[matt the cat]

Hello all!!

I'm picking up my mini on sat - Yay! its the first one ive owned. Just moved from a lotus elise and hoping the MCS Works cab will provide similar fun in more practical way.

Anyway, ive noticed that a lot of minis catch the stones on the bonnet and bumper and most are peppered. I want to protect the front at the moment with winter upon us and just wondered if nyone has fitted a bonnet bra or had the paint film protection?

Any feedback appreciated

MTC

[Foxy Mini]

I have the paint film protection... and it hasn't really made much difference

[Japper]

Quote: Originally Posted by matt the cat (original)

Hello all!!

I'm picking up my mini on sat - Yay! its the first one ive owned. Just moved from a lotus elise and hoping the MCS Works cab will provide similar fun in more practical way.

Anyway, ive noticed that a lot of minis catch the stones on the bonnet and bumper and most are peppered. I want to protect the front at the moment with winter upon us and just wondered if nyone has fitted a bonnet bra or had the paint film protection?

Any feedback appreciated

MTC

That's strange because all the mini's i've seen have been pretty flawless. My last car ( Audi A3 ) picked up stone chips at an alarming rate. In fact I had to fill in chips on a weekly basis. Had my mini 4 months and touched up less than half a dozen chips.

BMW must make tougher paint than Audi

[hetcooper]

hello matt.... and welcome to mini2...

i havn't had any probs at all with stone chips but you'l love being a mini driver so you won't mind the odd touch up along the way!!

[Razzputin]

Last summer I did a 3200 mile trip. I have no extra protection for my MINI and have zero paint chips from that trip. The trip was on about 3000 miles of interstate roads (super highways) with lots of tractor trailer trucks.

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by matt the cat (original)

Hello all!!

I'm picking up my mini on sat - Yay! its the first one ive owned. Just moved from a lotus elise and hoping the MCS Works cab will provide similar fun in more practical way.

Anyway, ive noticed that a lot of minis catch the stones on the bonnet and bumper and most are peppered. I want to protect the front at the moment with winter upon us and just wondered if nyone has fitted a bonnet bra or had the paint film protection?

Any feedback appreciated

MTC

welcome to MINI2 Matt

I guess it all depends on the type of roads you drive, the weather, the surface and the colour of your MINI

I have chili red, I like to drive it like I stole it, and get loads of stone chips and they show up pretty bad, but not as bad as my last Black MINI, its just part and parcel of ownership I'm affraid

As for bras on MINI's, these are more a US item than the UK, the only thing I would say with those is that if a stone or gravel gets behind it they can then rub and scuff paint worse than a stone chip.

The film stuff, well I've not heard anyone that other than above given comment on them, my concern would be that I couldn't wax my like I do now and that it would chip and look more obvious.

[matt the cat]

cheers for the welcome and thanks for the input!

[Rakey]

Quote: Originally Posted by matt the cat (original)

cheers for the welcome and thanks for the input!

the other thing to think Matt is how much would either of these options cost you? And then how much would a front end respray cost, probably about event, at about £450 at a guess.

Just drive it and enjoy it

Oh and good choice of car, JCW MCSC is the most fun in my life, infact time to go drive home from work now

[Electra]

I had the invisi bra /clear bra applied when I ordered my 05. I wouldn't be without it!

Initially I was hesitant to order plastic film because I was afraid of wrinkles and it looking like some kids applied it. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

It works great, no chips after almost 2 years. An added bonus is that it makes bug removal easy, since bugs are magnetically drawn to the front end of MINIs. I can scrub away at stubborn insect guts without worrying about marring the paint.

Enjoy your MINI!

[JG.26]

Quote: Originally Posted by matt the cat (original)

Hello all!!

I'm picking up my mini on sat - Yay! its the first one ive owned. Just moved from a lotus elise and hoping the MCS Works cab will provide similar fun in more practical way.

Anyway, ive noticed that a lot of minis catch the stones on the bonnet and bumper and most are peppered. I want to protect the front at the moment with winter upon us and just wondered if nyone has fitted a bonnet bra or had the paint film protection?

Any feedback appreciated

MTC

Hi,

Had a clear bra fitted to my S last March by RhinoProtect Stone Chip Protection Film Specialists and wouldn't be without it. Cost £300 and you can hardly tell it's there. You just wash and wax the car as normal with no probs. If you want to keep the front end looking good would recommend it and come resale time your gonna sell your car easier than one covered in stone chips, you can bet as soon as you pick your car up you'll pick a chip up, sods law.

Some pics in my gallery

Best of luck tomorrow

[Madeira Jon]

I have the Diamond thingy extra for the metallic paint which cost me an extra £200 when I bought the car, April 2006, and it seems to do the jon. No more polishing for 5 years, and no stone chips. I had something similar on my Z3 and it certainly stopped shipping (Z3 was 2002 in Cosmic Black)

[matt the cat]

thanks again!

lookin 4ward to tomorrow - 11.00 at the local stealers.

I'm a bit of an obsessive detailer on the ol' cars i'm afraid. I'll probably spend a week detailing it then have the front end film applied. decided to go for 'ventureshield' -
have managed to negotiate a cash deal which will cover the bumper, bonnet, front lights and spots, sides of front wings and the tailgate upper.

I had paintshield applied to a clio trophy a year or so but didnt keep the car long enough to really see the benefits.

MTC