250 Cup stone chips / PPF

[Eureka]

Just picked up my Cup 250 FE in Daytona blue, couldn't be happier - car looks fantastic!

Have only driven it on one short 30min local drive so far...but surprised by the amount of stone chips it's already picked up just in front of the rear wheel arch - both on the paint and the side-skirt rear "buttress". To be fair, the chips are tiny and if you take a step back you can't see them - but you certainly would after 6 months of driving. To compare, I previously owned a Sport 220 for 12 months (in red) and it didn't pick up a single stone chip. I expect the reason the Cups have this issue is because of the wider and stickier front rubber. It looks like the front tyre sticks out further than on the Sport 220 and there is a direct path from the tyres to the area in question. 

Therefore I'm booked in next week to get these side areas PPF'd with XPEL (lower section - rocker panel). I may get the whole of the front done too, still deciding on that. However, my installer says he can't cover the side skirt "buttresses" in PPF because when they've tried in the past it hasn't stuck. This isn't ideal because I can see this area is going to take a hammering - and I'm pretty sure I've read in the past that some members on here have had this area covered.

 

So, my two questions:

1. If you've had your side-skirt buttresses covered in PPF, how did you manage to get it to stick?! Was it a special PPF product or technique? Basically, is there any info I can take back to the installer that might help him get it to work. Basically, any info would be appreciated.
2. Bit of a long-shot...does anyone sell slighter wider front mud guards? I reckon they probably only need to be 1/2 inch wider and it would stop this direct line of sight from the front tyres. I wonder if the Sport 220 has wider mud guards which could be fitted?

 

BTW I'm in Brisbane and the PPF installer was referred to me by the Lotus dealer. I've never had PPF fitted before but the installer has clearly worked on many Lotus's in the past and seems to know what he's doing, so I would rather stick with him than go elsewhere. Pun intended 😉

 Anyway, I don't want this to distract from my enjoyment of the car...but until I get it resolved the car is sitting in my garage. On the plus side, it does look nice 🙂

Please help! (First-world problems 🙄)

[Eureka]

I did come across this:

https://www.aliath.co.uk/collections/lotus/products/lotus-elise-s3-cup-racer-2011-present-sill-skirt-extension-rear-arches-black-paint-protection

It seems to be the "buttress" I'm talking about but unsure if it fits my car, so I've emailed them to ask.

Anyone used this product?

[Peapod]

Dan also does these.

https://divinehandcraft.co.uk/collections/lotus/products/lotus-elise-s3-final-edition-cup-skirt-extension-paint-protection

[Eureka]

45 minutes ago, Peapod said:

Dan also does these.

https://divinehandcraft.co.uk/collections/lotus/products/lotus-elise-s3-final-edition-cup-skirt-extension-paint-protection

Thanks, I'll check them out...

[Slow Yank]

On 01/09/2021 at 18:27, Eureka said:

Thanks, I'll check them out...

 Let us know how you go. I'm looking at having the same done to my car prior to taking delivery, because I've heard similar reports.

Also...please post pics of the car in question.🙏

[Prodigy]

On 01/09/2021 at 14:04, Eureka said:

Just picked up my Cup 250 FE in Daytona blue, couldn't be happier - car looks fantastic!

Have only driven it on one short 30min local drive so far...but surprised by the amount of stone chips it's already picked up just in front of the rear wheel arch - both on the paint and the side-skirt rear "buttress". To be fair, the chips are tiny and if you take a step back you can't see them - but you certainly would after 6 months of driving. To compare, I previously owned a Sport 220 for 12 months (in red) and it didn't pick up a single stone chip. I expect the reason the Cups have this issue is because of the wider and stickier front rubber. It looks like the front tyre sticks out further than on the Sport 220 and there is a direct path from the tyres to the area in question. 

Therefore I'm booked in next week to get these side areas PPF'd with XPEL (lower section - rocker panel). I may get the whole of the front done too, still deciding on that. However, my installer says he can't cover the side skirt "buttresses" in PPF because when they've tried in the past it hasn't stuck. This isn't ideal because I can see this area is going to take a hammering - and I'm pretty sure I've read in the past that some members on here have had this area covered.

 

So, my two questions:

1. If you've had your side-skirt buttresses covered in PPF, how did you manage to get it to stick?! Was it a special PPF product or technique? Basically, is there any info I can take back to the installer that might help him get it to work. Basically, any info would be appreciated.
2. Bit of a long-shot...does anyone sell slighter wider front mud guards? I reckon they probably only need to be 1/2 inch wider and it would stop this direct line of sight from the front tyres. I wonder if the Sport 220 has wider mud guards which could be fitted?

 

BTW I'm in Brisbane and the PPF installer was referred to me by the Lotus dealer. I've never had PPF fitted before but the installer has clearly worked on many Lotus's in the past and seems to know what he's doing, so I would rather stick with him than go elsewhere. Pun intended 😉

 Anyway, I don't want this to distract from my enjoyment of the car...but until I get it resolved the car is sitting in my garage. On the plus side, it does look nice 🙂

Please help! (First-world problems 🙄)

Did you end up buying any PPF for the side skirt extensions? 

I've just ordered some for my Daytona Blue Cup 250 FE (also in Australia) from Divine Handcraft. 

