| Author |
Message |
Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member
Username: Kennedy
Post Number: 455
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 11:24 am: | |
> Also, has anyone been getting chips behind the wheelwells? That is one
> of the areas that is part of the kit - but not sure how vulnerable that area is.
With sticky tires, I'd expect that to be the most vulnerable spot of all. Note that Ferrari puts a film there. Also note, as Kevin points out, the Ferrari film turns yellow after about a year... and it looks horrible. In contrast, after two years, in Texas sun, there is no hint of yellowing of the 3M film. |
Phil Horvitz (Philh)
New member
Username: Philh
Post Number: 9
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 10:24 am: | |
I'm thinking about only doing the front bumper - and probably the headlights - so it isn't very visible.
Are most people also doing the headlights?
Since the car is Red and the film would probably be pretty visible, going to skip the hood and the part surrounding the hood - even though it looks pretty vulnerable to chipping.
Also, has anyone been getting chips behind the wheelwells? That is one of the areas that is part of the kit - but not sure how vulnerable that area is.
Thanks. |
Kevin Deal (Tube_guy)
Junior Member
Username: Tube_guy
Post Number: 67
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 1:34 am: | |
It is so worth it. The stock paint film in the wheel wells, etc, will turn yellow. The 3m supposedly does not.
I had the stock film removed/replaced, and added the Armourfend pattern (the 3M film is used by most companies...the difference is the pattern...Armourfend was the best I found)
One caution:
If under the old film, there is any paint damage you cannot see being held in place by the film, the paint will come off when the film comes off. Now or later.
But I will say that I can drive the bejesus out of my car now without that nagging feeling or worry. Any Ferrari I buy in the future will get it.
But do it NOW...not later. I waited on my Porsche...and guess what happened.
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911 Fan (911fan)
Junior Member
Username: 911fan
Post Number: 77
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, October 13, 2003 - 12:04 am: | |
Jake,
I agree completely.
I didn't put any plastic film on my new 03 360. About 4000 miles later, I don't have any paint chips. And 90% of those miles were from spirited drives in the back country.
What I did do was apply 4 coats of Finish First polymer during the first 2 weeks of ownership. This stuff may or may not have provided some protection - I just don't know.
It'll be interesting to see how much differential paint fade will have occurred or how much paint will get peeled off when the plastic wrap is eventually removed from some of these cars after a year or two. But I'm not going to subject my 360 to this experiment!
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jake diamond (Rampante)
Junior Member
Username: Rampante
Post Number: 155
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 11:14 pm: | |
Why not strap a big pillow to the car. This is a bit much-- it's a car. If your that fearful about everything why bother having it. I have not been too "sandblasted" in all my car driving years ! Am I missing something here ? |
Ryan Alexander (Ryalex)
Junior Member
Username: Ryalex
Post Number: 140
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 11:03 pm: | |
Noah - I lose it when I see people do the reverse-until-they-hit what's-behind-them parallel parking - see it all the time here in the Boston area. Those people who do it intentionally should be bamboo caned ala Singapore (I sat at a light once and looked over at a girl in a Camry who intentionally bumped behind/front/behind/front (each car 2x!!) as she parked in a spot).
I am doubting people are callous enough to dare bump a Ferrari though. I hope. I wish humanity has that goodness.
There are many a-holes out there though, who don't respect property. |
Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member
Username: Kennedy
Post Number: 454
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 10:18 pm: | |
In addition to the front bumper, I also have the edge of the wheel wells (where the tires tend to throw rocks) and the leading edges of the air inlets. Oh, and the edges of the doors, which is very helpful when someone opens the doors into something not realizing how long those doors are. |
Noah L-H (Noahlh)
New member
Username: Noahlh
Post Number: 16
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 1:37 pm: | |
The only reason I mention the rear bumpers (mostly for a metro place like NYC) is to avoid the scrapes/dings that will inevitably appear from getting bumped/nudged/tapped while in "the big city" (i.e. in traffic, in parking garages, etc.)
nlh |
David Stoeppelwerth (Racerdj)
Member
Username: Racerdj
Post Number: 372
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 12:00 pm: | |
I had Shelton Ferrari put it on my 360 just on the front bumper and the leading edge of the mirror's and I am entirely satisfied and glad I did it. No stone chips and cleaning bugs etc, off the front bumper is a breeze. As a bonus it is very subtle and not noticeable to most people. |
Phil Horvitz (Philh)
New member
Username: Philh
Post Number: 6
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 11:05 am: | |
Good to hear that some people are happy with it.
I've seen some posts here that the stuff can yellow after 4 years. Is that something to be concerned with?
