Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax To Armourfend, or not to Armourfend...

...that is the question...

when I first specced my car, I chose to have it Armourfended (or paint protected) from the factory; however, after speaking with Ben (from Auto Details), I wondered if it's the right choice?

Ben expressed some concerns about covering the paint prior to it having time to breathe and allow all the chemicals to evaporate. This makes a lot of sense and while Ben did say he wasn't 100% on this, it is a good point to consider (even with the paint being water based)

Does anyone have any thoughts on this or experience?

[because of the engine delays, I have a few weeks to decide one way or the other...]

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My CSL was armourfended within a few days of being delivered and 3 years on it's still fine.

How long after being painted will the Aero8 be delivered?

It would have the Armourfend applied at the factory

And, I was told the Morgan's aren't baked as hot as normal paint in the oven (due to the use of ash in the car) and thus the paint actually takes 6-months to totally cure (this was mentioned because I was told you shouldn't polish it within that time due to the softness of the paint).


Not really sure what to do <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Surely if the Armourfend is applied at the factory then Morgan must be satisfied that it doesn't harm the paint?

I had my bumper resprayed and then armourfend re-applied within a few days, which again has been fine. I'm sure a bodyshop doesn't bake the paint as much as a factory..

Ok, having had a dig at this forum over on Pistonheads I came over as promised to have a look <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> and felt I had to contribute! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I have just literally spoken to the factory this pm over removing the armourfend on my car to be told (not by the service department at this stage I might add!) that to remove it may well remove some paint!! It has happened previously, and not that rarely! This is also the response that I got from Armourfend!

I have however been re-assured that you can polish scratches out!

My feelings? Why put it on if you cant remove it after a period to reveal clean chip/scratch free paint? Might as well leave it unprotected and put the

[quote]My feelings? Why put it on if you cant remove it after a period to reveal clean chip/scratch free paint? Might as well leave it unprotected and put the

My view, as I expressed to Simon the other day, is this:

Morgan say not to polish the paint within six months of taking delivery of the car as, due to them not being able to bake the cars at such high temperatures, the paint need that time to cure and is therefore softer than normal.

This is a fair statement, but when paint cures it also 'de-gasses' - basically meaning the solvents evaporate off through the paint. The baking process accelerates this de-gassing which is why you can wax a regular factory built car as soon as it

I have considered Armourfending several times, but decided against, as the examples I have seen, seem to discolour over time, and no matter how well they try to line it up with a panel edge it always seems to stand out. Also the edge attracts the dirt and can even lift, making the front look far worse than a few stone chips.

Even if none of that were true, in light of what Ben says then I definitely wouldn

Well I have an opposing view. The armourfend that I had applied to my car 3 years ago, still looks great, hasn't yellowed and doesn't look grubby around the edges (try cleaning it with a cotton bud). I have used it on 3 cars now in the past 6 years and have never regretted it. I wouldn't bother on an SUV, but on a lower down sporting car it makes sense.

But let's presume you judge that the

Any tips on cleaning the polish from the edges, Brian had armourfend or something simular fitted to The Green Dragon and the edges are caked with polish.

I for one would not fit it except on the running boards to protect against shoes.