Ventureshield
Thread Starter
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Just wanted to let you know that I just had my Venture Shield installed today and it went perfect. I had the hood, bumper, mirrors, fenders, and lights and it looks great. Thanks for all your tips and information. I did look at the installers other work and it was on all high end vehicles and they all looked good.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Its on my headlights and so far, no problems with cracks or anything that's been reported. I did note that those with cracks were using the tinted products. My thought there is that the color may be trapping the heat therefore inducing the crack problem. I'm still watching closely and should I see even one crack, mine are coming off in a flash. They've had the VS on them for the past 2.5 years and so far, I'm ok.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Milford MA
I highly doubt, actually I would put money on it that the crazing is due to heat. The spiderweb cracking is not from heat otherwise everyone who lives in Florida or Arizona would have cracked headlights. It is more likely from the type of solution used to install the headlight covers. Diluted IPA is usually used to install (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol) which can cause the polymer chains to start to separate and cause the crazing. Do if you have them installed make sure your installer uses an alternative solution or just distilled water.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 383
Likes: 1
From: McHenry IL
I highly doubt, actually I would put money on it that the crazing is due to heat. The spiderweb cracking is not from heat otherwise everyone who lives in Florida or Arizona would have cracked headlights. It is more likely from the type of solution used to install the headlight covers. Diluted IPA is usually used to install (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol) which can cause the polymer chains to start to separate and cause the crazing. Do if you have them installed make sure your installer uses an alternative solution or just distilled water.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
From: Milford MA
What did your installer use for solution to install them?
Again, heat build up isn't the problem, if it were sitting in the sun in the summer on a black car would get the lenses hotter than the heat from an HID bulb behind a projector.
How long after installation did the siderweb cracking appear?
This could also be a result of molded in stress.....
Again, heat build up isn't the problem, if it were sitting in the sun in the summer on a black car would get the lenses hotter than the heat from an HID bulb behind a projector.
How long after installation did the siderweb cracking appear?
This could also be a result of molded in stress.....
Last edited by 95blklsc; Mar 27, 2009 at 06:59 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I highly doubt, actually I would put money on it that the crazing is due to heat. The spiderweb cracking is not from heat otherwise everyone who lives in Florida or Arizona would have cracked headlights. It is more likely from the type of solution used to install the headlight covers. Diluted IPA is usually used to install (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol) which can cause the polymer chains to start to separate and cause the crazing. Do if you have them installed make sure your installer uses an alternative solution or just distilled water.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Wilson NC
Interesting. There is not many reputable isntallers that will make that claim. 3M has so much orange peel that it does not look good. VS Ultra doesnt have any...
And yes 3M has a much stronger adhesive. But I dont think that is really a player here when the film is warrantied from peeling. 3M 5 years, VS lifetime. That really strong adhesive could be a factor when you have to remove it someday... you wouldnt want to pull the paint.
And yes 3M has a much stronger adhesive. But I dont think that is really a player here when the film is warrantied from peeling. 3M 5 years, VS lifetime. That really strong adhesive could be a factor when you have to remove it someday... you wouldnt want to pull the paint.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
i am getting the venture shield done as we speak, the installer i had a long conversation with. he appears to know his stuff. he said he has used all the different types and gone with ventueshield (for what thats worth). one interesting thing he did say is he called me off once on the install and wanted to wait for his next shipment. he says they not every shipment of the stuff he gets is perfect. dont know if thats true just passing that second hand info along. paul
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 8
From: Clinton Township Michigan
hanny,
I had my 2009 done yesterday by the same VS installer that did slavine's and he did a phenomenal job. However, there was a small patch on the top of the front bumper that wasn't settling properly. He pointed it out to me (hard to see on a cloudy day) and said it might be a fault in the material (which he has seen on occasion) and if it doesn't settle out over the next week, he'll redo that section at no charge. The rest of the job is flawless, so the key is getting a good installer that will stand behind the product!
Enjoy,
akriggm
I had my 2009 done yesterday by the same VS installer that did slavine's and he did a phenomenal job. However, there was a small patch on the top of the front bumper that wasn't settling properly. He pointed it out to me (hard to see on a cloudy day) and said it might be a fault in the material (which he has seen on occasion) and if it doesn't settle out over the next week, he'll redo that section at no charge. The rest of the job is flawless, so the key is getting a good installer that will stand behind the product!
Enjoy,
akriggm
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Wilson NC
Its on my headlights and so far, no problems with cracks or anything that's been reported. I did note that those with cracks were using the tinted products. My thought there is that the color may be trapping the heat therefore inducing the crack problem. I'm still watching closely and should I see even one crack, mine are coming off in a flash. They've had the VS on them for the past 2.5 years and so far, I'm ok.
