[Marin 12C]

For you guys in the UK who have your cars:

My car is coming next week, and the dealer is strongly recommending that I put film over the hood and front fenders given the degree of rake. He has done it to his demos, and there are certainly a few marks on the film.

Do you guys have any thoughts based on your experience with the car? I've not done this with any of my prior F-cars or my R8.

thanks.

 

[Peloton25]

It's only original paint once.

A friend of mine has a 599 GTO and upon arrival he had it wrapped in clear film from nose to tail almost. His car was sprayed in one of their special paint colors and would not be good to try and match on a respray somewhere down the line. I expect the Elite paints from McLaren would pose a similar challenge.

>8^)
ER

 

[roundincircles]

For you guys in the UK who have your cars:

My car is coming next week, and the dealer is strongly recommending that I put film over the hood and front fenders given the degree of rake. He has done it to his demos, and there are certainly a few marks on the film.

Do you guys have any thoughts based on your experience with the car? I've not done this with any of my prior F-cars or my R8.

thanks.

The 3M film Venture Shield is good, I will have the bumper, bonnet and turning vanes as a minimum. The turning vanes on Andy's car were chipped by front wheel debris within a few miles. I have used it on Porsches to good effect, the film can sometimes get scuffed by stones or track debris but the paintwork stays protected. It's easy to replace the film.

 

[bruce]

My 12c has been wrapped bonnet bumper wings sde sills and veins.

It looks great - had to be done a second time as first was not up to scratch.

Looks near perfect and is so much better than the alternative - chips.

I have always wrapped my cars since I took delivery of an early 430 and got a chip the size of a dime slap in the centre of the bonnet in a mile !!!!!!!!!!!!

i am a convert.

There is a new film, that I do not have, that allegedly resets when it gets chipped by washing the area with v hot water

 

[HyperMac954]

Marin 12C - you picking it up before next saturday's meet and greet at the dealership?

And yeah, I'd add the Venture Shield - the R was the first car I had it applied to, and what a life saver. Or at least sanity saver, when getting stuck behind an SUV or such on a mtn road with lots of potential for stuff to get kicked up.

 

[depthofshine]

This film is like Marmite im not a big fan the ive seen a few cars and look terrible and grainy stand out a mile I understand it will be hard to match the elite paints with xirallic pigment but im a paint person so wouldn't use it.

 

[roundincircles]

This film is like Marmite im not a big fan the ive seen a few cars and look terrible and grainy stand out a mile I understand it will be hard to match the elite paints with xirallic pigment but im a paint person so wouldn't use it.

OK D of S, can you explain your observations more fully or post pictures?

What is xirallic pigment? What pigment does the Elite paint use and is it available down Halfords in those squirty tins ?

I have seen your work and it is impressive but presumable the film stuff acts like a shield and flexes whilst reinforcing the paint surface?

 

[Jaymoney]

I have venture shield on half of my V12V which is lightning silver. This is a special layer color and has been no trouble. You have to look very closely to see the film and there is no distortion between the wrapped and un unwrapped areas. It is very thin and there is no orange peel. The only thing to keep n mind is the bugs are hard to get out if you leave them there for a while. The plastic is soft so a big bug will blow apart and dry hard if you let it. The secret is to get a micro fiber and dampen it with very hot water. Pat it down then use instant detailer. Just keep in mind, any abrasion to the shield is no big deal because the paint under is protected. I will never have another special car with out it.

 

[depthofshine]

Its DOS (depthofshine) or Drew

I have no pics but sometimes dependent on film used it can be milky and streaky i think the USA have a bigger range of companies producing films, there are a few write ups on team speed forums. You could get away on light colours cars but not sure on dark cars, its personal preference.

I have a customer with a quantum silver DBS and looks ok as a light colour, but another with a black GT3 looks a bit tit tat and moisture got underneath.

Glasurit are the paint supplier for the road cars and should be able to get the paint at your local motor paint factors unless McLaren don release the paint code and mixture ratios but body shops will need them. Xirallic pigment is new and gives off a brighter dramatic effect in the sun this is what's in all the elite paints and a polyurethane acrylic high gloss lacquer, the paint is soft and can mark easy so dark coloured cars will need a lot of care.

 

[roundincircles]

Thanks DOS. I have noticed the paint is soft and put that down to water base.

In a way your making a case for film protection but a high spec film! Venture Shield?

 

[AMLVantageV12]

My car is VR. I'm fascinated to hear people's views as I've been thinking of putting a ventureshield style wrap on the front of the car before it's too late.

@Drew - what would your thoughts be for VR? Would you class that as a dark colour and recommend I avoid it?

 

[bruce]

My 12c is black and wrapped in Ventureshield, it is almost invisible and I am v v v very fussy

 

[AMLVantageV12]

Thanks Bruce - that's good to know and gives me some confidence. Does anyone know if it will affect the effect of the elite finish colours though?

 

[andy c]

Thanks Bruce - that's good to know and gives me some confidence. Does anyone know if it will affect the effect of the elite finish colours though?

Ive put a couple of small strips on the outer vanes and you cannot tell its there,other than by feeling the edge.So im going to put it on the extremities,also done the inside edge of the rear arches.ive not decided to put big slabs of it on yet.

 

[roundincircles]

I have seen VR with VShield and you can not see it unless you are close and find the edge and that requires a search so to speak. I do think it's essential as the paint is soft.

 

[andy c]

I have seen VR with VShield and you can not see it unless you are close and find the edge and that requires a search so to speak. I do think it's essential as the paint is soft.

Can you investigate this further,as the detailer that did the car said the paint was hard,and that was why it chipped easily???

 

[roundincircles]

Andy I may be wrong as when paint was forced to be water based by the EU it became prone to chipping so I presumed it was soft.

 

[Ritesh]

I plan to wrap the Whole Car!! Just havent decided which product to go with.

 

[Marin 12C]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I've decided to do the hood (bonnet), fenders, door bottoms and the leading edge of the vanes. The silver car the dealer had wrapped was very well done, and it was difficult to see the film, so that, and given all of the comments here...

 

[Peloton25]

I'm fairly certain the bottom edges of the doors come with a protective coating from the factory.

>8^)
ER