[macmadmark]

Now that some cars have been out on the road longer and done a good number of miles, I wonder whether there are any more thoughts on the merits of protection against scratches and chips:confused. When I recently sold the jaguar, I had no wrap, the paint 100% after 10.8k miles, but I had spent £1000 and then another £500 on having the scratches removed, which was probably about the same cost as a half wrap, which would not have prevented the damage anyway, when I scuffed the car on the edge of the garage. I have to decide in the next week, how much to wrap or not, if it is to be done pre-delivery. So who thinks it has helped them, and who wouldn't bother??

 

[roundincircles]

The paint is very soft, it chips if you just look at it. The front wheels machine gun the rear panels,rear wheels and turning vane edges. After a recent European trip I have a large collection of stones collected inside the turning vane grills......probably 2 to 4 handfulls, no exageration.

Additionally the door undersides get battered.

So I would do the maximum wrap possible mainly because the paint is so soft and the front wheel issue......but I use the car for touring and long distance. The wrap is very discreet as it goes around the panel edges.....unless it is done by Robbies supplier

Keep it pretty sitting in a garage or poodling around, not so sure.

 

[HyperMac954]

RIC - I have not had the pleasure of driving in England, yet, but after reading your comments and those from Andy, Bruce, Squirrel, etc, I can only assume that British roads are HORRENDOUS. I've got 8600 miles, 2 track days, and not a chip on the vanes/rear panels. Yes, door undersides are knackered, but otherwise no problems.

 

[roundincircles]

RIC - I have not had the pleasure of driving in England, yet, but after reading your comments and those from Andy, Bruce, Squirrel, etc, I can only assume that British roads are HORRENDOUS. I've got 8600 miles, 2 track days, and not a chip on the vanes/rear panels. Yes, door undersides are knackered, but otherwise no problems.

Hypermac. We do not have roads as you know them.......just 'Rights of Way' if you pay the Government an appropriate tax and Bridle Ways. We did build a motorway called the MI but still have the The Great North Road where Dick Turpin used to rob the rich, the pre-curser to modern day tax.

The real problem is that many lightly trafficked roads, where the MAC will go faster, are made of bitumen covered stones that are steam rolled into the surface but become loose in heat and under the stress of passing vehicles. These stone/chips are very damaging to paintwork and I will soon have collected ,behind the turning vanes, enough to repave my home driveway

Our roads, unlike the USA, do have many bends in them which are great fun in a Mac and some compensation for the stone chipped paintwork.

 

[uid0]

Now that some cars have been out on the road longer and done a good number of miles, I wonder whether there are any more thoughts on the merits of protection against scratches and chips:confused. When I recently sold the jaguar, I had no wrap, the paint 100% after 10.8k miles, but I had spent £1000 and then another £500 on having the scratches removed, which was probably about the same cost as a half wrap, which would not have prevented the damage anyway, when I scuffed the car on the edge of the garage. I have to decide in the next week, how much to wrap or not, if it is to be done pre-delivery. So who thinks it has helped them, and who wouldn't bother??

Mine is being delivered to the dealer tomorrow (I hope) and I'm having them do a full wrap (by full I mean: full nose up to the windscreen, turning vanes, and under the doors). The dealer quoted me just under $3500 USD for parts and labor. Having ~25k miles on my MINI (also black), and seeing all the little white spots where rocks and whatever has hit it, makes me less annoyed at the cost of the wrap versus the cost of having pretty much half the car repainted

 

[roundincircles]

If you have a Volcano colour the paint is £1000 per litre. A little bit more than Dulux Trade Gloss.

One Litre just about covers one large panel.

My car full wrap cost about £1500.

 

[trax]

Thing is I have the wrap on my car yet stones have still ripped straight through it on the front

I think you just have to accept that if you drive fast the paint will suffer

 

[uid0]

Thing is I have the wrap on my car yet stones have still ripped straight through it on the front

I think you just have to accept that if you drive fast the paint will suffer

No attack implied, but I would question the quality of the wrap. I had a similar wrap done on my Aston and after 5k miles it still looked like the day I picked it up. There were a couple of spots where you could see a stone had hit and it had dented the plastic, but it was still in perfect condition and the paint below was untouched.

FWIW: I tend to drive like a jerk (I probably follow a little too close and I drive a little faster than I should)

 

[HyperMac954]

uid - I think the poor brits just have MUCH crappier roads than us in California.

RIC, I'll take some video of my commute to show you the twisties here :~)>

 

[Andrew-A]

Get it wrapped - the elite paint costs an "arm and a leg" and you cannot be guaranteed of getting the exact match.

However even then, if you really drive it hard and fast, there is a good possibility that you will still have problems....my view is that the second owner can worry about all that - especially if he gets it at a cheap price...!

 

[robbie]

If you have a Volcano colour the paint is £1000 per litre. A little bit more than Dulux Trade Gloss.

One Litre just about covers one large panel.

My car full wrap cost about £1500.

Hi RIC you for got to say what your paint work is called in the trade ( jaycob ) coat with MANY COLOURS & now you have hit it AGAIN its got MORE COLOURS ! !
I met a guy today, & he said nice car, & nice COLOUR. But i have to tell you ive seen a car, with MULTI COLOURED panels. ( i said OH YES THATS RIC'S ! )

 

[roundincircles]

Robbie, at least your Aston will have decent paint as they do get that done to very high standards

My car will be even more shades as the rear window seal is rubbing the paint off again......Jacob and another blooming colour....ahhhhhhhhh

 

[macmadmark]

Ok, loads of advice - many thanks -
Two more questions- Is it necessary to wrap the bonnet and roof, I was going to wrap everything else?
McLaren London use Ventureshield - any pros or cons for that?
Thanks Guys

 

[roundincircles]

bonnet yes, didn't bother with roof. I have only ever used ventureshield so do not have views on others. V/S OK but the fitter makes a difference.

 

[Ritesh]

I had the whole car wrapped SO I am a bit biased!

Personally - the the very least you should do the whole Front hood, Front fenders, Front bumper, Side view mirors, panel underneath the doors and a lip around the rear wheels.

The paint is very soft. There is absouletly no way they can match it if you get an elite paint. Therefore the safest way to keep the paint looking good is to wrap it.

Ventureshield is considered the best at the moment. I would recommend it.

BTW... What color did you go with?

 

[McBeast]

UID you are paying too much. I wrapped my entire front end along with vanes and back of the rear wheels and front windshield pillars and it was all for $1600 and they came to me. If you want to PM me I'll give you their number since I see that you are in CA as well. I also did a clear bra for the windshield for $175. So far so good.

 

[garyw]

I had mine wrapped with paintshield product.
Front bumper, wings, bonnet, mirrors, Lower rear panel and vanes. Ball park of £2K

I have just returned to have a lower section replaced after aquiring a rip in the wrap after only 700miles?

I did notice some stone chips to the upper part of the curve of the rear wheel arch, luckily I was advised that they now do a small cover for that section too- Just £15 for the pair

It's the first time I've had a car wrapped as I usually accept that I need the front end resprayed very so often, I've done it this time to try and save having the rear/whole car requiring a respray!!

Overall I'm very happy with the result

 

[McBeast]

Gary, beatiful color...it deserves protection. Well done.