Jeff Curtis

Has anyone had Armourfend(TM) applied to any of their cars?? If so, how do you like it?

I am specifically referring to the "Armourfend" product.

I have seen an ad here and there, and know a couple of people that have had their Porsches done in Armourfend when purchased new.

Does anyone have info. on contacting the company, it's approved installers, etc.

I am considering getting this done on my freshly painted 964, once it's complete.

scupper

Jeff, I assume you are talking about the transparent bra - If so, I had my wife's new BMW 330ci convertible done with XPEL by a local installer I located on the XPEL web site. He also installs Stongard kits as well. While he was doing the install (in my garage) I learned that XPEL and Stongard use the same 3m film product. The Stongard kits tend to be more complete and cover more area - and hence, more costly. He does both, on many Bimmers and Porsches. (he is a Boxster person but a real car nut)

After watching him do the install, I was glad I paid the extra money for his services - took him about 3 hours for the front of the Bimmer - stretching and fitting the material around the lights and all the compound curves of the body and front bumper and valance. I would not have the patience to do the job properly.

Result is perfect. The car is Orient Blue (midnight) - you really cannot see the seam across the hood when the car is clean, but with road dirt, the seam is discernable - but barely so.

Let me know if you have questions:

See:
<a href="http://www.xpel.com" target="_blank">http://www.xpel.com</a>
and
<a href="http://www.stongard.com" target="_blank">http://www.stongard.com</a>

Chuck
93 C2

horst

Jeff: forgetaboutit! This stuff is not going to help one bit the next time you go agricultural with your car. Admit it: it IS going to happen again, unless you drive like a *****, and you know you will not be able to restrain yourself!

Bill Gregory

Jeff,

I have Armourfend on the front bumper, lower portion of the front trunk, area under the headlights, back of the mirrors, on the lower trim under the doors and just behind them, on the rear wheel arches, on the headlight trim rings, and on the brake cooling air intakes. They are based out of Greenwich, CT. (www.armourfendusa.com) Looks like Cole Scroggins at G&W in Danville is one approved installer in your area, there's another in Laurel, MD which may be closer. I had it put on this past spring, and it has held up pretty well. There's one place it must have taken a mighty rock chip on the hood, where it actually tore a hole the size of a pinhead, but better it than the paint. Makes cleaning up the rubber and other track grime fairly easy. The material on the headlamp trim rings doesn't cover the entire trim ring, and they are peppered with tiny rock chips around the material - easy enough to touch-up. Armourfend is fairly popular around here. As an aside, the US owner is a Porsche racer.

JonSeigel

Jeff:

There are numerous posts on the 993 board on Armourfend and similar products, and their installation. It seems that 3M invented the basic material and several manufacturers, including Armourfend, have their own permutations using the basic material. The posts are definitely worth checking out if your considering doing this.

Jeff Curtis

Thanks a bunch guys!

I will check out the 993 board and the websites given for more info.

Bill, can you give me a "ballpark" figure on what I should expect to spend if I get the hood and front bumper cover done? ...maybe the "sail" panels?

I don't think I'll go as thorough as you did, but would like to. Guess I'm assuming that no matter how much "insurance" one uses, it'll NEVER be enough!??

...and Horst, I have NO idea what you're talking about in regards to "going agricultural".

...and I'm quite certain you know first hand that I don't drive like a p____!! <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

BRING ME MY HOOD!!

Bill Gregory

[quote]<strong>Bill, can you give me a "ballpark" figure on what I should expect to spend if I get the hood and front bumper cover done? ...maybe the "sail" panels? </strong><hr></blockquote>
Jeff,

Parts cost: Hood $180, bumper $260, inner wings $60. Other parts were rear arches $120, side sills $80, mirrors $30. Don't have a cost on the headlight trim or brake cooling ducts. Labor to do all of that around 6 hours. Most of the labor is on the hood and bumpers, so figure 4? hours @$50, so maybe $700 total for hood/bumper?

JonSeigel

Jeff-

Refrain! If you go through with it on your *white* car, I'll feel extremely guilty for not doing it on my *black* car.

Ruairidh

[quote]Originally posted by Jeff Curtis:
<strong>
I am considering getting this done on my freshly painted 964, once it's complete. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Armourfend today; where will it end? Garage Queen tomorrow?

.....or maybe not <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

John Miles

Jeff,
Don't do it! Why spoil a new paint job?
Think of how you'll miss massaging in the Zymol with your bare hands. Nothing like it.
J

PS I do think it spoils the look of a car. IMO.

Bill Gregory

[quote]<strong>Why spoil a new paint job?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, there's no quicker way to spoil a new paint job than spending time at the track. To give you an idea, here's a picture of my headlight trim rings, and you can see where the rocks have chipped the paint versus where the Armourfend is (the flash catches the edge of the Armourfend, however, you don't normally see that - too busy noticing the chips!).

Jeff Curtis

The "Track Rocket" is NO "Garage Queen"...that's for sure! <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

I have the same issues as Bill, TONS of chips...I'd rather see the faint outlines of Armourfend than the big chips I had in my hood - before it was CRINKLED! <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" />

It's an expensive endeavor, but weigh the difference in repainting the hood and/or front bumper cover when it looks like sh__.

...then consider matching the white! <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

Again, I'm pretty much concerned with the bumper cover and a good portion of the hood, besides, getting the hood done would make it so I wouldn't have to wear a BRA!

buckdr1

I'm with Bill G. Had it done this summer(ArmourFend)@ Tech urging, don't regret it ONE bit it's saved us (my other 1/2) drives too. We don't drive as hard as Bill but twice as much. My hood etc would have been trashed! Best $700 bucks(appx) we've spent., and you can barely see it(G.Red). My.02 cents.
Regards
Bill