spyme
09-06-2009, 11:54 PM
(Long post, forgive me, but I do end up writing about protecting your Spyder.)
I recently bought a 2006 Infinity G35 that had a clear film applied to the frontal bumper and hood area. The film had also been applied to the frontal surfaces of the side mirrors, but was just beginning to fray ever so slightly on one edge, so I asked the dealership what could be done about it. They referred me to, “their guy” who handles all their 3M protective film coatings on their higher end sports cars.
Never having been terribly close to a higher end sports car, I had no idea such a material existed. I contacted Matt Hudson (“their guy” ) who is a certified 3M installer who’s been doing this type of work for 5 years on Lamborghinis, Porsches, etc. Typically they access a digital template of the car/parts you want covered, pre-cut it on a plotter, and then install it. Matt came to my house and re-did the two side mirrors and they look perfect – actually better than new.
Before he came, I asked about a pattern for the Spyder. When he arrived, he confirmed that no supplier had a pattern for the Spyder, but he could work up an estimate to hand-cut one.
Hand-cut one?!? Are you kidding me? I’m kinda a perfectionist, a little OCD, and I even mop my garage floor. I wasn’t too keen on some guy hand cutting sticky film on my Spyder. But after I saw his perfectionist work on the two car mirrors I decided to give him the go-ahead.
The following weekend, he showed up and went to work. It is a fascinating process to watch. He spent about three hours on it in a 102° garage (September, Phoenix, AZ) and with the skill of untold hours of practice, he laid a single sheet of this amazing sticky-film perfectly across the entire hood of the Spyder. He cut pieces for both frontal fenders areas, and the side/under-sides of the trunk. When it was all done, I can’t see any difference at all – which is exactly what I hoped for. This 3M film actually has the same clear-coat chemical substances as does clear coat auto paint, to emulate the same level of paint finish orange-peel common on most automotive factory paint jobs.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5869
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5870
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5871
I won’t attempt to explain the protective qualities here, but you can start at Matt’s website at www.atlasarmor.com (http://www.atlasarmor.com/)
If you haven’t yet chipped or nicked your Spyder trunk or fenders, I highly recommend you check this out – before you mess up the factory finish. And for those of you in Phoenix, please don’t hesitate to contact Matt Hudson at www.atlasarmor.com (http://www.atlasarmor.com)
Total cost, with tip included, $250.
--SpyMe
I recently bought a 2006 Infinity G35 that had a clear film applied to the frontal bumper and hood area. The film had also been applied to the frontal surfaces of the side mirrors, but was just beginning to fray ever so slightly on one edge, so I asked the dealership what could be done about it. They referred me to, “their guy” who handles all their 3M protective film coatings on their higher end sports cars.
Never having been terribly close to a higher end sports car, I had no idea such a material existed. I contacted Matt Hudson (“their guy” ) who is a certified 3M installer who’s been doing this type of work for 5 years on Lamborghinis, Porsches, etc. Typically they access a digital template of the car/parts you want covered, pre-cut it on a plotter, and then install it. Matt came to my house and re-did the two side mirrors and they look perfect – actually better than new.
Before he came, I asked about a pattern for the Spyder. When he arrived, he confirmed that no supplier had a pattern for the Spyder, but he could work up an estimate to hand-cut one.
Hand-cut one?!? Are you kidding me? I’m kinda a perfectionist, a little OCD, and I even mop my garage floor. I wasn’t too keen on some guy hand cutting sticky film on my Spyder. But after I saw his perfectionist work on the two car mirrors I decided to give him the go-ahead.
The following weekend, he showed up and went to work. It is a fascinating process to watch. He spent about three hours on it in a 102° garage (September, Phoenix, AZ) and with the skill of untold hours of practice, he laid a single sheet of this amazing sticky-film perfectly across the entire hood of the Spyder. He cut pieces for both frontal fenders areas, and the side/under-sides of the trunk. When it was all done, I can’t see any difference at all – which is exactly what I hoped for. This 3M film actually has the same clear-coat chemical substances as does clear coat auto paint, to emulate the same level of paint finish orange-peel common on most automotive factory paint jobs.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5869
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5870
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=490&pictureid=5871
I won’t attempt to explain the protective qualities here, but you can start at Matt’s website at www.atlasarmor.com (http://www.atlasarmor.com/)
If you haven’t yet chipped or nicked your Spyder trunk or fenders, I highly recommend you check this out – before you mess up the factory finish. And for those of you in Phoenix, please don’t hesitate to contact Matt Hudson at www.atlasarmor.com (http://www.atlasarmor.com)
Total cost, with tip included, $250.
--SpyMe