Armourfend or alternatives??
Discussion
My car's going in for a front end respray tomorrow, so I've been thinking about possibly fitting some Armourfend or similar to try and keep it looking minty for as long as possible.
What I don't want is obvious lines all over the front so it looks like I've just gone crazy with a roll of sellotape. I'm thinking maybe just do the lower front skirt, as that's where the vast majority of chips come, and just carry on touching up anything on the bonnet/wings.
Anyone got experience of Arourfend or one its its alternatives?
What I don't want is obvious lines all over the front so it looks like I've just gone crazy with a roll of sellotape. I'm thinking maybe just do the lower front skirt, as that's where the vast majority of chips come, and just carry on touching up anything on the bonnet/wings.
Anyone got experience of Arourfend or one its its alternatives?
I had it on my Elise which suffered from similar issues to the Cerb. It's great, though it can be a pain to keep the edges free of polish etc.
My Cerb has got a few chips on top of the bonnet as well, I think that if I did a front end respray I'd want that covering too. The bonnet top would most likely be one big sheet and it's only really the edges that you notice so I'd go for a full front end.
Have you had a quote yet?
My Cerb has got a few chips on top of the bonnet as well, I think that if I did a front end respray I'd want that covering too. The bonnet top would most likely be one big sheet and it's only really the edges that you notice so I'd go for a full front end.
Have you had a quote yet?
Here's the standard offering: http://www.armourfend.com/Search.aspx?t=2&m=58
Unfortunately, both the bonnet and upper wing pieces leave an obvious seam right in the middle of their respective panels, which is why I was suggesting just the lower skirt section as a compromise (as that's the worst affected area).
No official quotebut I'd be expecting just that little bit for under £100, as they guy who'd be fitting it has to come to me on some other business anyway.
Unfortunately, both the bonnet and upper wing pieces leave an obvious seam right in the middle of their respective panels, which is why I was suggesting just the lower skirt section as a compromise (as that's the worst affected area).
No official quotebut I'd be expecting just that little bit for under £100, as they guy who'd be fitting it has to come to me on some other business anyway.
I would ask the paintshop about the type of lacquer they will apply and whether you can/should upgrade to thicker/tougher stuff. When I had mine done the guy explained that the clearcoat was like a liquid plastic that resists chipping. Something to do with needing thicker lacquer due to paint being water based these days. The details escape me but the point is you might not need armourfend, which IMO can spoil the look somewhat.
Try Paintsheild http://catalog.xpeleu.com/partquery/search
They do pieces for full front end coverage which should hopefully reduce the amount of obvious lines on show. (I want to get it done too, but i need a gineau pig to try it out first)
They do pieces for full front end coverage which should hopefully reduce the amount of obvious lines on show. (I want to get it done too, but i need a gineau pig to try it out first)
Tyre Smoke said:
I had this insidious stuff on the front of the Cerb when I bought it. Since the chassis rebuild and a front end spray, it's off and never to return. It looks awful unless the car is anally clean, it still chips and for what it costs is just not worth it.
Damn! Considering the paint quotes on my car are in the region of ~ £1300/litre (according to certain paintshops), i thought it might've be a good investment as it's as new at the mo.
Edited by mr spectraflair on Tuesday 5th May 17:40
Tyre Smoke said:
I had this insidious stuff on the front of the Cerb when I bought it. Since the chassis rebuild and a front end spray, it's off and never to return. It looks awful unless the car is anally clean, it still chips and for what it costs is just not worth it.
Nonsense - or at least your experience doesn't match mine. My car was used by Paintshield to create their Cerbera template. I've had it on for nearly three years.
In that time after many trackdays and high speed autoroute journeys it's completely unmarked. It takes polish/wax as normal for the rest of the car.
They use a wide sheet film which means there are no obvious joins and one piece goes across the whole
width of the bonnet. I had the whole front done including wing mirrors. I won't ever need a front respray done (needed two in three years with my Chimaera) so it can repay for itself.
Anyone's welcome to come and see my car in the flesh if it would be helpful to make up your mind.
dempsey said:
Tyre Smoke said:
I had this insidious stuff on the front of the Cerb when I bought it. Since the chassis rebuild and a front end spray, it's off and never to return. It looks awful unless the car is anally clean, it still chips and for what it costs is just not worth it.
Nonsense - or at least your experience doesn't match mine. My car was used by Paintshield to create their Cerbera template. I've had it on for nearly three years.
In that time after many trackdays and high speed autoroute journeys it's completely unmarked. It takes polish/wax as normal for the rest of the car.
They use a wide sheet film which means there are no obvious joins and one piece goes across the whole
width of the bonnet. I had the whole front done including wing mirrors. I won't ever need a front respray done (needed two in three years with my Chimaera) so it can repay for itself.
Anyone's welcome to come and see my car in the flesh if it would be helpful to make up your mind.
Tyre Smoke said:
Hey, chaps only my opinion. I would rather see a well looked after car with a few stone chips than one wrapped in clingfilm. Don't care about how much it costs - which is about the same as a front end spray anyway. It's just not for me.
I know what you're saying Tyre Smoke, but believe me you simply can't see it on."Now this is more like it! After walking round Chatsworth the other sunday looking at all the various paint protection people had fitted i had made my mind up that once mine gets painted i will be getting some of this for the front end and also the wheel arches where the tyres throw the stones up at the bodywork. The only problem was that non of the cars i saw had it far enough up the bonnet. I kept seeing chips just above where the protective bit ended and thinking how upsetting it would be to have this happen. In some cases another inch would have done it but a complete bonnet coverage! Brilliant! Although now i'm wondering about the finish on the plastic coating? I was going to have the whole car wet sanded and detailed to perfection (probably by KDS). I wonder if they could get the same glass like finish on the protective coating? How much is this kit? It has to be money worth spend if it really wont chip! Is it covered by a warranty? Where abouts are you because i'd really like to have a look sometime!"
Guy,
Paintshield (at least when I had mine done) guaranteed it indefinitely - said to bring car back to be sorted if necessary - they wouldn't guarantee against carbon fibre shards on track though. In the event as I say it has not marked at all. As I was their first Cerbera I got a very hefty discount, (mind you I was there for nine hours, it takes a long time to pattern a car for the first time) suggest you call and get their best price.
I don't know about detailing on top of the film, I just use Meguires pre-clean, polish and then high gloss wax all over the car.
The only thing I would say is that I believe they now franchise; I had the main people do it so quality might vary between installers (I've nothing to base that comment on though).
I'm in Banstead, Surrey.
Hi Neil, I'm also about to get my front end re-sprayed again after a poor headlight conversion. I struggled to find someone local who could get the kit for the cerb. If you are getting it done in this area could you keep me posted as I will get mine done. Maybe we can get a better price for more than one cerb being done. Thanks, Barry.
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