My DS/B MSC will be bording the Tosca this Tuesday. While she's sailing my way I have a decision to make. I've thought seriously about installing InvincaShield on the car's front, but then again I wonder if it's necessary.

Of those of you out there with a DS MCS, how would you rate your paints resistance to rock chips? Have you bought the IS?, etc.

I suspect that the ease of chipping may be related to many things, choice of color among them.

Before my wife bought her '99 Windsor Blue Passat, I had heard horror stories about how easily the water based paint chipped. Yet, it's almost 5-years later and her car has 2-3 chips at the most--and this is with a very strong quotient of highway driving!

If anyone knows paint and has a better theory, I'm happy to listen.

 

I wondered also but for the cost of the kit, standard $77 and Deluxe $171 Invinca-shield Prices, it sure beats a hood re-spray in a few years. I had mine installed by Invica-shield and for the deluxe kit and 3 additional pieces it ran $250, but there are a few that have done the install themselves (Pm Stele, he did his).

I think most will say that the paint is not very durable and chips easy. Also I don't think the choice of color will effect the ease of chipping, only that the darker the color the more noticeable the primer showing through will be.

Here is a shot right after the install


and a link
Thread about the install on my car, yes I know I've posted it before.

 

I dissagree. I work for a chip repair company and we see the stick on protectors all the time. For the price of the protectant you can get your cars chips repaired 3 or 4 times or get the bumper repainted once. I have also seen these things yellow over time, get dirt caught just under the edges, on dark cars they get noticably scratched and you can't polish it, if you bump into something and damage it, it looks worse than without, and I even heard a story where someone tried to remove one after a few years and pulled the paint off the car.

Many have used these products and are very happy. For me, I'm goin naked.

As for one paint color being harder than another. Some colors show chips more than others, but they all chip the same.

MINIACK

 

shortly after purchase, I got a nice chip right behind the top of the scoop insert (if it was just 1/4" more forward, it would have been on the scoop insert...nice and easy to repair/replace in the future...oh well Overall, it's just like any other paint...I don't think the color matters much.

 

I've had my DS one year, 8500 mile, no chips yet.
During one fun run the MINI in front of me threw up some pebbles, taking a nice ding out of the drivers side chrome mirror cap (and sending the rock on a tour of the cabin!), but no damage to the bumper or bonnet.
So I'd say it's durable paint. Of course a gazillion coats of Zaino can't hurt!

 

i've had my ds 4300 miles and i have only a few small chips on the plastic bumper and grill, so it's ok by me.

as importantly, with 3 coats of zaino, it's stands up perfectly to stupid tricks with contact cement

http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=40472

flyboy 2160

 

I've 28k miles on my one year old DS/DS. Have not used a shield kit. Have just a couple of nicks, not at all bad for the miles. LOVE the color, you will too!

God speed.

 

22k miles on my MCS although it's an EB/W.
No clear bra, got 1 good size chip in paint, and 2 tiny ones.
However my windshield had 5 huge chips (all repaired) and many, many tiny chips and pinholes. Basically the paint is much stronger than the windshield, so I would not worry about the paint. I'd worry about the windshield, but they don't make a clear bra for that.
All that said, my car has some nicks and dinks, but that does not take away any of the driving fun!

Cheers