Replaced Ventureshield with 3M clearbra....Excellent results!

antennahead

So right after I bought my PG 6MT 370Z, I had a local guy install "paint protection" film on my front bumper. There is no company in town I could find doing this, and this guy came recommended from a wheel repair friend of mine (he did work for a high end dealer, and started out doing window tint). Anyway, the job turned out "so-so"............ not terrible, but not first class and befitting a brand new 370Z. There was a large section, about 4 x 6 inches on the right top section of the bumper near the headlight that was full of stretch marks, lines, some scratches, and a few pitted type areas. It was obvious he had to do some serious stretching and work to get the film to fit properly. Every time I would walk past the car and catch it in the right light I would see it....... it drove me crazy. I went back to the installer and he called the company he got the film from, a reputable distributor of venture shield (venture tape) paint protection film. Their response was "it's for protection and not meant to be cosmetic", no warranty guarranty. Of course I was not happy. About the only recourse here would be to take him to small claims court, a real hassle. So ............... after much online research I found another company that installed paint protection film, and decided to have the old product removed and replaced.

This takes us to AutoShield Carolinas: AutoShield Carolinas, Window Tinting Charlotte, Charlotte Window Tinting, Window Film Products for Residential, Commercial, Automotive Applications, Zaino, DF Concours, Race Ramps, Seat Armour, Professional installation, Commercial Window Tint, resid

After talking with the owner Steve at length, as well as his wife Leslie (the business manager), I decided to have them install the new 3M product on the car, it has a clear coat as well, the venture product being removed did not. I was concerned from previous reading that the 3M had a reputation for excessive "orange peel". That is the old 3M film, the current version they use is fantastic! Steve is an authorized, fully trained and experienced installer who really knows what he is doing. He was kind enough to allow me to watch him work, as he removed the old product and installed the 3M paint protection film. As it has been discussed here many times (and I am now a witness to this), there is NO substitute for an experienced installer doing this type of work on your car.

Steve has his own plotter and computer system, and cuts the film for your car right on the spot. Another thing I learned Saturday .......... it's not just the quality of the installer, but also the quality of the "pattern" used to cut the film. The Venture product that was removed, was an inferior pattern. For example: The old film stopped at the top of the bumper, you could see a line there if you looked close. The new pattern wrapped the top of the bumper and extended under the area where the hood sits on the bumper, into the area where the rivets hold the bumper on. NO film line visible with the hood closed! Additionally, the old film stopped about a half inch from the edge of the fender wells....... the pattern Steve used for the 3M film also came right to the fender edge and barely wrapped, again, leaving no visible film line. This was a two piece pattern also, regular bumper and the fang area/lower lip being separate.

All I can say is WOW....... the difference is night and day. I am proud to look at the front of my car again. Steve and Leslie take their work and customer satisfaction very seriously. This was a 3 hour drive for me to have this done. They came in and worked Saturday by appointment to do my car. I learned that Steve is a retired airline pilot, and as a car enthusiast, was looking for another like of work after retiring................. caring for much loved autos was a great fit for him. For those of you in the southeast (they are located in Charlotte) that are contemplating adding a paint protection film to your Z, I can't recommend these guys highly enough. Professional, courteous, and experts at what they do. My car looks fantastic!!! I can't stress enough what others here have said about this......... an experienced installer, plus a great product and great pattern will make for a happy Z owner!

John