Stuff flying onto my hood = Chips in the paint

[GreyP5]

Hi, uh.... first post here.

I've recently purchased a Mazda P5 (had it for 3 weeks now , and it's fantastic, but there's something that's bothering me: I seem to get alot of chips on my hood from... I guess debris, or small rocks or whatnot. I have a hood deflector, but it won't stop the onslaught of chips. I'm treating them as they happen, but there's got to be an easier way to deal with them. Anyone else have this problem?

 

[Matthew1785]

I just bought my P5 3 weeks ago as well and I have also received 2 chips on my front hood.... maybe mazda painted these cars with really thin primer and paint cause ur right this is nuts

 

[mickeyreategui]

stay out from behind big trucks or 18-wheelers, they will send rocks flying towards your paint.

 

[orlandomsp]

Don't try to push people out of your way. Seriously, the best way to avoid rock chips is to not follow close to other cars. You could also get a bra or clear bra to protect your paint.

Welcome to the forums BTW.

 

[Action Jackson]

I got tired of touching up my hood.

So I got a Carbon Fibre one instead.

 

[altspace]

Welcome. Need more input. Location, miles traveled, weather, year/color of car, condition of vehilcle, etc.

 

[bazooka joe]

the paint is/has been noted for it's "ease" of chipping...big complaint when the cars first came out...i've had mine repainted twice now!

 

[Peter5]

hi , i have a 2002bacl p5 for about 2 month now and i already have a big dent/chip in my hood
hiway is hood's 1'st enemy

 

[ottawaP5]

Welcome to the forums!

The reason why you are getting rock chips so easily is because they use these environmentally friendly paints that are very delicate. It's not only Mazda, it's all the car companies that are forced to use it.

My MS6 is only 7 months old and already has chips on the hood and front bumper.

It's something you just have to learn to ignore

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

.....hence the ugly executioner mask factory bra thang for my daily 70 mile highway commute to & from work. I swap them regularly (yes I even have 2) so crap doesn't build up inside. Take off dirty one, wash it & put the clean dry stored one back on = NO ROCK CHIPS IN HOOD OR BUMPER. When just cruisin local I'll leave it off but for highway it goes back on. I don't do rush hour so not crawling to work at 20 mph. I even have an unused clear vinyl one but the fitment looks weird, has less coverage & takes 2 people to get in place without hassle. Haven't tried magnetic one but have heard mixed reviews on those. Looks much better without any type until the freckle faced bumper touchup craziness gets going. Easier to just go with the bra then takes 2 minutes to take off. Not really down with the van gough touchup thang but to each their own. Yes, really thin weak oem paint jobs.

 

[pasadena_commut]

I have a hood deflector, but it won't stop the onslaught of chips. I'm treating them as they happen, but there's got to be an easier way to deal with them.

I've only got two chips on the hood and those looked ok after touch up paint. Now you probably wouldn't notice them unless you went looking for them. However the front bumper really looks like crap because when the paint flakes off of that there's white underneath which really stands out against Laser Blue. The chips are also much larger than on the hood. Touch up paint from the dealer didn't work very well on the front bumper, resulting in a lighter blue (the white shining through the touch up paint) against the darker blue. At some point I guess I'll have to get the bumper repainted

Is it just my P5 or are other front bumpers also a mess?

 

[ottawaP5]

I've only got two chips on the hood and those looked ok after touch up paint. Now you probably wouldn't notice them unless you went looking for them. However the front bumper really looks like crap because when the paint flakes off of that there's white underneath which really stands out against Laser Blue. The chips are also much larger than on the hood. Touch up paint from the dealer didn't work very well on the front bumper, resulting in a lighter blue (the white shining through the touch up paint) against the darker blue. At some point I guess I'll have to get the bumper repainted

Is it just my P5 or are other front bumpers also a mess?

I had a laser blue P5 and after 3 years the bumper looked like it was sandblasted, especially around the outer edge of the fog lights.

 

[GreyP5]

Thanks for the feedback! I thought I was possibly doing something wrong. I tend not to drive aggresively, so it's not from following too closely. I drive a mix of highway and city (though the highway through the city is sometimes stop and go).

I might have to look into getting a 'bra' for the car for the longer highway drives. Do they sell those at specialty auto stores, or can I pick one up at like a Canadian Tire or so?

 

[altspace]

The reason why you are getting rock chips so easily is because they use these environmentally friendly paints that are very delicate. It's not only Mazda, it's all the car companies that are forced to use it.

Hit the nail on the head. German regulations are much less restricted.

 

[G-Papi]

Welcome ~ Look at a bug deflector.. . . it won't save your bumper any, but it'll help out on the hood.

 

[redpr5]

the whole corner of my front bumper is destroyed, rock took the paint off down to the black plastic

oem paint sucks. when i get the money this thing is gettin a 5 stage paint lol

 

[ottawaP5]

Thanks for the feedback! I thought I was possibly doing something wrong. I tend not to drive aggresively, so it's not from following too closely. I drive a mix of highway and city (though the highway through the city is sometimes stop and go).

I might have to look into getting a 'bra' for the car for the longer highway drives. Do they sell those at specialty auto stores, or can I pick one up at like a Canadian Tire or so?

A bra might do more damage than good. Like one member said, you can look into getting a bug deflector. I have a P5 bug deflector lying around in my basement that I could sell you for cheap. PM me if you're interested.

 

[mazdaddy]

This is why I have had a Bra on my P5 since day one of ownership. Still have a few chips on the hood above the bra...rocks bounced onto it....suks!
Clue to protecting the paint under the bra...WAX....renu often, clean & vac the back of the bra often, so far no probs...on bra # 2 now, the vinyl held up ok on the first one, it's all the tabs & fasteners that gave out ...

 

[i12drivemyMP5]

The bra is not a maintenance free item folks. Sure if you leave it on there all winter or summer then s*** will ruin the paint. With even only semi-regular maintenance it won't. A deflector does nothing for the forward facing parts of the bumper so sure the hood might have a few less chips than with nothing but the rest still gets blasted. IMO a deflector isn't removable on a regular basis & looks goofier than a bra. Those belong on trucks/suvs. I can take the bra off at any time & the car looks the same as when it rolled away from the dealer so it just a matter of personal choice. Both have their cons but if you're gonna waste any time/money on protecting the front of your car why not protect it all instead of just a small strip of the hood? IMO the bra also offers more protection than clear vinyl would. IMO the best of both worlds (protection + good looks) would be a magnetic one painted the same color as the car. Anyone with something like that care to add anything? Of course everything ultimately goes back to do what the **** you want - it's your car!

 

[Brian MP5T]

Stop Tailgating Me..