Am I the only one with a million chips in my paints?

 

The wierd thing about it is that most every car I've had and driven never got this beat up. Is the paint just "weak" on mini's? Even the dealer, when I showed him the pits yesterday, stated that it looked pretty bad. I pretty much stay away from gravel trucks and only drive paved roads.

 

Even though you do not follow gravel trucks I am sure there is plenty of grit on the roads down there in TX. Just stuff that gets wind blown onto the road and picked up by the cars in front of you would be enough to do what I see in the photo.

Get a clear bra. Best way to stop that sort of thing.

 

Yeah I have a ton of them too. A TON! I wish I got the clearbra when I got the car.

 

Texas is kinda dusty, isn't it?

 

I've been thinking about getting Dr Color Chip (http://drcolorchip.com/how-it-works.shtml) to fill in the pits. It seems expensive, but what else can I do besides repaint the hood and then get a clear bra?

 

that looks good. it's not that expensive either - have your priced touch up paint? a bottle is like $30+.

 

I just ordered the Dr Colorchip "road rash" kit, which is an appropriate name for it. I'll keep ya'll posted.

 

most of the plastic overlay products I've seen are not recommended for application over a repaint . . . .

And MAN ... you have more chips then I've ever seen in my cars, even after 100,000 miles.

 

It's from how low it is and the angle of the metal. MINIs and "freckles" go together like peas in a pod.

 

http://www.dodojuiceusa.com/juicebar.php

Blue Velvet might just work out great for you to keep the craters a bit more "hidden".

I'm in the same boat ..... and have just resigned myself to EXPECT a repaint in the future. I'll be using two part epoxy paint ..... something like Dupont Imron. MINI paint is not that thick and like said ..... It's our unique shape that seems to draw in the sharp projectiles!!

PLEASE keep us posted to how well the road rash kit works!!

Bob

 

I really feel like Mini left out a "strengthening" additive to the paint. When you see it, you would think I live next door to a cement factory and drive down dirt roads. I live in the freaking metroplex with about 2 million other cars/trucks, driving down the same freeways! I feel like I'm the only one whos losing paint. Maybe I'm a victom of the "green" society where volitile compounds are no longer acceptible.

 

Im on my second front end paint job and its all pocked up again. Im just gonna leave it and think of them as battle scars.

 

I used the DR. Colorchip on my GFs car and it did not work any better than just regular touch up paint.

Unless I missed something in the procedure, it didnt come out anything like the pics they show.

You could easily tell it was just touch up paint when you look at the hood, and it didnt completely fill the chips back to the level of the rest of the paint.

 

I've used Dr Color Chip on small stuff, and it works fine (dark color). On the hood, you may need a repaint, then let it go 45-60 days before clear bra.

One of the main issues is how low the car is on the road, and how close you are to traffic ahead. I drop back pretty significantly in the P-car and the Mini on purpose....and I avoid highway traffic behind large trucks, exposed deep tread (jeep) tires, and other stuff that will sling crap your way.

Good luck.

 

Did it work? (sorry for bring back a old thread)

 

got caught in a unsuspected snow shower and they fully salted and cindered the roads. Mines like your mini now. It was a 05 that never saw a snow.

 

My hood has big gouges in the paint from commutes on an expressway. Judging from the damage you'd think I'd hear objects battering the the hood, but I never have. I'm considering having the front end painted flat black. It would go with my black grill and I could do rattle can touch ups. I have a peeling clear bra now, but most of the chips are far up the hood from rocks, I guess.

 

I have an appt. this week to have tint and a full clear bra installed. I had my first chip the first week after buying the car. Heck with that.