I just bought a new 2004 Lexus SC 430 "Pebble Beach Edition" ("Azure Pearl" or sky blue metallic in color) . With perhaps two exceptions per year for cross-country interstate road trips, most of my driving is confined to cruising paved city (Chicago) streets. I want to reasonably provide for front end ding protection from pebbles and debris. Which option best describes your recommendation?

 

i have xpel on all my cars and i can't be happier. my friend sells them in case you interested

 

I had to have my hood repainted (red 2003) because it had so many chips and dents in it. So after the paint cured I put some plastic on it.

Just one bad chip justifies the cost of the protection.

The car has a rock magnet in the hood.

d

 

Hey, Dingo!

Did you come into the rock damage in the city, on the interstate, a rural area, etc.? Almost all my driving is on paved Chicago streets.

 

I purchased my SC430 in October from a dealership in Greenwich, CT. Prior to that I had read so many complaints on stone chips/dings & the strong recommendation to add front end portection. After researching the products I decided on Armourglove. I was surprised & happy to find out that the Armourglove main location was located just a few blocks from the dealership. I could not be happier with the product, no chips & always looks great. PS: the dealership could have done a little better job on the install & did not return any of my calls after I returned to FL with the car.

Get the front protected! BTW: they covered the entire front end, partially up the hood, mirrors, door cups & rear bumper.

 

I have Expel on full front bumper,part the way up the hood, mirrors, A-pillar, above the top of widnshield, door cups, behind front and rear wheel rocker panel area. Works and looks great.
DOc C

 

I too have PP Film by Armorglove. I agree with Dingo, damn thing is a REAL stone magnet!

Armorglove ran the film higher on the hood and it's wrapped under the hood for an almost seemless view, the only one you see is where it ends on the hood.

I also had: Front bumper/airdam, headlights, fender "wings", rocker panels, side mirrors and door cups!

If you own an SC430, YOU HAVE TO GET SOME LEVEL OF PROTECTION! Or you WILL be touching-up the finish MANY TIMES!

I went with Armorglove due to high-end vehicles in our area have them handle all installs, they can custom-fit film, and they "wrap" the hood film under the hood. Most hood films stop at the edge, sso it looks more like a big decal! Not with Armorglove! Excellent installers!

Enjoy your paint protection film no matter which one you go with!

Regards,

Deanski

 

Yes, part of the problem is protecting the front end, but too many people are overlooking the REAL problem....and that problem is not something that we can really here on a forum.
The main problem is that there is too much debris cluttering up the roads....and too much of it just comes from plain laziness. Utility companies that dig up the road and don't bother to properly repair it afterwards. Sand and salt trucks that throw TONS of this garbage in the roads at the first flake of snow, often when it isn't really needed, and then just let it SIT after the snow melts....they NEVER clean it up. Paving companies that scatter cinders all over the place after a repaving job and don't clean up. Trucks.....especially dump trucks...... that are overloaded or poorly covered, with s--- being blown all over behind them by the wind. Potholes and road damage from freeze/thaw that just crumbles into rocks....and is not dealt with. Inconsiderate people that pass you and then cut right in front, with their tires kicking this stuff up into your car.....not to mention what your OWN tires kick up.
Yeah, I know I'm venting here, but my point is that to really keep cars looking nice (without having to just avoid a lot of places at all) it's going to take action by governments to force the people who dump this mess on the roads to clean up after themselves....and do it RIGHT.

 

mmarshall,

I've very much inclined to agree with you.

However, in the interim, we need some proactive protection -now- hence, the xpel type bras.

 

Thanks, RX469....I know that was a long vent, but that is something I really feel passionate about.
Since you're from Maryland, you're probably familiar with the Washington Beltway....probably the quickest way in the world to get your car banged up with flying debris. I avoid that road like the plague.

 

I have xpel w/ 11 coats of Zaino.

Xpel is the way to go.

I used to have a leather bra on my Toyota.
I caused scratches on the front end of the hood.
It was a hassle taking off, cleaning it, puttting it on, taking if off.....you know what I mean.

After Xpel on the Lex, I don't think about rock chips anymore....

And w/ the Zaino protection, I've cut the bug count down to 90%.

Those bugs seems to hit the Xpel Zainoed front bumper, bounce off and stuck to someone else's bumper behind me.

teeman3
2003 SC430 w/ 11 coats of Zaino.....and counting....