Devastator187

Does anybody experience rock chips on paint in the front bumper and hood? My 08 C300 is only at 17,000 miles and I have plenty. Is the paint that easily chipped or the freeway I ride on has bad road condition?

CEB

Modern paints tend to chip a bit easier than the older, HAZMAT laden paints and every forum has a similar question.

Rock chips are a fact of life, but you can minimize the probability of damage:

Don't tailgate
Slow down in areas where you know there is lots of gravel and leave lots of room to the car in front
Don't drive behind 18 wheelers or gravel trucks
Get a clear bra - before your hood gets chipped

You'll still end up with a stray chip or two, but my R32 with 32k miles had one chip when I sold it - while all the other R32 owners were moaning about how badly the paint chips...

Jen_Kenne

1. Yes.
2. Yes.

Solutions? Wear a bra -- er, put one on your car. The clear plastic ones probably should be installed by a shop, but the padded vinyl ones you can do. Take the vinyl off regularly and inspect. Don't let it dry on the car. Some dealers offer 'insurance' against stone chips and door dings - don't know if you can get it after the fact. I see ads from Dr.ColorChip - if it works as advertised, it's a great solution. However ...

Frankster

you need this - www.premiermobilegroup.com

I don't have any chips because of it

Azn_C300

+1 for Premier. And they're opening up a shop in Socal (Orange) on Aug 1st.

eminnet

I've got my front lights covered with Llumar clear protective film.
They offered also to cover the hood, front bumper and back of the mirrors.(was bit expensive together with windows tint).

Egonvdv

yup, same here. black car. bumper looks like a mess after 36.000k..

Jen_Kenne

Found this source - E500 DIY Kit for less than $120. YMMV

http://www.nextlevelride.com/

tanktube67

Debris and rocks some of our worth enemy

jeffie7

I highly dislike normal bras, you want to keep your car looking great so you install a stupid looking bra to help save the paint, in the mean time it will protect the paint from the sun and cause minor rubbing so when you do remove it down the road it will show.

Hands down the best beat is a clear bra.

What do I do?

I always avoid being any where near the back side of any trailers or trucks.
I also keep extra distance from any car/truck when its raining or wet that is when most rock chips happen

My go to tools?

touch up paint
sandpaper
polishing compounds
good wax

A little know how goes a long way in keeping a car great looking.

Jen_Kenne

39,000 miles and one small chip. I have a clear bra on order - fix the chip, install the bra and hope for the best.

jeffie7

Do you spend any time on any major 2+ lane roads?

I just past the 6K mile mark and my hood (way out of the clear bra range) has at least 5 spots I've touched up. Not chips, but knicks/marks.

Jen_Kenne

Most of my driving is local, with a few excursions onto the Alligator Alley (desolate) and I-95 (miserable). Florida requires sand and gravel trucks to use a cover, but they tend to be in bad shape. Years of riding a bike taught me to avoid those trucks like the plague.

Your point is on target. I think one's driving environment makes a big difference, and of course, some of it is just luck of the draw.

jstaneff

I had that too, and had a clear bra on the car. Now I'm a believer in doing the whole hood with the clear bra material.

To fix it, I went to a dealer's back lot (S.A.'s advice) and had the guy who takes care of the dents and scrapes work on the car. Cost was minor, much better job than I could have done with touch-up paint.

Azn_C300

^^^ whole hood's the way to go. Avoid that ugly line that runs across the center that will eventually catch dust and show.

Jen_Kenne

Whole hood. That seems like a good idea.

Devastator187

Thank you everyone for your input and responses.