Bonnet Paint Chip Protection

[glend14]

I have a couple of small paint chips in my MG3 Hybrid bonnet already. Is there any sort of protection device available in the UK or Euro market? Nothing in Australia yet apparently. And is it just me, or is the MG paint put on very thin? My red metallic seems very fragile.

 

[Deleted member 18108]

Not aware of any accessory, but you could see if someone who does car wraps might just do the bonnet edge for you. Not sure what it would cost.

 

[Radar]

A high-quality car ceramic paint sealant should help. Sealants are like car wax, except they leave a far longer-lasting protective layer, some of which are tough enough to protect against light scratches and stone chip marks. Most are easy to apply, and you don't need a professional to apply them.

 

[Cooperman]

I have a couple of small paint chips in my MG3 Hybrid bonnet already. Is there any sort of protection device available in the UK or Euro market? Nothing in Australia yet apparently. And is it just me, or is the MG paint put on very thin? My red metallic seems very fragile.

A high-quality car ceramic paint sealant should help. Sealants are like car wax, except they leave a far longer-lasting protective layer, some of which are tough enough to protect against light scratches and stone chip marks. Most are easy to apply, and you don't need a professional to apply them.

Hi,
I also have a red MG3 (it's called Dynamic Red in the UK) and I also have a couple of paint chips in the bonnet after only a couple of months. I paid for the dealer to apply Ultimotive Williams ceramic paint protection before delivery but it appears (according to the dealer) this does not help much with stone chips, it just keeps the car looking good!!
Maybe the Ultimotive stuff is inferior to other brands, who knows.
I got a some paint chip touch up pens from ebay to patch up the current chips, but I will be keeping an eye on how things progress. The dealer did say they would re-apply the ceramic coat after any repairs (gratis??).

 

[Deleted member 18108]

To be honest, I would not expect much in terms of stone chip protection from a ceramic coating, not least a consumer focused one. The primary role of these coatings is to help keep the paint clean, by repelling dirt and water. The easier a coating ease to apply the less silica it has, therefore the less tough it will be. Even professional coatings will not be that effective in repelling a stone travelling at speed and bouncing off the car paint. The unfortunate thing about a car with a
Slooping bonnet is that they are more prone to impact from stone chips. Red paint shows these up more so than some other colours. The Dynamic red on our cars is a tricoat, which makes it more difficult to touch up. Modern paint is softer than the car paint that came before, because they have taken all the unhealthy hardening agents out. You can try to minimise the risk of damage by keeping more distance from the vehicle in front (particularly hgvs) but you will never eliminate the risk, especially from vehicles coming the other way spraying chippings from their tyres. Over here tar and chippings are still used as a surface dressing on rural roads and travelling across these after they have been resurfaced is leaving yourself at the mercy of some idiot speeding towards you or past you.

 

[glend14]

Thank you for the replies. I have a two component paint repair kit from Color N Drive. The metallic red paint code is: 5RSJ, according to the sticker on my door. I will just have to stay on the lookout for chips. Thankfully I do not have to do much motorway driving, but suspect that is where my chips came from.

 

[KeithS]

The only way to help avoid stone chips in the paint is to apply PPF - PAINT PROTECTION FILM.
I had my other car fully covered 2 1/4 years ago prior to taking delivery.
The product is a clear film applied to the car which helps minimise Stone chipping and scratches to the cars paintwork. The product I have - Xpel self healing film also has the ability for light scratches to be repaired when exposed to heat, such as a hairdryer.
However its not a magic solution, and it's not cheap. The cost for my car, albeit at a shade over 5 metres long was not far short of £5,000.00!! So you have to be an obsessive like me!!
Also whilst it will stop MOST stones from damaging the paint, big impacts will penetrate the film, and whilst light stones won't get through, they will leave surface marks on the film. In the time I've had my other car, there are a few very light marks where a stone has hit and just grazed the films surface.
As I say, it's about how obsessive and fussy you are, as even the marks I mentioned above are very tiny and all but invisible to anyone looking at the car, it's only if you're seriously OCD like me, that they will bother. The main idea is to keep the original paintwork as perfect as possible.