Stone chipping on GT3's

Stone chipping on GT3's

Author
Discussion

IREvans

1,126 posts

121 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
GarageQueen said:
Hi all,

I've been looking at some GT3's recently at OPC's, but the one thing I've been surprised at is the amount of stone chips to the cars even with less 15K miles.

The lower front valance, front wheel arch, rear wheel arch and headlights were all substantially peppered, my other cars like Focus RS / M3 with > 35K miles are far less damaged.

Can anyone comment?
Any low car driven quickly will attract stone chips. The bonnet line of an M3 or Focus RS is much higher than a GT3, so don't tend to get as badly chipped.

I don't mind stone chips on my cars, and just live with them - in my mind they tell a story about the car's life... wink I certainly wouldn't go to the cost of getting the whole front end painted to remove the chips, just for more chips to appear after a few more months of driving.

If buying a used 911, I'd certainly expect an OPC to have painted the front end, and modern paint finishing should not be at all noticeable, unless you inspect with a paint depth gauge...!

jackwood

2,608 posts

207 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
mollytherocker said:
Ah ok, it maybe a language misunderstanding then, like fanny? This is a bra...

Lol, I can't imagine anyone makes one of those for a 991 GT3!

Americans call the clear paint protection film a bra now. It's the modern equivalent of that monstrosity.

Pugley

687 posts

191 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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mollytherocker said:
Ah ok, it maybe a language misunderstanding then, like fanny? This is a bra...

More like a condom than a bra sperm

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Monday 1st September 2014
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My GT3 was mint when I bought it with just one stone chip on the wing.

I tried to keep it looking good for as long as I could but it was an uphill struggle as the car is so low. I am off on a European trip again this weekend for 9 days and no doubt the car will pick up more chips but I see it as an occupational hazzard.

I need to get the bonnet, bumper and both wings sprayed over and then i'll put some paintshield on like Jackwood did on his (looks awesome BTW) are Porsche Reading any good for paint jobs? Car is painted in GT Silver.


isaldiri

18,411 posts

167 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
V8KSN said:
I need to get the bonnet, bumper and both wings sprayed over and then i'll put some paintshield on like Jackwood did on his (looks awesome BTW) are Porsche Reading any good for paint jobs? Car is painted in GT Silver.
Reading have an inhouse paintshop which they use to repaint the CGTs so I guess they are probably your best choice of any OPC.

sleep envy

62,260 posts

248 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
jackwood said:
mollytherocker said:
Ah ok, it maybe a language misunderstanding then, like fanny? This is a bra...

Lol, I can't imagine anyone makes one of those for a 991 GT3!

Americans call the clear paint protection film a bra now. It's the modern equivalent of that monstrosity.
would fit a 996.1 gt3 which would help its looks no end

Shurv

955 posts

159 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
Lots of chips usually means either high speed motorway work or a load of trackdays. A trackday will pepper your motor with hundreds of chips very quickly. The OP was referring to GT3's ,so I guess it's trackday action.

GarageQueen

Original Poster:

2,295 posts

245 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
IREvans said:
GarageQueen said:
Hi all,

I've been looking at some GT3's recently at OPC's, but the one thing I've been surprised at is the amount of stone chips to the cars even with less 15K miles.

The lower front valance, front wheel arch, rear wheel arch and headlights were all substantially peppered, my other cars like Focus RS / M3 with > 35K miles are far less damaged.

Can anyone comment?
Any low car driven quickly will attract stone chips. The bonnet line of an M3 or Focus RS is much higher than a GT3, so don't tend to get as badly chipped.
I wasn't sure if the propensity to attract stone chips was more dependent on the shape of the front of car (i.e more upright vs low angle) or height

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Monday 1st September 2014
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
jackwood said:
mollytherocker said:
Ah ok, it maybe a language misunderstanding then, like fanny? This is a bra...

Lol, I can't imagine anyone makes one of those for a 991 GT3!

Americans call the clear paint protection film a bra now. It's the modern equivalent of that monstrosity.
would fit a 996.1 gt3 which would help its looks no end
Meow! laugh

S1MMA

2,378 posts

218 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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My GT3 is original panel and original paint, 20 something thousand miles - has fair amount of stone chips on front bumper, some on bonnet, and few on wings.

I believe being original panel and paint is actually a selling point on these cars. Anyone can repaint if they want a mint "looking" car. If I was to paint it in future for cosmetic reasons if fully document the job to show no damage occurred.

I would actually prefer an original car so I know what I'm looking at/getting. All cars get chips.

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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S1MMA said:
My GT3 is original panel and original paint, 20 something thousand miles - has fair amount of stone chips on front bumper, some on bonnet, and few on wings.

I believe being original panel and paint is actually a selling point on these cars. Anyone can repaint if they want a mint "looking" car. If I was to paint it in future for cosmetic reasons if fully document the job to show no damage occurred.

I would actually prefer an original car so I know what I'm looking at/getting. All cars get chips.
I agree.

