MakoShark72

OK, I have another thread that I started on applying 3M Paint Defender. Took me two tries to apply it, and my advice was MAKE SURE YOU WAX the surface, as per the directions...if not, you will spend HOURS trying to remove it... like I did (first time I did not wax)!!

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...s-learned.html

The second time, I waxed the surface, sprayed 3 coats, just like the instructions said. Came out looking pretty good, I had some areas that dried very smoothly, and a few areas that exhibited some orange peel, that didn't level out. I also did the areas behind the front wheels, and the area in front of the rear wheels, and the full length of the rockers..

Cured for two days, parked it in direct sun for several hours, just like the directions..

Left yesterday on an extended road trip. First 350 miles were in the rain, then it finally cleared up, then about 400 miles in clear, dry weather.

After stopping for the night in Burley, Idaho, I went down to the local spray car wash to clean off the road grime, bugs, brake dust, etc. I notices a couple of small spots on the leading edges of a couple of panels, that showed minor peeling, I assume from air flow at freeway (and greater) speeds. Then, as soon as I hit the front bumper, with the car wash spray, the Paint Defender started to SEPARATE FROM THE BUMPER SURFACE. This was in the center of the bumper, NOT the leading edges that I mentioned... I backed off a little, and I got no more peeling on the bumper, but I did get a little peeling from the rockers and the areas in front of the rear wheels, near the brake cooling ducts. The spray wand never got closer than a foot or so from the surface.

Spent the next 2 hours, in the hotel parking lot, peeling the entire front bumper! I decided not to remove the side application, as I want the protection until we get back home next week.

I am very disappointed, as I followed the directions to the number. I think there were some spots where I could have applied the material a little heavier, but those were not the areas that failed under the pressure from the car wash.

I don't think I will attempt a 3rd application. Some may say "you get what you pay for" and that may be true, but I posted this not to be criticized but to pass along my experience to others who may be contemplating this..

Others may have positive experience with the product..

***edit*** I MAY have gotten too close with the high pressure wand (thanks Bill!).

6893Vette

Nothing like hearing real world experience.
I'm sorry to hear about the disappointing performance.
Thanks for sharing.

C6Whatever

Man sorry to hear that you had those problems with it. I do want to thank you for sharing your experience with us. Helps the rest of us out.

Lisa

OnPoint

Well, it was an interesting experiment and doesn't hurt the car in any way. Outside of your time involved in trying it out (and the minimal expense), nothing lost.

ZR1Cat

Perhaps this product will be more suitable in some limited locations and not the entire front end. Thanks for the excellent report.

Johnz02Z06

Sounds like the product works good except for the peeling edges oh and ...just do not wash it...ha ha!

Vetteman Jack

Thanks for the report - just saw a thread over in C5 Gen talking about this product. Good to hear some more actual experiences with the product.

plmkrzy

Thanks for telling about your experience. You have just made my decision easy.

Landru

IIRC 3M ran ads of this stuff during Mecum, in the ad they demoed applying-spraying it on the front of a car.

Historically 3M has made & marketed good stuff so I'm wondering what the story here is.

redrckt97

I saw it during Mecum too and wondered if anyone had tried it -- thanks for the report OP. I do think it looks like a decent product to use for track days instead of taping...then peel off afterwards.

Evil-Twin

Wow, while I accept the OP's experience, the disappointment comes from using a high pressure car wash wand, on a product that is specifically designed to peel off. I don't care if the wand was 8 inches or a foot away, its not designed to take high pressure hits from a car wash wand. That would not have happened if you had hand washed it and uses a hose with no pressure nozzle. I would have though common sense would dictate not using high pressure on this type of removable product.
Bill aka ET

MakoShark72

"Bill aka ET"

OK, so maybe the lesson to take out of my "lack of common sense" is not to use a wand-type car wash. I'm sure 3M makes a good product.

Don't you think questioning "common sense" is a little insulting? Those type of posts make Forum members hesitant to post the mistakes they have made, so others, maybe even YOU, won't make the same mistake..

Glad I could help.

Flh Den

Thanks Mako for the excellent review of this product. I am sorry you had all the hassles, but Thanks again for saving me the time and effort. It would seem like driving in a heavy rain at 70 or 80 mph would be the equivalent of a spray car wash anyway. I was thinking of a plain old vinyl bra and remove it when I get home.

96GS#007

Not only that, but after the track day, just run by a high-pressure car wash and you'll reduce the amount of work you have to go through to peel it off. Sounds like it worked exactly as 3M intended.

dvilin

Thanks for the update I guess I will cross that product off my list for possible roadtrip protection.

GTJim

From 3M's web site: Once the coating has fully cured, hand washing or touch-less car washes are recommended. Brush washes can reduce clarity and scratch the film. Touch-less car wash chemicals can leave residue on the film. Wipe down or wax the car to remove residue.

Evil-Twin

I was weighing the product versa your experience. In another thread and even in this thread people get the idea and have said they will cross this product off their list.. IN the face of a long distance road trip and spending several hundred dollars for a quality bra. This product at 25 dollars will indeed do the job. IM all about trying to save members money to help0 protect their car from a long term road trip. I never meant this product to be put on the car as a permanent protection product. This is more like a one day protection like many of us have done when using tape to protect vial areas of the car turning a one day road course. If I point out common sense as the reason for people to reconsider this product, with the idea that it will work but don't expect to use a high pressure hose on a removable part, without the high pressure hose removing it. If I rubbed you the wrong way, I apologize. I was also pointing out from a common sense point of view that this product is not meant to be a permanent protection solution. A one or two day road event is what this product is suppose to do. You might get a month out of it without spirited high speed driving. The good thing about this product is that it is easily reversible. Again with sincere apologies.
Bill aka ET

Stockcar Axeman

Rob. Sorry to hear about the problems. Thanks for sharing. How are those new tires working out? Hope the rest of your trip is much better! Drive safe bud!

Evil-Twin

the cars aerodynamic design will keep rain pressure at a minimum.. using a pressure washer from a hundred different angles and hitting the seams at the wrong angle will cause the film to peal. If you don't expose any leading edges to rain or wind, as the film is applied in a way not to expose a frontal attack on the seams. driving in the wind at 70 miles an hour is Just as demanding on a non permanent seam as driving in the rain at the same speed.. Now take that wand and put it behind the hood seam with the wand facing the front of the car, and you can see where the problem would be.. there are no seams facing front to back. Also maybe what is common sense to me as an automotive design engineer may not be as clear to someone else. Also my lack of common sense in the area of people sensitivity, may just be part of my response. Thus the apology.

MakoShark72

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THEM!!!!! Two days in Moab, spent several hours in Arches and also saw Canyonlands!

I have a Geology degree (from many moons ago) but the scenery is just amazing!!! We were out at Arches at sunset tonight, full moon came up, it is a Supermoon, actually the closest and largest full moon of 2013...

What a sight!! I need to start a thread about the road trip, I have lots of pictures!