Stone Chips - Man, Am I P.O.ed!

[richs10]

My PW/B Clubman S is just over a month old. I spent a grand on the clearbra, covering the bumper, hood, headlights, foglights, and door edges. But so far, I have managed to get three (3) stone chips. Where? On the roof, of course.

One just above the windshield on the passenger side, and two on the way home from work last night. I think the two last night were caused by a single rock skip. All of them are very small, but show up on the black paint. The last two are right at eye level at the above the driver's door, so I will see them every day til I get them fixed.

I've been reading up on the stone chip repair here, but I'm afraid I'm gonna mess it up. I'm gonna run by the dealer after work to see about some touchup pain for the black roof and I know I am gonna have to get one of the "smoothing" products to do it right. I posted a question about whether you can buy the Lankga other than on line. And IMO, both the Lankga and Dr.ColorChip kits are pretty expensive for what you get.

Sorry, but just venting! As Yoda would say: "Very pissed, I am!"

[MINIFVR]

This is not a pleasant subject by any means! All it took was commute down to Phili in the MINI on a winter day when they were doing construction and I got 90% of my stone chips right there. ...Happens to everyone...

[CR&PW&JB]

One of our MINIs (PW) has a stone chip on the roof just above the windshield.

Got some JB touch up paint for our convertible... works great on the roof of the hardtop.

But yeah, it's very common for MINIs to get dinged up there on the roof. Clearbra makers need to start making a strip of film for that area, IMO.

[MINIFVR]

How much does the clearbra run? Does it make the car look odd?

CR&PW&JB- do you have one on your JB cabrio?

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by MINIFVR

How much does the clearbra run? Does it make the car look odd?

CR&PW&JB- do you have one on your JB cabrio?

Clearbras can run anywhere from $500-1300. Some people don't like the faint line you can see across the bonnet. Me, I prefer that to stone chips. By a long shot.

No, none on the JB Convertible. I bought it in May of 2007 and it's a 2005. So it already had stone chips all over the bumper and front of the bonnet. I've touched them up best I can, but you can see them from about 10 feet away... about the same distance you can see the clearbra line. I'll take the clearbra and it'll be on every new car I buy.

[Apple]

That what you get for wrapping your car in a condom! J/K

[MINIFVR]

Hmm...I wonder if its worth it for me, because I already have chippage. I think I might just try to touch it up...we'll see.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by MINIFVR

Hmm...I wonder if its worth it for me, because I already have chippage. I think I might just try to touch it up...we'll see.

It's difficult, if not impossible to put a clearbra in a car that has any significant chips/damaged paint and have it look right. The film may not adhere right in those areas and wouldn't look very good.

Best to get it done when the car is brand new.

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by MINIFVR

Hmm...I wonder if its worth it for me, because I already have chippage. I think I might just try to touch it up...we'll see.

It is very much worth it. I have a Z3 and it had a few stone chips on it before I put on the 3M bra. It hasn't gotten any more and it is barely noticeable. I've had it on the car for 5 years and it still looks great. I just have the one for the hood (as that is where 99% of the chips seem to happen). They only cost around $150 if you don't buy them from MINI. Aftermarket are fine as long as you get the 3M material IMO.

[Apple]

I am not a lover of a clear bra, it takes so much away from the car, if it gets that bad repaint look at all the classics running around braless....

I wish I never had to wear a bra, but my mom gave me her 38DD's :(

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Cybergypsy

I am not a lover of a clear bra, it takes so much away from the car, if it gets that bad repaint look at all the classics running around braless....

I wish I never had to wear a bra, but my mom gave me her 38DD's :(

If you saw my MINI from more than 5-10 feet away, you'd be hard pressed to notice it even has a clearbra.

If you want to go braless, I'm all for it. But keep in mind the cost of a re-paint. And in the meantime, you have a pock-marked MINI and I have a MINI with a barely distinguishable line across the bonnet.

Well, I have two other MINIs that are pock-marked but I had no control over getting a clearbra on them.

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

If you saw my MINI from more than 5-10 feet away, you'd be hard pressed to notice it even has a clearbra.

If you want to go braless, I'm all for it. But keep in mind the cost of a re-paint. And in the meantime, you have a pock-marked MINI and I have a MINI with a barely distinguishable line across the bonnet.

Well, I have two other MINIs that are pock-marked but I had no control over getting a clearbra on them.

You can't argue with that. Clearbras are awesome. They are soooo unbelievably easy to install too.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Chugiakgirl

You can't argue with that. Clearbras are awesome. They are soooo unbelievably easy to install too.

Glad you think so !

I watched two pros install mine and thought it was worth every penny to have it done professionally.

Even though it was cut out using a computer program and machine, they still had to trim some spots away with an exacto knife around the headlights, parking lights, lower bumper grill, etc.

Anyone that installs a clearbra, my hat is off to you !!

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Glad you think so !

I watched two pros install mine and thought it was worth every penny to have it done professionally.

Even though it was cut out using a computer program and machine, they still had to trim some spots away with an exacto knife around the headlights, parking lights, lower bumper grill, etc.

Anyone that installs a clearbra, my hat is off to you !!

Thanks! Not too bad for a girl, huh? heh heh.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Chugiakgirl

Thanks! Not too bad for a girl, huh? heh heh.

Not to bad for a grown man, let alone a girl !!

BTW, you need to put some pics in your gallery so we can get a look at your MINI !

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Not to bad for a grown man, let alone a girl !!

BTW, you need to put some pics in your gallery so we can get a look at your MINI !

I will as soon as it arrives...in approx. 4 weeks. Right now I'm driving my '97 Z3 (the one that I put the clearbra on). Hopefully the MINI will be just as easy. ::crosses fingers::

[CR&PW&JB]

Ohhhhhhh... I see that in your sig line now that you mention it.

In the meantime, you can put pics of your Z3 in there.

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Ohhhhhhh... I see that in your sig line now that you mention it.

In the meantime, you can put pics of your Z3 in there.

Okee dokee! Hopefully that won't get me kicked off the forum.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Chugiakgirl

Okee dokee! Hopefully that won't get me kicked off the forum.

Nah, I've seen other NAMmers do that.

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Nah, I've seen other NAMmers do that.

Just uploaded 3 of them.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Chugiakgirl

Just uploaded 3 of them.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Great pics, too. Especially like the one with the snow capped mountains in the background. Doesn't look anything like Omaha though.

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

Great pics, too. Especially like the one with the snow capped mountains in the background. Doesn't look anything like Omaha though.

I just moved here...and you're right. It doesn't.

[CR&PW&JB]

Originally Posted by Chugiakgirl

I just moved here...and you're right. It doesn't.

I know what you mean. I once moved from northern Japan to Oklahoma City.

Also from Germany to Arkansas (where it was flatter than Omaha, I assure you).

[Chugiakgirl]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

I know what you mean. I once moved from northern Japan to Oklahoma City.

Also from Germany to Arkansas (where it was flatter than Omaha, I assure you).

That's what you call from one extreme to another!

[richs10]

Originally Posted by CR&PW&JB

Glad you think so !

I watched two pros install mine and thought it was worth every penny to have it done professionally.

Even though it was cut out using a computer program and machine, they still had to trim some spots away with an exacto knife around the headlights, parking lights, lower bumper grill, etc.

Anyone that installs a clearbra, my hat is off to you !!

I'm with you on that CR.
I watched my installers work on it for about three hours.
Better them than me!