VentureShield Ultra Etching

[The Critic]

I have the Ventureshield Ultra clear bra film on my car. This is the newest generation of the Ventureshield Ultra film and is supposed to contain a top coat for improved durability and resistance against staining and etching.

I generally wash my car about once-a-week. In the last week, I've done a bit of highway driving and had some yellow bugs on the front. Nothing horrendous, just the usual. After my usual car wash today, I noticed that the film has 7-8 permanent etch marks and stains from the bugs that will not come off. Clearly, the topcoat is not sufficient for "daily driver use."

Has anyone else had this issue with Ventureshield Ultra? This is simply unacceptable. Next time, I am thinking about having Premier install their "Prestige Protection Film" product which is an in-house developed product that is supposed to be more durable.

Thanks.

 

[tom slick]

Maybe you need a protection film to protect the protection film?

 

[GROUCHO MARX]

Bug murderer!

 

[FDRESQ4]

Here's some links for you to check out:

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10810&highlight=clear+front

http://www.adamsforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11089&highlight=clear+front


You might be out of luck.

 

[RTexasF]

You might as well use a chant to eliminate unacceptable bugs. Some things you just gotta live with.

 

[The Critic]

Well that's just great.

Does anyone know if the film from Prestige is more resistant to etching? I need to get the clear bra redone anyway since the installation was poor, and a different shop uses the film from Prestige.

 

[FDRESQ4]

I would think, although I'm no expert, you may have the same issues.

Our next new vehicle will have some sort of protective film so I guess I'd better start researching.

 

[Mud]

We had a product called Clearshield applied in 2008 on the Accord, no problems at all with it. Of course with time the material can get nicks from the road but it has performed well, no hazing or loss of adhesion. I don't really know what other products are out there, just mentioning experience with this stuff.

 

[gpshumway]

Just saw this thread. I'm having the same experience with VentureShield on my 2011 Civic. I'll post a few more details later, but my comment for now is this stuff is garbage. I've had no such issues with the Scotchguard film on my other car which is 4 years old!

Hopefully 3M and my installer will step up to the plate, but it's looking like a fight.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: gpshumway
Just saw this thread. I'm having the same experience with VentureShield on my 2011 Civic. I'll post a few more details later, but my comment for now is this stuff is garbage. I've had no such issues with the Scotchguard film on my other car which is 4 years old!

Hopefully 3M and my installer will step up to the plate, but it's looking like a fight.



Apparently it the nature of Ventureshield films. The Ultra version that you and I have is already supposed to be an improvement. Keeping wax/sealant on there at all times helps this issue tremendously, according to my friends who have this film.

The 3m Scotchguard film is much more "practical" for a daily driver since it has a true clear coat (instead of the top coat that Ventureshield Ultra has) and is more resistant to the longer wash intervals that most daily drivers see. However, the Scotchguard film has a lot more orange peel.

Premier has been working with this company called Prestige that has supposedly addressed some of these issues. Premier was using venture shield for many years and they are probably one of the best film installers nationwide, so I might have my car redone by them.

http://premiermobilegroup.com/

 

[sciphi]

Glad to know. I'm thinking of a clear bra for the Honda's hood, and this will help my decision-making.

 

[gpshumway]

Well premier is in CA, so not much good to me here in MN, but thanks for the info. I've found the same info you have regarding the difference between Scotchguard and Ventureshield.

My parents were visiting this weekend, and my father's 2010 Subaru Outback has the same problem as my 2011 Civic. His film was installed by the same installer a month before mine. We've both used high quality synthetic sealants on the film which are clearly still working (water still beads).

Here's a few informative internet links:
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t63444.html

Pictures of a Nissan GTR from the above thread:
https://picasaweb.google.com/xpdirect66/200...feat=directlink

This poster has the same problem, and documents it well.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=473027

A good thread from Corvette Forum
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-corvette-general-discussion/2051943-bra-ventureshield-or-3m.html

Relevent post:
Quote:
You want a clear coated film, 3M is and probably holds up the best. If you have a light colored car, stay away from Avery film, it will darken if left outside alot. Vs is now owned by 3M but not the same quality. Vs dealers swear its great but its only great for them since its easier to install being softer then the 3M film. Don't be sucked in by the "Guarantee". Try to find these guys 3 or 4 years later is a joke. They count on the fact the average owner keeps the car for just 3 years.


I'll put up a detailed account of my experience once it's resolved, but for now my advice is stay away from Ventureshield. 3M is partially stepping up and replacing the film with Scotchguard, but the installer is not willing to stand behind the product he sold me.

IMHO this borders on violating the "fitness for use" provision of the UCC. 3M advertises that it protects the paint from bug staining. Well, it does do that, but at the expense of it's own appearance. This stuff looks terrible after only three months!

 

[The Critic]

I just had Premier install their Prestige branded film last Saturday. Looks great, especially since it has a coat of their PF1 Crystalline ppf sealant on there.

The latest word on the street, is that these films need to be cleaned and protected regularly with the ppf specific products.

http://www.xpel.com/products/tools.asp?product=Aftercare Products
http://premiermobilegroup.com/pf1_products.shtml

Supposedly, the sealant should "seal" the film and stop the bug guts from permanently destroying the film. On the Ventureshield Ultra film I previously had, I went several weeks initially without applying any sealant whatsoever, which probably explains why I had the permanent staining. That's pretty lame, imo.

Unfortunately, 3M's scotchgard film with the acrylic coat is the only true near maintenance-free film on the market, but its acrylic clear coat makes installation difficult and has poor clarity.