Front Bumper
 

Why oh why do our front bumpers suck so bad?

I know there have been many topics on this, but it is insane how easily the paint chips on the front bumper.

I know the car is low, but anything that touches leaves a mark.

All I can do is wait it out and then get it repainted and get a clear bra, which I should have done from the start. I plan on keeping the car for a long time so will just get the bumper repainted eventually but it still sucks!!!!!

Nissan are cheap bastards that's why :icon17:

Because debris chips paint worse at 157mph.

I think if I went 157mph the paint would actually fly right off the front bumper.

Tracking the car is not for the paint timid.

"Soft" paint isn't a Nissan-exclusive issue. Go to just about any forum - Toyota, Honda, etc., and you'll hear the same complaints.

3M painter's tape for the win.

This. It bugs me how people complain about Z paint like it is a Nissan only issue. I can tell you that Subarus have the softest paint on the planet, as does certain Honda, Toyota, Lexus, and BMW paints.

:bowrofl::icon18::roflpuke2::icon17::iagree:

Guys, I could care less if it is a Nissan only issue or not.

My point being it still sucks. Whether other companies are having the same problem I have no idea, nor do I care. I only care about the car in front of me, and it's paint sucks.

:icon18:
Agreed

I debated clear bra myself, but it costs as much as a good paint job. I actually had shop I had clean up my last car talk me out it for that reason. Keep a nice layer of polish and wax on it, and keep it as clean as possible, things are always going to happen though. I just scraped the bottom of my bumper the other night and it drove me nuts, but not worth repainting the bmper over I guess.

I would suggest getting a clear bra. I got mine the day after I got a rock chip. Hell it's worth it alone in all the scratches its prevented from various females posing on the hood. At first they're all timid and careful saying "I don't want to scratch your paint." And then I'm Like "sh1t baby you can't scratch that paint. Now sit yo sexy as$ on my car!"

I have the clear bra done within one week I received the car, partial hood, fenders AND BUMPER.

The price difference between with/without the bumper is $500. The guy told me not many people do the bra on the bumper because it costs more than repaint the whole bumper.

It does make sense to me at first, but within split of a second I know it will be difficult to match the color, when I have to repaint the bumper 3 - 4 years later, especially my car is white color.

Thanks for the feedback guys,

I am kinda torn as well. I can get the bumper repainted after two years or so and get a clear bra put on.

Or I could just get it repainted again two more years later.

My car is sliver. My only concern with repaint is matching the original colour.

I personally don't like the repainting option as a solution.
Sure it takes care of the chips... for about a week. Not to mention your Z has a sand blasted bumper until you respray.... and then you go right back on the road and chip it up again.

IMO - get a clear bra and be done with it.

As I made the mistake of not getting the clear bra right away, I will wait to have my bumper repainted and then throw on the clear bra. Too many chips already to clear bra it now.:ugh2:

FYI clear bra is not an end all solution to chips in your paint. If you think that is it going to stop 100% of all pebbles and rocks from damaging your bumper you are sadly mistaken.

It's not an end all but it sure as hell beats not having anything at all and its relatively inexpensive for the protection.

and what makes you think a couple grand is inexpensive? you shouldnt assume that just because here in houston you can have it done cheap this applies to everywhere

I had my bumper fixed by a local shop and it is awesome........

Whoever put the front plate on my car failed... horribly...
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...r/03159a97.jpg

Got it all fixed and had my lip painted..
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...Z/f72d00db.jpg

The bugs and rocks just fall off of it now. New paint FTW.

Just for the sake of argument, I have the clear bra on my hood and fenders.. it has chips in it. It was MUCH more expensive than repainting my bumper.

$700 for the clear bra vs $250 for the bumper and lip.

My feelings exactly.

Wow, great feed back. That paint job and your car look great! I have a silver 370z as well.:icon18:

:iagree: as soon as I got my clear bra installed (over some touched up chips) I got chips everywhere on the hood where the bra was not...even quite a few where the roof meets the windshield. I'm starting to get good with the touchup paint ha!

typeone, did you get a new front bumper? if not, how did you fill the holes? Also, for the plastic part with the holes just below the bumper, did you totally repaint that and what did you fill the holes with? thanks.

Got any tips for the touchup paint? i have a nice chip in my front bumper/lip that is down to the black in the middle of it... Not sure how to approach it.

My 09 silver Z with 7500 miles was beat up... for some reason my GM 11 Z is showing serious toughness. I guess its because when vi had my silver one. I was a lil b1tch about every lil detail. Now I don't give a fk and its holdin up good. Karma??? I'm at almost 4k miles with 3 tiny barely noticeable chips. At 4k my old Z had over 20 and I created 20 more. Maybe some colors are more durable than others???? Maybe paint got better in 11? Maybe I'm just lucky??? Fk it.

it's called Dr. Colorchip
get it. now.

is it the best product for paint chips? hear anything about how it turns out on a magnetic black 370z?