MSG C5

Too bad this space is often used for other cars to pull in or try to pass.

JR-01

The best part of our trip to Connecticut last summer was getting off the highways and cruising the back roads. Driving through the big cities was a nightmare.
I will never drive out east again. From now on our road trips are out west. Yellowstone next summer.

Surfer G

Thanks for the tips! [/QUOTE]

Living at the lake your always behind boat trailers, the roads are narrow here and the rednecks with their dual-wheel pickups are always throwing gravel. Lot of construction as well so dump trucks hauling gravel are always a treat. Had no chips when I bought my vette, but now after 10k I have a-good half dozen. Don't really care as long as I can drive the vette.

CWHPARTS

Most likely you have a car that has been repainted. The reason it wasn't on the carfax report is simple, if it wasn't an insurance job or a reputable repair facility its likely that it wasn't reported. I personally have painted hundreds of cars in the past that were not reported. It just depends on the shop. I would recommend having the bumper resprayed again and adding the clear bra. That should give you the protection you need. The durability of the paint all depends on the prep and the quality of the materials used to refinish the panel. Take your car to a reputable shop and make sure they are using a quality product. I can tell you that when it comes to automotive paint, you get what you are willing to pay for. Good Luck with your car and we hope you get the product you are looking for.

2ooo-C5

touch them up, then add a clear bra or clear plastic dip.

cessna10

I also have torch red and live in cumming ga and have not
had a similar problem. One chip on the hood in 4 years

cessna10

What should a good quality re spray cost?

Matt.S

It's not really the bumper, it's the hood! Just look like specs of ash but they don't come off haha.

Any idea as to the cost of a touch up + clear bra up the hood?
You don't even have specs? What I have aren't big at all, like I mentioned above it looks like specs of ash. I'm surprised...

JR-01

You should inspect them a little closer and make sure they are chips where the paint is missing and not something else on top of the paint.

Matt.S

What would tell me the difference?

Lee DeRaud

A chip that goes all the way through the clearcoat and the color coat (so the primer shows through) should be pretty obvious to the touch. There are any number of things (e.g. tree sap) that can get on top of the paint and not come off with a casual wipe-down or even a wash. Try a little polish on a rag.
But bottom line, if you have 'rock chips' on the hood and not on the bumper, they're probably not chips.

JR-01

Use a magnifying glass and see if the paint is gone in those specks and feel with your finger. Your description of uniform specks could be some paint or something you picked up off the road. If they aren't chips you could probably remove them with rubbing compound. Find out exactly what they are first.

Vetteman Jack

You can put on Xpel or 3M clear bra and that will certainly help with the rock chips but be prepared for quite an expense. I have the 3M stuff on my C5 (with the exception of the front fascia) and it works very well.

Another product, and one that I use, is the GM bra. For about $85-90, you get a heavy vinyl front cover that fits right, does not flap and has not put a scratch on my car in over five years of use. Some don't like the look of a bra in the car, but it sure as heck beats getting chips all the time and costs a lot less than the other alternatives.

C5R USA

Certainly one of the downsides of owning C5's is the huge fascia area susceptible to the all too common road debris and bugs, no matter how good a driver you are, and taking the necessary precautions, chips are inevitable, more so if you daily drive it. I've already had my fascia repainted twice over the 11 years I've owned mine. I bought a stretch-front mask with mirror covers and the protection it affords is well worth the investment. That's been 3 years ago and I've yet to see a new blemish when I have the masks on. Just my .02 worth. Happy motoring!

Matt.S

What do you mean by mask?
---
What's the expected cost for a clear cover? Like 3m or other options.

C5R USA

http://www.corvettemods.com/Masks_c_573.html

Matt.S

Interesting. Just out of curiosity why do you rule out chips on the hood?
It's dark so I can't do much with a magnifying glass but to the touch it feels no different than the clean paint next to it - both are actually smooth to the touch.
Thank you!

zdeckich

No to Zaino!!! LOL

Lee DeRaud

Unless someone is dropping rocks on you from an overpass, it's pretty hard for them to hit the hood and miss the bumper and the windshield.

Matt.S

What else could these little flakes be?? How do I get them off lmao.

Side note what wax do vette users like?