Well I guess my RLX is not a cherry anymore This is love bug season in Fl and I clean the bug off every day. I was cleaning the car and had two little spot near the driver's head light that would not clean. After feeling it they are chips.: I took it to the Acura body shop and they basically told me it not worth fitting because they would have to repainted the whole hood. It did not break the metal so they say I would not to worry about rust. Also, they added with all the construction going on the roads around Tampa I will probably get a few more rock chips as time goes on. I am OCD about my car so any suggestion on how to deal with situation?

 

What are love bugs?

 

They are little black bugs that come out twice a year to copulate in swarms while flying for about 3 weeks. They are everywhere in Fl so they really mess up your car front end. If you don't get them off your car they will bake on and their juices will damage the clear coating.

 

Good God!

Nobody has mentioned this little issue. What else don't I know about the "wild life" other than the gators?. I'm looking at buying a second home in Boca in the St. Andrew Country Club. Eventually we will relocate down there in about 15 years but in the meantime since real estate is still depressed below 2008 highs and is more likely to appreciate from here, and we can rent the property at least half the time for about 75% of the estimated mtg/p&i payments, the actual cost for buying now amortized over the next 15 years until we get there is not that big a deal. Especially if we do a 15 year loan the interest cost is a rounding error and we would move into a home that is paid off at about half of the present day cost,mostly because the rental income.

 

We moved to fl from northern va back in 2003. Down size from a 6000 Sq ft home to a 2000 sq ft home at a price that was 50% the cost of a comparable in N Va. Paid cash for the house and no regrets with the move, we don't miss the snow and cold at all. Now back to the thread, any suggestion on how to deal with the chips?

 

I have some kind of road rash on my wheel and no idea how I got that, not happy with that myself. Anyway you need to get invisible shield bra. I am trying to figure out where I can get one from.

 

You need this:


http://app2.xpel.com/WebConnect/webc...?PageName=kits

 

I had a problem with my last car with pits in the paint from impacts of stones and road shrapnel over the years that although the paint was not chipped, it was dented. The hood and leading edges of the front fenders had pin head sized chips which I carefully filled in with OEM paint on a very fine artist's detail brush (used a magnifying glass to make sure I only filled the little holes). I looked on Advanced Auto Parts and found this bug protector.
Lund Interceptor; Wrap Bug Shield Part # 18492

Maybe if it fits you can put it on for the bug season and then remove it?

 

Thanks, never been into Bra for cars, I think they take away from the look of the car. But I appreciate the suggestion.

 

Thanks for the suggestion of the paint, I have the OEM Touch paint that came with the car. Just wasn't sure how it works. Also, the bugs though a nuiance I just come home, get a bucket of water and sponge and wipe them off every night.

 

Yuk! That is nasty. I hate bugs.

When you use the touch up paint, don't use the brush that comes with it. Use a very fine micro paint brush from an art supply store. The smaller the better. Get real close to the car and steady your hand so that the paint only touches the inside of the chip and none gets on the rim of the hole. This was you fill the hole with the smallest amount of paint possible. When it drys it will smooth out and be hard to find later. Old trick.

 

If you want your car to look minty fresh, a clear bra is a must.

Seeing a clear film is still better than seeing rock chips! Your car might not look bad now, but give it a couple more years and you'll be regretting not getting the film put on.

 

I will take a picture of the lexus and let you see what the rock chips can do tomorrow when it is daylight.

 

It is not cheap, but if you put xpel ultimate on the full front bumper, full hood and full front quarterpanels (along with mirrors and rocker panels) then the protection is very hard to detect (no visible lines across the hood for example) and the protection is excellent - dare I say, bug proof.

 

My first RL - a 2006 - was black. one year later the rock chips looked very bad. I tried a Dr Chip on the hood and wished I had not done it. Since then every new car has had a clear bra - 2008 TSX, 2010 RL, 2014 RLX, 2015 TLX. I will never have another new car without a clear bra.

 

Thanks for all the suggestion with regard to the value of a bra for the car, but I first have to deal with the chip issue. Has anyone used the Acura OEM touch up paint that was provided with the car? It looks like a magic marker with a fine point tip that un-screws and has a small brush on the other side. Can anyone recommend a solution for dealing with the chip outside of getting the complete hood repainted?

 

Copies text from further up this link:

"When you use the touch up paint, don't use the brush that comes with it. Use a very fine micro paint brush from an art supply store. The smaller the better. Get real close to the car and steady your hand so that the paint only touches the inside of the chip and none gets on the rim of the hole. This way you fill the hole with the smallest amount of paint possible. When it drys it will smooth out and be hard to find later. Old trick".

I hope this is helpful.

 

Here is what you have to look forward to with no bra:

 

the front paint job is 2-3 years old at most. I had it repainted with the body kit I added. I am going to get the entire front and 2 feet on the hood with the guard. I was offered to do the entire hood, fenders, mirrors etc but they want $1200 or so for that and $690 for the front end and the 28" of the hood.

 

$475 here is Houston for the front bumper, 1/4 hood, and mirrors.

 

who does it that cheap there?

 

Initial car was $595 - I have had 4 cars done there. $475 for returning customers. Vendors will charge what people will pay, simple as that. I shopped around and was quoted as high as $1100. The shop I use is at Drive Source in Houston on Memorial Drive.

 

honda uses LEAD FREE paint thus prone to chipping.....

 

how good of work do those people do Miner? I got mine done and I can't even tell I have a guard on my front bumper at all. I can see the crease a bit on the hood since I did the whole hood. I can't see the guard on the mirrors unless I knew it was there and look HARD

 

Suddenly, I feel like I'm in the Porsche Club.

:-)

A few years ago at Summit Point, somebody from Porsche walked over to our part of the paddock and asked if anybody had a "claybar."

We had no idea what that was.

 

Had Xpel ultimate (it's self healing by the way) installed on my RLX first few days after purchase. Not one chip anywhere to be found

 

I got something put on there will show pictures when I can

 

The real question is how do I address the chips I have now? I probably should of put protection on the car when I first brought it, but if i want to do it now, I have to get the chips fixed. I talked to carmedic and they told me they only re-paint the hood. Acura's body shop say they would recommend leaving it alone for now, and wait until I get enough chips to justify having the hood repainted. I looked on the web and saw some products that say they are easy to use and work, but I have never done it so I am leary of trying. Calling around town, no one seems to fix chips, they just want to re-paint the hood. I have the OEM touch paint, but don't have the vagues idea of how to use it, and not sure I really want to try, afraid of making it worse. Any recommendation ?????

 

Check out Dr. Color Chip. It works very well and extremely easy to use. I used it on my black TL on rock chips. https://www.drcolorchip.com/

 

Well, I have had 3 cars done there since my intial visit. That should tell you something. The edges aren't rolled but that does not bothe mer.