Premature Paint Chipping - Front Bumper
 

My 9-month old Nismo has the chicken pox…

The front bumper is freckled with chips, even though there are no chips on the hood, lights, or fenders. At first, I thought these were highway stone or salt chips (11k miles, 80% highway). However, the freckles have piled on even though the roads I've traveled have been mostly clean. Neither my winter truck or my wife's car have had similar damage. I'm starting to wonder if this is shoddy paintwork from factory on the front bumper.

Anyone had a similar issue/resolution story? It would be great to have the dealer fix this if it's a common problem. Otherwise, I'd have to have it painted myself.

Thx, Rey.

Nope, never googled anything before...


Sorry for the áss reply, but this has to be... THE NUMBER ONE Nissan problem.
Get a repaint and a clearbra.

Paint chips are a product of the conditions you drive in. I think the dealer will not help you with this matter. This is one you suck up and move on.

Out of all the cars I've owned, my Z has the thinnest paint hands down. I've got more paint damage on it than my 3 yrs old Tacoma PU that I drive all winter. And I'm constantly waxing and maintaining the paint on the Z. I would have it painted and get a 3M clear bra installed. I had the clear bra installed when my car was new and I don't have any damage to the front. I did the whole front of the car, half way up the hood, and the mirrors. I wish I would have done the side skirts because the paint is completely chipped up on both side skirts. The color coat and clear on this car are really thin but the 3M product seems to hold up well. Good luck if you choose to have it repaired.

I'm gonna have to get my hood resprayed.

Then I'm just going to clear bra the entire thing. It sucks, but there are so many chips it makes me :crying:

Im thinking of doing the same, did a long road trip this weekend and noticed a number of new chips.

My 2011 Z, I had a few paint chips on the bumper and lower part of the hood but it was bug staining that created more issues for me - lots of time with the buffer. The clear coat held up just fine. People talk a lot about the lousy paint on Nissans, but I'm on my 2nd Z, my wife's on her 4th Murano and my daughter has had a Cube for several years and I have no problem with the paint or clear coat on any of them.

That said, on my 2014 Z, I decided to go right to clear bra (3M Scotchguard). It cost $620 for the nose, lower 1/3 of the hood, mirrors, and door sills, but so far, the few bug splatters I've had just wipe right off with just a little plastic cleaner.

My car looks like she has herpes :(

:worthless:

I agree on the thin paint issue. Just wondering if the hood angle on the Z can increase paint chips vs your Tacoma? My daughter has a Scion TC and it has much more chips than my Z. The Scion is 3 years older however, but more chips than my 8 year old G35 Coupe ever did. Not sure if Toyota's paint is much better than Nissan's.

My GTI (4 year old) is almost totally free of chips, even on the bumper section. Seems like tough paint on that car.

Gonna get Amuse front with clear bra later on. My current front bumper has soooooo many chips/imprints. The paint on our car is too soft and thin

I think it's all Japanese manufacturers and their enviro bullshyt paint lol

Are there any downsides to getting a clear bra? Can it hurt the original paint/clear coat at all? If the original paint gets chipped, you can have it repainted. Can you do anything if the clear bra gets damaged? I'm guessing you would have to have the whole clear bra removed and redone... is that possible? Couldn't find answers to these Q's with a search. Any input feedback would be much appreciated :tup:

Doesn't damage the paint, and if a part is damaged, that entire piece would need replaced.

For example: The bra on my bumper was penetrated... the whole front bumper would need to be replaced (because it's a single piece) to get rid of that mark, but not the hood or fenders.

Though, my bumper and hood have damage. :(

I need to respray my entire hood and then clear bra the entire hood this time, not just 1/3.

Your bra was penetrated... heh heh heh... *Beavis and Butthead laugh* :icon17:

Thanks for the info though Haboob. Much appreciated :)

My PW suffered from fish eyes and cracking under the clear. I filed a comprehensive claim with my insurance and got a new front bumper, roof repainted, hood repainted, and new A pillars. If you can find a company that installs the 3M VentureShield paint protection, go with it.

