[rvacs]

Hello All,

I like many put Highway miles and hate to get stone chips on my new '07 Mazda 6. Has anyone ever tried any of the clear coat plastics that can be added to the hood and bumper areas to keep paint nicer from bugs / rock chips, etc? Do they work?

I see one seller on ebay with good feedback who is selling them for the Mazda 6 for about $30 and then you can find the true 3m dealers and they charge $250-$400 for their kits...but then you must apply them. Or you can find some local installers but they run up the price more.

I think I don't want a bra for my car...but would love to protect the paint in the front.

Thanks,
Rich
Tulsa, OK
'07 Mazda 6

 

[jd42]

I had 3M paint protection film installed on my MS6 shortly after I bought it. The shop charged me about $700 for the front bumper, front edge of the hood and fenders, side mirrors, and rocker panels.

The protection film definately helps reduce chips and scratches. but the paint on these cars is so brittle that nothing can completely prevent damage. I have a couple of spots where stones have cracked the paint under the film, and one spot where something chipped right throught the film and paint! :swearin:

If you do a lot of highway driving, especially in regions with lots of dirt and gravel on the roads, the film will probably help extend the life of the paint on the most vunerable areas.

However, I've realized that if I ever want the car to look really nice again, I'll need a new paint job. If I ever decide to go this route, I hope I can find an aftermarket paint that is much, much, much more durable than the brittle stock finish.

 

[brando211]

I have this problem too. I'm mad at my self for not getting wax on my bumper and mirrors before I drove it a bunch. Now im dealing with tons of bug goo I can't get off. I scrub and scrub but I'm not having much luck. I thought about a bra but I saw a picture of a 6 with a bra and it just didn't really look too good.

I also got 2 dings on my hood from a stupid run in with some corn. Some jack ass kids decieded it would be funny to plant corn stalks in the road standing up one early, foggy morning. So me going to work at 6:30am when its dark, and foggy as shit going about 50mph. I look up and see nothing but corn straight ahead. Needless to say I hit the corn. I first thought I didn't have any damage but after a wash I noticed a rather large ding on the hood and a smaller ding as well. I swear if ever catch them kids putting the corn in the road they are going to find corn stuck in places the sun don't shine...

 

[mssixter]

I had 3M paint protection film installed on my MS6 shortly after I bought it. The shop charged me about $700 for the front bumper, front edge of the hood and fenders, side mirrors, and rocker panels.

The protection film definately helps reduce chips and scratches. but the paint on these cars is so brittle that nothing can completely prevent damage. I have a couple of spots where stones have cracked the paint under the film, and one spot where something chipped right throught the film and paint! :swearin:

If you do a lot of highway driving, especially in regions with lots of dirt and gravel on the roads, the film will probably help extend the life of the paint on the most vunerable areas.

However, I've realized that if I ever want the car to look really nice again, I'll need a new paint job. If I ever decide to go this route, I hope I can find an aftermarket paint that is much, much, much more durable than the brittle stock finish.
[/b]

I agree. I have the film on my Tahoe and I have still gotten a couple chips on my bumper. I paid $900 for my film. I dont think anything can really stop the chips but one of the bra's for the whole front facia. But we all know what those look like. lol. But they DO work. IMO, I really dont think its worth the money really. A friend told me he throws a nice good wax on the front facia and it helps him. I tried it once and it was ok. I still got some lil chips tho.