Chips from stones
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I think it's just part of owning a car, if you go about fixing stone chips as they happen you'll be fixing them the entire time you own the car. Personally, I just live with it and move on lol I got a huge chunk taken out of my front bumper (between the grill and the headlight) the 2nd day I had the car, driving back from the cape :bonkers: sucks, but there's nothin you can do.
Sorry I don't have any constructive advice on how to fix the chips. Good luck whatever you decide to do!
Sorry I don't have any constructive advice on how to fix the chips. Good luck whatever you decide to do!
Stone chips and other paint damage can result in larger paint failures as the elements get to the underlying metal, oxidize, and then cause paint adhesion failure around the chip in the form of blistering.
Get a jar of touch up paint from the dealer and a very fine artist brush from a hobby or art store. The diameter of the brush should be about no more than half the diameter of the stone chip (assuming it is a small chip). Clean the area with mineral spirits or paint thinner to remove any wax. Use the artist brush (not the one in the cap) and dab the paint - use very little, multiple thin layers are better than one big blob. Allow to dry between coats. Wax the area after a couple days to provide protection to the paint. Should be invisible to the casual passer-by.
There are advanced methods that require wetsanding the touch up with 3000 grit paper and buffing out the scratches with progressively finer compounds / polishes, but that's a story for another day.
Get a jar of touch up paint from the dealer and a very fine artist brush from a hobby or art store. The diameter of the brush should be about no more than half the diameter of the stone chip (assuming it is a small chip). Clean the area with mineral spirits or paint thinner to remove any wax. Use the artist brush (not the one in the cap) and dab the paint - use very little, multiple thin layers are better than one big blob. Allow to dry between coats. Wax the area after a couple days to provide protection to the paint. Should be invisible to the casual passer-by.
There are advanced methods that require wetsanding the touch up with 3000 grit paper and buffing out the scratches with progressively finer compounds / polishes, but that's a story for another day.
Don't get pissed. . . resist! 3-M offers a Clear Bra for the CTS that protects the mirrors, front bumper and first foot of the hood. It's invisible from five feet away, and keeps all but the big stones (you know, the ones that make you duck when they fly towards your face) from leaving their mark. It even makes bug splat removal a breeze. Save yourself a lot of aggravation (and trip to a therapist) and have it professionally installed. While there's no cure for all the things that can strike your car, the Clear Bra sure helps!
My brothers in the buisness, he did my sisters Z4 . its virtually invisible and after 2 years on, it still looks good. Cost depends on what you want covered. The price can be from $250 TO $500. I Have a 2 piece bra bought fom the dealer for $75, but its a pain to pop on and off but offers great protection on the long trips(which is what I do).
On the chips, ask the paint shop at the dealer to see what they have. I was actually suprised at the talent of some of their staff at these type of Boo-Boo's. Depending on the charge and demo it might be worth a look. Good Luck.
On the chips, ask the paint shop at the dealer to see what they have. I was actually suprised at the talent of some of their staff at these type of Boo-Boo's. Depending on the charge and demo it might be worth a look. Good Luck.
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Does that clear bra thing ever get dull, crack, or yellow after a time of car washes and Sun bathing? and is it really noticable?ccclarke said:
It's not invulnerable, but I think he told me it has a warranty of 5years against yellow and fade. My sisters car is a medium blue you half to be right on top of it to notice the film line across the hood. The other sections hide even better. The 3M is high quality stuff. Its the installer that makes a lot of difference as well. This stuff is tuff to apply right. I would want to see pics from the installer. If you were anywhere near Orlando Fla I'd have you covered. Make sure you see a sample of the work.
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sorry. but another question. what do you think if its on a black cts? will it be just as shiny as the paint?
The key to the best possible appearance is to detail the section to be done. The prep dulls the shine a bit, but the film has a nice gloss to it that just needs to be kept clean and you can wax right over it like the rest of the car to match the shine level on both sections. When I get back from my trip next week I'll try to post some pics of my sisters Z4 (medium blue) wih the product on. Its been on for nearly two years and still looks great and should really help in 12 months when her lease is up and the nose will still look new. 
I would stay away from the touch up paint..I had two really small dings -one on the edge of my driver door and one on my rear bumper..i got the touch up paint from the dealer for my silver smoke, and it was just too obvious after application...Of course, my "paint job" was not as detailed as the instuctions given by Louie99fl, so that may be the key difference in results....dbknight said:
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