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Thread: Dead insect protection for road trip

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Rahway, NJ USA
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2015 335xi 2013 X3

    Dead insect protection for road trip

    Hey all, taking my 2015 imperial blue 335xi on a cross country road trip. The car has been well cared for and the finish is flawless. I am really concerned, however, regarding the volume of insect "splats" that will occur during this trip. May I ask if there is anything I may pre-treat the finish with in order to protect it from damage?

    Thanks for any advice you may lend!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Milton, WV
    Posts
    1,286
    My Cars
    2002 BMW 530i Sport
    In order from least to most protection:

    - Wax
    - Synthetic/Polymer Sealant (Jescar Power Lock/Zaino Z2/Rejex etc.)
    - Ceramic/Glass Coating (Cquartz etc.)
    - Sacrificial Film Coating (3m, Expel etc.)

    Others can inject thoughts.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Peoria, AZ
    Posts
    7,696
    My Cars
    03 zhp, 97 e36m3, 04 zhp
    I taped up "high traffic" areas with painter's tape when I picked up my m3 in IL to drive back to MA, mostly for stone chip protection.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    6
    My Cars
    Lots
    If your car has been cared for well, the best thing to do is to not take it on a cross-country trip. This may seem like arrogant advice, but I live in Canada and on most highways here in the summer, there is a cloud of mosquitoes and moths that hovers over the highway. Very soon the clear coat will have tiny pits on it. You may even hit something huge like a carpenter bee right on the roundel and find it impacted.

    At the least, you should have the 3M film on the hood and the bumper, roofline, and front pillars.

    The best way to preserve the paint is to not take it out on a cross-country trip.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    217
    My Cars
    02 M3
    Got a buddy who is a painter and has found that laying on 8-10 coats of clear works best. Its durable and you can keep sanding it down over the years. In Minnesota he hits the lower 1/4 of the car heavy since they are a major rust area....food for thought.

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