When my car goes into OPC Reading for the paint job I will take some before and after pics and the invoice for the work will go into the huge history file for the car...... which I then hide from the wife hehe

GarageQueen

Original Poster:

2,295 posts

245 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
S1MMA said:
My GT3 is original panel and original paint, 20 something thousand miles - has fair amount of stone chips on front bumper, some on bonnet, and few on wings.

I believe being original panel and paint is actually a selling point on these cars. Anyone can repaint if they want a mint "looking" car. If I was to paint it in future for cosmetic reasons if fully document the job to show no damage occurred.

I would actually prefer an original car so I know what I'm looking at/getting. All cars get chips.
agreed original paint is desirable to have, but is it realistic given that its very easy for a car to get scraped and need remedial paint? Also most paint jobs these days are undetectable with the exception of mask lines under trim.

SkinnyP

1,411 posts

148 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
GarageQueen said:
S1MMA said:
My GT3 is original panel and original paint, 20 something thousand miles - has fair amount of stone chips on front bumper, some on bonnet, and few on wings.

I believe being original panel and paint is actually a selling point on these cars. Anyone can repaint if they want a mint "looking" car. If I was to paint it in future for cosmetic reasons if fully document the job to show no damage occurred.

I would actually prefer an original car so I know what I'm looking at/getting. All cars get chips.
agreed original paint is desirable to have, but is it realistic given that its very easy for a car to get scraped and need remedial paint? Also most paint jobs these days are undetectable with the exception of mask lines under trim.
Most paint jobs are far from undetectable, most are astonishingly poor as well. Even the best jobs are detectable by eye if you spend more than 5 seconds looking at them. Remember OPC's outsource their work so you never know what you are going to get...

When buying a car the first question I always ask is “is it all original paint?” If the answer is no then I thank them for their time and move on, I simply couldn't own an expensive car were the panels don’t match up.

One of the reasons I feel my Cayman is a real gem, all original paint and original finish on the alloys too.

Klippie

3,096 posts

144 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
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Guys a suggestion if I may...I went to a local car paint supplier and had a small tin of paint mixed to match my car they also mixed in some clear coat so it would be perfect for touch-ups, unlike those crappy things from the dealer.

BlackGT3

1,445 posts

209 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Mine has just covered 21k miles and has the usual stone chips on the front bumper, bonnet and wings that you would expect on any 911 at this mileage. The sills however, have suffered from more stone chips than I have experienced on previous 911's. I was made aware of this by a couple of owners I spoke to before buying my car.

I tend to use my car as much as possible, it does 1- 3 track days as well as 1 Euro trip per year and will therefore pick up more and more stone chips/rash as the miles pile on. I will get it repainted properly when they become unsightly in the same way I change the front splitter. In the meantime I will use Dr Colorchip touch up paint to ensure the bodywork is protected.



Edited by BlackGT3 on Friday 5th September 00:55

DiscoColin

3,328 posts

213 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
GarageQueen said:
Hi all,

I've been looking at some GT3's recently at OPC's, but the one thing I've been surprised at is the amount of stone chips to the cars even with less 15K miles.

The lower front valance, front wheel arch, rear wheel arch and headlights were all substantially peppered, my other cars like Focus RS / M3 with > 35K miles are far less damaged.

Can anyone comment?
Track days and/or continental touring. Once the speed is into 3 figures then even the smallest fleck of anything will go through paint, so whether you are following someone down the Hanger Straight at Silverstone or the A1 in Germany, chips are an inevitability. To the point that you really can't get precious about them - you either learn to live with them or have the car wrapped in transparent film. I guess the bottom line is that they are generally bought to be driven rather than polished, which is to my mind a good thing. wink

V8KSN

4,711 posts

183 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
Any idea on cost for a respray of bonnet, wings, bumper and sills?

ferdi p

1,519 posts

171 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2014
quotequote all
V8KSN said:
Any idea on cost for a respray of bonnet, wings, bumper and sills?
I paid £1100 inc VAT for a solid black 997.2 GT3, it was a superb finish & great value I thought... I then had paintshield applied...

drmark

4,794 posts

185 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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Films are a bit like putting plastic covers on your seats IMO.
Not for me.
And bras.... idiocy.

ClarkPB

818 posts

199 months

Thursday 4th September 2014
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If a respray is done well then you shouldn't be able to tell unless you run a paint gauge over it or maybe find a few buffer trails from typical bodyshop paint finishing, it is possible.

My GT3 is completely original paint with 14k miles and there's about 6 stone chips over the entire thing which have been carefully touched in. Keeping back from the car in front has a lot to do with it which is why I tend to try and be the one out in front when out for drives with mates biggrin

I've made and applied my own venture shield pieces to go on the arch lips and side skirts where the wheels throw up all kinds of crap and it was the best thing I ever did.

If/when the time comes where I decide the front end needs a respray due to chipping then I'll have no hesitation in getting it done, it will just be documented with pictures etc as already mentioned and I can't see that it would have any negative effect on the value. I know I'd pay more for a car that was immaculately presented and had been painted (and painted very well) to get rid of any chips. smile