I used Armourfend here in the UK after experience with my first Boxster, the front of which was badly marked with stone chips after only 6,000 miles. I had Armourfend (they use 3M film) fit to the front bumper, the forward half of the bonnet and front wings and door mirror housings of my current car after delivery. The result after 17,000 miles and 3 years, no stone chip damage whatsoever. Highly recommended
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Boxster S 3.4 06 Cobalt / Ocean Blue (Zuffenhausen collection) BMW 123d M Sport 08 Le Mans Blue / Lemon
As a matter of fact, I was only today at CPF Emirates, the Llumar film guys. Maybe it might be worth asking the 3M guys (I'll do that tomorrow) as well. There is another company which sprays on a clear coat (Armorcoat). But all this has got me even more confused. On the face of it, it sounds good, but my concerns are:
1) Will it retain the gloss over time? Will it take well to polish / polymer coatings?
2) Will it become translucent over time and exposure to direct sunlight?
I have been thinking about this type of protection ever since I took delivery of my C2SII in June, but have not had the nerve to go ahead due to the above concerns.
In answer to your concerns, Arshad, no fade on my car in three years, but of course the sun is that much stronger in the Gulf States than we get here.
I've Zymol waxed the car several times, including the 3M film, not that it needs it, but cannot detect any difference in the filmed / naked areas. The only precaution you need to take is that when washing / polishing you rub from the film to the paint, rather than the other wau round, to avoid any chance of lifting the film or getting wax trapped under the film edge.
8 cars later would highly recommended. I have 3M on my F-car , 3M & Venturefilm (hood) on my Turbo. Get it done right away before you use the car, once you get pitting or chipping on the paint the film it wont looks as good. It's all about the install.. Some places install pre-fab kits, other places will custom cut & fit depending on what areas you want done but again, it's all about the quality of the install.
08 PORSCHE Turbo Cabriolet, 06 Ferrari F430, 04 Durango HEMI, 04 Harley Davidson Screamin Eagle, 93 Harley Davidson Nostalgia
I have VentureFilm on various parts of my Carrera GT. It's been on for 3 or 4 years and really has worked well and continues to look good. It took a first place at a concours with the film in full view (as in could hardly be seen.).
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Mike
2005 Carrera GT - Signal Yellow
2008 Tesla Roadster - Thunder Gray
1972 BMW 3.0 CSi - Nachtblau
2009 Bentley Arnage T - Black Saphire
Gilmour:
Thanks for all the information guys. I was thinking of just doing the front bumper (fender). Should I go further & do the whole front of the car
I would certainly do the forward half of the bonnet lid as a minimum in addition to the front bumper. It's aluminium and consequently fairly soft and prone to chips.
Arshad:
Though it is definitely more beneficial to coat the front half of the bonnet as well, the film line will show, making it look unsightly, IMHO.
Not as unsightly as stone chips....
+1 on the paint protection film; I got my 987S done at the dealership, which applied a pre-fab kit. The front bumper, half the bonnet, mirror shells, underside door handles, front half of rear fenders, and a few other places are covered. The material definitely works as advertised.
Sep 17, 2009 5:32:04 PM
Yes definitely do the front half. And what most really nice cars over here also have is the mirror protected as well, just because it is more deceptive to yet more stone chips or just dead biomass from driving in the back country
indeed shifting is ancient technology - so is a fuel burning engine.. I happen to like both :)
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1986 BMW 325e 5spd 2.7L 121 hp (172 lb·ft) Le Mans Blau on Tan leather.
1986 BMW 325is 5spd 2.5L 168 hp (164 lb-ft) White on Tan leather (parted out)
2005 Ford Focus S, 5spd 2.0L 136 hp (120lb-ft) CD silver on grey (sold)
1986 Porsche 944, 5spd 2.5L 150 hp (168lb-ft) champagne gold on grown leather. (sold)
Sep 17, 2009 6:54:46 PM
I've had it on most of my cars. You just need to specify that you want the Premium grade film as it is the one that has the clearest finish and is all but invisible on the car. People who complain that film looks awful have usually seen some of the cheaper grades which have a more orange peel finish.
Hello Arshad
Sorry for the delay in replying but I have been away. Eventually went with Foil a Car and requested they do the front bumper, front wings and bonnet after seeing a silver Panamera they had done.
My first reaction on picking the car up was one of extreme disappointment. The finish looks really rough and on close inspection there seems to be little bubbles all over the place which I have been assured will disappear in time.
In addition the three year warranty has turned into a one year warranty only if I bring the car back to them for polishing treatment every 4 months at my expense. I wish they had mentioned this when I first visited them.
Also, after careful inspection I noticed they covered the headlights which the drivers manual warns against with bi xenon owing to heating issues. I plan to have this removed when I return shortly.
I plan to polish the car soon to see if that helps. I hope Autoglym car polish will be ok on the foil. I intend trying a small corner first. I will let you know how I get on
Oh, very sorry to hear about your experience. Hope you went to the 'correct' Foil-a-car - there is one original and one 'remnant' (which is the best way I can put it wothout being sued!!). Even their locations are close by! The real deal's website is www.foilacar.com, whereas the other's is www.foilacar.ae.
Incidentally, I made some enquiries with 3M, and they said that they would start clear-filming the bodywork by the end of Sept. No further word from them since.