Paint protection - too late? Recommendations?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 35
From: Hannover
I would like to chime into the detailing discussion. I go the track quite regularly as the original poster is intending. It is always much more difficult to clean the 3M fender stone guards from rubber marks and other tar than the pure paint in the front. This made me staying away from a bigger clear bra solution.
I am generally using "green stuff" with good success on the original paint. Thoughts?
I am generally using "green stuff" with good success on the original paint. Thoughts?
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,471
Likes: 209
From: Tacoma, WA
I would like to chime into the detailing discussion. I go the track quite regularly as the original poster is intending. It is always much more difficult to clean the 3M fender stone guards from rubber marks and other tar than the pure paint in the front. This made me staying away from a bigger clear bra solution.
I am generally using "green stuff" with good success on the original paint. Thoughts?
I am generally using "green stuff" with good success on the original paint. Thoughts?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 2
From: Sandy Eggo, Ca
Since I drive and show my car I use a Porsche bra on longer distance trips. Yeah it's ugly but the front end stays perfect and I don't have spend extra time cleaning up the bug juice after a blast through the back country roads.
I've seen many clear bra installations and very few have truly impressed me. It's a pain to keep wax from building up on the edges and as others have mentioned the clear bra does show marks from where the rocks hit it. Again this is speaking from experience on my DD. I also noticed that the bra shrinks slightly with time and leaves a residue on the paint which is very difficult to remove. It's a good solution for a DD but I prefer the regular bra for the Sunday driver/show car. YMMV
I've seen many clear bra installations and very few have truly impressed me. It's a pain to keep wax from building up on the edges and as others have mentioned the clear bra does show marks from where the rocks hit it. Again this is speaking from experience on my DD. I also noticed that the bra shrinks slightly with time and leaves a residue on the paint which is very difficult to remove. It's a good solution for a DD but I prefer the regular bra for the Sunday driver/show car. YMMV
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26,084
Likes: 951
From: www.rlsafespace.com
These are pretty much my thoughts too. I use the Porsche vinyl bra on the hood, bumper and mirror covers for trip. For local trips I use just the hood portion and touch up chips on the bumper as they come. I've bought a 10 foot strip of 6" xpel clear that I will be putting on the lower portion of the wheel arches. You can buy it on-line for less than $3 a foot. It's pretty easy to install and cheap enough you can always pull it off and try again. I might even try some on the lower edge of the bumper.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 2
From: Sandy Eggo, Ca
Rennlist Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 26,084
Likes: 951
From: www.rlsafespace.com
I'm using regular automotive spray paint bought from Paint Scratch. There are two shadow-lines to paint within (fender lip and horizontal crease) and its quite easy and quick. I sand with 320 grit, mask with 3M vinyl masking tape, prime, sand, re-prime, then two light top coats and clear. Start to finish it's a 2.5 hour job. The time is mostly eaten up by watching the paint dry between coats (20 minutes per coat).
