Paint Chips
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Paint Chips
We have a GX460 in black and the front bumper and hood have several chips in them @ less than 5k miles. We have the hood film from the dealer, but it doesn't come to the edge of the hood. The bumper has a ton of chips all over it, while the hood has several that go all the way to the bare metal and have begun to rust. My 04 LS with 105k none of this and our 200k mile pilot was devoid of this issue as well.
Anyone else notice this issue with their paint?
Anyone else notice this issue with their paint?
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 63
From: MO
No, I don't have any chips on my bumper or hood after one year of use. I also use mine in all weather. We really had a bad winter this winter. I have the paint protection film from the port. It doesn't cover my front bumper, but does cover the hood. I do have one small chip on the roof, drivers side from a rock or something from this winter. It's very minor. I would let your dealer look at your vehicle and see what they have to say. To me, it doesn't sound normal. I know the water based paints aren't as good as the older paint jobs used to be.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
I knew from seeing this happen to other vehicles with painted bumpers that a clear bra would be needed to prevent this (paint chips). I had a custom one piece (front end) Ventureshield clear bra installed the first week after delivery. I had the whole front end done including fog/headlights, from the middle of the front fender wheel wells up about 20” across the hood, side mirrors, door handle wells, around gas tank door, running boards and rear bumper. It’s worth every penny!
Koz
Koz
Last edited by Koz; Mar 6, 2011 at 07:52 AM.
The paint is soft on all cars now. I had chips issues on my 09 BMW 335i, 08 GS350. On my 2010 GX I had clear bra isntalled but didn't come all the way to the edge and I had one nasty chip there. After getting 2011 GX, I have installed clear bra again and made sure it comes all the way to the edge. I have the bumper protection as well which I am sure helps.
On another hand I have problem with windshield which already has two big chips. Since those dip type (missing glass), you cannot fix them as start type are only fixable. Will see how long it will be before a new windshield be needed.
On another hand I have problem with windshield which already has two big chips. Since those dip type (missing glass), you cannot fix them as start type are only fixable. Will see how long it will be before a new windshield be needed.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
This is the smallest of our issues with the vehicle....it's at the dealer for the 5th time for the awful alignment issues (ate both front tire in 5k) in addition to the paint issues. I am done with the whole process...$60k for a truck that has these issues? We could have bought a used LX470 and been better off...
This is the smallest of our issues with the vehicle....it's at the dealer for the 5th time for the awful alignment issues (ate both front tire in 5k) in addition to the paint issues. I am done with the whole process...$60k for a truck that has these issues? We could have bought a used LX470 and been better off...
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 294
Likes: 1
From: BC
I wonder what causes that? I have done 15000km (9320 miles) on mine and I don't have the vibration problem at almost any speed, ranging from 5mph to 100+mph (I haven't tried maxing out the engine yet, and I'm not going to). Actually I feel the car is driving even smoother than when it was completely new, so things are getting better for me!
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
Paint chipping is a problem on ALL cars! It just depends on how much highway driving you do. Also being that many States have gotten record snow fall this year, the streets are loaded with dirt and debris.
Koz
Koz
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
Not true....we traded a car with 200k and it looked nowhere near as bad as the new car with 5k. I have an '04 LS that also has none of these issues and it has 105k. 4 other new cars since '97 that all had 100k plus and no issues like this. The BUMPER looks like someone shot it with rocksalt, and the hood has several chunks missing...despite the "protective coating". It's just a crap vehicle all around. My LS is 10x the car...and it's 7 years old.
Pole Position
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 28
From: Utah
Not true....we traded a car with 200k and it looked nowhere near as bad as the new car with 5k. I have an '04 LS that also has none of these issues and it has 105k. 4 other new cars since '97 that all had 100k plus and no issues like this. The BUMPER looks like someone shot it with rocksalt, and the hood has several chunks missing...despite the "protective coating". It's just a crap vehicle all around. My LS is 10x the car...and it's 7 years old.
Koz
No Substitute
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,828
Likes: 75
From: RI
I'm not sure what's occurring with your particular vehicles but unfortunately I haven't been to a car forum yet that I couldn't type in paint chip or whatever and get lots of hits. Pick a brand, MB, BMW, Chevy it doesn't really matter and its been very prevalent the last 5 or so years and even more so the last couple of years. Some of the replies above certainly confirm this.
Some of it I'm sure is cost cutting, as less paint should equal greater profits. But I choose to believe much of it is the new EPA regulations for paint.
I know this isn't going to make any of us feel better, but hopefully it does shed some like on why this is occurring.
Some of it I'm sure is cost cutting, as less paint should equal greater profits. But I choose to believe much of it is the new EPA regulations for paint.
I know this isn't going to make any of us feel better, but hopefully it does shed some like on why this is occurring.
Last edited by TripleL; Mar 10, 2011 at 12:26 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 63
From: MO
I'm not having the problem with mine and this has been a terrible winter. I was out in all the weather in mine. I've owned mine for a year now and only have one minor rock chip on my drivers side roof. You really have to look to find it. I have the paint protection film on my hood, fenders and mirrors, but not on my front bumper...