M3 vs Thunderstorms -- what's the threshold?

cap_freez · 05-23-2010, 07:34 PM

Why don't you get a clear bra installed before you leave???

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFish

I know it's ugly--but I think I'll keep the bra on for the trip. In my mind, it will act as my 'force-field'.

SHIELDS UP CAPTAIN!

GewoW · 05-23-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockrboy

you guys crack me up... If you're not driving your car when it rains or you feel anxiety when going on a roadtrip, you're not using your M3 the way it was supposed to be driven.

Nobody likes to find scuffs or scratches on a car, but... It's only a car. You will get swirl marks, bugs, rock chips and maybe even have a dent here and there... it's practically impossible to avoid all those things if you really enjoy your M and drive it. I'm not saying take it off road and in the snow but if you're that nervous about going on a trip or leaving your car outside, maybe you should be driving a piece of crap, and give your M to someone who will be enjoying it the way it should. I mean What's the point of owning such a car if it makes you change your plans caus you're scared to have normal wear and tear.

I'd rather take a chance and live every moment with my cars, than drive around scared out of my mind with one of those bras... life is too short

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiation Joe

Thanks for being much more polite than I would have been to the OP.

BTW, OP, have you ever driven 395 in eastern Oregon? I'd say you have much more to worry about than hail. Deer at sunset, and pot holes the size of Volkswagens come to mind right away. 395 in NorCal and Nevada isn't much better. I recommend you have your car shipped down to your destination by covered transport, insured of course. When it arrives, you can look at it in it's pristine beauty. Maybe polish and wax it while on vacation. Then you can carefully pack it up in the covered transport and have it daintilly shipped back to the safety of your garage.

But to answer your original question, I doubt any hail you are going to see in northern California will damage the aluminum hood of your M3. I had both my e46 M3 and an Audi RS6 parked in front of my apt in upstate NY when one of the most violent hail storms I have ever seen blew through. No damage at all to either car. Much of the hail was larger than marbles (0.5 inch diameter) and a whole lot of it, 20 minutes worth.

+ 1,000,000

alms21 · 05-23-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchnellM3

My M has never seen a night out of any garage whether its mine or my girlfriends or at my parents. She also NEVER and will NEVER EVER see ANY type of weather especially Thunderstorms. If I were you I would take the wife's car

.........I don't blame you man, I hear M3's (or any other car) melt when rain hits them

RandyB · 05-23-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pittsy

btw, your going to get dust and whatnot underneath that and its going to scratch the shit outta your paint

You can polish out fine scratches. Rock chips, not so much...

FlyFish · 05-23-2010, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockrboy

Why don't you get a clear bra installed before you leave???

Clear bra = $1,000+ and the eventual 'yellowing' factor

OEM bra = $98 + tax at the BMW dealership. And I can take it off when after the trip.

SNAP!!!

audioMeth · 05-23-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by consolidated

Our E70 X5 with an aluminum hood got hail damage parked in a structured garage. The hail was at that location was about 1/2"-3/4" in diameter but it was being driven sideways by 40mph winds.......

texas hail doesn't count, that stuff will take out a house.

schnell325 · 05-23-2010, 08:56 PM

I ran an auto-x on Wednesday and on the way home got a nice rock chip that will cost me a deductible for the windshield.....no big deal. I drive it to pleasure my senses, and if a rock chip occurs, so be it. At least it was the glass and not the paint!!!

monsta · 05-23-2010, 09:17 PM

have fun on your trip, I'm dying to do something similar w/ my fiancee....I'd rock that bra in a heart beat just for extra piece of mind on a roadtrip and I already got my car clearbra'd

either way enjoy the car don't worry what people say about the looks its your $ do as you wish with it

MysticBlue · 05-23-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockrboy

you guys crack me up... If you're not driving your car when it rains or you feel anxiety when going on a roadtrip, you're not using your M3 the way it was supposed to be driven.

Nobody likes to find scuffs or scratches on a car, but... It's only a car. You will get swirl marks, bugs, rock chips and maybe even have a dent here and there... it's practically impossible to avoid all those things if you really enjoy your M and drive it. I'm not saying take it off road and in the snow but if you're that nervous about going on a trip or leaving your car outside, maybe you should be driving a piece of crap, and give your M to someone who will be enjoying it the way it should. I mean What's the point of owning such a car if it makes you change your plans caus you're scared to have normal wear and tear.

