guy from England had a chip on the roof!

I also have a chip on my windshield. There is a film made for it, but I have heard that they don't last long term, especially with wipers. There is also a Dimond Fusion, to chemically strengthen the windshield. However, I believe both solutions cost the same or more as a windshield replacement.

So, if it were mine, I would have the entire car wrapped in the film and a way to protect the windshield. I find that on my car, the factory paint are brittle.

[Memphis1]

I have no idea how I have no chips, I assumed it was the metallic color, I've even been caught driving in two hail storms without any damage to the paint. maybe the dealerships do something different here in new England. My paint looks new everywhere.

[MDLFCS]

That's amazing! I would be curious on how the dealers treat or prep the cars in that area. It appears for whatever they did, made the paint bulletproof!

Or mine just happened to be made either on a Monday or Friday

[mikeinaustin]

about 11-12k miles, no chips. my car is crimson red.

[Z4Andy]

My DSB with 7k miles is peppered with chips on the panels before the rear wheels.

There is also a couple on the bonnet about 1/2 way up. The front of the car is fine.

The new iS will hopefully be getting venture shield if the funds allow.

I have had serious problems with water marks though. Paint isn't what I thought it would be.

[Roadstergal]

I live in New England and got my first stone chip with less than 100 miles on the car. I immediately brought it in and had the chip repaired on the bumper and the 3M applied. My first two BMW's were peppered with stone chips no matter how careful I was. My third I took delivery with the 3M applied and had no stone chips in over 3 years of driving.

All my cars were metallic with the exception of my red Z3. The metallic paint did not make a difference as I still got a lot of chips.

[flpnout]

I had my first one on the hood right after I drove it off the dealer lot. I have 3m now on entire hood and bumper.

[fisherman]

Anyone have any recent pricing info on the 3M ? Maybe just for the front bumper- not the hood ?

Steve

[Memphis1]

F**k the little nicks and scratches, just drive the hell out of it and get a new one two years later... You guys baby your car too much.

[Alext]

Hehe Memphis you raise a good point. I only had my 135i for about 1.5 years.

But if car prices here were the same in US I would be buying a new <insert sports car> every year!!!

In terms of car prices you guys are pretty lucky on a global scale!

Even this ventureshield stuff is going to cost me around $2000 to fit - but I plan to keep the car longer than 18 months this time around. It's time to 'settle down'. (yeah right, when BMW release an M version of the Z4 I probably won't be able to hold back opening the cheque book...)

[Memphis1]

Originally Posted by Alext

But if car prices here were the same in US I would be buying a new <insert sports car> every year!!!

In terms of car prices you guys are pretty lucky on a global scale!

Even this ventureshield stuff is going to cost me around $2000 to fit

Don't give me that!! If you can afford it than it shouldn't be a concern. You don't see me going out to buy a bugatti with a lamborghini budget, if you're over stretching and spend all your budget on the car then maybe you shouldn't be buying a Zed to begin with right? .

I'm just giving you a hard time but you know what I mean, I'm tired of people using that as an excuse or as to sound like you have more money than US owners.

[Roadstergal]

Originally Posted by fisherman

Anyone have any recent pricing info on the 3M ? Maybe just for the front bumper- not the hood ?

Steve

I had mine done for $695 and it included 1/3 of the hood, front bumper, and backs of mirrors. I believe I was told $400 for the front bumper alone.

[Alext]

Originally Posted by Memphis1

I'm just giving you a hard time but you know what I mean, I'm tired of people using that as an excuse or as to sound like you have more money than US owners.

We probably have less money than you US owners what with all the taxes we have to pay!

[fisherman]

Originally Posted by Roadstergal

I had mine done for $695 and it included 1/3 of the hood, front bumper, and backs of mirrors. I believe I was told $400 for the front bumper alone.

Thanks, Roadstergal. I vaguely remember the finance manager discussing all these after sale options, but I wasn't really listening to most of them. He did say you can do the 3M after the car was delivered- I remember that part...

[Memphis1]

^^ love that color combo