Paint Protection - Opinions Please.

[Gourlay83]

Just spoke to the owner of Defendall, very reasonable and has come up with a good solution.

I would like to add that Defendall had never actually seen the car, all conversations were over telephone as my car was off the road. I think this led to a mis understanding which got out of hand.

All resolved

Alan

[PhilA]

hey
its 5 years since i had mine done, so no idea how they work now.
but when i got defendall to do it, the car was new and, at the time, they didnt go right down the sill on the S2. I asked for this and they did it, obviously it cost a lil bit more (i think!).
As far as the front goes, the S2 it went up so far as well.
Chips will happen. Over time the defendall will do its job and suffer some scuffs and they will be a wee bit noticable too. As was the tar on the sides.

I am sure they would sort the saggy waterfilled bit...? Well, they used to, as I had that on some edges on the sides.

It used to fill me with GRRRRR when i noticed a new chip. So I know the feeling, esp as you have had a huge bill to get the car looking great!
All I would say is, touch up the front, blending in with some nice fluid to make it less noticable, and ask if they would cover the rest?
option 1) scan the rest of the front and get a new bit put on up there?
option 2) scan the rest and get a full peice done, if possible?

either way, you will get non-perfect finishes and chips, from my experience.

p.s. it held the front together when i landed in a ditch, no use, but i did notice that!

[Stewart]

Alan

After someone kindly reversed into my S1 I got the paint done under the insurance and as it was "free" I decided to stump up for Defenadall.

When I went to collect my car the film went much higher up the clam but was a compromise in that it had kind of been pieced together just below the lights. It also left the front "ears" on the clam totally exposed - a couple of areas most likely to suffer the abuse. Basically it looked crap.

I wasn't happy and in fairness to Russell he agreed and offered the solution you have. It was all together tidier but was also a compromise in that it left more of the bonnet of the clam exposed. I believe that if a wider roll of film was used, more of the clam could have been covered, unfortunately this didn't seem to be an option.

I chose to live with it and only picked up a handful of chips however my S1 was silver and less noticeable.

Some folk will say just pay for a respray every couple of years but that wasn't an option for me as I wanted my paintwork to look good all the time and not just for the one week after it has been painted.

With regards to the sill, I am sure that this is just a poor effort at fitting (done when it was cold perhaps) and will be readily rectified.

Sorry to say but I don't think there is a protect all solution and a compromise will always be required. Even on my S2 which has full protection I have still picked up annoying chips where the protection doesn't reach.

[Gourlay83]

.

[Figo]

I have heard about this not really fitting to well but never thought it would be that bad.

Front Protection? Looks more like a "small moustache of protection" to me

Hope it gets sorted out. I certainly wouldn't expect to pay £400 for something thats not doing the job it was advertised to do.

[Corranga]

I (bravely or stupidly) dropped my car into RPM / Defendall at the weekend after having it back a whole 2 hours, and i've seen Alan's car in the flesh...
I had so many recommendations for them from other people, and recommendations for elsewhere was leading to little or no responses etc.

I opted for the full kit having seen Alan's front clam, but, as with Alan, was told that the other kit was fitted to more Elises, and the full kit wasn't so popular.

I think the front kit Alan has is similar to the one here (note: not sure if this is related to Defendall)
http://www.paintshield.co.uk/products/p ... =46|Lotus+
(On another point, you can see they have a 'bumper kit' and stupidly, a hood a mirror kit, meaning the front bonnet would be covered, but the bit between the nose and the bottom edge of the front bonnet not?!)

I spent about 30 minutes looking around a couple of cars Defendall had in, including one that is in the process of being done, and the bosses Alfa. I'd expect nothing less than the same quality of job the bosses car has, and I will be posting some nice high res photos of their work afterwards to help people decide what they think.

The guy I was dealing with wasn't too familiar with Alan's case, but when I said I saw a poor quality job, he did name Alan.
I told him on Saturday when I was in that I assumed it was down to poor quality fitting / the film being stretched enough to overcome the adhesive.

I would say Defendall should repair or replace the front sill portion of the film at no cost as it simply is not fit for purpose.

That leaves the front clam issue.

It seems to me that the problem is mainly down to the recommendation/supply of a kit which clearly does not sufficiently protect the front of the Elise.
I'd like to have thought that Defendall would be professional enough to have at least offered to remove the film for free, and at least refund the front portion or discount a full front kit for Alan once it's repainted, so the film cost to Alan would be the difference in costs between the half and full front clam options.

I'd also have thought that Defendall / Tint Haus / RPM would have contacts and could possibly negotiate a close to cost only high quality spray if Alan agreed as they seem to be to blame as the recommending experts in protection film!

My car will be getting a thorough inspection when I go to collect it!

Chris

[Gourlay83]

They're replacing the sill free of charge. Which was something they always agreed to (TBH).

I never went down to see them with regards to the front as the car was off the road, so it was all telephone conversations. This led to some frustration on both parts. Which i'm pleased to say has all been resolved.

Defendall have agreed to replace the front with a new piece that will cover my entire paint work. I can't ask for more than that.

Really pleased things are moving forward.

Alan

[Corranga]

Sounds good Alan, glad things are moving the right way for you.

They'll have plenty of practice with my car i'm sure

Chris

[vx220]

Glad you have got things sorted Alan, always nice to get these things sorted and not hanging over you.

[PhilA]

great news alan

[ruadh08]

Always had great service from Defendall/Tinthaus on a number of x5's, and a couple of Elises and the 340r. However sods law dictates that the first run you go out, you get a stone chip on some obscure part of the body that wasnt protected!

On Elises and low cars like that, especially in fibreglass some sort of PP is essential, especially if you are doing track days and/or road runs in convoy!

My 340r is currently getting the PP extended to cover more of the area where the driver/passenger gets in and out, and the Elan will certainly be getting the full monty when it comes back from the paint shop in a few weeks.

[Gourlay83]

Always had great service from Defendall/Tinthaus on a number of x5's, and a couple of Elises and the 340r. However sods law dictates that the first run you go out, you get a stone chip on some obscure part of the body that wasnt protected!

On Elises and low cars like that, especially in fibreglass some sort of PP is essential, especially if you are doing track days and/or road runs in convoy!

My 340r is currently getting the PP extended to cover more of the area where the driver/passenger gets in and out, and the Elan will certainly be getting the full monty when it comes back from the paint shop in a few weeks.

Pretty sure it was one of you guys who recomended Defendall to me, cars currently in Paintshop getting the Front Touched in. Russell has agreed to put a whole new piece on the front free of charge (one that covers all the front). So all going well, I will have my S1 back in a week fully protected.

Chuffed
Alan

[Corranga]

Always had great service from Defendall/Tinthaus on a number of x5's

That's not one of yours in there now is it? They had a black x5 mid application when I was in on Saturday.

I had a call from Russell about an hour ago, he has a theory on what happened with your sill Alan (i'm sure he's told you) and wants to let my paint settle for another couple of days before applying. I wasn't expecting the car back until the 6th anyway as I can only collect at the weekend so no change there anyway.

Sounded like a nice guy and is understandably taking a personal interest in these cases. Certainly feeling better about leaving the car with them now.

Might be an awesome photo op having both orange and green cars there at once!

Chris

[Gourlay83]

Yeah, he did.

You have PM

Alan