[BrandonT]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

Thanks for the input guys. I've never worked with plasti dip and I didn't realize I would need so much to cover the front. I honestly don't want to spend anything more than a hour spraying the car. I think it'll be cheaper to just drive my car, and have it touched up or repainted later when it gets to bad. Or maybe I should just get a clear bra. Hmm.

What most people don't know, is that Plastidip RUINS gloss finishes on vehicles after its pulled off. A couple layers of the gloss come out as well when you pull it off, Especially if you leave the dip on over a long period of time. I would not recommend this at all for a car with a brand new paint job.

[Casca]

Screw all that painted on shit. Bring back the 90's!!!

[vapore0n]

Is plasti-dipping the front end once a month worth it? Cost+time
I paid $600 for clear bra installation, at the BMW dealer. $500 outside of dealer. You might want to ask around for price on that.
The only bad thing about the clear bra is cleaning the wax out of edges.

[Casca]

Originally Posted by BrandonT

What most people don't know, is that Plastidip RUINS gloss finishes on vehicles after its pulled off. A couple layers of the gloss come out as well when you pull it off, Especially if you leave the dip on over a long period of time. I would not recommend this at all for a car with a brand new paint job.

Where are you getting this idea from? Do you also think when you put masking tape on over clear coat, that it will pull up clear coat with it? I mean, tape is way more sticky than plasti-dip.

No seriously, I would be interested to know. I am sure anyone with a paint thickness gauge can easily figure this out, so if it is true I am sure you'd have some detailer somewhere that gauged the paint.

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by danlnyc

You'd rather take your brand new painted E92 and have your $2000-$3000 paintjob possibly ruined because you want to save a couple bucks for gas??

Then take a look at a map of the West Coast. Then look up *Porsche Cayenne*. Fuel costs would be roughly 50% more on the Cayenne.

On a calculation that uses a *liberal* estimate for the Cayenne mileage and a *conservative* estimate for the E92 mileage, at only 4 trips per month he's saving $200-$250. In a year he'd have enough for the cheap paint job you're talking about.

[dsb335]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

looks cool. Im going to check that out.

FYI: that stuff is on sale at one of the supporting vendor websites until 2/2/14. I've considered getting it as I have a long daily commute.

[Jacblack]

The black old school leather bra would be the best bet.
I've been known to use the painters tape though we taking a long trip to a show especially if driving to it the same day as the event. I do it more for bugs than rock chips.
The dip doesn't ruin paint idk why people think that. I had my old car dipped and when I peeled it before selling it was still the perfect diamond white pearl underneath.
The only issue with going with the dip is that the car would have a matte front end. Even with the clear gloss it doesn't match the depth of enamel paint.

The clear bra could work as well, you just need to pay for it to get done. But given the story sounds like that shouldn't be an issue.

[pk_]

Clear Bra. Clear Bra.

[shadow191]

Some people have had issues w/ Plastidip hazing their clearcoat. Those were aftermarket paint jobs I believe; which the OP has. Vinyl can lift aftermarket paint jobs too. Just depends on the quality of the work.

Originally Posted by Casca

Where are you getting this idea from? Do you also think when you put masking tape on over clear coat, that it will pull up clear coat with it? I mean, tape is way more sticky than plasti-dip.

No seriously, I would be interested to know. I am sure anyone with a paint thickness gauge can easily figure this out, so if it is true I am sure you'd have some detailer somewhere that gauged the paint.

[Chrisruf911]

You might look into a product called Armor Coat. IMO much nether than a pastiche clear bra. I used it on an M3 I painted recently and it looks great and holds up very well. There was a gt2 911 I did some work on that was tracked regularly with Armor Coat sprayed on. I could not find a single failure or rock chip on it.

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

idk... Think of clear coat and paint, if they don't protect your car from chips, then what makes plastidip any better? Yeah for the smaller "chips" it might not get to your clear coat. Plastidip is just a thin layer of paint in this case. Along with clear bra, yeah to an extent it will protect your car, in this case, it can potentially protects it better than plastidip because its thicker, but a hard enough hit will rip it. An actual bra, would protect it from heavier hits, but over time it rubs and scratches the paint underneath and what not.

