stone chips and a tough 2nd gear

[lordbluf]

Hi all,

I have a few stone chips on the bonnet. Anyone used one of those franchised 'chips away' etc companies to remove chips/touch up paint work? If so, any good? Pricing?
Is it worth getting the bonnet covered in the protector film?

Also, is this a normal; when I first start the gallardo, if I go from 1st to 2nd it is tough/stiff at times - is that the gear box needing repair, the car 'warming up', or usual gallardo behaviour/'italian flare'?

any thoughts welcome, thanks, lord b

[F355gtb2009]

in my 355 second gear is tough until warm,dunno about other cars!!

[MitchT]

Ferraris up until the 355 have a tough second when cold 'cause they have a stronger synchromesh. Indeed, if you can get second on one of these cars when cold it indicates that the synchromesh is worn! Not sure if the same was the case with Lambos though and Ferrari solved the problem on later cars so I wouldn't expect it on a modern Lambo either.

[JoyZipper]

I've used "Chips away" on my Lexus before and was very impressed with the job.

Edited by JoyZipper on Wednesday 5th August 07:55

[a7see]

lordbluf said:

Hi all,

I have a few stone chips on the bonnet. Anyone used one of those franchised 'chips away' etc companies to remove chips/touch up paint work? If so, any good? Pricing?
Is it worth getting the bonnet covered in the protector film?

Also, is this a normal; when I first start the gallardo, if I go from 1st to 2nd it is tough/stiff at times - is that the gear box needing repair, the car 'warming up', or usual gallardo behaviour/'italian flare'?

any thoughts welcome, thanks, lord b

No experience with Gallardo but my Murcie does not have this problem with the 1st to 2nd problem, even when cold...Also, I don't seemed to remember seeing the problem on my mates Gallardo when we were in Europe last month but I could be wrong. Just my 2p worth...no doubt the Gallardo owners will come along to have their inputs.

[UVB]

The 2nd gear thing is a no-cost option Mine always does it too. Something about second being in a corner of the gearbox that is last to warm up properly apparently.

Would be interested to hear how you get on with stone chips as I have more than my fair share at the front too. It is liberating in a way, as you don't then worry so much about getting more stone chips.

[martisracing]

The cold box selection of 2nd to 1st is a common problem on this type of gearbox. The problem can present on any of the cars which use this basic design which are all supplied from the same Italin gearbox manufacturer. This includes Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin. It is due to the design of the synchroniser. Later cars have a revised design so should not see the problem which is probably why it is not seen on the R8 which also uses the same basic transmission from the same Italian supplier.

With regard stone chips when I bought my LP560 I was offered chip cover insurance from 'shine'. I was a bit dubious when I took it out but having just had a small stone chip done must say was very impressed. They are not a franchise and all the employees have to be time served body repairers and paint sprayers. They supposedly are one of the only approved mobile repairers for repairing pre delivered high value cars at dealers including Aston Martin and Mercedes (so they told whilst repairing my small stone chip). When it was finished you could not see where it had been at all. Very impressed.

[Anatol]

martisracing said:

They supposedly are one of the only approved mobile repairers for repairing pre delivered high value cars at dealers including Aston Martin and Mercedes (so they told whilst repairing my small stone chip).

This is completely untrue. We are a competitor of theirs, and provide this service to the local franchised Mercedes, Aston Martin and Porsche dealerships.

Shine was originally a valeting operation and has recently come to SMART repair. They provide the SMART repair service for Halfords - plenty of public comments about this service with a quick search.

Shine techs will tell you that they absolutely aren't a franchise, no siree, all time-served in bodyshops. We'd never have anything to do with franchising.

http://www.taketheweekendoff.com/franchise.htm

Interesting, no?

Of course, I'm admittedly biased

Tol

[yellowgriff]

No mobile car repairers are manufacturer approved... It not water based paint & it isnt baked in an oven.. On many cars this would invalidate your paint warranty if you go on to the Porsche Forum Sound like they will pick on anything to get out of a claim. IMOA i own a body shop i would not let anyone near car unless it was to local a bumper.. Thats my opinion others will say different but if a car comes to my Bodyshop the cost would be almost double the original cost to strip of the paint the put on and the recommended paint mainly ICI... Hope this help & not putting chips away nose out

[Anatol]

Not at all. Your info is a little out of date though - ChipsAway use waterborne paint that comes out of the same factory at PPG as your ICI paint. Our clearcoats are baked at 60 degrees for 30-45 minutes, and are a proprietary non-iso 2k.

Larger operations, such as mine, have spraybooth facilities, former bodyshop techs, and for small and medium work, a skilled SMART technician using modern materials and specialist equipment will turn out results that a tech trained only in traditional bodyshop techniques could never achieve with a 'blow-in' using bulk paints and a full-size gun.

SMART repair techniques and materials will never be for full resprays or major crash damage though, this will always be for a traditional operation.

Perhaps before this discussion goes any deeper on this particular topic we should adjourn to the Bodywork & Detailing forum?

Tol

Oh, and ETA, certain branches of our network have achieved manufacturer approval.

Edited by Anatol on Thursday 6th August 11:23

[iandc]

Back to the 2nd gear issue before we end up with spray guns at dawn!!! My Ferrari 360 would not engage 2nd from 1st until warm. The dealer told me this when I bought it so I used to just shift from 1st to 3rd with no problem. After about a mile it was fine and I never had a problem with clutch or gearbox in over 12,000 miles of driving. On the 2007 Gallardo this has never been an issue and it slots into 2nd from cold no problem. Maybe yours is earlier model or just some cars are different to others. Either way I woud not worry too much.