:'( Man, I washed my NBP TSX today and noticed tiny white dots/chips in my paint mainly on the front hood of the car. Looks like some small rocks chipped through the clear coat and paint. I read somewher that Acura uses like 2-3 coat process and BMW uses like 7. I know it saves $$ on the cost of the TSX but damn!! Looks like I'm gonna need some touchup paint.

Those of you that have used touch up paint, how did your nicks and chips and etc... come out? Did the touch up paint look like you painted over the chip or did it look brand spankin' new? I am just kinda scared to put touch up paint on my car and have it end up looking like I used nail polish on it, ya know?

Also, my rims have some nicks in it that was there when I first purchased the car. It's not huge or anything, but I figure a brand new car should be perfect with no exterior/interior blemishes. Is this something I need to take up with the dealer or should I just let this one go?

 

See other posts about the paint - blame the EPA. New water based paints just don't hold up as well.

 

Arrgghhhh! I have the same damn thing. Plus one on the underside of my driver door. I can't go anywhere without running into construction or potholes.

 

It'll look like a painted over chip... Still looks better than when not using the touch up paint and it's also better (protects from rust).

 

i have a very small chip on my hood. a few other minor things on the paint at various spots on the car- all of these require you to look really close with your eyes and are not real visible. However I agree not too impressed with paint. I wash and wax obsessively and car looks great, but i agree seems like not as good as paint job as i desire.

 

Although I am sure you are correct, it seems Acura may have the most brittle paint I have ever seen. I have had many cars and the paint on my TSX is easily the most chip prone paint I have ever had. I must have 100 chips on the front 1/2 of the car.

I simply wouldn't buy another Acura is I am not conviced this has been addressed by the next time I am ready for another car. My front end looks like crap at 13K miles. I sold my '00 SVT Contour with 90K miles and it had 1/4 as many chips as my TSX now has.

I debated on an MDX or a RX330 for my wife and am very happy I picked the RX330. I can't stand paint chips, etc...

 

Is that clear bra any good? It's pretty expensive and I read somewhere that when you take it off it leaves a mark? Does the benefit outweigh the costs?

 

The clear bra is a very good way to protect your front end. As for if it leaves a mark or not when you take it off, I don't know, I never too k mine off. Why the hell would you take it off? It's supposed to be a permanent installation.

 

Sauceman, could you post a pic of your car with the clear bra? Have never seen one here in europe...

 

I would agree that the paint sucks.....I can not believe how many chips I have on my front end. Its so bad that its pointless for me to even get the clear bra now. I had a 1992 Accord for 12 years and 104k on it and it didn't even have 1/4 as many chips as my 3 month old TSX does.

My X5 has 0 after 9 months and my GF's mini that is driven daily on the same highway I drive on has 1 in 1 year!

 

It wouldn't show even if I posted a pic... it's completely clear.

 

Hey guys here is a link to a thread from the photo gallery section:

Clear Bra Pic from Photo Gallery Thread

From what I read it is applied with an adhesive so it does not come off. I think the life span of the bra is 5 years or so. Looks great!

 

Guys, this is not a Acura or TSX problem, this is due to new EPA regualtions forcing car companies to use water based paint instead of solvent based. The water based paint is much weaker and tends to orange peel more. Most new cars have serious paint chipping problems now and it will not get any better until the industry can advance the paint science and improve upon the current formulations.

Right now the best way to protect your car is with a clear bra. It is an excellent alternative to other methods and is nearly invisible. I have one on my TSX (my 4th car with a clear bra) and it completely protects the front end.

 

why blame the EPA? it's up to the engineers to come up with something better. Powder coating while not a good process for car is EPA legal and can withstand everthing you throw at it. A lot of car paint look good only leaving the showroom, and that's it. It's a shame.

 

It's not an EPA problem.

My wife had a Grand Cherokee with 30000 miles that had 3-4 total paint chips that I traded in on a Lexus RX330 that now has 4000 miles on it with 1 total paint chip.

I had a Contour SVT with 90K miles on it with 5-6 paint chips AT 90K MILES.

My TSX must have 50 paint chips in it.

Either their are ways to make it more durable to chipping, or only Acura follow the rules of the EPA.

BTW : I drive significantly further back in traffic than my wife. I am always looking for dump trucks, etc... I have tried to "train" her, but she still runs pretty close. In fact if she drove the TSX, I would accuse her of driving too close and that the chips are partially her fault. SHE DOESN'T EVER DRIVE IT, and I lay back. I swear the paint chips from kicked up dust (not sand, gravel, etc....but DUST!)