I own a jet black E90, chips shows for me. I've contemplated clear bra the whole front end (never do have a panel), and I ended up just saying you know what its a car. I love it, but its a car, I have to drive the shit out of it, granted I'd like to get no chips, but drive it long enough, love it for what it has given you, and worst comes to it, repaint it.

[EZ_TUR90]

Originally Posted by Casca

Screw all that painted on shit. Bring back the 90's!!!

Serious option. It is only for the drive up

Originally Posted by vapore0n

Is plasti-dipping the front end once a month worth it? Cost+time
I paid $600 for clear bra installation, at the BMW dealer. $500 outside of dealer. You might want to ask around for price on that.
The only bad thing about the clear bra is cleaning the wax out of edges.

damn 600 bucks seems like a great deal. I've been getting quoted 1k+

Originally Posted by NGEE

Then take a look at a map of the West Coast. Then look up *Porsche Cayenne*. Fuel costs would be roughly 50% more on the Cayenne.

On a calculation that uses a *liberal* estimate for the Cayenne mileage and a *conservative* estimate for the E92 mileage, at only 4 trips per month he's saving $200-$250. In a year he'd have enough for the cheap paint job you're talking about.

thanks. i think it'd be cheaper for me to lease a prius.

Originally Posted by mdintx

FYI: that stuff is on sale at one of the supporting vendor websites until 2/2/14. I've considered getting it as I have a long daily commute.

any chance you can post a link. thanks.

Originally Posted by Jacblack

The black old school leather bra would be the best bet.
I've been known to use the painters tape though we taking a long trip to a show especially if driving to it the same day as the event. I do it more for bugs than rock chips.
The dip doesn't ruin paint idk why people think that. I had my old car dipped and when I peeled it before selling it was still the perfect diamond white pearl underneath.
The only issue with going with the dip is that the car would have a matte front end. Even with the clear gloss it doesn't match the depth of enamel paint.

The clear bra could work as well, you just need to pay for it to get done. But given the story sounds like that shouldn't be an issue.

After all the response, i don't think i want to invest the energy to plastidip the front end. i thought it was a simple spray and peel.

Originally Posted by Chrisruf911

You might look into a product called Armor Coat. IMO much nether than a pastiche clear bra. I used it on an M3 I painted recently and it looks great and holds up very well. There was a gt2 911 I did some work on that was tracked regularly with Armor Coat sprayed on. I could not find a single failure or rock chip on it.

i'll look into that. thanks.

Originally Posted by Kiem@DetailAddict

idk... Think of clear coat and paint, if they don't protect your car from chips, then what makes plastidip any better? Yeah for the smaller "chips" it might not get to your clear coat. Plastidip is just a thin layer of paint in this case. Along with clear bra, yeah to an extent it will protect your car, in this case, it can potentially protects it better than plastidip because its thicker, but a hard enough hit will rip it. An actual bra, would protect it from heavier hits, but over time it rubs and scratches the paint underneath and what not.

I own a jet black E90, chips shows for me. I've contemplated clear bra the whole front end (never do have a panel), and I ended up just saying you know what its a car. I love it, but its a car, I have to drive the shit out of it, granted I'd like to get no chips, but drive it long enough, love it for what it has given you, and worst comes to it, repaint it.

I think thats the conclusion I'm coming to. drive it, and repaint when it gets too bad. either way i run the risk of people in the city dinging, and denting the car anyway. so might as well drive it as is.

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

I think thats the conclusion I'm coming to. drive it, and repaint when it gets too bad. either way i run the risk of people in the city dinging, and denting the car anyway. so might as well drive it as is.

Seriously, there's a lot of jerks out there and don't give a darn about our cars. Yesterday, a client came in for a quote and he totally door dinged me. I later found out this morning. I was FURIOUS! But, no point in being so angry throughout my day over spilled milk. I still love my car, I'll still continue to drive it to hell with me and back. haha I'll fix it after Lunar New Years.

[paddy335]

Originally Posted by EZ_TUR90

stop working, and in school. cost of gas really adds up when traveling. that money could be applied to better things.

ps. sf is one of the most expensive cities to live in

Fair enough! Very nice city though

Well in your shoes I would just run it and do a front end respray when it gets bad enough that you can't tolerate it any more (which coincidentally is just about the point I am it with my 335).