[frenchfries]

I'll be going on a short road trip (900 miles total roundtrip) down to socal this weekend. I don't have any paint protection on my car. Should I use painter tape and cover my whole bumper to avoid rock chips or i should be fine? My car is really dirty right now, should i clean it before i head down there or should i clean it when i get there? I never driven a 'nice' car on a road trip, usually just beaters and rentals. any advice? THANKS!

[Sedan_Clan]

Just don't tail gate. That helps A LOT!

[300hp]

I have done several road trips, minimum 400 miles maximum 1200 miles one way. I am yet to use my F30 but it's not my family car. Based on my X5, which admittedly seats higher than the F30 I have not had issues with rock chips. If there are flaws with my paint it's not due to rock chips.

I would advise you to not even bother washing the car until you get back. You will collect all sorts of insects on the way to/from and exhaust fumes will make a presence on your rear bumper if your car is white or light colored. Forget about the brake dust on your wheels.

Enjoy the trip and just take the car for an express wax/detailing when you get back

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by 300hp

I have done several road trips, minimum 400 miles maximum 1200 miles one way. I am yet to use my F30 but it's not my family car. Based on my X5, which admittedly seats higher than the F30 I have not had issues with rock chips. If there are flaws with my paint it's not due to rock chips.

I would advise you to not even bother washing the car until you get back. You will collect all sorts of insects on the way to/from and exhaust fumes will make a presence on your rear bumper if your car is white or light colored. Forget about the brake dust on your wheels.

Enjoy the trip and just take the car for an express wax/detailing when you get back

[/end thread]

[frenchfries]

Originally Posted by 300hp

I have done several road trips, minimum 400 miles maximum 1200 miles one way. I am yet to use my F30 but it's not my family car. Based on my X5, which admittedly seats higher than the F30 I have not had issues with rock chips. If there are flaws with my paint it's not due to rock chips.

I would advise you to not even bother washing the car until you get back. You will collect all sorts of insects on the way to/from and exhaust fumes will make a presence on your rear bumper if your car is white or light colored. Forget about the brake dust on your wheels.

Enjoy the trip and just take the car for an express wax/detailing when you get back

thanks, my car is quite dirty. Would causing more dirt/insects damage the paint? ( haven't washed my car in a month) i want to put some painter tape on my bumper just to be safe, which i think should be cleaned first. Should i just wipe down the areas i'm going to tape and leave the rest?

[OC40]

Originally Posted by frenchfries

thanks, my car is quite dirty. Would causing more dirt/insects damage the paint? ( haven't washed my car in a month) i want to put some painter tape on my bumper just to be safe, which i think should be cleaned first. Should i just wipe down the areas i'm going to tape and leave the rest?

300 hit it. Wash it when you return.

That being said, I drove from Irvine to Scottsdale without any issues. I picked up a rock chip from Irvine to LA. It happens.

[300hp]

To be honest my opinion which has no scientific basis is leave the dirt and insects there. They will probably protect your paint from the rock chips you are worried about

[OC40]

Originally Posted by 300hp

To be honest my opinion which has no scientific basis is leave the dirt and insects there. They will probably protect your paint from the rock chips you are worried about

Sometimes, the insect is so big that it causes a chip...

[300hp]

Originally Posted by OC40

Sometimes, the insect is so big that it causes a chip...

Lol, you are right, It's possible

[BavarianFanatic]

If you don't tailgate you won't have chips. And masking tape will do little to prevent chips by the way.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

If you don't tailgate you won't have chips. And masking tape will do little to prevent chips by the way.

I agree, unless a semi is around. It was well ahead of me but the rock took a nice bounce.

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by OC40

I agree, unless a semi is around. It was well ahead of me but the rock took a nice bounce.

They have 18 wheels working against you with no shrouding. You need to try to avoid them as much as possible. Even if they're traveling in the opposite direction.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

They have 18 wheels working against you with no shrouding. You need to try to avoid them as much as possible. Even if they're traveling in the opposite direction.

Agree 100%. Unfortunately, I did not have an option in that scenario.

[Agamemnon]

On road trips, I take a bucket, cleaning mitt and washing materials. Bugs are acidic and really eat into the clear coat. Wash the bugs off with copious water and car shampoo, then dry it off. Keep well back from other cars - don't tailgate - shouldn't be tailgating anyway and you should be fine. Try to avoid roads that have ongoing roadwork - I usually check the internet for information on my trip.

Otherwise enjoy your ride - the cars are made for the road trip. They are a bit of a waste driving them around town. I've got a couple of chips from my trips but they are pretty minor and wouldn't be noticeable unless I pointed them out.

[RoundelM3]

I'm about to move from Texas to North Carolina, and it's a 1400-mile trip. I've done some research into the clear-protection films and the 3M spray. I was at a car show recently and saw two Shelby Cobras (NOT Mustangs) with that spray film on them. It looked quite professional, and the owners said it was easy to apply and easy to remove without any paint damage. They advised to clean and wax the front of the car, mask off the grilles (if desired), and spray it on in a heavy coat but not enough to make it run. It goes on blue and dries clear. It can then be easily peeled off later. I'm considering doing this because it's less than $50 compared to $600 for the film applied by X-Pel or other quality film.

[Cyberdemon]

I just did 3000 miles from NY to Miami in the F30 and that included a few blizzards and the car was fine. I actually already have two large chips in my windscreen and I was secretly hoping for it to shatter so I could get my insurance to replace it, but no such luck.

Be prepared to get a serious car wash or detail when you get back though. I still have bugs stuck to the front but it's too cold here in NY to properly wash your car this time of year so the drive through will have to do.

[Feanor]

Most of my stone chips have been from normal driving on the motorway, often kicked up by lorries. No tailgating involved.

But it's a car. Stone chips will happen. If it does, get a touch up stick from the dealer but don't use the stupidly large brush that comes with it. Go to a shop that sells Airfix or Warhammer models and buy one of those tiny tiny model making brushes. I was able to make several scratches and a stone chip almost disappear on my previous car, a Jet Black E82. You genuinely almost couldn't see them if you didn't already know they were there. At least those misspent hours painting Spitfires and Space Marines when I was a kid have some use in adulthood!

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Feanor

Most of my stone chips have been from normal driving on the motorway, often kicked up by lorries. No tailgating involved.

But it's a car. Stone chips will happen. If it does, get a touch up stick from the dealer but don't use the stupidly large brush that comes with it. Go to a shop that sells Airfix or Warhammer models and buy one of those tiny tiny model making brushes. I was able to make several scratches and a stone chip almost disappear on my previous car, a Jet Black E82. You genuinely almost couldn't see them if you didn't already know they were there. At least those misspent hours painting Spitfires and Space Marines when I was a kid have some use in adulthood!

Excuse my ignorance, but....

...what the hell is a lorrie?

[Feanor]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Excuse my ignorance, but....

...what the hell is a lorrie?

Baahaha! No not lorrie, lorry... one lorry, two lorries .

I think a lorry is what you'd call a truck .

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Excuse my ignorance, but....

...what the hell is a lorrie?

Truck

[EB_F30]

...let me tell you about living Italy, tailgating is a way if life here! I had a damn chip with in 3 months of owning my f30.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by Feanor

Baahaha! No not lorrie, lorry... one lorry, two lorries .

I think a lorry is what you'd call a truck .

A great band called Red Lorry Yellow Lorry BTW

Hey Sedan, it's like if you were British you'd be "Saloon Clan" LOL