Should I put on Starshield???

[albert]

Guys.. is it true that its very easy to have scratches without a starsheild?? i am thinking of putting one but when i saw my fren's in a close distance it doesn't look good... i mean when i saw my fren's car i didnt realise there is a starsheild but when i went close to his car i saw something different... The starsheild is noticeable.

So does all of you have starsheild on your car? If you do not have one, does your car have a lot of scratches???

many thanks!!!

[L 33 HAW]

Im not sure if its 'starshield' that i have, but my Exige Sprint came with the lotus factory fit protective film.

I would recomend it, get it fitted profesionally as it looks like a tricky job, but i have several what would be stone chips on my front end that are fine thanks to the protection.

I wouldnt go with the film in front of the rear wheels though as although stone chips here are not un common, they tend to be glancing blows and the film here can make it hard to get clean.

[AgentTripleX]

I highly recommend some sort of paint protection film. I just scarped the wall in my garage backing out. I look at the car and it was only the film on my side marker that's damaged. (StickerCity, please expect a call from me soon, lol.) It's a lot less expensive to replace film then parts or to repaint the car. I wish my whole car was in star shield because the places I have rock chips are where there's no film. Last year I replaced the film on my rocker panels because they where all beat up. I'm so glad it wasn't my paint. It's definitely worth the investment.

[shokwaves]

Even steel bumber get pitted, imagine how your Lotus will look after a few thousand miles of driving without it.

[Terminus]

A street-driven Eliese without something like starshield will accumulate a LOT of rock chips on teh front end and on the forward facing parts of the rear wheel bulge.

[PatrickShim]

Driving without clear bar, is like sex without condoms.

They may look funny, but gotta be safe than sorry.

[cory1000]

Contact SweetDaddyD on here...He makes aftermarket option that is better then the "other" guys that sell it...

Here is his site:
Chuforia Graffix

[BRTHTAKR]

Originally my car did not have any. The front and especially the areas ahead of the rear wheels took on the appearance that they had been shot with ratshot. Covered with small white chips and felt really rough.
After repainting Sweet Daddy D covered many areas with X-pel. Quite a trick to place on these curvaceous cars.
Now it takes a much harder hit for something to penetrate to the paint, but it is possible. Just happens a whole lot less.
My new problem: I had discovered that Spartan SD-20 works miracles to remove the black rubber smears from painted areas. When the SD-20 gets on the X-pel, it sorta melts the protective layer and causes it to smear and scuff. So I don't have pits but I don't know a good way to remove the black rubber streaks from the X-pel.

[BadtZ]

I can say on bad thing is by the time you peal off the "starshield" the starshielded parts will look new and the rest without will look old (paint)

but still I have starshield and it is alright, no one will care if you have a clear bra or not but ppl will see if you have rock chips or not.

I wish I can sell you my starshield right now and vinyl my whole car in Krypton green

[Terminus]

I had to replace some of the starshield when someone backed into my car in a parking lot. It had been on the car for almost 4 years at that point, never garaged, no evidence of different color between the shielded and unshielded parts of the paint.
This on a Saffron Yellow.

[Gizmo3000]

It's almost invisible on my black Elise, which is garaged.
but I imagine a starshield would more visible on light colored cars that spend much time outside, in the elements.

But I think everyone agrees that they're better to have than not to have.
- the only deterrence is really the high cost.

[Blacktan]

if your car is aspen white think about yellowing of starshield .

if it is black or yellow or any kind of grey do not think about it ... Go on for it !

[albert]

Mine is an isotope green and i saw one in the dealer and it just look weird with BRA on it hahaha anyway... Badtz, try go for matte isotope green wrap, its damn sexy i did it on my car last year and i love it so so much but i took it off now

[BadtZ]

Originally Posted by albert

Mine is an isotope green and i saw one in the dealer and it just look weird with BRA on it hahaha anyway... Badtz, try go for matte isotope green wrap, its damn sexy i did it on my car last year and i love it so so much but i took it off now

YES!!! that was exactly what I was going towards.
but your car is already IG itself why vinyl it in same color but matte?
How much did you did it for? I am located in Vancouver BC, not the States
and I quoted $3000-4000

awwww got any pictures you have on your matte? but why peal the vinyl off through, a good vinyl should last years (around 4-7 yrs)

[MattSB]

With respect to removing the rubber streaks from the Starshield I've had great success with Rubber Cleaner from Griot's garage... It cleans the rubber right off.

They suggested that a clay bar works well too, but the rubber cleaner works for me.

[albert]

Originally Posted by BadtZ

YES!!! that was exactly what I was going towards.
but your car is already IG itself why vinyl it in same color but matte?
How much did you did it for? I am located in Vancouver BC, not the States
and I quoted $3000-4000

awwww got any pictures you have on your matte? but why peal the vinyl off through, a good vinyl should last years (around 4-7 yrs)

It is totally different with matte isotope green its so beautiful... i took it off coz someone accidently scratch my car and there is a black mark which i could wash it off so i have to peal it off...

I have to look for the picture i don't know if its still in my computer. will post it if i found it

Its around $2800 coz the shop owner is my friend so he gave me discount hehe

[albert]

Anyway... i did it in Singapore cause i am from SIngapore price might be different from US

[SweetDaddyD]

i'd be more than happy to help you out. Just got back from being out of town and installing a full front end kit on a LotusTalk members car. That is one way to not see the seam, you just cover the entire front so the only seams on are the edges of body lines and you can't even tell the car has any film on it. Starshield (rebranded 3M) tends to have more texture and not be as clear. Some other brands are worse. If you see my car and I tell you it has film on it, you still have to look for where it is since you can't see the line and my film is so clear.

[driver8M3]

Originally Posted by SweetDaddyD

...installing a full front end kit on a LotusTalk members car. That is one way to not see the seam, you just cover the entire front so the only seams on are the edges of body lines and you can't even tell the car has any film on it.

i'm not very concerned about the exposed seems with my factory starshield treatment (1/2way up the front end), but the uncovered part has taken a beating in 11k miles.

so, if you're going to put out the money for a clear bra, get the entire front end covered.

[BadtZ]

I actually got a chip(found while washing) down to my front splitter where the starshield ended for my splitter.

The chip definitely aimed for it