Ventureshield - the whole truth etc
Discussion
Y100 said:
Shall I have treated; the whole car, just forward of the doors, or the nose only (front of the rear wheel arches too). Your recommendations please. 
Depends how much of the car you want to protect. I have a full kit - mirrors, front valance, headlights, sills, rear arches, boot lip, bonnet. The sills are definitely worth doing as they can get very pitted at the back end.Personally, if I were doing it I would do the full kit after having had the paintwork detailed.
I had a similar kit to Simon fitted a few weeks ago which included all front end, sills etc and half way up the bonnet and the rear quarters in front of the wheels up to the swage line which is vulnerable. The main area I was concerned about was the front splitter and this is fully covered too. Having just covered 1,600 miles on the JLC trip there were a few hefty marks on the Ventureshield which simply washed off. I'm convinced had I not had the coverage there would have been paint chips, therefore so far very happy. Just wished the grille could be covered as that did take a couple of hits 
I considered full bonnet but the fitter, Steve Walsh, who I would recommend and does lots of Aston's, wasn't keen on doing it on my car..
I considered full bonnet but the fitter, Steve Walsh, who I would recommend and does lots of Aston's, wasn't keen on doing it on my car..
Y100 said:
V8Woollie, Retman, thank you both. I'm sorta pursuaded towards doing the whole car but undecided. Retman, your man Walsh, he did half the bonnet but wasn't keen to cover it all, did he specify a reason?
I sound to have had a similar kit to Retman with half bonnet and wings. Also has the A pillars done. If you have the full bonnet done on the V12V they have to free hand cut around the CF vents which is why the guy who did mine was reluctant to do so unless I was able to get the car to him so he could do at his own workshop.One thing I would say is that with the half bonnet kit you do see the join but it does protect the front very well. On my other two Vantages they both had stone chips by 1k miles so I think very worthwhile doing.
My S has had the full V12V fit & full bonnet for 10k miles now.
It still looks very good
One small stain were some sort of alien beetle stained it and a scrape where a BIG stone hit it.
Jonby had the frame round the windscreen done which I thought was a good idea.
(Full V12V kit = front splitter, head lights, lights washers, front wing just past headlight, back of mirrors, whole of the sill, rear front of arch to the swage line (higher than factory bit), door handles, rear bumper below boot shut, lower edges of rear bumper )
It still looks very good
One small stain were some sort of alien beetle stained it and a scrape where a BIG stone hit it.
Jonby had the frame round the windscreen done which I thought was a good idea.
(Full V12V kit = front splitter, head lights, lights washers, front wing just past headlight, back of mirrors, whole of the sill, rear front of arch to the swage line (higher than factory bit), door handles, rear bumper below boot shut, lower edges of rear bumper )
Y100 said:
V8Woollie, Retman, thank you both. I'm sorta pursuaded towards doing the whole car but undecided. Retman, your man Walsh, he did half the bonnet but wasn't keen to cover it all, did he specify a reason?
I had a V12V Ventureshield kit fitted at the same time and place as Andrew (Retman).Originally I was not totally convinced about having it done and initially wanted to have the complete front end of the car covered (complete bonnet and wings) however on talking to the fitter he advised against it for the following reasons - the amount of stretching to the film that would have to be done on the wings would compromise protection (thin areas) and would increase the chances of deformation/creases etc. (they had however completely covered a GTR, so were probably capable of doing it).
Also as mentioned by Ian, it would not be an "off the shelf" computer cut kit - which would bring other potential problems into play.
I suppose it comes down to how much of a perfectionist you are (apparently, I am) - On Retman's car (which is white) the Ventureshield film looked to blend in well, however my car is Midnight Blue (a very dark colour) and in my opinion the film is very obvious but I expected that and that was the dilemma and trade-off I compromised on - I think if I had gone to the full front end coverage I would have ripped it off and stomached respraying the front end when I had too.
As I said earlier I am a bit of a perfectionist and this is only my personal opinion/observation...............
All slightly differing ideas, no real consensus other than its a worthwhile investment in one form or another. My DB9.2 will be Volcano red, so, if I'm reading the posts correctly, better the ventureshield is shaped and finished exactly to the panel shape, wings, bonnet etc (full size) in order to keep the edge less visible,,,,offers complete protection too. I don't see there would be much advantage in covering the boot lid or the rear panel, where stone chips there are far less likely. The front screen pillars (Jonby) I will have done for sure. So thank you guys, that has helped no end, a great site, addictive or what. 
I didnt get it from new on my old Elise, then 20K miles later it was peppered
when it needed a new clam, I had the film fitted to the whole of the front and sills....60k miles later, it still looked like new
I would have it on any brand new car or new paint
you just need to be careful not to use wax that leaves white residue, so you dont get a build up around the edge...and of course, whoever applies the film needs to do the job properly
when it needed a new clam, I had the film fitted to the whole of the front and sills....60k miles later, it still looked like new
I would have it on any brand new car or new paint
you just need to be careful not to use wax that leaves white residue, so you dont get a build up around the edge...and of course, whoever applies the film needs to do the job properly
V8 animal, Bogie thanks. Self healing I did read about, clever stuff. I kinda feel like I want to wrap my baby in a cacoon, mummy style, so nothing can blemish her beautiful skin but I also want the colour to show in all its glory,,,want my cake and eat it, not the best metaphor but you know what I mean. Thanks for the tip on the white residue. 
Edited by Y100 on Saturday 20th April 20:21
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff