Armourfend - Paint Protection
Discussion
I am thinking about having the 3R paint protected.
Has anyone any experience of Armourfend as a company, and the installation of their protection?
How visible is the film?
Anyone with pictures of it applied to a Noble?
If I go for it, I will probably have it done by one of their recommended installers. Have contacted them today, and I am waiting for info/pricing.
Cheers,
Mark
Has anyone any experience of Armourfend as a company, and the installation of their protection?
How visible is the film?
Anyone with pictures of it applied to a Noble?
If I go for it, I will probably have it done by one of their recommended installers. Have contacted them today, and I am waiting for info/pricing.
Cheers,
Mark
This topic is being actively discussed on the ownersclub site at the minute so you might do well to have a look on there.
I had Armourfend put on (by Armourfend) before I collected the car from the dealers and they did a pretty good job. You can see it when up close but from a distance or when you're driving it become almost transparent. However, this all depends on which colour you go for. Oh, and I don't think a template for the 3R exists yet so you may need to take the car to the armourfend factory to get one cut out.
There are some photos on www.gto3.com/gallery just look at any of the front end shots, but like I say it doesn't show up that much!
I had Armourfend put on (by Armourfend) before I collected the car from the dealers and they did a pretty good job. You can see it when up close but from a distance or when you're driving it become almost transparent. However, this all depends on which colour you go for. Oh, and I don't think a template for the 3R exists yet so you may need to take the car to the armourfend factory to get one cut out.
There are some photos on www.gto3.com/gallery just look at any of the front end shots, but like I say it doesn't show up that much!
Just picking up on the again as the first customer 3R's are nearing completion.
The chaps at the factory are divided about Armourfend, however if you do go for it, then take a look at another M12 to see where the chips appear. The full kit from Armourfend is massive overkill. You should be able to protect 95% of the areas prone to chips by covering the splitter, lower skirt and tip of the bonnet. I'm not sure how much of the bonnet the "Lower Skirt Centre" section covers, so you might also need the Bonnet section and trim it right back.
From actech's website here (thanks!) these part numbers are:
NB/2601/10 Lower Skirt Lip (Two Piece)
NB/2601/08 Lower Skirt (Centre)
?? NB/2601/01 Bonnet ??
Anyone else care to comment on where they get stone chips?
The chaps at the factory are divided about Armourfend, however if you do go for it, then take a look at another M12 to see where the chips appear. The full kit from Armourfend is massive overkill. You should be able to protect 95% of the areas prone to chips by covering the splitter, lower skirt and tip of the bonnet. I'm not sure how much of the bonnet the "Lower Skirt Centre" section covers, so you might also need the Bonnet section and trim it right back.
From actech's website here (thanks!) these part numbers are:
NB/2601/10 Lower Skirt Lip (Two Piece)
NB/2601/08 Lower Skirt (Centre)
?? NB/2601/01 Bonnet ??
Anyone else care to comment on where they get stone chips?
Armourfend, a decent job done. The profile edge of
which will display an applied polish line - no problem
to me.
From my experience of the mateial, don't try to fit it yourself. It aint easy.
It is a thin membrane and as such it has limits against impacts by gravel.
An esential coverage has to be on the near vertical frontal edges ahead of the front wheels. Also consider
the exposed front edges of the side air intakes on
the M 400.
which will display an applied polish line - no problem
to me.
From my experience of the mateial, don't try to fit it yourself. It aint easy.
It is a thin membrane and as such it has limits against impacts by gravel.
An esential coverage has to be on the near vertical frontal edges ahead of the front wheels. Also consider
the exposed front edges of the side air intakes on
the M 400.
I had Armourfend fitted by their fitters at the Noble factory before taking delivery in October 2003 of my 3R.
Sections included.
Full Side sills incl door steps £150
Lower skirt end caps £12.50 (Outside air intake to front wheel arch)
Lower skirt lips £20.00 (Splitter and front lip)
Wing ends £140.00 (Front wrap around below headlights)
Total including fitting and vat £632.30 (October 2003)
Is / was it worth it?
It has certainly saved the stone chips in those areas covered, and you have to look hard up close to see the film cover over the paint. So I would say yes it is worth it.
Any other parts that I wish I had covered?
Yes, the leading edge of the front wheel arches. Also 2 weeks after taking delivery, travelling around 60 mph in traffic, I saw a large stone bounce off the bonnet scoop which took a chunk out of the GRP. A million to one chance, and I dont know if I had Armourfend that section if it would have saved the paint or GRP.
I also got hold of some roll of the Armourfend film and stuck it to the inside of all the wheel arches.
Hope this helps, you can see my car on another thread here, or on my profile.
Cheers,
Ian.
Sections included.
Full Side sills incl door steps £150
Lower skirt end caps £12.50 (Outside air intake to front wheel arch)
Lower skirt lips £20.00 (Splitter and front lip)
Wing ends £140.00 (Front wrap around below headlights)
Total including fitting and vat £632.30 (October 2003)
Is / was it worth it?
It has certainly saved the stone chips in those areas covered, and you have to look hard up close to see the film cover over the paint. So I would say yes it is worth it.
Any other parts that I wish I had covered?
Yes, the leading edge of the front wheel arches. Also 2 weeks after taking delivery, travelling around 60 mph in traffic, I saw a large stone bounce off the bonnet scoop which took a chunk out of the GRP. A million to one chance, and I dont know if I had Armourfend that section if it would have saved the paint or GRP.
I also got hold of some roll of the Armourfend film and stuck it to the inside of all the wheel arches.
Hope this helps, you can see my car on another thread here, or on my profile.
Cheers,
Ian.
V6GTO said:Hardly a 'fair' picture given the brightness and low resolution.
Spot the Armourfend... 
Had mine done at Mole Valley...an excellent job.
Martin.
I could say "spot the stone chips" on this
But if you look at this one
or click on this www.nobletv.co.uk/Pictures/Owner%27s%20Albums/Joust/M12%202.5%20GTO%20ZOOM/Stone%20chips/chips3orig.jpg you'll soon see there are 100's of the buggers.
I did the one with circle marks on it to show what armour fend would and wouldn't have stopped (unless you cover the whole front in it, but then you are into nearly £1k+) - all the red ones would have still occured.
Me, I just take the view that the £600 for the amourfend will get me a respray after 2 years. The armourfend on my Elise started to look very tatty after the third year and so would have needed to be changed with a respray of the edge of the coverage area anyway.
It's a personal thing. Me, I don't like seeing the 'line' when I get close, others don't mind it.
J
I think you also have to take into consideration what colour you are choosing.
Dark colours, black, dark blues etc will always show more stone chip marks than lighter colours like silver etc. because the base coat or primer is a very light (white) colour.
It also makes a huge difference how much space you leave between the vehicle in front of you. Yes it is a pain when you leave plenty of space on the motorway only for the car on the inside to take that space, but it does make a big difference to getting less stone chips especially in the wet.
But overall, you will never stop them.
Cheers,
Ian.
Dark colours, black, dark blues etc will always show more stone chip marks than lighter colours like silver etc. because the base coat or primer is a very light (white) colour.
It also makes a huge difference how much space you leave between the vehicle in front of you. Yes it is a pain when you leave plenty of space on the motorway only for the car on the inside to take that space, but it does make a big difference to getting less stone chips especially in the wet.
But overall, you will never stop them.
Cheers,
Ian.
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