Can I just ask why you would want to do this? Do you travel frequently on unpaved roads? My car is black, so anything and everything shows, but I don't think I'd ever consider a plastic coating. Just curious... :dunno:

What can I say except that I have always taken "DINGS" on the front of my cars over the years. In traffic today, a truck was spraying "debris". Trying to prevent damage makes me think about getting X-pel. Just to make the car stay looking new.

Steve

Gotcha. Without fail, my daily commute involves one kind of truck or another that is 'spilling its load' on the cars behind it....very aggravating!

My dealership, Passport BMW, contracts this out to a very competent person who does professional work. You can barely tell the stuff is even on the front end. Call Joern Esser there and he can probably answer your questions. Not too far from Annapolis either.

Stevarino said:

Does anyone know where in the Washington DC area or the Annapoils MD area I can have the 3M plastic coating applied to the front of my new 2002 330i? Thanks

Click to expand...

How sensitive is the 3 series paint (hood and front bumper) to chipping? Is some sort of protection necessary for limited highway driving?

Thanks to the EPA, all paints on all cars are more prone to chipping, due to adhesive agents that are no longer allowed to be mixed into the paint. (for about 3-4 years now) E-pel does a nice job because you can't notice it unless your really up close to the surface, or because it wasn't applied correctly. It's not a 3 series thing at all.

tsb said:

How sensitive is the 3 series paint (hood and front bumper) to chipping? Is some sort of protection necessary for limited highway driving?

Click to expand...

the EPA mandated car manufacturers that sell cars in the US to switch over to more enviornmentaly friendly water-based paints to limit atmospheric polutants. Its not so much that they are "softer" as they are generally weaker and more brittle than old solvent based paints since they are applied in a very thin, semi dry layer that is then quickly heated in an almost powder-coating process. This semi-solid application is what also leads to the orange peeling. Nissan has had the biggest problem switching overto the new paints, just look here at a web page dedicated to compiling consumer complaints! http://www.maximapaint.com/ In time manufactures will refine the process but for now, factory paint quality will not be at the level it has been in the past. To exacerbate the problem, unlike the old days of chrome and rubber bumpers, nearly all new cars are made with large painted front bumpers that reach even lower to the ground. This will be a huge problem in the next few years, I dont think many people realise the amount of cars they will see on the road with completely sandblasted front ends. I see this all the time at our shop, even on cars that come to us with less than a hundred miles look like theyve been on the road for over a year. Hope that clears it up a bit. My company Invisiguard installs 3M automotive paint protection film, if anybody has any other questions feel free to mail me, [email protected]
Jeremy

BTW Stevearino, get a hold of Rob at Maryland Performance Works [email protected] , hes been installing paint protection film longer than just about anyone on the east coast(7 years) and is a true artist. Tell him Jeremy from Invisiguard sent you, he'll take care of you!