Toyota paint changes?

[ckon]

One thing I've never been very happy with on my Toyotas is the paint. It's always seemed very thin and easily damaged. Anyway, so far, the black paint on my '10 seems a little "tougher" than on my '04, though maybe I've just been lucky so far. Does anybody know if there have been any changes Toyota's paint in the last few years?

 

[Dbone]

The paint on my 08 4th gen seems fine...

Cheers

 

[Quentin]

There is some special treatment done to the paint on the leading edge of the hood and the areas behind the wheelwells.

 

[desertred]

I'm sure about the special treatment, but Toyota does offer a "clear bra" that covers the leading edge of the hood as an option. Most of the 4Runners that I've seen has had this option applied to it. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them. I'm not sure if this clear bra covers the entire front end and behind the wheels, but everything I've heard says that it protects very well. It is virtually invisible to the eye except up close. The only question I have had about these things is, over the long run, will these urethane (or whatever material it is constructed of) retain its invisibility? Or, will it tend to cloud over from UV damage as other plastic parts are prone to do?

 

[simple]

Anyway, so far, the black paint on my '10 seems a little "tougher" than on my '04,

Your 2010 IS brand new. I mean, its not even February yet. But my 04 paint still looks great, although she does need a wash.

 

[Dbone]

I'm sure about the special treatment, but Toyota does offer a "clear bra" that covers the leading edge of the hood as an option. Most of the 4Runners that I've seen has had this option applied to it. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them. I'm not sure if this clear bra covers the entire front end and behind the wheels, but everything I've heard says that it protects very well. It is virtually invisible to the eye except up close. The only question I have had about these things is, over the long run, will these urethane (or whatever material it is constructed of) retain its invisibility? Or, will it tend to cloud over from UV damage as other plastic parts are prone to do?

My advice to anyone, based on personal experience and talking to others, is to avoid "clear bras" like the plague. I had one installed on my 4runner when new and what a nightmare. I went to a reputable place and the stuff start lifting ever so slightly along the edges in places and letting dirt underneath etc, which of course will create its own set of problems over time...

Even worse, when I decided to abandon it and take it off myself I noticed that the knob that installed it actually cut into the paint on my vehicle when they were "trimming" with a knife. They install as pre-cut kits but some cutting is needed. I was beyond pissed. Fortunately for me it was only cut through the paint on the front grill of the truck. I insisted that the place that did the work replace the entire grill with a new part from Toyota. They did so and I am happy now.

Like I said, they were a reputable place and did the right thing in the end, making me happy...

The other thing. Go into some dealerships and look at the install jobs on some cars. Almost every one I have looked at on different cars, some on the showroom floor, were already lifting and had some dirt under the edges.

My view --> Drive your vehicle, enjoy it, wash it, wax it, fix any chips you get with some of those available paint chips repair kits (which do an amazing job), and sleep well.

I am extremely anal about my vehicles, but at the end of the day it is just a vehicle. I do the best I can, within reason, to care for them and keep them a long time.

As for the fading. They claim that no fading occurs over time but this is BS. It will fade your paint differently in the area that is covered. Unfortunately people only find this out later when they get sick of it and want to remove it because of all the potentials hassles with such a product. Then you've got an even bigger problem on your hands...two tone paint that didn't come from the factory...


My 2 cents

Cheers

 

[4RunnerTrail]

My advice to anyone, based on personal experience and talking to others, is to avoid "clear bras" like the plague. I had one installed on my 4runner when new and what a nightmare. I went to a reputable place and the stuff start lifting ever so slightly along the edges in places and letting dirt underneath etc, which of course will create its own set of problems over time...

Even worse, when I decided to abandon it and take it off myself I noticed that the knob that installed it actually cut into the paint on my vehicle when they were "trimming" with a knife. They install as pre-cut kits but some cutting is needed. I was beyond pissed. Fortunately for me it was only cut through the paint on the front grill of the truck. I insisted that the place that did the work replace the entire grill with a new part from Toyota. They did so and I am happy now.

Like I said, they were a reputable place and did the right thing in the end, making me happy...

The other thing. Go into some dealerships and look at the install jobs on some cars. Almost every one I have looked at on different cars, some on the showroom floor, were already lifting and had some dirt under the edges.

My view --> Drive your vehicle, enjoy it, wash it, wax it, fix any chips you get with some of those available paint chips repair kits (which do an amazing job), and sleep well.

I am extremely anal about my vehicles, but at the end of the day it is just a vehicle. I do the best I can, within reason, to care for them and keep them a long time.

As for the fading. They claim that no fading occurs over time but this is BS. It will fade your paint differently in the area that is covered. Unfortunately people only find this out later when they get sick of it and want to remove it because of all the potentials hassles with such a product. Then you've got an even bigger problem on your hands...two tone paint that didn't come from the factory...


My 2 cents

Cheers

I agree. I had a bad experience with a clear bra on my BMW. Was ok for a couple years then broke down from sun. Cracked all over, by the time i decided to remove, was impossible to take off. Tried go gone, A heat gun, everything. Payed a tinter/3m bra installer 400 dollars to remove and they scratched the front end of my car up. Nightmare.

 

[PlanetAlaska-]

A little bit OT, but what I don't like about the Toyota paint is that there are not enough color choices.

Other than that, the paint on my 2008 4Runner looks pretty good and solid to me.

 

[Uneek]

I'm sure about the special treatment, but Toyota does offer a "clear bra" that covers the leading edge of the hood as an option. Most of the 4Runners that I've seen has had this option applied to it. Unfortunately, mine is not one of them. I'm not sure if this clear bra covers the entire front end and behind the wheels, but everything I've heard says that it protects very well. It is virtually invisible to the eye except up close. The only question I have had about these things is, over the long run, will these urethane (or whatever material it is constructed of) retain its invisibility? Or, will it tend to cloud over from UV damage as other plastic parts are prone to do?

The clear bra/film will help for the most part. I sort of wished I got it on mine after I saw how many chips I have. But I don't regret not getting it, because I have several chips along the edges of the sheet metal where the film would not have covered. I would certainly have less chips with the film, but still wouldn't have perfect paint.

I don't know about Toyota's film. But most of the film installed by aftermarket installers come with a life time warranty against peeling and yellowing.