I'd rather take a chance and live every moment with my cars, than drive around scared out of my mind with one of those bras... life is too short

Agree 100%. I do have 3M protective film, but bad weather, short of severe winter weather, would never keep me from driving it. Even in the best of weather you could get a rock in your window. Should that possibility keep you from driving on public roads? Of course not. Shit happens, deal with it. Dimples in your hood due to hail is what insurance is for. It's not a museum piece. It's a car.

FlyFish · 05-23-2010, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monsta

have fun on your trip, I'm dying to do something similar w/ my fiancee....I'd rock that bra in a heart beat just for extra piece of mind on a roadtrip and I already got my car clearbra'd

either way enjoy the car don't worry what people say about the looks its your $ do as you wish with it

Thanks!

Alex1911 · 05-23-2010, 10:57 PM

Whoa, I went to a Swingers/S&M party and the leather/latex there has nothing on that thing. I'm impressed!

Frozen Black Panther · 05-23-2010, 11:52 PM

i hope you didnt pay real money for that

mexicanmike · 05-23-2010, 11:55 PM

I second that you more than likely will not see large hail chunks falling from the sky on that stretch of road. I mean, its already almost june, and its gonna be such amazing weather in Palm Springs. Take that bra off the minute you get there!!!

On a serious note, i thought the full bra would look much worse.

tailgate1234 · 05-24-2010, 01:21 AM

Do you have contingency plans for any major tire failures that can't be fixed with the spray stuff in the trunk?

ooowowizstev · 05-24-2010, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrenchBoy

Have a nice trip. That bra is awful...

+1

SIIK2NR · 05-24-2010, 06:45 AM

Actually, if I didn`t have a front lip, I`d rock that bra on my road trip.

Kyoshi71 · 05-24-2010, 07:50 AM

Hey man, that bra may look aweful but it's going to work well against rocks and bugs. However, take it off ASAP because the dirt that collects underneath will chafe bad scratches into your paint.

Jaypod · 05-24-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFish

OEM bra = $98 + tax at the BMW dealership. And I can take it off when after the trip.

That's not that bad a price considering you probably bought the only one. Considering R&D costs etc, would have expected it to be much more - maybe you have a prototype.....

Have a great trip!

Mark's M · 05-24-2010, 08:25 AM

Well speaking from experience.......I feel for you. Despite all my ranting and raving in my euro delivery blog about such things, I resigned myself to the fact that "whatever happens, happens." The car had no extra protection. Wouldn't have been happy about the bad shit but it could have been fixed if something did go wrong.

Anyways, enjoy your road trip!!!! Couldn't think of a better car to do it in.

Eau Rouge · 05-24-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyFish

Clear bra = $1,000+ and the eventual 'yellowing' factor

OEM bra = $98 + tax at the BMW dealership. And I can take it off when after the trip.

SNAP!!!

I understand your thinking about the temporary usage of the black "thing", but why wouldn't you want continuous protection?

Yellowing factor is overhyped IMO based on experience with clear bras. Of course, you did have to go get yourself a white one

which will certainly make it easier to notice if any yellowing of the clear film does occur.

FWIW, you sound like an owner who's concerned about the long term appearance of any car would be rewarded by investing in clear bra protection.

Like you, I have no desire to buy an M3 only find myself having to try to "enjoy" its visual deterioration even as I enjoy driving it. So, nothing less than a full hood coverage (in addition to the usual areas) seems like a resonable route to take to minimize the damage otherwise guaranteed by the good ole American road debris. Think of it as a "mod" that actually saves you money and vision discomfort down the road.

BMWDEMON · 05-24-2010, 12:02 PM

get rid of that bra including the one under your shirt and drive that bish....for fak sake.

M

ChitownM3 · 05-24-2010, 12:09 PM

The way I see it, when you put a bra on a car (clear or otherwise) you're only saving the car for the next person. Do you really think somebody is going to notice/care about any small rock ships on a car? Do you think you'll get more money for the car when you sell it because it has a clear bra? I like my cars braless, just like my women!