 

And what does the EPA have to do with paint process IN JAPAN??? AFAIK, the EPA has no power outside the US. BTW, I have the same chipping problem with my '00 S2000...except after a month I got the clear bra (Stongard) and have had no problems since. My wife's Scion is 6 months old and has maybe one chip. Toyota is doing something right!

 

Clear bras are awesome and a great way to prevent rock chips and other debris and items from damaging your paint, but they are not always for everyone. With the water based paints and the EPA it is getting harder to produce a good quality paint job that doesnt chip so easily. If anyone has any questions about the product, process or price let me know. Be glad to help.

Here are a few pics of a TSX

 

Several questions:

1. How does the stuff 'age': does it peel, or flake, or wha?
2. How hard is it to get off if you wanted to get it off?
3. Is there any residue left behind, or fading lines due to sun/acid rain?

Thanks, just looking for info, thought I'd take you up on your offer!!

 

No problem

The clear bra ages great. Many companies like myself offer lifetime warranty on cracking fading and yellowing on the film. It will only stay looking good as long as you take care of it just like your car. Wash and wax often.

It can be hard to remove depending on how long it has been on the car and how you try and take it off.

There might be some adhesive behind, but that can be removed with 3M general adhesive cleaner and wax. It will not fade the paint. As for acid rain I cannot comment on that since I have never experienced that with the film, but I am sure you can use the same solutions to remove it as you would from the paint or glass. Sun will have no factor on the film.

Got anymore let me know.

Chad

 

any reason why the epa regulated the paint process?

 

Does it turn yellow after time?

 

Guaranteed not too

 

Again, what does the AMERICAN EPA have to do with a car painted in JAPAN??? My S2000's Stongard 'clear bra' is 4+ yeras old, no yellowing at all. And these things are not removable! They are adhesive film that is glued to your car. It's not like those clear plastic bras that you attache with some mounting clips or whatever. This is in effect a very think clear coat on the front of the car, and mirrors and inside the door handle and along the edges of the door. Oh and I got the headlight protectors too. All from Stongard.

 

Quite a bit. The EPA leads the world in restrictive emissions controls. Any company that does business in the US will typically modify its processes worldwide to comply with US EPA regs. They figure it can't get any worse than here. Much like California's state environmental regs.

Honda prides itself on being a green company, so they are quite happy to implement whatever the EPA thinks is "green."

http://www.rodandcustommagazine.com/techarticles/4794/

 

Although the EPA may not have power outside of the US, if foreign companies want to sell their product in the US, they have to meet EPA specifications. Although not EPA related, it's like saying although the Japanese drive on the other side of the road with the steering wheel on the other side, in order to sell in the US, they have to manufacture cars with the steering wheel on the correct side here.

One specific car that comes into mind is the Lotus Exige, I think. Which ever recent Lotus that is either already is or will be seen in the US. Anyways, the car in Europe has higher horsepower than it will in the US mainly because of emissions standards here. Because of something like that, I'm not suprised that foreign cars may alter the paint in order to sell in the US.

 

I think that the EPA regs wrt auto paint have to do with the paint used when the painting itself is done in the USA, not the paint that's on the car when it arrives. Now, Acura still might choose to use the same paint on all cars, even though they don't have to. Either way, the point still stands that other cars (domestic and imported) don't seem to have the same "weak" paint. My take on is that this falls under the "no free lunch" heading. Acuras are generally a few thousand $$ cheaper than their direct competitors especially on a feature for feature basis. TANSTAAFL, so something's gotta give. My guess is paint is on that list.

 

Does this apply to all the crap (no offense) we buy from China? Are the factories making all that cheap plastic crap following strict EPA rules? And if they don't we send inspectors over to check their processes? I'm gonna guess probably not. So what make Japan follow our rules and China not? Both are trading partners, China is our second biggest after Canada I believe. Isn't that why US companies build factories outside the US? To make stuff cheaper by not following all the American rules? Not to mention silly things like minimum wage, etc.

I get that Japan must build LHD cars for the US and Europe, but I don't think our manufacturing policies are necessarily followed. Of course, I could be completely wrong.

FWIW, of all the Japanese cars I've owned, my '00 S2000 has by far the thinnest paint. My wife's xA that cost less than half has much better paint. It's even metallic! Apparently Toyota knows how to apply paint. Unless S2000 designers specifically decided on going for super-lightweight paint to save on gross tonnage, I think this is a Honda issue. But what the hell do I know.

 

I think Honda is cutting Corner here.
I got a little brown dot all over the front, it looks like a rust spot on my 5 M old TSX. It also has as many paint chips on my 7 years old CL that I traded in for TSX. I think it is HOnda issue that they cut corner to cut cost and the sticker price so it is more appealing to the consumer comparing to Lexus or Infiniti. Who will take the Painting coat when considering a new Car?