Also, I saw it on the back of the mirrors on a new, blue, 360 Spider, and it was really, really obvious. So, right now I'm thinking of leaving it off on the mirrors (as well as the hood). I plan to put about 1500 miles per year on the car - so I'm not sure that I'm likely to get dinged on the mirrors anyway.
The bumpers, headlights, and lower spoiler make sense - because they are likely to get dinged and feel the film would not be very visible.
Also, someone mentioned the area where the top folds in - although that isn't likely to get dinged by road debris - maybe the top itself scratches the paint?
Any other areas to consider?
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Bill Gomez (Bgomez)
New member
Username: Bgomez
Post Number: 28
Registered: 2-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 10:08 am: | |
I have the 3m clearbra product on my 360 and 996TT. As mentioned earlier, make sure it is the precut type so that they don't have to do any cutting. If you are really concerned about how noticeable it is than I would skip the hood piece. Most chips occur on the flatter bumper where the clearbra material is really hard to see.Try to avoid the finish line when you are waxing because some waxes can be hard to remove and this will make the clearbra finish line really standout.
Noah- I have never used it on the rear bumper, what advantage does it serve there?
Bill |
Brian Kennedy (Kennedy)
Member
Username: Kennedy
Post Number: 453
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 8:32 am: | |
I have Stongard on my Titanium 360 Modena... and I will be getting it first thing on my Titanium 360 CS. Note that it is fairly invisible on dark metallic paints... but the less metallic and the less dark the paint, the more visible it becomes. So, on standard Ferrari red, it probably will be somewhat visible. But even on my Titanium car, it is very apparent from certain angles, while almost impossible to see from others. But even when visible, most people don't "see" it... its not too noticable... and certainly doesn't detract from the look of the car.
Look at this way... after 10K miles of driving, what will look worse... that faint line going across the hood or a bunch of rock dings in the paint. Will you feel better knowing you need to swap out or just remove the film to get the car back to its perfect self, or repaint the nose which is just another from of imperfection to some??
Do the film. |
Lou B (Toby91)
Member
Username: Toby91
Post Number: 347
Registered: 4-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 8:23 am: | |
I am very satisfied with it on my silver spider, practically invisible which may not be the case on red. Definitly get it where the top sits when its up since it has been known to scratch the paint. |
Frank K Lipinski (Kaz)
Member
Username: Kaz
Post Number: 397
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 6:10 am: | |
I have it on my 355 and am extremely satisfied.
Quality of material and installation are the key to having it done right.
The dealer in my area (and maybe all dealers) use a product that seems to be opaque and not invisible - and like you had reservations about having it done.
A found someone at a car show who has done many F-Cars and uses the 3M product, which I found to be the best. I suggest you find someone who uses 3M and make sure he has a pre-cut pattern for the 360, as opposed to a �sheet� of film that he lays over the car. Nothing will fit around the lines of the car as well as the 3M kit. The other advantage of the 3M product is you can choose the thickness, the thinner the less noticeable.
The kit on my car included the front end, spoiler, 4 wheel well arches and 2 mirrors. Then a heavier material was used on turn signals, fog lamps and headlights. Because it is a kit, there are pre-drilled holes to access the screws in case you have to remove a lens to change a bulb. Of course, on the 360 that is not an issue.
If you don�t want to do the whole 9 yards, the installer can use only a portion of the kit. I paid about $600 and it took him about 7 hours. Could not be happier with it.
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Noah L-H (Noahlh)
New member
Username: Noahlh
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 1:45 am: | |
Don't have direct experience yet, but have spoken to several people about putting this on the upcoming 360.
Generally, you're right in not wanting to put it all over -- it's best applied on all leading edges. So hood, backs of mirrors, front bumper. If you're living in a metro area (i.e. NYC), I'd definitely get it applied on the rear bumper and under the nose as well.
I've heard that some applications offer a guarantee on the paint job -- if something breaks through and scratches your paint, they'll pay to have that section resprayed.
nlh |
Phil Horvitz (Philh)
New member
Username: Philh
Post Number: 5
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, October 11, 2003 - 11:58 pm: | |
I just picked up my first Ferrari - a 2003 Spider - Red of course.
Anyway, the dealer offered to put on the paint protection film basically as part of the deal if I want it.
However, I'm not sure I want to do it - and if I do, it would probably just be on the headlights and bumper. Don't want to put it all over the car because in my opinion, it kind of stands out and is quite less than invisible (seeing it on other cars they showed me).
Looking for feedback from anyone who has it on their 360 and can give feedback as to their satisfaction with the film and also what areas it was applied. |