Review: 3M Paint Defender Spray

[rjd598]

First off I want to say thank you to Nick and Autogeek for giving me the opportunity to review this kit. Sorry for the delay, but I finally found free time to try this out.

To begin with I should say that the car I applied this to is not a daily, never sees rain, and is garaged all the time. It's practically a weekend car so please keep this in mind when you are reading this review.

The kit is pretty self explanatory and acts basically as a clear bra, but obviously not as durable. The instructions are very simple and easy to follow. I asked Nick before I got the kit what the difficulty level was and he said just follow instructions to the t and you will be fine. He didn't lie and the whole process took right around the estimated 30 minute mark. I love how everything you need is included in the full kit so you are ready to go. You need something to hold up the hood a little (if you choose to protect the hood that is) but you can easily use one of the boxes that the products are in. On to the pictures:

Cover can easily cover my whole car just make sure to unravel it all the way. Almost didn't see the folds!

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/6C5E32B0-1E8A-4D76-A79C-2533E262E42C_zpsfcftnwhd.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/6C5E32B0-1E8A-4D76-A79C-2533E262E42C_zpsfcftnwhd.jpg.html)

This is the section I chose to protect. I have one or two chips here so I thought it would be a good area to test.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/39D8162E-757B-4D47-B1BE-122DB2DE19C5_zpsvyeo87of.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/39D8162E-757B-4D47-B1BE-122DB2DE19C5_zpsvyeo87of.jpg.html)

Car already had ocw but I thought I might add the 3m synthetic wax for added protection.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/4E30B7CA-1E6B-4283-AB4E-C039B43BC553_zps0mr2lgt2.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/4E30B7CA-1E6B-4283-AB4E-C039B43BC553_zps0mr2lgt2.jpg.html)

Can't tell much of a difference but it was very glossy

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/45AB7ABA-6618-4C5E-A41F-F52E6239EBD8_zpsrl8aence.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/45AB7ABA-6618-4C5E-A41F-F52E6239EBD8_zpsrl8aence.jpg.html)

Shake it like a Polaroid picture...for one minute

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/1020E427-D1ED-446B-A51B-540AE3A82E4D_zpsok5akke4.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/1020E427-D1ED-446B-A51B-540AE3A82E4D_zpsok5akke4.jpg.html)

And ready to spray

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/D7A994A3-AE13-4A6B-8EDA-0855F5768B64_zpsaq8y1y6m.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/D7A994A3-AE13-4A6B-8EDA-0855F5768B64_zpsaq8y1y6m.jpg.html)

As instructed half the hood at a time. Three coats with the first being horizontal, then vertical, and finally horizontal again. I kept the sprayer about 6-8 inches away from the hood and went in a slow and continuous motion.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/A31994C0-EB0E-4AA8-B8A7-C4933F68C4ED_zpswuwuxbsx.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/A31994C0-EB0E-4AA8-B8A7-C4933F68C4ED_zpswuwuxbsx.jpg.html)

Whole hood finished.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/BFAC20A2-0B88-4B54-BD6D-B3E1D5E37323_zpsst4h2z4b.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/BFAC20A2-0B88-4B54-BD6D-B3E1D5E37323_zpsst4h2z4b.jpg.html)

Close up to show the required finished once properly completed. Need that heavy orange peel look.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/52B1D179-D3B0-42F2-BAA5-2D99DAA4369D_zpsc90uajgb.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/52B1D179-D3B0-42F2-BAA5-2D99DAA4369D_zpsc90uajgb.jpg.html)

After it was all done I was curious to see how much of the spray was left. I was shocked to find out there was a good half of it there. I can easily say that the one bottle should be able get your whole hood and possibly the front bumper. One tip I would give though is wear gloves. I didn't and when I went to take the tape off my fingers got in contact with the spray and it was like Elmer's glue but on steroids. Really hard to get off but I guess that's a good thing for protection :D

I'm still waiting for that 4 hour dry period and then I will wait the full 4 days to show sun pictures. I only leave the car on the garage so I assume the full 4 days are required for proper curing time. As far as durability goes I will update as often as you gents would like. One month? Two months? Whatever you want since I think I can make this last for the claimed 1 year mark 3M gives. If you have any questions/comments/criticisms feel free to respond. Thanks again

[Nick McKees37]

Subscribed! :dblthumb2:

[PRicci09]

Wont the wax cause issues with the product adhering to the paint?

[Just02896]

Wont the wax cause issues with the product adhering to the paint?

3M instructions say to wax the area before spraying, right?
At least that's what I thought.

I should be reviewing this on my plow truck as it sees cold, sand, salt, and repeated use! :-)

[rjd598]

Wont the wax cause issues with the product adhering to the paint?

I've read a lot of consumer reviews and some say it might be the key to easily being able to remove the film later on.

[07gtcs]

subbed

[GettingStarted]

can't wait!

[MadMerc]

I've read a lot of consumer reviews and some say it might be the key to easily being able to remove the film later on.

This!
I did the hood on my Fusion last year. The film will easily come off when it's time to take it off. Don't skip this step!

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Will be following along.

[jayshut11]

Very interested. Can't wait for more info.

[rjd598]

So the spray has fully cured and I've taken some pictures to show the final results. It looks just like I would have expected and as a clear bra type should. The line is not that noticeable and can only be seen when relatively close. The paint flows very well and it doesn't seem to have toned up/down the color at all.

Interesting result was the dotted effect that is pictured at the end. I have no idea why this has happened or what may have caused it, but I don't like the look to much. It's not noticeable until you get in front of the car, but still bugs me. It's not all over the sprayed area but there are maybe 3-4 patches like the one pictured and mainly close to the tape line.

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/AEA3C171-1A1B-4129-99CB-AEA09B0F948C_zpskmrvakrp.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/AEA3C171-1A1B-4129-99CB-AEA09B0F948C_zpskmrvakrp.jpg.html)

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/B5B73183-E00A-4FEA-B47D-C549276B1B2E_zpsf8lsft2y.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/B5B73183-E00A-4FEA-B47D-C549276B1B2E_zpsf8lsft2y.jpg.html)

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/96482EA7-76CD-43C1-8BF0-1A65A1ABB555_zpsf9jlitkf.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/96482EA7-76CD-43C1-8BF0-1A65A1ABB555_zpsf9jlitkf.jpg.html)

http://i1265.photobucket.com/albums/jj503/rjd5981/2E3B0D33-9A8B-438F-ADAD-02AF43645CC6_zpstloc3ekn.jpg (http://s1265.photobucket.com/user/rjd5981/media/2E3B0D33-9A8B-438F-ADAD-02AF43645CC6_zpstloc3ekn.jpg.html)

[MadMerc]

Looks really good. About the same as it looked on my Fusion. Those dots look like air bubbles, possibly. Keep us informed on how long it lasts. I got only two months out of mine. Of course, that time included a 1200 mile total trip to North Carolina and back.

Broadcasting from an undisclosed location.

[rjd598]

Looks really good. About the same as it looked on my Fusion. Those dots look like air bubbles, possibly. Keep us informed on how long it lasts. I got only two months out of mine. Of course, that time included a 1200 mile total trip to North Carolina and back.

Broadcasting from an undisclosed location.

Really only two months? What were the signs that made you peel it off after that two month period?

[MadMerc]

Really only two months? What were the signs that made you peel it off after that two month period?

It started to yellow and pull up on the edges. Looked like hell on a white car.

[The Guz]

Your application actually looks better than the last review I saw. That spot looks like it didn't stick to well. Keep us updated on how long it holds up as well as how easy/difficult it is to remove.