Bumper protection for long trips

[gen1pro]

Well its just as it says, I'm going to be making about a two hour drive next week and I want to protect my bumper and side view mirrors from rocks and all the love bugs in Fl. I saw a thread where Daedalus used some sort of painters tape. Does anyone have any ideas about something I could use temporarily?

[MSP#735]

painters tape~!

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123620860&highlight=painters+tape

[Turtle of Time]

painters tape lol.. either that or get a bottom bra from a p5, and a canadian bug shield for a p5, and cf mirror covers

[gen1pro]

painters tape~!

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123620860&highlight=painters+tape

That looks like the stuff...I'll definitely invest. I wonder if it comes in other colors (make people wonder what the hell is going on with my car).

[Prodigy]

painters tape~!

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123620860&highlight=painters+tape


That's itdentical to what I was going to post.

[MSP#735]

woo hoo, im glad i could help...and no it only comes in blue ( it MAY come in green also, may have to look around)

[Kansei]

I wish something came in silver. I've basically given up hope on the paint on the front bumper of my car though. The rest of the paint on my car is MINT, but the front bumper is so painfully pitted by rocks. Maybe if I decide to keep the P5 (and not get an MSP) I'll get the front end repainted and then I'll worry about painters tape, though from the ones I have seen I think I would be happy with a 3M clear bra.

[ping]

silver = duct tape
:D :D :D :D

(I wouldn't - it'll either pull the paint off or you'll have adhesive everywhere).

[Kansei]

silver = duct tape
:D :D :D :D

(I wouldn't - it'll either pull the paint off or you'll have adhesive everywhere).

Great idea! Instead of using a black wrinkle paint on my valve cover I'll just cover it with some nice black electrical tape! haha (cabpatch)

[zzMSP03.5]

I wish something came in silver. I've basically given up hope on the paint on the front bumper of my car though. The rest of the paint on my car is MINT, but the front bumper is so painfully pitted by rocks. Maybe if I decide to keep the P5 (and not get an MSP) I'll get the front end repainted and then I'll worry about painters tape, though from the ones I have seen I think I would be happy with a 3M clear bra.

I feel ya dude im the same way, Can't catch a break. So i actually ordered the dg lip I am removing the 03.5 lip and getting everything repainted and putting some type of protector or extra layers of clear coat to protect it

[deepfriedsushi]

Dont' they have something called the "clear bra" ? I'm pretty sure it does its job and looks a lot less weird than painter's or duct tape (ughdance). But i'm with u all the way if u dont' care for the looks and for the frugal solution (yes)

[benben84]

I have seen a few cars that have a clear vinyl protector that was made specifically for that purpose. I'm not sure what it's called but from a distance you can't see it and it also doesn't change the paint color at all.

[Kansei]

I have seen a few cars that have a clear vinyl protector that was made specifically for that purpose. I'm not sure what it's called but from a distance you can't see it and it also doesn't change the paint color at all.

Rockblocker sells a kit for a lot of cars. I've seen it on a Mazda6 and yeah, right up close you can see that it is there but even then, it isn't like it looks bad, it just looks like you're dealing with someone who really cares about keeping their car in great condition.

edit: I hear you do have to get it replaced every 2-3 years though because it'll yellow, but that's still a hell of a lot better than what leaving a bra on your car for 2-3 years would do.

[CRZbrussian]

That's itdentical to what I was going to post.

werd HAHA

[zzMSP03.5]

What about this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda-Protege-2000-03-Invisible-Paint-Protection-Car-Br_W0QQitemZ8061699316QQcategoryZ50457QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem

i was searchin around on ebay and stumbled on to this

[Kansei]

I wouldn't trust it for a minute. plus, it is probably for the normal sedan front end not the MSP/MP3/P5.

[cdrpyro]

I went with the painters tape on a trip from VA to GA and it worked great.
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2318701&postcount=99

[gen1pro]

Well I made my trip and the painters tape worked like I charm. I received a little extra attention from people the whole weekend and when they ask I told them and they thought it was ingenious. Heres some pics of the blue bumper.

[cheapmiata1600]

an hour drive is a long trip?

[gen1pro]

an hour drive is a long trip?

It was probably like 1hr 45mins but that was long enough for me and with the amount of love bugs here in the summer it definitely helped.

[Kansei]

an hour drive is a long trip?

hehe I guess some people are REALLY protective of their cars. If my bumper was freshly painted I'd probably do it too :)

[cheapmiata1600]

I'll have to take a closeup pic of my front bumper for you guys. It looks like it's been sandblasted.

[Dr.Sound]

lmao
that's what i did every time i went to the track :P

[justanotheradikt]

anybody know how many rolls they used?
also did you just do one layer or two or what?

[Kansei]

anybody know how many rolls they used?
also did you just do one layer or two or what?

Some guys covered an Audi S4 using only like 4 rolls or somethin.. must have been pretty big rolls though. Thtey then drove the car cross-country to deliver it for another forum member.

read about it on vwvortex, got linked to it from autoblog. they did a nice long travel log writeup on the trip.

[justanotheradikt]

so your saying it takes more than 4 rolls?

[Mark94]

I've got the Rockblocker partial kit which consists of hood protection, a small part of each fender near the hood, and the side mirrors, I also have the Rockblocker headlight and foglight protection. Finally, I have the complete front bumper and lip kit from Xpel. I'll bet you can't even see it is there.

Best money I ever spent. I forget how much I spent on the rockblocker stuff, but I installed that stuff myself but the front bumper/lip was complicated and you needed a factory trained tech to install it. I think I paid $360 for the materials and installation from Xpel.

Xpel also sells the partial kit (hood, fenders and mirrors) and the headlight/foglight kit but Rockblocker had a sale at the time so they were cheaper.

http://www.xpel.com/products/configurator.asp?prevtype=1&prevyear=2003&prevmake=25&prevmodel=0&prevsubmodel=0&prevseries=0&type=1&year=2003&make=25&model=779

Hope that helps.

Mark

[justanotheradikt]

i do plan on getting that...but im leaving friday morning so i kinda need something really fast!
lol

[Laser03pro]

Is this the tape you guys used?
http://epics.ecn.purdue.edu/hfh/sub_websites/tutorials/Painting/media/paintersTapeBig.jpg

[Kansei]

yeah that'll work. I have bright green "automotive masking tape" that I think I might give a try :) mmm lime green

[Laser03pro]

Cool I have some of that green tape too. I plan to go on some long trips this summer for car shows and dont want to get any chips or bugs implanted in the paint.