 

Me! Next time!

I can't handle the front end of my car. It will definitly effect my future decisions.

To be honest, I probably would have gone to something else if I knew that the car chips so easy.

 

I encourage Honda/Acura owners to post a complaint if they feel that their car has excessive chips. It is an Honda/Acura problem, NOT EPA; Other competitors don't have this problem this aggravated. My Mazda or Toyota don't have 25% of chips of my Honda.

 

It's not just Honda with a problem here. I see the same issues in Infiniti's, Lexus, MB, VW, Saab and Subaru's all day long.

 

Had the same chips on my front end on my NBP. Really sucks as Im putting my Kenstyle on w/ fresh paint ad chips on hood and fenders. The little rust spots are from the rocks chipping through the E-Coat(this is what protects against corrosion) and exposing metal to the outside air. Other chips that didnt rust did not penetrate the E-Coat. Very crappy deal, but unless you want to own a trailer queen, rock chips are a sad reality of everyday driving. If you feel they are excessive, you might raise a big enough stink at the dealer for a repaint at no cost to you(except time w/out your car) You will really have to make some noise though as most dealers arent to happy about giving away a few grand on something like that. Let me know if anyone has any luck.

 

I have 5000 miles on my RX330 and (1) paint chip on the bumper.

By 5000 miles my TSX, which has a much sleeker front end, that should be LESS prown to damage, must have had at least (20).

My RX300 before that had 45K miles and maybe 4-5 chips MAX. My TSX now has AT LEAST 30-40 chips.

You can't just look at cars and make a conclusion. Some drivers tailgate, follow dump trucks, etc... and will chip up anything.

I am extreamly careful not to tailgate, lay back from dump trucks, etc... AND MY TSX STILL HAS SEVERAL DOZEN CHIPS. No other new cars that I have ever had chip as easy as this TSX does. Simple as that.

 

Your RX330 also rides higher up making less prone to damage from road debris. You car sounds excessive and I would try taking it to the dealer. Maybe if enough of us complain they will not only do a recall for poor paint quality but also alter their paint process to help future customers. I have been touching mine up with paint and then clear and then sanding and buffing once it dries. It works if you know what youre doing, but is rather time consuming.

 

None of my TSX chips are thru the primer, so I have been cheating and using a red Sharpie pen to cover them up. It actually works very well. They hide and no little bumps on the paint.

We probably all should complain, however the dealers usually just dismiss it as "driver fault".

About all they could offer is a repaint the hood, and I would never do that.

 

look, here is my on the bra issue. Ok, so you don't want nicks and whatnot so let's just cover it up with something?! It's a car!!! Cars are made to transport you from point A to Point B. It is understood that things can occur during that process and trying you best to prevent such damage is definitely worth while, but putting a permanent cover/bra on the car is pretty retarded, IMO.

Anyway, if you are gonna cover up the front end for everyday driving and not for a specific instance like love bug season (in the south we have swarms of these things a few weeks during the spring and you can't get them off your car for anything!!!), driving on a gravel road or one that is being tore down and repaved, then you might as well just get some clear contact paper and cover the whole car. This is the same concept of getting some brand new, expensive furniture and putting that clear plastic on it. It's just stupid.....


If you don't know what love bugs are, then here is a pic.... Horrible creatures!!

 

I don't think you know what the clear bra is all about. And I don't think you seem to have ever driven up north either, because you would see immediately the usefulness of it. If I didn't have a clear bra, my front end would be 50% sand blasted by the time I've had the car for 2 years.

I have to replace my windshields after 2 years because it is so peppered with small stone marks. I'd have to do the same with the sealed beams.

It is only about giving the car a basic protection... and protect your resale value as well.

My :cents: as well.

 

A bra (full-nose type) can also harm your paint as well, as per my experience with my '96 Accord. In winter, you have to clean it regularly otherwise abrasive particles will stay inside.

 

The water based paint is much weaker and tends to orange peel more.

So how much orange peel would be too much? If I look from a shallow angle at the paint anywhere on my TSX, it looks as though it is a bit orange peeled. It almost has a hammered finished. Is this normal?

 

Nothing. But the "Greens" are almost everywhere today!

The '88 Merc beater my kid drives has zero (0) stone chips after 180,000 miles, but the nose of my '98 Volvo (Ghent, Belgium build) looks like hell, and that's why I purchased the 3M stoneshields for the leading edge of the hood and the mirrors first thing. Volvo received several int'l awards for their "environmentally sensitive/owner insensitive" paint shop. I still get paint chips, the Acura 3-coat paint is still a b**** to touch up, but at least I'm a little less annoyed.

Maybe we need to look to Mexican-built cars if we want decent paint!