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

 

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.

 

Pretty good idea, might do it when ever I get around to painting the car.

 

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.

 

I have it on my DD and for about the same amount of time. No complaints and have been thinking about doing it to my Rx when I paint it.

 

Scott,

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

 

nice! id liek to do this to the SA when its done. my boss had it on his lexus for months and it was on there when he got it. the car was black and you could barely notice it. he also had it on the backs of his mirrors.

 

Great idea!!! Especially if the car is gonna see any gravel. And, looks way better than a nose bra.

 

(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

 

I have it on my Lexus, and a thick *** version on the bottom of my Jet Ski. (keeps the sand and rocks from scratching the bottom when I beach it.)

I have always planned on installing it on the widebody.

 

So does anybody know where I can order it (film) from? Oh and Happy Turkey Day (at least here in japan it is)

Kenn

 

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.

 

Kenn try searching on the 3M website and then seeing if they have dealers near you... that's how I would start...

 

Kenn, check with the local window tinters and see if they can order it for you. *If not there, then try your local autobody*paint*supplier.

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Just was thinking about this the other day ... but what would you guys think about doing something like polyolefin shrink film would probably be cheaper and bubble free and ripple free because its heat shrink, and you provide a tight seal too.

 

No bubbles or ripples in my application - obviously depends on skill of install. As to your polyolefin, how thick is it? Part of the nice thing about the 3M is it has a bit of thickness to absorb gravel impacts...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

I'm not too sure ... but I would image it comes in various thicknesses. I've tried to look up the thickness of the 3m with no luck

 

thoes parts look good. i would like to know where u got the from.

 

Shrink film does just that, shrink. After it's installed, it may shrink more from sitting in the sun.

 

old parts - new paint
- and the stuff to keep them that way...
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska