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      03-04-2021, 11:33 AM   #1
taarobaap
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Possible New Owner - Road Trip Advice?

What's up everyone? First post on here, but been searching and researching for a while...

As in my signature, I've been looking for a 340 for about 4 months and believe I've found the right one. If everything goes well, I should be flying out to pick it up next week! I'll be taking some time to drive it home - about 700+ miles; I figured it would be a great way to get to know the car and have some fun on the open road.

Question - should I worry about the front end of the vehicle getting rock chips, etc.? I know some people used to painter's tape up the front end, but wondering if this is something I should really worry about or if I should just be smart about the drive home (no tailgating, etc.). Just to note, this car does not have a clear bra or lamin-x. I dont even think it is ceramic coated (which I know doesn't protect against rock chips, etc.).

Thoughts?
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      03-04-2021, 11:37 AM   #2
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Road debris is like orange peels. Both come with the territory.

It's best to stay clear of trucks and anything being towed. Getting a clear bra for the road trip would not hurt of course.
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      03-04-2021, 11:40 AM   #3
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Yeah, fair enough. Not sure that i'll have the time to install it when I get there, and was thinking of getting it done professionally when I got back home. Hmm, decisions, decisions!
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      03-04-2021, 12:19 PM   #4
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If it's been driven this long without one, one more trip without it will not make a huge difference. There are probably rock chips on it already. Just bring it back home and go from there.
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      03-04-2021, 02:40 PM   #5
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I did similar - picked my car up and drove 2000 miles home. Not sure about rock chips, but my front bumper was plastered with crushed bugs.
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      03-04-2021, 02:57 PM   #6
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get some painters tape and two cans of plastidip and do a four-five layer "bra" on the front. Should take less than an hour if weather is decent. When you get home, peel all the bugs off. lol.
I used to do it for my trips from OH to NC and back.
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      03-04-2021, 08:34 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chowser51 View Post
get some painters tape and two cans of plastidip and do a four-five layer "bra" on the front. Should take less than an hour if weather is decent. When you get home, peel all the bugs off. lol.
I used to do it for my trips from OH to NC and back.
So painters tape and then plasti-dip over? Interesting! Didn't think of that one. Driving from LA to Charlotte, will def think about it!
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      03-04-2021, 10:23 PM   #8
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Im with chowser, or just completely use tape on the whole front, if not then kind of make a box outline and go ham with plastidip on everything within the outline that you'd like protected. It'll do the job to get you home without problems
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      03-05-2021, 06:36 AM   #9
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...or just drive home and take the chips along with the salsa.

This is an appliance made to go 100,000s of miles. You'll get chips, scratches, dings, dents--view them as signs your car is tough and has done sh#t.
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      03-05-2021, 08:31 AM   #10
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I vote to just enjoy it and drive it home. I’ve had my car for five years without issues.
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      03-05-2021, 09:20 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaxdmax View Post
...or just drive home and take the chips along with the salsa.

This is an appliance made to go 100,000s of miles. You'll get chips, scratches, dings, dents--view them as signs your car is tough and has done sh#t.
Exactly. I remember fretting over the first couple of door dings I found on my car when it was newer. Then I found a couple of new scratches and fretted further. Now, several years later, there are additional minor scratches (thankfully no new dings) but I stopped worrying about them a long time ago. They aren't very apparent without a close inspection, and worrying about them just spoils my day. Now I just keep calm and keep driving on.
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      03-05-2021, 02:02 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by adhrp View Post
Exactly. I remember fretting over the first couple of door dings I found on my car when it was newer. Then I found a couple of new scratches and fretted further. Now, several years later, there are additional minor scratches (thankfully no new dings) but I stopped worrying about them a long time ago. They aren't very apparent without a close inspection, and worrying about them just spoils my day. Now I just keep calm and keep driving on.
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      03-05-2021, 04:11 PM   #13
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Thanks all! Done deal - picking her up on Wednesday.

I think I'm just going to enjoy the drive and try to find some nice twisty mountain roads on the way!

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      03-05-2021, 05:22 PM   #14
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Check this out: https://frontstreet.media/2018/07/13...m-really-work/

https://www.pepboys.com/3m-paint-def...roduct/1013748

Don't tailgate, keep a safe distance & plan/look ahead!
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      03-05-2021, 05:28 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John in VA View Post
Check this out: https://frontstreet.media/2018/07/13...m-really-work/

https://www.pepboys.com/3m-paint-def...roduct/1013748

Don't tailgate, keep a safe distance & plan/look ahead!

Very interesting! Anyone have experience with this stuff, specifically removing it?
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      03-05-2021, 06:29 PM   #16
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Griot's Garage had a similar product - I can't find it now. Another review:
https://www.thecarconnection.com/new...rotection-work
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      03-05-2021, 06:35 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by John in VA View Post
Check this out: https://frontstreet.media/2018/07/13...m-really-work/

https://www.pepboys.com/3m-paint-def...roduct/1013748

Don't tailgate, keep a safe distance & plan/look ahead!
I was driving home the other day from test driving a nice 440i (thinking about trading in my 430i) and a truck was about 100 yards in front of me pulling a trailer on the interstate and he lost like 5 rocks out of the trailer that came at me like bullets. I saw them coming but couldn't do much about it. I tapped my brakes but there weren't many options on the interstate without causing a wreck and one of the rocks nailed my windshield. Luckily it didn't break but could have been worse. Trucks suck! lol
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