mdkxtreme

Hey guys, I'm driving to Portland in a couple of weeks (coming from OC). I learned my lesson on not wrapping the front end while driving from OC to San Jose (6 hour drive) and got owned by bugs. There were VERY hard to wash off.

So this time, I'm planning to put something on the front end of my car so that I can just peel it off at the end of the drive. I already had painters tape in mind, but doing the whole front end is so time consuming. I was thinking about slapping saran wrap and use painter's tape to hold it down.

Question is, will saran wrap "melt" onto the paint during the 15 hour drive? If saran wrap is a bad idea, any one knows any other expedient way to cover up the front end?

AZuser

Don't know about saran wrap, but what about stretch wrap <-- link

It's strong/thicker than saran wrap, and is easier to handle/work with.

Other option would be to put a nice coat of sealant/wax to make it easier to remove the bugs afterward.

mdkxtreme

^ I can try that. It looks like it comes in bigger pieces.

I'm just afraid the heat might to something to the wrap and fuse it with the paint.....

And I've actually waxed the car before the trip. It's just the guts and blood of the bugs are dried onto the paint because they get head wind. Even with wax, it seems like it's "glued" onto the front bumper.

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

Painters tape is your best bet, or a leather bra if you can swing it.

mdkxtreme

^ I agree. I just need to find a wider tape to speed up the taping process. It takes forever doing it inch by inch with regular painters tape....

csmeance

3 inch wide painters tape + brown paper bags

mdkxtreme

Booyah thank you. Minus the brown paper bags though.....

phee

iTrader: (5)

painter tape.

onebadna1nsx

I guess I must be lucky? I made 3 trips up to Berkeley in 2 weeks, didn't have bug issues or rock chips

I think painters tape is your best bet though... wouldn't want the plastic wrap to melt onto your car.

PortlandRL

Get yourself 2 rolls of wide blue 3M painter's tape and call it good. People up here do it all the time when going to car shows in the summer.

fsttyms1

i cant believe some of you guys do this. Especially for Bugs. Buy a Bra if you are that concerned about stuff on trips. Put it on to drive and take it off when there. A good bra wont scratch or harm the paint at all.


And get some good bug and tar remover. It will remove the bugs no problem. That or stop by a gas station and get a little Diesel fuel, it will wipe them right off. Just wash and wax the bumper when done.

d-townhakuzo

From my experience of driving from Dallas to Austin, just do painter's tape. It is worth the time and it really will protect you front end. Do the front bumper and grill and the side mirrors and you're set.

nj2pa2nc

when we did our 3 cross-county road trips-a coat of wax before we started and then stopped at car washes numerous times in our travels

dallison

painters tape.

brizey

A good coat of synthetic wax should keep the bugs from sticking.

06cmv6

painters tape would be my choice as well....not sure about the saran wrap question...nothing wrong with wanting to keep your car looking good by taping it off...who cares what people think and if they ask you why you do that just tell them its another MOD...haha

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Blue painter's tape. I'm leary of leather bras scratching the paint.

mdkxtreme

Yup. I always thought it was silly when I see cars with blue tape all over the front. But then when I got barraged by bugs, I don't even care how silly I would look with the tape. Because it was like bug Armageddon. This time around, I'm more worried about protection then what other people thinks. Pictures below of the last trip I took.

06cmv6

they will scratch your paint....i used my hood bra only a couple times because of it
what a mess and not to mention a pain to clean...especially the longer they sit on the car....the tape is well worth the time and protection IMO

mattg

silly. Just hit the bugs w/ degreaser and wash them off.

AZuser

Sure, bug and tar remover will clean it up, no problemo. But if the dead bugs aren't cleaned off for a while, the bug juices can etch your paint.

mdkxtreme

Yea a lot of the bugs have been on there for 4-6 hours and being hit by wind (going at 80mph) and sunlight. It's not as easy as you guys think. When I was washing them off, I had to rub them REALLY HARD to get them off.

Their guts and blood basically dried onto the paint.

1islandparadise

Lol...your pics of the bugs on your car reminded me of how bad mine gets driving as much as I do. I would recommend in investing in a clear bra. There are a pretty good amount of independent companies that will custom cut it for any part of your car or buy the precut design. I have it on my hood, bumper, mirrors, door handles, head and fog lights. Clean up is a breeze and its good to know that all the bugs aren't actually on your paint.

mdkxtreme

Actually I didn't mention but, I do have a clear bra. And it was still difficult getting the bugs off. Well, 3 inch wide painters tape it is.

csmeance

Kinda use it like car painting paper:

1StGenCL

I agree, you guys are crazy. I get the point in this and with all the love bugs hitting my car in tampa and gainesville, it would be nice to just pull the tape off and bye bye bugs but I rather just clean them off then spend an hour taping my car up.

What kind of looks do you get by the way? Are people like WTF when you get gas? Get a clear bra. I bought two and installed them both and they look pretty damn good.

Sarlacc

I love my car to death, I want to keep it as pristine as I can...but hell, even with 4800 miles on it, I'm already starting to get some nicks and pock marks on the front bumper.

Oh well, it happens. And in 4-5 years if need be I'll have it refinished and painted.

Whenever I come home from a drive I do quick detail the car...I dont like shit stay on there.

fsttyms1

Oh Please, Paint isnt that weak. My car goes months without washes sometimes and i have NEVER had a bug etch into my paint. And i would have to say if someone is anal enough to want to protect the front of their car with tape or what ever other method they can find that works, they probably wouldnt let the bugs sit on there that long. In summer i could clean my car daily and by the end of the day it would look like the OPs bumper in the pics.

fsttyms1

Get a better cleaner.

1StGenCL

Meet the love bug. I left them on my front bumper for a week and my bumper looks terrible. They leave like shadows where they hit

Not my car but looks pretty close

csmeance

I taped up the TL once back when the new TL-S's were due out and someone though I was driving a TL test mule!


I HATE LOVEBUGS! These little bastards make me spend at least 30 minutes cleaning my front bumper!

fsttyms1

yea, we have lake flys around here. They fly in storms of billions. my car will look like that car on countless occasions.

onebadna1nsx

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...n+film+roll.do

maybe another option?

mdkxtreme

^ NICE!!!! I might look into this

onebadna1nsx

serious, it sounds like a real good idea. They have a mini size too!

mdkxtreme

Just placed an order. Thank you so much.

Although it's more money than I would like to spend, it's a great way to protect the front end without the worry of weird onlookers. And I have a feeling this is more resistant to rock chips than painters tape.

onebadna1nsx

no problem! Let me know how it goes, i'll purchase it too if it serves you well!

BTW, I'll mail my friend about the airbox thing tomorrow, they've been real busy remodeling the shop so I haven't bothered him yet.\



**edit* -wow they changed the edit times too *


Just read about two other options....

-RejeX
-Starbrite Marine polish with PTEF

mdkxtreme

^ The first thing I'm gonna do is test it's durability. Basically try to rip it. I'm not gonna expect indestructible material, but a material stronger than painters tape.

BTW: Thanks for the offer on that airbox design, but I don't need it any more. I decided to get it painted flat black instead. Thanks any ways.

gotkilled

iTrader: (1)

ditto! it was a pain rubbing the bugs off. it took like two washes and some good scrubbing to get them off. they literally did dry onto the paint and even the headlight plastic. this is even after waxing my car before the trip and my bumper looks just like yours with tons of small tiny flies when i made my trip up to norcal and back.

95integra

using tape will be the best thing to do because saran wrap will fuse with the paint and leave marks