amf1932

Has anybody put 3M Scotchcal film protection material on their bumpers to help eliminate dings?

Alan

flipside909

The 3M film is marketed under different brands like XPel (www.xpel.com) and a few others. I have a couple of friends that have the clear bra and it works very well. Saves your front bumper and fascia from the typical pits and knicks it always gets. It doesn't eliminate dings...it helps prevents them.

amf1932

You're right, it's supposed to prevent dings. After I purchased this '03 ES and was waiting for delivery the dealer called me up and asked if I would like to have this material applied to the front and rear bumpers. He said that it would cost about $600. I told him I never saw this product on a car and I wasn't too sure about doing this. He immediately dropped the price to $500 so I figured I'd do it even though the price seemed pretty high. When I picked up the car I was very disappointed to find that instead of protecting the complete bumpers they just applied a 7" strip of this stuff around the bumpers, so anything above or below was unprotected. In the meantime I called up 3M and they told me that the way they did it was not the proper way to apply it. They also told me that they've received complaints about dealers doing half assed jobs applying this and it should have covered the complete bumpers. I complained to the dealer and told them I was very unsatisfied with this job and they said they'd refund my money. I'm still waiting for my refund check!

Alan:

flipside909

Whatever the dealer BS'es you with is called DIO (dealer installed options) aka dealer profit. $600 sounds outrageous.

Also, Starshield is the name of the other 3M product like Xpel.

Lexmexico

I added to the area underneath my bumpers on my 99 RX, no more rock chips.

spdwyvette

I did a LOT of research on this subject when I bought my Corvette. The originator of this application is an ex-Boeing Engineer that started the original company, Stongard (www.stongard.com) in Bellevue, WA. The originall application was to protect the nose cones on airplanes, and the lead edge of helicoppter roter blades. Tim (StonGard founder) worked w/ 3M to develop the automotive application. The difference between what is used for aerospace and automotive is a UV layer to protect against sun-fade. The StonGard folks are very professional.

That being said.... I've had the 3M film on my Vette now for 2.5 years, and don't have a single rock chip anywhere the film is. It's good stuff, but pricey.....

andy t.
(93 ES300, 2001 Corvette)

mcgong

goto www.vehicalprotectionfilms.com. Check all their venders list.

I got my custom explosion front bumper done for under 200 dollars...no joke. Entire bumper covered all the way to the edges.

amf1932

The link you sent me, www.vehicleprotectionfilms.com seems to be a dead link.

Alan

P.S. I found out the reason......you spelled "vehicle" incorrectly!

P.S.S. Thank you.