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Posts: 16
Since: 31/7/2008
Status: offline
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I think some rumour control is needed here 
Just to be clear, the whole purpose of protective film is to protect the paintwork from stonechips...if it didn't do that, there would be no point in applying it and therefore no-one marketing it.
Don't know much about Venture Shield, but I have Paintshield fitted to my VX220. Paintshield use the high grade 3M film. I used them because they came recommended in VX220 and Lotus circles and their templates used the smallest number of pieces, therefore the smallest number of joins. The full kit (front 'clamshell' to halfway up, headlights, front grille, fog lamps, door mirrors, sills and rear wing beneath fuel filler) came out around £550. I thought it was worthwhile because the VX is low to the ground, GRP bodywork with Lotus' notoriously thin paint application, and the VX is particularly susceptible to stone chipping at the front of the car.
Ok, so you can buy a pre-cut kit, or even a roll of film fairly economically, but the cost charged is in the expertise involved - the specially measured panel templates bespoke to the car model, and the painstaking application in what must be a dust-free atmosphere (Paintshield recommend taking your car to their custom facility in Grantham, Lincs. but also have a mobile service, though will only do the work if a suitable facility is available. They also provide a four year guarantee in which time they will come out to repair/remove/replace any faults. They do a lot of work for Porsche GB a couple of miles up the road from me at M4 J12, so they must be doing something right.
Paintshield claim that the film will not tear, distort or discolour/yellow over time. I certainly haven't seen any evidence of this on my car.
The only downsides to fitting film in my opinion are the following:
1. Depending on the supplier you use you might get some visible lines (e.g. partway up bonnet). This is more visible with some colours than others. Of course this is the trade off you get - which would you rather have, a faint join visible or having to respray the front of your car every couple of years at the same cost or more than it did to apply the film (I really doubt a decent professional job could be done for much less than that), with the added possibility of a bad paint match?
2. Insurance - some insurers might argue that the film is a 'modification' and therefore not covered by your policy and will not be included in the cost of repairs in the event of an accident. Elephant tried this on with me, but gave in when I threatened them with the Ombudsman (though I have a feeling the Ombudsman referral fee came to more than the cost of the film). Quite how an insurer can suggest that a car is insured, but not the film which becomes part of the car, is beyond me. Furthermore, the film might add marginal value to the car but certainly doesn't enhance its performance (not in my experience anyway!  )
So, in summary, three years on and my paintwork has no chips (where there is film, anyway!), no discolouration and no tears.
Each to their own but in my opinion this could be the best £5/600 you spend on your car.
I should say here that my only connection to Paintshield is that I have their film on my car.
JJ
< Message edited by Jazzy Jeff -- 4/11/2008 8:19:52 >
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- and the film actually did a good job of ensuring the cracked GRP stayed together (it is after all a kind of modified sellotape!)