jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Hey Guys, So this might be just a rant or getting it off my chest, however I want to know if you guys all experience the dreaded stone chips and scuffs. Had my Z just over a week now and have had the chance to look over the body work and live with it a bit. There are numerous marks to the front a long with small scuffs here and there (from washing?) but these type of things really grind my gears. Is this something normal for all of you? How do you guys mentally cope with knowing they are there?! Anything that can be used to hide / get rid of said marks? Sorry for the rant, thanks! Quote
Ekona Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 You'll never beat stone chips. You could have a film applied, but that costs money and you'll always be able to see the lines where it is (even if you have the whole car wrapped!). Best thing to do is to just enjoy driving it, and save for a front end respray every couple of years. Cheapest and best way to keep it looking smart. 2 Quote
mouthwash Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Unless you don't drive the car you will always get marks, have it resprayed and put it in a glass display case if you want it to stay perfect forever. I had my front bumper resprayed not 3000 miles ago and it already has stone chips etc in it, you cannot avoid it. Quote
gsexr Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Yep stone chips are just part of the experience of owning a zed. People say its the shape of the frontal area and the soft nissan paint. So here`s a question to you guys who have had the front repainted. Does it still chip as easily or is the new paint harder and more resistant ? Quote
jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Well glad its not just me, I hate the things, my Z is black so makes them super easy to spot up close! Would you recommend anything to remove light scuffs? Quote
jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Also I forgot to ask, how much did you front end resprays cost? Quote
Grundy Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Jeezzz you two! Can't escape your love nest As Dan said, you could invest in getting clear vinyl on the front. Quote
ilogikal1 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 All you need is some duct tape and bubble wrap... 1 Quote
Ekona Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I once drove from my house to JAE (90 mins)with the front end of my first MR2 protected by clingfilm Quote
Wayne370Z Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Yeah, just washed mine and found & touched up 3 new ones from the weekend jaunt over to Gainsborough. Quote
jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Yeah, just washed mine and found & touched up 3 new ones from the weekend jaunt over to Gainsborough. What did you use to touch them up? Quote
350zedd Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 C'est la vie my friend........$hit happens! Quote
ilogikal1 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 What did you use to touch them up? Must... resist... 1 Quote
Will370z Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 When i first bought my zed i loved it and cleaned it like crazy and i think i knew the location of every stone chip. Went up to Scotland on the hoon and following the guys all i could hear was the ping ping ping of stones of the front. At first i used to cringe but then thought "sod it", i cant wrap this car up in cotten wool, a good car has to be used. I know a number of my dads friends cars which are stunning concourse pieces, but i do feel sorry for them, they should be out there on the road being used and enjoyed. My current zed has got quite a few stones chips but i tell you, i treat them as battle scars and ive enjoyed getting each and every one one of them (particularly in southern europe) and if it gets to the point where something needs to be done i'll get a front respray. 2 Quote
LordSQra Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 you can buy a bra/mask to protect your front end http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-OEM-2003-2004-2005-Nissan-350z-Front-Nose-Mask-Bra-/270954966229 http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/50-1040 Quote
jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Yeah im not really a fan of the bra's (car ones) Guess ive got to deal with and not let my OCD get the better of me! Love the car though Quote
Wayne370Z Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) Yeah, just washed mine and found & touched up 3 new ones from the weekend jaunt over to Gainsborough. What did you use to touch them up? Just some touch up paint that I got off the internet on the end of a cocktail stick. They did let me know that they wouldn`t guarantee a perfect match with it being a pearlescent finish, and It`s not, but it is better than the black showing through. Edited February 23, 2015 by Wayne370Z Quote
WhackyWill Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Once a year I got the correct paint and a very small artists brush and carefully touched in the stone chips, mine was also black. Quote
steve916 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I was lucky that my car had already had a clear film applied to the front end when I bought it. It's hardly noticeable, and I have no stone chips Quote
jonty88 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks for the info guys, I didnt know how effective touch up paint was! definitely something for me to consider 1 Quote
JetSet Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 Hey Guys, So this might be just a rant or getting it off my chest, however I want to know if you guys all experience the dreaded stone chips and scuffs. Nope, I don't have any problems with stone chips. The thing is that the vast majority of chips are caused by driving too close to the vehicle in front, sadly most people don't even realize they're doing it. Of course this isn't foolproof as you can get chips from passing cars or even cars coming the other way, nothing you can do about that. I look at it this way though, if you can read the number plate of the car in front at 70 then you're far too close. I know some people will disagree but it's worked for me so far. It's especially important to keep your distance when the gritter has been out . Pete 3 Quote
ilogikal1 Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 I didnt know how effective touch up paint was! Only as effective as the person applying it. It can make the chips look a lot worse if done poorly but similarly it can make them completely unnoticeable if done well. 1 Quote
JEMAN Posted February 23, 2015 Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) When I got my Z back in 2012 it did have a lot of stone chips on the bumper....bonnet and a few on the front wings.....I had them re sprayed a few months after so after 7k.......I can report only 1 small stone chip........the key is to keep a certain distance of the car in front.......and a BIG distance with trucks . The first pic is when I had the re spray and after 18 months later the last pics with the poor paper stuck over the number plate is as it now lol No change other than the 1 stone chip lol Edited February 23, 2015 by JEMAN Quote
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