[Lorian]

I'm looking for some clear sticky protection tape. Not like the stuff you use on LCD/phone screens, but actual sticky stuff that is prefereably rain proof.

I want to make a bumper protector a bit like this, but I want it clear, not black:



I saw from the Czech forum that Avery make it in rolls, but I've not been able to source that in the UK.

It's also the same stuff used for rear wheel-arch guards like on the C'eed.

Any ideas?

[Myowni30]

Have a look at THIS UK company. You could email them and see what they could offer.

[Lorian]

Have a look at THIS UK company. You could email them and see what they could offer.

Thanks, that helped a lot. They look a bit expensive, but it allowed me to find out what type of film it is, which allowed me to find out 3M make some. As with all 3M stuff its hard to get or expensive in the UK. (I buy 3M relflective tape from the States a lot).

But on Ebay I can import a piece 12"X36"  for about £15 delivered. I haven't measured up yet, but I think that'll be enough to make at least 2  if its wide enough, a few pounds more if I need wider

[Myowni30]

Have just had a look around their web site and found THIS, just what you need.

And also THIS PAGE

[Lorian]

1000mm wide is not quite enough (need about 110cm) so I've emailed a couple of them to see if they can do it wider. I'm pretty sure they USA seller can as I see the offer 60" pieces too, I just need about 44".

[Lorian]

Think I've managed to find a ready-cut one for an i30 made at of higher guage material

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370296237857&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

For about a £11 shipped from Germany.

Will wait to see what the others say before I go for this, it would be useful to have a bit spare.

I think "LIMO" is the hatchback and "KOMBI" is a CW in Germany.

[Lorian]

Wide enough piece from the states was cost prohibitive so I've ordered the 150u version from germany. Will report back when it arrives.

I should add I'm not that careless loading the car to make scratches. I have a bumper mount bike carrier that rests on the bumper. It has soft sponge rubber protectors but even when kept spotless it will scratch.

[hyundai_on_thames]

What puzzled me abt the Ebay item is the area it appears to cover (see their pic) seem to be under the boot lip, rather than on the vertical surface of rear bumper where it might offer some protection against scrapes?

If clear tape is not pre-contoured to exact i30 body shape, it will of course crease on being applied and look awful.

So I'm Watching this space for your feedback @Lorian...

[Lorian]

It's just a stock photo, I don't think its of an i30. I'll report back when it arrives, should be here in the next couple of days.

[Lorian]

It's arrived.

It's not warm enough to fit at the moment.

It looks like pukka Avery film. It's computer cut, a much better job than I could have done. Currently it's very cold and is not completely flat, so I've hung it up somewhere to warm up.

Its certainly the shape I'd expect it to be, although I think it doesn't go all the way inot the point corners, but that's fine, I would have probably just cut it straight on the edges, but this looks like its cut to a profile.

Bit nervous about fitting (I do lots of screen protectors so I know the pitfalls!) Just need a warm day, and decide what I'm going to use as a lube to float it on with - will google it.

[Myowni30]

These pages HERE or HERE may help 

[Lorian]

ah yes, they do, the first one, with the stripes is the method I'd employ. I should of thought of washing up solution, that's what I use on handlebars for much the same reason (slides on then evaporates)

[Lorian]

I found a sheet of instructions in german in the box. Here is the rough translation:

1.
First you have to clean the surface well. Fat dissolving agents such as methylated spirits
or glass cleaners have proven to be good. Before using any cleaner you should checked it does not damage the paint!

2.
To help fit the film spray the part to which the tape will be fitted with a floral spray or
similar, which is filled with normal tap water. Use a fine spray.

3.
Now, for the actual assembly of the paint protection film. Experience shows a
second person is helpful. Detach completely the paint protection from the backing paper. Care must be taken to ensure  that the adhesive side of the film never comes together. Also ensure the film is wetted with water. Hold the film at both ends and starting by placing the film from the center of the bumper.

It is important to ensure that the film is in the correct place. Direction corrections by sliding the film cannot really be made. If a correction is needed, then remove the film completely and starting again from the middle and glide the film down.

4.
When the paint protection film is correctly seated on the bumper, it must still be attached.
To do this it is recommend to use the rubber side of an ice scraper or the like. Make sure that the assembled film is not scratched. Now, from the middle of the film work out the highlights and the bubbles. Larger bubbles are best delt with by a needle-prick. To attach the edges firmly it is recommended to use a heat gun or a drier (not too hot though!).

5.
Do not wash the foil for 48 hours.
Mounting the film  should only be done at a temperature above 10 degrees.

6.
Despite the many years of experience with high-performance films there is no guarantee for
E.g. paint compatibility or color changes of the coating after many years

[Lorian]

I have fitted this, and after initial misgivings I think it looks very good.

To prepare:

• Put the sticker on a radiator to warm up (its still cold here)
• Made up a squirty bottle of warm water plus 2 drops of washing up detergent (to help surface tension)
• Cleaned the bumper
• Waxed and buffed the bumper*
• Marked the centre of the protector with a little white sticker

*This is to allow the sticker to be removed at a later date if required. If you really never want it a more permanat fit the wax should be removed/omitted. I read this in a post from a professional fitter.

Fitting involved spraying the sticker and the bumper with LOTS of the lubricating solution. then I floated on the centre of the sticker and layed it down. Initially I had thought the sticker was too big, or needed to contour around the square form nearest the boot rubber. Fitting it all the way to the boot rubber would have been problematic (as shown in this photo)



So I decided instead to just wrap the sticker around the bit of the bumper nearest to me.

To get the sticker to stick, when sure there are no bubbles in the fluid under the sticker, I used new, clean rubber window cleaner to squeegy out the solution working from the middle outwars. This is hugely effective. Mopped up the excess fluid with a clean microfibre.

this left the whole horizontal suface stuck. Then started back at the middle with the squeegy and cloth and smoothed down the front of the sticker, and mopped up with the cloth again.

you need to go over it maybe 3 times until its fully fixes. Whole process less than 5 minutes after the cleaning is done. I pressed the edges well with the microfibre, and its obvious you can see when it starts to stick.

I have no left it in the sun to continue to dry. If the sun had not been out I would have used a hair drier.

I think the results are good. You can hardly see the sticker, it';s maybe not quite as glossy as the paint, but hardly noticeable.

This is before it was very dry, but looking good!



That's not a dent or fault in the sticker in the bright part of the reflection, that a line in the relfected object.

I wouldn't buy the thinner film, this film is perfect for it's purpose.

Will see how it goes when it's fully dry.

[Lorian]

Been a nice day for working outside today, so on a break from the gardening, I also fitted my extra high-level relflectors. Particularly useful if you have ever broken down on the M42*



They are of course not lights, but stips of 3M scotchbrite, they look red not amber to the eye.

*a piece of motorway I drive on a lot at night. If you breakdown in the active traffic management section you need as much visibility as possible from the rear. I won't go into why, but it's not really somewhere you wanna breakdown at night and stay sat in the car.

[blumf]

Has anybody used something like this on the front of the bonnet? Where from? How was it?

[Lorian]

Has anybody used something like this on the front of the bonnet? Where from? How was it?

Many people have used the stuff before for that purpose (but not necessarily on an i30). The only issue you will have is find stuff cut specifically to fit, or cutting it yourself.

Some resources

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard_Paint_Protection/Film/

http://www.motortrend.com/womt/112_0401_clear_bra/index.html


You can buy it in lengths from a USA seller on ebay if you wanna cut it yourself