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Do you have/ will you get rock chip protection?

2044 Views 8 Replies 7 Participants Last post by in_d_haus, May 2, 2002

in_d_haus

Discussion Starter · May 1, 2002

I'm considering this on my next car. How many of us have/will get the clear rock chip protection on their cars? The dealer actually talked me out of it on my 325, I'm regretting it now.

Haus

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Well, since my car is a daily driver, the clear-bra would probably help a little...

But according to my cost/benefit analysis, it's not worth it. It's like $200 to install the expel bra every 2-3 years. If I plan on keeping this car for over 5 years, that would have paid for an orbital buffer, touch up kit, and enough polishing material to last me a lifetime.

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Pinecone

· #3 · May 1, 2002

I have it both my Roadster and M3. At the price of these cars, it just isn't worth not doing it.

And the quoted life is 5 years, but I am sure it will be longer if the car is garaged or covered.

If you are looking to get it installed, and are doing a Performance Center Delivery, I can recommend Mike Messer in Atlanta. He will do the car overnight. About a 2 hour drive after delivery, drop the car off and he will get you back to your hotel and pick you up in the morning (actually for me, his wife did the duties). The car is done. No time out from your trip.

He does great work, and also offers some upgrades from the stock kits.

contact [email protected]

Tell him I sent you.

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lip277

· #4 · May 2, 2002

I'd get it in a heartbeat....

It's not all about the $$'s to have it installed every few years. No matter how road rash is 'repaired', it can not ever be as good as the OE finish in my opinion. My Yukon had it put on 2 weeks after I took delivery. 22 months (33k) later now, there is not a mark on it at all. That in itself is worth something. I can see some points of damage there now(in the coating, not the paint). Every once in a while I hear a good whack from the hood when something hits and (so far) nothing had penetrated it....

I did the X-Pel one by the guy behind the Lynnwood Acura dealership. Not cheap, but just like insurance... preventative maintenance.
AND TO BOOT, YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR SQUARE DANCING PLATES TO HAVE A SHABBY HOME!!! he he
Kevin

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Plaz

· #5 · May 2, 2002

I won't do it, just 'cause I think it looks crappy. And I wonder what the finish would look like in ten years, after removing it. I'd rather have some little chips than a color mis-matched nose.

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Andawyr

· #6 · May 2, 2002

I'm from Calgary, and in the winter, it's gravel galore.

I'm gettin' da bra! When my car get's here, that is...:bawling:

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lip277

· #7 · May 2, 2002

It all depends- Would I always get it?

If I still was in Monterey, then I'd probably pass it up. I know Doug lives up here in Seattle (not to far from me). In the winter our roads are not sanded. They're gravelled...

And the memory of that lingers all year.... twang.... thack... crack.... The windshield in my Yukon took a good hit just a couple of days back. It has a nice 6" crack in it now. I'd hate to see what the hood would be like if I didn't have the protection on it.
As for seeing the the tape 'lines' or such. It depends on the color. On my pewter truck, you literally can't see anything unless you stick your nose right up to it. On a darker color, it probably would show up a bit more... but then again "I" dont have that issue. :angel: Also - Unlike the precut versions that have seams showing on all sides, the folks I went to use the raw material (uncut). This allows them to wrap the corners and/or tuck it behind something (like lights or body seams). This gives a much cleaner installation than Stongard (IMO)
As with everying, YMMV....
Kevin

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ayn

· #8 · May 2, 2002

just drive 10 seconds away from the car in front of you in the highway and you should be no problem... and if you get really bad chips just get it repainted in a few years. the xpel stuff won't protect u against big rocks.

--Andrew

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in_d_haus

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 2, 2002

ayn said:
just drive 10 seconds away from the car in front of you in the highway and you should be no problem... and if you get really bad chips just get it repainted in a few years. the xpel stuff won't protect u against big rocks.

--Andrew

Ah that's not necessarily true. Like LIP277 says the sanding is like gravel here AND there are NO laws for dump truck drivers to cover their loads (see why we are #1 for windshield replacements in the US?)

A dump truck hauling at 70+ mph (typical speed) spits a rock a country mile. 10 seconds won't make up for that. I've tried backing way off traffic but someone jumps in the hole, you end up almost moving backwards to try and keep distance.

The only thing that worries me is that the X-pel guys said you have to heat the film up to 500deg to remove :yikes: What does that do to the paint!!

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This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Do you have/ will get rock chip protection?

Yes, I have it/ will get it

Nope, no need.

Do you have/ will you get rock chip protection?

in_d_haus

The HACK

Pinecone

lip277

Plaz

Andawyr

lip277

ayn

in_d_haus

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