Protective Film on RX nose: results diatribe
#1
Protective Film on RX nose: results diatribe
After spending a good chunk-o-change getting the entire front end of my SA (all but hood and fenders) repainted I thought it might be prudent to put more than a wax job on her to keep it looking good. So I went the 3M DuraShield route thru a local detail shop. Actually, the parts went right from the paint shop to the detailer before going back on the car. (after 45 day paint curing period). These guys actually prefer to install this stuff (film) on the _car_ not separate pieces - but I wanted the film to completely wrap the bumpers, not trimmed it to fit around the rubber moldings. Hopefully pics will speak for themselves.
Cost me $300. As you can see, each piece is custom cut to fit - some companies offer pre-cut kits but I doubt these exist for cars this old. This was done 15 months ago now (Aug. 06) - I wanted to put a full year on them before "reporting". To date NO problems - no peeling, discoloring - anything. I wax them along with the rest of the car (I use Zainos which can be used on plastic). I have to say up front I am pretty meticulous about keeping the RX clean, so the finish hasn't been allowed to get really dirty or grungy. Being plastic I would imagine it would eventually scratch up if it got really gritty then was rubbed a lot; but mine shows NO optical marring at all with my high-speed travels (lots of highway time since I live out of town. "Lots" for a summer driver, I should qualify: about 3K miles a year )
White marks that might be noted along edges is excess wax. White "flakey" spots are snow flakes! The camera also shows what appears to be an "orange-peel" look in a couple of close-up shots- this is NOT visible to the naked eye. The surface is absolutely invisible under ALL lighting conditions; likewise joints and edges - no funky reflection properties that make it stand out from the rest of the paint surfaces. It has stood up flawlessly to -40 degree winter storage. There is not ONE chip on the filmed area. Anywhere the film was hit there is NO mark or blemish. And we are talking Alaska roads here (not that I chase dump trucks down gravel roads!). I am totally happy with the results and plan to have this put on the lower sills of the car next spring.
Anyway- like I said: diatribe! but highly recommended!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
Cost me $300. As you can see, each piece is custom cut to fit - some companies offer pre-cut kits but I doubt these exist for cars this old. This was done 15 months ago now (Aug. 06) - I wanted to put a full year on them before "reporting". To date NO problems - no peeling, discoloring - anything. I wax them along with the rest of the car (I use Zainos which can be used on plastic). I have to say up front I am pretty meticulous about keeping the RX clean, so the finish hasn't been allowed to get really dirty or grungy. Being plastic I would imagine it would eventually scratch up if it got really gritty then was rubbed a lot; but mine shows NO optical marring at all with my high-speed travels (lots of highway time since I live out of town. "Lots" for a summer driver, I should qualify: about 3K miles a year )
White marks that might be noted along edges is excess wax. White "flakey" spots are snow flakes! The camera also shows what appears to be an "orange-peel" look in a couple of close-up shots- this is NOT visible to the naked eye. The surface is absolutely invisible under ALL lighting conditions; likewise joints and edges - no funky reflection properties that make it stand out from the rest of the paint surfaces. It has stood up flawlessly to -40 degree winter storage. There is not ONE chip on the filmed area. Anywhere the film was hit there is NO mark or blemish. And we are talking Alaska roads here (not that I chase dump trucks down gravel roads!). I am totally happy with the results and plan to have this put on the lower sills of the car next spring.
Anyway- like I said: diatribe! but highly recommended!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
#2
Lives on the Forum
Very nice man! My only complaint would be that in some of the closeup shots, it looks like they could have made better cuts. It looks like there are some uneven lines in the 3rd pic that kind of stand out on close inspection. But still, for the added durability I guess you can't bitch too much.
#4
Old Fart Young at Heart
iTrader: (6)
The 3M film is very popular in the Denver area since they use pea gravel on thier streets without salt. Chips the hell out of paint and windshields. The invisible film has proven to be well worth the investment and most window tint shops offer the service.
It holds up well and lives up to it's perfomance promises. It also keeps the paint from fading. If you remove it a few years down the road, the paint underneath will not show the UV fading that the rest of the paint has suffered.
It holds up well and lives up to it's perfomance promises. It also keeps the paint from fading. If you remove it a few years down the road, the paint underneath will not show the UV fading that the rest of the paint has suffered.
#6
Savanna Rx-7
The 3M film is very popular in the Denver area since they use pea gravel on thier streets without salt. Chips the hell out of paint and windshields. The invisible film has proven to be well worth the investment and most window tint shops offer the service.
It holds up well and lives up to it's perfomance promises. It also keeps the paint from fading. If you remove it a few years down the road, the paint underneath will not show the UV fading that the rest of the paint has suffered.
It holds up well and lives up to it's perfomance promises. It also keeps the paint from fading. If you remove it a few years down the road, the paint underneath will not show the UV fading that the rest of the paint has suffered.
where can I order this? my front end looks horrible after going to the track a couple of times, the volcanic sand that exists all over japan just tears the paint up when moving at high speed.
kenn
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#9
(My only complaint would be that in some of the closeup shots, it looks like they could have made better cuts. It looks like there are some uneven lines in the 3rd pic that kind of stand out on close inspection.)
That's why I call it a "custom" job
Really tho, the finish is completely invisible unless your 1 ft away, and then you have to know what your looking for. Note the last photo of whole nose: THAT is all you ever see! Best investment in new paint I've ever made...
Only thing I would do different is make sure they wrap it right around the leading edges!! I just KNOW that will be my first chip area :P
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
That's why I call it a "custom" job
Really tho, the finish is completely invisible unless your 1 ft away, and then you have to know what your looking for. Note the last photo of whole nose: THAT is all you ever see! Best investment in new paint I've ever made...
Only thing I would do different is make sure they wrap it right around the leading edges!! I just KNOW that will be my first chip area :P
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska
#11
Savanna Rx-7
So does anybody know where I can order it (film) from? Oh and Happy Turkey Day (at least here in japan it is)
Kenn
Kenn
Last edited by kenn_chan; 11-21-07 at 06:16 PM.
#12
Newbie wants to learn
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The stuff is great and that is why you see it on all the classic cars now. They can drive all day and not get their expensive paint jobs messed up. I will be putting this on my 03 Mazda6 and my 85 rx7 once i get t repainted.
#14
Old Fart Young at Heart
iTrader: (6)
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