Nissan paint sucks!

I don't know about the VentureShield. Their Scotchguard has a 5 year warranty against yellowing or any other cosmetic blemishing. Was good enough for me since it's highly unlikely I'll have the car 5 years.

"Quit humpin in me got damn camper"

I don't think there is many people on this forum who remember that show Or realize what other more popular show mike Judge produced.

I think you meant h'whack'n.

:inoutroflpuke:My Word...That looks like the 2 boys that have been Whackin' in my tool shed!!!

Thanks for the suggestions. Going to try having the dealer look at it first - they may offer to cover some of the repaint cost. If not, it'll get some track action this summer before a repaint in the fall. I'm not a fan of the clear bras.

Good thread, I just crashed my Nismo and need a new bumper and hood. Thankfully it's very minor damage and I'll be getting insurance to take care of it. Since they'll be paying for it, I think I'll tack on the clearcoat, if possible.

So ScotchGuard is the way to go? Or is there a better one? I don't plan on getting rid of this car any time soon.

+1 on the GTi paint quality. Its night and day vs my Z. Pathetic really and to be honest the GTi is a category cheaper. Ive never gotten comments on my Z paint but plenty on the GTi. S A D !

May 5th its back to the shop for the nose and tail respray. I do it every 2 years. The GTi can go another 2 years easy if not more.

easy fix is not to drive the car. it's free.

clearbra you mean?

Yeah, that! Clearbra. My girl needs a clearbra so I can still see those boobies. :D

Only thing I'm worried about is seeing that ugly line. I saw one on an FR-S at the International Auto Show this weekend and that line ruined it for me. Any way to not have that? Like a cover for the whole hood/bumper?

A lot of people just do the front 1/3 of the hood. I assume because cost + fewer chips towards the back. I'm with you - I hate that line. I would pay the extra $$ to get the entire hood covered.

You think insurance would cover the clearbra since I'm getting a new hood/bumper anyway? I was thinking to tack it onto the repair bill if I could.. otherwise maybe not.

this and i thought this thread was going to be about premature something else because i just skimmed the title :icon17:

Never hurts to ask, but I doubt it. If you had one before, I would think that should be covered. But I wouldn't lie about it - that's fraud.

yah, if you get just the front bumper done (or the entire hood or fenders) you wont notice the line. and make sure the installer uses a roll and wraps the entire panel, not just cut short of the nooks.

i too installed the partial hood and fender last year but 2 days later i took it off. lol

for the front bumper i used xpel-ultimate self healing film pre-cut one and installed it myself. looks good, no obviuos lines. i also did the rockers using generic 3M bra roll i got from amazon.

Sweet deal, thanks. I'll ask my guy about it when I bring the car in.

Had my Z for 6 days got a chip complete with a small dent. Then today the icing on the cake when I took it in to get a clearbra put on and found two rub marks from the bullsh*t front plate law, especially after I told the dealer not to put it on. Makes me cry a bit :'(

Damn my dealer told me they weren't going to put a front plate on just because it'd be wrong lol. I'm still driving around with no front plate, I just keep it in between the passenger seat and the center console. Haven't had a problem yet.

I had a G37 and the interstate driving I do chipped up the front end badly...it is a Nissan problem. Just bought a new Z and drove it straight to the clear bra installer from the dealer. I had the newer "viper" line installed on a gun metallic car, and you really cannot see the line across the hood or front quarters without looking hard for it. I had behind front and rear wheels done, along with door edge, behind door handles (wife's giant diamond :), A pillars and the first 2 inches of the roof line. Well worth the money

I can show you a 2012 Ford that has the very same chip damage, it doesn't matter what you drive when your doing 80 on the interstates everyday.......:gtfo2:

its the designe of the font bumper...it attracts little road rocks.

Yep, straight flat front.... clear bra is a must

Sent while driving.....