Real world driving is beginning to work on the front bumper covering of my new '05 Desert Mist RL. A couple of sharp stone nicks have exposed the black color underneath the paint. Any suggestions as to how to lessen normal wear and tear on that front bumper? Someone in an Edmunds.com forum suggested using Zaino to prevent chipping of the front bumper...I've never heard of that product before. I'm considering a nose mask, but have no experience with one.

 

www.zainbros.com for the Zaino. It is an excellent product and fairly easy to apply. Makes the car shine also, it is amazing.

As far as protecting from rocks and such, I suggest a clear bra. Similar to the nosemask except it is a laminate type film that is put over the paint. You never have to take it off; however, if you want, you can - and you won't be able to tell it was ever there. I personally have it on my RL and it is great. I had it on the Infiniti FX35 I had last year. We are also about to purchase an RX330 and have it put on.

www.xpel.com you can find installers. I would specifically ask for the 3M film - I have seen a couple brands, and personally I think 3M is the clearest. You can wax right over the film (or zaino if you prefer - as I do).

You should not be able to tell that the clearbra is on there - except for where the film ends and where the regular paint is. It will have a line across your hood. You can have it protect just the bumper, or also the hood and mirros and even the headlights. I have the full package.

www.3m.com/PaintProtectionFilm

 

I forgot to put this link in. For the application of the zaino products: https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74255

If you follow those directions, it is simple and easy to do. It takes time, but is well worth it. I have never seen a car shine so nicely.

 

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Thanks very much for that info. I plan on giving Zaino a call tomorrow and will also investigate the clear covering you linked.

A couple of car enthusiast catalogs I'm familiar with, Griots and AutoSport, have a variety of car care products, which I've never used either. However, I was not familiar with Zaino.

 

I considered getting a clear bra (not for myself -- the car)

The car dealer advised me against it.

He said that if dirt gets underneath it leaves a
visible scratch.

Now I am not certain there's any truth in that --
perhaps someone with experience can relate.

 

NJRonbo - That is not the case - assuming you find a good installer. Before they put the clear bra on the car, they give the area a good cleaning prior to putting it on. On the two cars I have had with the clear bra I have not had any problems like what your dealer mentioned. The key is to simply finding a good installer and not somebody who is just learning how to put them on.

 

VP,

Where would you reccomend I look?

I'd hate to go to the dealer because I'd get ripped off.

Besides, they don't deal with the clear 3M bras.

Any idea where I would even begin to look for someone
in my area who could order and professionally install one
of these babies? I live in Central NJ.

Finally, what sort of roundabout price are we looking at
for the bra and installation?

Yeah, I am asking a lot of questions you or anyone else
may not have an answer to, but there's always somebody out there.

 

NJ - I was given quotes anywhere from 500-750. I ended up going with the $750 price as he was highly reccomended by a local people.

If you want to find a good installer, the best suggestion I have is to call your local car dealers. High end dealers, Porsche, Lexus, BMW, Benz etc. and ask them who they use for the paint protection film/clear bra. Ask them if they have any cars on the lot with it that you can go see. Ask them for a referral. If these high end dealers are using a specific company, then you have found a good installer (more than likely at least).

Pay with a credit card incase they do a bad job (which is unlikely) so then you can at least have some recourse. The people who work on the higher end cars are probably going to do a good job. Keep in mind, the cheap installers - the ones who don't know what they are doing or are newer to the industry have been known to scratch the paint of your car. You want to avoid this, obviously.

 

Please search my posts to see my nightmare with the installer. vp911's advice is good. If your Acura dealer doesn't have a recommendation, make sure you ask the installer to see the computer cut out films for the RL. Specifically instruct the installer not to trim the film on your car. Ask to see cars installed with the films. Demand to stay by your car to observe the installation.

 

Strongly agree with your suggestion. And if you are uncomfortable with what you see, ask questions. If you do not like the answers or feel uncomfortable with them, RUN...

 

Great comments and suggestions, until the last one.

If you call around STL area, the Bentley, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, MINI, Lexus (not the entry level car dealers, as I do not have time for those) they will all send you my way. At the same time, I am not the most expensive in town.

How? From retail customers, I get more then from the dealers. But at the same time, less then the most expensive shop around the area. I do not want to scare people with the price. At the same time, the most expensive shop is also the newest. I guess, they may need some of the profit margin for having some of the cars redone.

My point is, do not go with the cheapest, but going with the most expensive is not a guarantee either. GO with the one that gets recommended by others and has the experience.

My , Mark.

 

Hey Mark,

Through your connections, can you please recommend someone in, or around Westchester County, NY?

I've been to 3 different places advertised online. One seemed decent, but he wanted $850 for the job (includes detail, which I told him I don't need, but he stated that it's required). The others seemed a bit inexperienced.

Thanks!

 

The second post above gives you a link to the 3M installers. Sorry, but I do not have a specific person to recommend.

Keep in mind, that if you do not get a quality install, you are just wasting your money since it will not look good.

Good luck in staying rock chip free, Mark.

 

Thanks. Called an installer who someone on s2ki.com recommended out in NJ.

He stated that on "flat" white cars, the clear bra is very noticeable and has a yellowish tint to it.

How true is this, and how noticeable would this be on the RL's pearl white?

Thanks again!

 

I had heard from several (4) local installers that the old 3m film had a yellow tint to it and that there is a newer 3M film which is optically clear.

 

I heard similar stories ... Maybe some useful info/tipz HERE

 

I am leaking information.

The new film from 3M is on the way. It will be available through certain installers ONLY (at the beginning). Basically, it will have less orange peel and different clearcoat to eliminate the yellow tint.

As to the yellow tint on the film, yes, there is some on the current film. You will see it on a basic white more then on a pearl white. Either way, still looks much better then rock chips. Of course, if properly installed

Whatever film you go with, make sure it is clearcoated. It will keep the film from stains.

Take care, Mark.

 

I have had the 3M Clear Bra on several cars being from Colorado and now California. I have never had a problem and the installations were flawless. I chose to have the dealer do the work through their subcontractor and then they stand by the installation etc. May have cost a few extra bucks, but, worth it in my opinion. The Clear Bra saves you from lots of rock chips and debris! Nice product!