05-23-2010, 08:56 PM	#29
schnell325 Bored at work.... 890 Rep 5,391 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 M4 GTS//2022 M235iGC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Comox Valley iTrader: (8)	I ran an auto-x on Wednesday and on the way home got a nice rock chip that will cost me a deductible for the windshield.....no big deal. I drive it to pleasure my senses, and if a rock chip occurs, so be it. At least it was the glass and not the paint!!! __________________ Grey Matter:2008 E92 M3:608/425. SG/PS SOLD! Dark Matter:2015 F80 M3:495/505. SOLD! Anti Matter :2016 F82 M4 GTS What next?!? A 2022 M235i GC- I must be getting old
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05-23-2010, 09:17 PM	#30
monsta Brigadier General 218 Rep 3,592 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bergen County, NJ/Y.O, NY iTrader: (2)	have fun on your trip, I'm dying to do something similar w/ my fiancee....I'd rock that bra in a heart beat just for extra piece of mind on a roadtrip and I already got my car clearbra'd either way enjoy the car don't worry what people say about the looks its your $ do as you wish with it __________________ '08 E92 M3 6MT \| IB \| FR \| RAC RG63's \| VRS Ti Exhaust \| Fabspeed HFC & Xpipe '09 X5 35d SG/SB '11 X3 28i AW/CN/FW (wife's car
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05-23-2010, 10:57 PM	#33
Alex1911 Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 210 Posts Drives: M3 Sedan 2011 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Whoa, I went to a Swingers/S&M party and the leather/latex there has nothing on that thing. I'm impressed!
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05-23-2010, 11:52 PM	#34
Frozen Black Panther Captain 67 Rep 927 Posts Drives: 2013 550 DINAN STAGE 2 Join Date: May 2010 Location: NYC/CHICAGO iTrader: (0)	i hope you didnt pay real money for that
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05-23-2010, 11:55 PM	#35
mexicanmike Captain 18 Rep 636 Posts Drives: 09 E93 Jerez Black Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Morgan Hill, CA iTrader: (0)	I second that you more than likely will not see large hail chunks falling from the sky on that stretch of road. I mean, its already almost june, and its gonna be such amazing weather in Palm Springs. Take that bra off the minute you get there!!! On a serious note, i thought the full bra would look much worse.
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05-24-2010, 01:21 AM	#36
tailgate1234 Private First Class 15 Rep 173 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Sedan Silverstone II Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	Do you have contingency plans for any major tire failures that can't be fixed with the spray stuff in the trunk?
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05-24-2010, 06:45 AM	#38
SIIK2NR Lieutenant 51 Rep 598 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Dog iTrader: (0)	Actually, if I didn`t have a front lip, I`d rock that bra on my road trip. __________________ Current: 2006 Lotus Elise SC Previous: 2008 AW E92 M3 6MT - Sold 2004 AP2 S2000 - Sold
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05-24-2010, 07:50 AM	#39
Kyoshi71 Colonel 93 Rep 2,528 Posts Drives: 2010 M3 Coupe Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	Hey man, that bra may look aweful but it's going to work well against rocks and bugs. However, take it off ASAP because the dirt that collects underneath will chafe bad scratches into your paint.
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05-24-2010, 08:25 AM	#41
Mark's M Lieutenant Colonel 617 Rep 1,820 Posts Drives: 2016 M3 Individual Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stoney Creek, ON iTrader: (3)	Well speaking from experience.......I feel for you. Despite all my ranting and raving in my euro delivery blog about such things, I resigned myself to the fact that "whatever happens, happens." The car had no extra protection. Wouldn't have been happy about the bad shit but it could have been fixed if something did go wrong. Anyways, enjoy your road trip!!!! Couldn't think of a better car to do it in.
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05-24-2010, 12:02 PM	#43
BMWDEMON Super modder 104 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & E46 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	get rid of that bra including the one under your shirt and drive that bish....for fak sake. M __________________ SOLD - 2005 E46 M3 ZCP - I/B on black CURRENT - 2011 E90 M3 - meticulously modified 2015 X1 Xdrive 28i
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05-24-2010, 12:09 PM	#44
ChitownM3 Lieutenant 28 Rep 487 Posts Drives: 2001 SS Camaro Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Burbs of Chicago iTrader: (0)	The way I see it, when you put a bra on a car (clear or otherwise) you're only saving the car for the next person. Do you really think somebody is going to notice/care about any small rock ships on a car? Do you think you'll get more money for the car when you sell it because it has a clear bra? I like my cars braless, just like my women!
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