1LE Drivers who aren't using Rock Guards
 

I've noticed a ton of 1LE drivers not using rock guards on their rides. Via IG photos and other places I've seen. How are you guys managing to do that? Ive owned my car for a little over a month and already have substantial tiny chips on the fender. And I am also running a rock guard. Admittedly the guards have cut down most of it though (have been on about 3 weeks)

Please share what magic spell you have summoned to not damage the paint on your cars.

Thanks

1LE Brother

I just picked mine up on Saturday, and while I am not doing the rock guards, I am having the front bumper, side view mirrors, and lower panels clear bra'ed

I have just under 1200 miles on my car and haven't noticed anything yet. The only thing I have noticed is a few small chips on my front bumper. Quarters/fenders look great though.

Not my daily

Not my daily driver, almost to 3000 miles. No rock guards and no extra protection. Have a small ding in the front bumper.. probably some marks in front of the rear wheels. I'm not too worried about it.

Unicorns

I could hear the rock bouncing off the mirrors !

I did the GM pre-painted splash guards within a few weeks of buying the car. At about 900 miles the rear rocker panels in front of the rear wheels (above the factory PPF) had already collected at least half a dozen minor chips. None were through the clearcoat, but before it got any worse, I fixed the chips with OEM touch up and Langka blob eliminator (like Dr. Colorchip). Then I went to the local XPEL installer and had him replace the factory PPF with pieces that covered that entire rocker area up to the panel seam. $120 for the XPEL installation.

So much peace of mind now. :)

Only a couple weeks after the XPEL install, I heard a stone bounce off the lower side of the car. When I got home I saw that it had gouged the XPEL that was just installed, but saved the paint underneath! Well, that's exactly what it's supposed to do. :thumbsup:

I'm afraid to say I have none in fear of jinxing myself but nothing yet anyway. Only 600 miles though. It did come with a clear vinyl piece on the bottom just behind the doors where the body starts to flare outward. Florida's road are pretty clean compared to allot of other places especially my old home in Massachusetts.

When I bought mine I immediately put on the ZL1 Add-Ons guards. Then this spring (~250 miles on car) I had the nose and bottom 8" of the car clear-bra'd.

After 3 track days I'm telling you - rock guards aren't enough. I had a big chunk of rubber hit my lower rocker so hard I thought the car tossed a lug nut. All it did was gouge the clear bra.

If I have to have it re-applied in a few years, who cares - the car will look perfect again. :)

If you gouge Xpel, you can get it replaced under warranty.

When i get home if i remember im going to send a pic of the rock chips. Mind you, you have to really be close,but it looks like that little dude from cats eye went ham on my fender.

i'm in the boat of having the gm rock guards and i still have rock chips. had the same problem with my 16 ss ... i think it really depends on the roads/conditions you drive in. for me, dr. colorchip is my friend

I have Xpel on the rockers and ZL1Addons rock guards, and the whole car is ceramic coated. The rock guards just don't go low enough to be really effective. I'm still seeing divots showing up in the Xpel. At least it's not the paint, but it is noticeable when standing next to the car. Plus, I get lots of road tar along the rockers, which shows up really well on the Summit White. I just installed RPI Designs side skirts, so I'm hoping they will deflect a lot of debris. I noticed the RPI has rock guards as well, that go much lower than the ZL1Addons. However, the rear RPI rock guards look a little odd to me.


I also have Xpel on the front bumper thankfully, because on my first track day, the car got hit by a big chunk of molten rubber on the leading edge above the upper grill. It's left a stain I still can't figure out how to get rid of.



Nigel