Did you skip XPEL?

[anesthetize]

I'm surprised that this hasn't been mentioned, but any of these wraps would prove very helpful should you decide to track your car.

My dealer had a 3M film installed on my SSII F80 and I love it. CA stated that if I have any issues with paint chips, yellowing, etc, that they would replace without question. I have multiple track days planned and look forward to not worrying about protecting my paint.

[///M4ster Yoda]

Originally Posted by scanido

I will be doing a full wrap on my BSM M3.

Already have Trakktape ready for ED.

I hadn't heard of trakk tape until reading your post. Looked it up. Seems pretty cool. Is it a PIA to install? Not sure I want to be standing outside the Welt next week with a squeegee and that stuff though.

[Bch53211]

Wouldn't consider it even if it wasn't leased. Costs way too much, set that money aside for a "chip/scratch" fund. Most small scratches or chips can be fixed for a fraction of what xpel costs.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by Draper

It's a daily for me as well, and while I always think I'm going to have time to detail it every weekend to keep it in pristine condition - I know the reality of having 3 young kids is going to slap me in the face sooner or later.

I assume you're content with the wear and infrequent paint touch up so far?

True on all counts.

If / when I bribe my kids to wash the cars, I initially would not let them touch the F80. But as they got more proficient and I got over the initial new car anxieties, the M3 is now on their car wash menu, and they are super careful about cleaning it. I detailed it once upon delivery, and again after this winter. That's it. I let it go ... it's just a mass produced car, not a priceless piece of art!

I treat rock chips as form of mods.
I know it's inevitable, and is part and parcel of ownership experience.
I have touch-up paint for all my cars, and the first time I had to break SO bottle open was to touch-up a self-induced chip (extended driver side wiper arm into the edge of the hood, duah). No big deal.

a

[Tinilp]

Originally Posted by Draper

Good point.

True - no real savings to be had if you need to replace a piece.

Any pics of your rockers? Would love to see what they look like after 2 years.

Are you chips on the front or sides? Any pics?

It won't probably be noticeable by most, but you'll always be able to tell a difference between the parts that have Xpel and the ones that don't. I guess the only solution for that is to do the whole car.

How long has it been? Are you happy?

These things will probably annoy me as long as I have the car (perfectionist in me coming out). Honestly if I was leasing it I wouldn't let it get to me as much since I would be in a new car in a few years. These tiny dings aren't worth a couple grand in my mind for only 2-3 years worth of annoyance. Plus I wouldn't want to have to worry about the eventual yellowing of the Xpel.

[Tinilp]

Originally Posted by Tinilp

These things will probably annoy me as long as I have the car (perfectionist in me coming out). Honestly if I was leasing it I wouldn't let it get to me as much since I would be in a new car in a few years. Things tiny dings aren't worth a couple grand in my mind for only 2-3 years worth of annoyance. Plus I wouldn't want to have to worry about the eventual yellowing of the Xpel.

Pics didn't load last time.

[///Mongo]

It's a car, it's going to get rock chips. Why pay a ton of money for a film that is going to turn yellow in a few years? :

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by ///Mongo

It's a car, it's going to get rock chips. Why pay a ton of money for a film that is going to turn yellow in a few years? :

As noted above, yellowing film is really only visible on white cars and if it occurs within warranty period (10 years Xpel / 5 years SunTek), it can be replaced under warranty at no charge.

The driving some people do leaves them more susceptible to chips than others. Lots of highway driving through construction zones leaves the car particularly vulnerable in my case. The last car I had without film, a Lexus, had chips all over the bumper, hood and fenders - definitely well over 100 small chips that affected the value of the car when I got rid of it (not to mention needing to see them every time I got in the car). If I thought I would be limited to a handful of minor paint chips I wouldn't bother either.

[Jockey]

Well, I'm getting Xpel installed on my M3 on Monday. I do enough highway driving on crappy Virginia roads, plus I have to park outside at work.

The SS touch up paint just doesn't look good. $2k to protect a $70k+ car seems like a no brainer.

[Nothing]

My wife's father thought I was crazy for getting a clear bra on my daily '14 Mazda 3 when I bought it. My wife didn't get one on her '14 Mazda CX-5. Our cars have similar miles on them and the difference in the paint is noticeable. My father in law even said how nice the car looks even with +35k miles on it. This was just a $500 clear bra (the whole front bumper, both mirrors, half the hood and fenders). I'm not even aware of the brand. It was installed by the dealer when I asked if they offered it.

I got on the clear bra kick from having a weekend car that also went to HPDE and other various driving events like Tail of the Dragon. The nose of those cars were eaten to death from rocks. Once I got the clear bra, the paint not only looked better because of the protective coating but usually a heavy impact would hurt the clear bra but not break through and damage the paint.

I know that I'll be driving somewhere and (as it's happened before) some truck 3 lanes over will drop a baseball sized rock on the ground and it will hop it's way right to the hood, or worse, the CF roof and just my stuff up. So I have no reservations about installing a clear bra on my car. My wife has said she will be doing one on her future cars as well.

[Flacht3]

Originally Posted by Tinilp

Pics didn't load last time.

I have a near identical chip. Just ordered some Dr. Colorchip...I'll let you know how it goes.

[Tinilp]

Originally Posted by ItIsChrisM

I have a near identical chip. Just ordered some Dr. Colorchip...I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks definitely want to know how well it blends (or doesn't)