Hi All,
I'm wondering if anyone has purchased a bug deflector for the leading edge of the hood, for an 03' Max. Where did you get it? Does it impede with the hood properly closing? Any other suggestions for this protection besides a bra?

Thanks in advance...

 

I'm wondering the same thing. I can't imagine that it REALLY does a whole lot as far as blocking rocks, which is what I am primarily concerned with. To me it seems like the rocks can just as easily fly over the lip and get your hood/windshield. Who's to say they will hit that little 1-2" strip of plastic? I'm interested to hear the opinions of people who have them though.

 

The point of a deflector/bra is not to try to account for rocks that are big enough to fly over the lip and get the hood/windshield... if that is the case, it won't protect anyway (and could crack the deflector). It takes normal debris (pebble size, etc) and 'deflects' it upwards... the stuff you hear the 'click' on the windshield. Those are pebbles that can cause small flicks in the paint on the front of the hood... protected if you use a deflector or bra.

_R

 

Right, but what I'm saying is who says the pebbles that you hear 'clicking' on the windshield are following a path that the deflector blocks? Regardless of size of the pebble, the deflector is so small I can't imagine it blocks more than 25% (if that) of the stuff that comes flying at your hood/windshield.

 

Don't get it, I had one for 2 months and then took it off. It started to look ugly as well as screw up the paint under it. Since then, I bought a 3m clear bra; great product and ver easy to install.

 

The deflector although small will deflect up to around 80% of the small rocks and grit that pits your windshield and paint. Bugs even more so. It changes the laminar airflow to throw stuff up and over the car instead of it cruising parallel to the hood surfaces where gravity and time pull it into the paint or windshield if the debris is high enough. It does impact the overall aerodynamics of the car making it less efficient in high winds, but as a driver (gas and 1/4 times) you'll never notice the difference...

It shouldn't mess up your paint unless its installed improperly, I take mine off when I wax and the paint under is the exact same as everywhere else.

My 0.2c

 

Is it easy to take off and put back on?

 

I had the bug/rock deflector on my car for about 6 months. I originally got it for the intended purpose of deflecting the rocks that would normally hit the hood. Well it did deflect them, but deflected the rocks up higher on the hood. So instead of seeing paint chips on towards the front of the hood I started seeing them halfway up and at the top of the hood as well. I removed it and got the whole hood repainted. I will not be putting it back on, if anything I will get the 3M clear bra.

FYI as stated earlier improper installation will cause removal of some of the paint on the hood.

 

Could someone who has the 3M clear bra tell me a little more info about it? How easy it to install? What does it look like? Where can I find one? I have a 2000 SE, btw...

 

o1. Yes
2. Autobarn.com
3. No
4. 3M clear bra...$$$$!

 

As far as removing the factory style deflector is concerned. If you can drink beer without needing dental work after, your qualified... Its like 4 screws under the hood... If your scared changing a light bulb you may want to get a friend or the nearest 2 year old to help you out... Ok I'm done now!

I'm not familiar with the 3M clear bra? I had some clear plastic stuff from 3M (supposedly easy to remove after) applied to my skies and they came out even worse in the end than if I had of done nothing and skiied with the binding mounted on the wrong side.. And it was advertised to protect snowboards and skies from scratches..

Regular bras wreck havoc with you paint as well... They all rub no matter how tight it is, marring the paint... no sun = no fade = dark nose of the car... Does that 3M stuff modify UVA & UVB rays in anyway??

Also, with a bra your supposed to remove and dry it after it rains which is a REAL pain in the ****...

 

I bought the 3M kit here for $67: http://www.invinca-shield.com/asp/genkit.asp?kit=3242

It went on really well. It comes with the end caps too(protects the paint right behind the headlights). I have Sheer Silver, and its very hard to notice from the regular paint. I've asked friends how they liked it, and actually had to point it out. My best advice is to have another person help you. Line it up and use plently of the solution provided. Make sure to install under a bright shop light, so you can see where the bubbles are. I had a few bubbles left in mine, but carefully removed them with a pin to expel the air / water.

1st put on the end caps to get a feel for it, and then move onto the bigger hood piece. I wish I did it sooner, it would have avoided some chips....

 

Thanks everyone... Some interesting points and observations. One of you said they had a deflector on the car. Did is mount well.. not effecting the way the hood closed? I understand they only stop a certain amount of debris, bur I am most concerned with the leading edge of the hood that is more exposed than the rest. I believe the small stuff will be deflected. The bigger stuff will get through either way. My front bumper is being repainted by the dealer as we speak. Will get the car back tomorrow. It had nicks when I bought it in Dec, they had a Co. touch it up, the clearcoat began to peel, and they agreed to repaint the right way (remove, paint, bake). I have checked out the clearbra, but installed, it can get expensive. As far as the hood goes, I'll probably try the deflector. My only concern with the clearbra material is that eventually it will look like hell and need to be replaced. It has not been around long enough for me to be confident that it will come off properly and not harm the very paint it is meant to protect. I know... they say they stand behind it... been there done that with other merchandise. They may... they may not... they could easilly say you installed it incorrectly... sorry bub. That is why having it installed is a little better. They screw it up... they do it again.

 

Last fall I made a left turn onto a street where a large semi was about 3-4 car lengths ahead of me. Along came a small pebble that flew off the truck and got swept off of another vehicle. The pebble came at a downward angle and smacked my winsheild. I was ****ed that it hit with such force, and what upset me more was that a little nick was made right in front of the drivers sight. I look cross eyed while I drive now, cause it is right smack in the middle of my line of sight. Has anyone had success with using an epoxy kit to remove small nicks? If not, are there any deflectors out there that are silver?

I have a 00' SE, and I would like to treat it well.

 

I have a black 2k3 Maxima SE with the smoke bug deflector and I think it looks pretty sweet. I had it special ordered from pep boys for about 50 bucks. I think black would be the only color that it would look good with but thats my opinion. I live in the chicagoland area and got the deflector before the winter so all those "salt bullets" wouldn't **** up my paint. So far so good, easy to put on and so paint chips yet......