Stone chips 2004 Azure Blue 350Z(uk)

All Z Cars sit low to the ground. But its also the roads you drive on that you should consider, some roads are littered with tiny rocks and debris from motorists, even interstate highways can be bad.

What you need is a 3M Clearcoat protective layer. Not sure where you live, but there are body shops that you could consult about this spray protectant. It forms a rock hard shell on front end of vehicle, the alternative is a leather bra, but they age and look bad after a year or so.

Call the Nissan dealer Body Shop, often they sell these aftermarket applications. Or call the saleman you bought car from, let him ask around too.

Check out these websites:

Check out the forums at

Cheers, Matt.

Thanks Matt,

Just registered on the site and it seems i'm not the only one with this problem...Will be posting some comments on there later!!

Cheers Neil

Nissan's are notorious for thin paint on the bumber. The clear coat is already on the vehicle from the manufacture. I had a 01 altima that was ruined by bug/rock hits. I now have a 03 350z track, I did not want my z ending like my altima so I had a clear shield installed. Have not had any chip in 25,000 miles.

Hello, No, the paintwork is not defective and there is nothing you can do with protective layer or anything like that (ClearCoat). The only reason is that the painting is done over plastic (bumper) not metal. Plastic is soft, and any stone chips impact leads to a more severe puncture in the underlying material of the painting layers. Bumper could not be made with metal for safety reasons, and can you imagine driving a Z with black bumpers like an allroad car ? I think the best is to get ready to have some paintwork redone after 2 or 3 years of driving. Stéphane.

"Neil" snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.co.uk> a écrit dans le message de news:opsidob1bksjp9dj@winxp...

I had mine Paintshielded the day after I picked it up. Basically, they apply a clear laminate to the front of the car. It's barely visible and tough enough to deflect most of the debris you're likely to encounter on the roads. Again, lots of info on 350zuk.com.

Cheers, Matt.

Neil,

Also, check out

Also, if you go this route, experiment first. Lie down in front of your car near the front bumper, there will be plenty of chips and scratches there. The ones you do not see will be good for practice. Clean the underside well and get used to how the product works and looks after application.

If the chips are small this may work, but remember, the paint will get more abuse as you drive. So wax the car end at least 3 times a year or more. If nothing else, just wax the front end. A thin layer of wax will help. Plus if you use touch up paint, waxing will even out the finish.

How much does this process cost on average in U.S. dollars?

Depends how much coverage you go for: I had everything done (even the backs of the wing mirrors) and it cost me 400 UK pounds, which converts to nearly

Cheers, Matt.