Show, Shine & Audio This forum is for discussion of all appearance and audio related topics, and for Show Car preparation information

3M protection

Thread Tools
 
Old 06-14-2012 | 07:04 PM
  #1  
Simons's Avatar
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 164
From: Martensville, Saskatchewan
3M protection

How many of you put on the 3M protection on your stangs as soon as you got it?

I was thinking of front hood/bumper, headlights/fog lights, mirrors, just after front tires and just after rear tires....

Crazy to do or in the right frame of mind?
Old 06-14-2012 | 07:57 PM
  #2  
VAEM's Avatar
Retired Admin
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,821
From: Barrie, Ontario
I've never used it.
Old 06-14-2012 | 08:10 PM
  #3  
Simons's Avatar
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 164
From: Martensville, Saskatchewan
hmmmm, k something to think about....
Old 06-15-2012 | 12:38 AM
  #4  
ChadStang's Avatar
Moderator
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,871
From: Slave Lake, AB
I've been thinking about it for mine but it never looks perfect. If my car was a daily driver I would do it.
Old 06-15-2012 | 05:18 AM
  #5  
GT E UPP's Avatar
CMOC Rookie
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 67
From: Whitby (Toronto), Ontario
Not for me....., I had 3M installed on one of my front bumpers for a time and personally didn't like it at all. Some of the larger stone hits would still mark/tear film and it would look even worse (on Black) than regular stone chips that could at least be touched up... Just my 2 cents !!

Last edited by GT E UPP; 06-15-2012 at 09:36 AM.
Old 06-15-2012 | 09:18 AM
  #6  
DublDee's Avatar
Retired Moderator
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,079
From: Lloydminster, Sask.
No that stuffs not for me. I need to be able to polish and wax, and you just cant get the same shine through the 3m film.
Old 06-15-2012 | 11:31 AM
  #7  
Simons's Avatar
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 164
From: Martensville, Saskatchewan
Awsome.... Thanks for the replies guys. I am not doing it then.
Old 06-16-2012 | 08:42 AM
  #8  
stev0h's Avatar
CMOC Veteran
 
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 485
From: Peterborough
Originally Posted by ChadStang
I've been thinking about it for mine but it never looks perfect. If my car was a daily driver I would do it.
I agree with ChadStang, but my limer is a daily driver, and is actually the second out of three cars that I have put the 3M on (I have a friend who installs this stuff as a sideline to his auto graphics design biz). The first car it went on (when new) was a leased black Sonata, and after 79,977 km, whatever it was covering was still perfect.

It went on the Mustang the day I brought it home, and it now has over 160,000 km. Again, everywhere it covers is perfect underneath, with the exception of a few spots where it has started to bubble up due to corrosion caused by the Ford iron particles in the aluminum hood panels problem (TSB 06-25-15) that so many have had. Also, it is starting to look a little worn along the edges of the angled pieces on either side of the grill after so many km's and winters.

The last car it went on is my wife's salesmobile, a 2010 Accent. Only 30,000 km on it so far, but it is silver, and silver paint on Hyundai's is notoriously thin. So far it looks good.

If anyone does decide to install this stuff, there are a couple things to take note of:

1 - Don't do it yourself. Even guys with plenty of experience installing stripes and other graphics have a tough time with this the first few times they do it.

2 - You will always see a line across your hood and fenders and it will drive you a little crazy, but I have found that most other people don't notice it until you point it out to them.

3 - When you look at it through polarized sunglasses, you will not like what you see - it will look dis-coloured and hazy in spots. Take off your sunglasses, it looks perfect to the naked eye.

Hope this helps anyone else thinking about doing this, and don't hesitate to ask for more info if you need it.
Old 06-17-2012 | 11:27 AM
  #9  
VAEM's Avatar
Retired Admin
 
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,821
From: Barrie, Ontario
^^^ Good tips!
Old 06-17-2012 | 01:02 PM
  #10  
def67's Avatar
Silly Milly
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,958
From: Taber Alberta
I didnt know about the 3m being polarized, that would drive me nuts. The stangs got polarized glass on the back window and it drives me nuts. I actually went to the dealer and asked if it was normal, LOL.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:36 AM.