stone chip problem

[hhusada]

hi everyone, i really need help. I have a lot of stone chip on my hood as well as my bumper. i need to get rid of it. i brought a touch up pen from my dealer, but when i apply it, the result came up very nasty and ugly, i can see the paint and it is little bit darker then OEM paint that i have.
I am so sad right now, the paint is already dry and i get get rid of it.

i check in the website whether i can buy spray paint aftermarket..
this is the link: http://www.mazdaparts.org/ma3topa.html

it is worth it to buy it, and how to apply it, is it just spray it on the hood and its done or what....

pls help me......

[Trinidad]

well If you are really adventurous then you can try this tutorial:

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=12734&highlight=wetsanding

Other than that, I am currently trying out the Langka stone chip repair kit. So far it's pretty good! I haven't fully completed my touch ups. For the paint pen then best way to apply I find, is to get dab the pen in a shot glass (dollar store) and then use either a toothpick to apply the paint or use a fine tip brush you can also find at the dollar store.

If you need more info on the langka repair process check out here:

http://www.5starshine.com/info-langka-paint-chip-repair.html

Hope that helps!

[izikk]

yeah I have the same issue
I might try Langka but using a spray seems cheaper and easier.. not sure though

Anyone have experience with the spray?

[hhusada]

i dont have much experience, but i already try using touch-up pen, and the result is very bad, i can see the could is not the same.
i want to try touch-up sray, but not sure how to get it done?

[shootemup]

You could also look at other posts that have already been stared on the same topic. They might already have the answers your looking for. Here's one from just a few days ago:

http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=34449

[snipexd]

If you mean those spray cans you can buy it from canadian tire, but I don't think it is good for stone chips since overspray is likely. You're best bet are the bottles of oem touch up paint with the brushes. I think they were discontinued but you can still find a few bottles in certain dealerships.

[Signal21]

The touch up paint looked a bit darker probably because you did not use clear coat.

If you don't want to get stone chips on your car then don't drive. It's the only way. :(

[mazdathree]

unfortunately stone chips are unavoidable just like signal21 pointed out. I have stone chips all over my hood. I use the touch up paint pen...the result is not all that great but hey its better than rust!

[izikk]

The touch up paint looked a bit darker probably because you did not use clear coat.

If you don't want to get stone chips on your car then don't drive. It's the only way. :(

Do you recommend mixing the clearcoat and paint together before applying it? I read about that in another thread and was wondering if others have tried it.

[casperwonder]

I mixed touch up paint with clear coat and it is pretty good. But it doesn't look original (the colour is a bit darker). Good luck.

[kjb86]

would a polish get rid of the nasty touch up mess that's left after using the pen? or at least minimize it a bit?

[casperwonder]

I don't think it will do anything on the touch up spot. God, I love Mazda's paint job.

[kjb86]

I don't think it will do anything on the touch up spot. God, I love Mazda's paint job.

ugh.. figures
my whole front end looks like junk.. i've had the car for a year now, and honestly.. my front bumper looks like sand is embedded into the paint, the headlights u can tell have been destroyed by dirt/stones (u dont have that clean smooth plastic look anymore) and the chips on my hood.. :flaming

[casperwonder]

LOL, get a bug deflector like myself. Atleast my hood is still intact.

[Go_Habs_Go]

You can also look into getting a "clear bra" installed on your car. Mind you, you would first need to repaint the damaged areas of your car. It's basically a plastic shield that covers the front of your car. Ventureshield and 3M each make a version, I believe the term clear bra comes from 3M's brand name for their product.

I drive a lot of inner city highway and my car gets absolutely pelted with rocks in the summer and salt in the winter. My last car's front end was a disaster, stone chips everywhere, on the bumper, hood, lights, etc.

I decided to install the Ventureshield on my Mazda about a week after I bought it. It already had 2 stone chips on the hood when I brought it in to the garage!!!

Anyway, I'm very happy with the product and despite it's cost, I would definitely get it again.

[fatsock]

bug deflector's look cool and they work...my 03 mitsubishi, has hardly any rock chips on the hood, but maybe that's b/c my lancer's paint isn't crap like my wife's mazda 3. :bang