Am hoping it does the job, car has only done 800kms but the sides are already looking slightly beaten up.

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by Prodigy

[Eureka]

19 minutes ago, Prodigy said:

Did you end up buying any PPF for the side skirt extensions? 

I've just ordered some for my Daytona Blue Cup 250 FE (also in Australia) from Divine Handcraft. 

Am hoping it does the job, car has only done 800kms but the sides are already looking beaten up.

 

Yes, I ended up putting those black vinyl stickers over the buttress/extensions. In the end I bought sticker sets from both Divine Handcraft and Aliath - sorry, I can't remember which ones I fitted though (whichever ones turned up first I expect!).

They've worked reasonably well though. I'm approaching 8,000 kms, all road driving and no track work. You can't really tell that they're on there and have had no issues with them peeling off etc. The stickers themselves have held up very well from stone-chips but there's a few mm's either side where the sticker doesn't completely cover the buttress and the plastic has taken a battering, much like the PPF in the surrounding general area. But they are still definitely worth fitting to your car, every little helps.

The amount of stone-chips the car attracts in this area is the only negative about this car - everything else is great. As I likely mentioned above, I like looking after my cars and it's strange that my previous Sport 220 (and earlier Elises) had zero stone-chips. Zero! So I'm resigned to the fact that it's a thing and that I've done everything I can to help the situation and that it shouldn't detract from the fun the car brings. I just don't look at that area too closely whenever I wash the car...

PS I thought I was the only Cup 250 FE in Daytona blue in Oz, it appears that I now have a twin!

 

[Prodigy]

9 minutes ago, Eureka said:

Yes, I ended up putting those black vinyl stickers over the buttress/extensions. In the end I bought sticker sets from both Divine Handcraft and Aliath - sorry, I can't remember which ones I fitted though (whichever ones turned up first I expect!).

They've worked reasonably well though. I'm approaching 8,000 kms, all road driving and no track work. You can't really tell that they're on there and have had no issues with them peeling off etc. The stickers themselves have held up very well from stone-chips but there's a few mm's either side where the sticker doesn't completely cover the buttress and the plastic has taken a battering, much like the PPF in the surrounding general area. But they are still definitely worth fitting to your car, every little helps.

The amount of stone-chips the car attracts in this area is the only negative about this car - everything else is great. As I likely mentioned above, I like looking after my cars and it's strange that my previous Sport 220 (and earlier Elises) had zero stone-chips. Zero! So I'm resigned to the fact that it's a thing and that I've done everything I can to help the situation and that it shouldn't detract from the fun the car brings. I just don't look at that area too closely whenever I wash the car...

PS I thought I was the only Cup 250 FE in Daytona blue in Oz, it appears that I now have a twin!

 

Thanks for the reply, i ended up ordering 2 sets, 150 micron and the slightly thicker 190 micron. Good to hear they work.

I've read a couple of owners have applied a bit of U shaped rubber around the outside of the buttress to protect the edges that the ppf doesn't quite cover.

I've only had the car 2 weeks but have avoided driving it much until it gets protected, have it booked in next week for PPF on all the vulnerable bodywork areas, the sound of the stones flying up from the sticky tyres is frightening lol

Yep 2 Daytona Blue FE's in Australia i believe, there is an owner of a FE Exige who has started a registry of all FE's delivered in Australia. 

Are you on any of the Australian Lotus FB pages?

[Eureka]

2 hours ago, Prodigy said:

Thanks for the reply, i ended up ordering 2 sets, 150 micron and the slightly thicker 190 micron. Good to hear they work.

I've read a couple of owners have applied a bit of U shaped rubber around the outside of the buttress to protect the edges that the ppf doesn't quite cover.

I've only had the car 2 weeks but have avoided driving it much until it gets protected, have it booked in next week for PPF on all the vulnerable bodywork areas, the sound of the stones flying up from the sticky tyres is frightening lol

Yep 2 Daytona Blue FE's in Australia i believe, there is an owner of a FE Exige who has started a registry of all FE's delivered in Australia. 

Are you on any of the Australian Lotus FB pages?

I can't remember which micron thickness I ordered unfortunately. I PPF'd the front clam, rocker panels, side mirrors and small patches on the rear bumper behind the rear wheels. If I was doing it again I would just put PPD on the rocker panels as all other PPF is unmarked. In fact, I only found out after doing the PPF that some people put 2 layers of PPF on the rocker panels, I would probably do that.

I like to hear the sound of stones hitting the underside of the car as it reminds me I'm driving something special...I just try to block out any thoughts of them hitting those side rocker panels lol

You will love the car, there's nothing much else quite like them. So pure. Looks incredible in Daytona too.

Unfortunately I'm not on FB. I realise I'm missing out but I'm just not keen on social media.

[stevensr34]

Hi Dave - are you a member of AussieElises.com ? The best site in Australia for Elise info and help... 

Cheers, Rob

[Eureka]

On 16/07/2023 at 12:31, stevensr34 said:

Hi Dave - are you a member of AussieElises.com ? The best site in Australia for Elise info and help... 

Cheers, Rob

Haven’t been over there for years but will check it out again, thanks for the reminder…