I hear you, but I heard it from more than just my dealer.... apparently other manufacturers (BMW for one) used the same paint, too, and have the same issue.

 

Lots of good comments here. I would like to add my two cents, if it's worth anything! If you decide on a professional repair, get some really good references from those that have had it done. I have seen wonderful an invisible repairs, but also some shoddy, oversprayed airbrushed disasters! One other thing not yet mentioned here is that a local automotive paint supplier can use a tool to "read" your paint, and then provide you with a touch up bottle that should match quite well. My car is a bit older, and I found that over the counter touch up using my paint code was "close", but not really acceptable to a fussy owner. The stuff I had matched by the paint store was right on. Of course, your car is much newer!

 

chopr,
I just fixed a salvage car for my wife to drive and did just that. I have been using the same paint shop for years and had them use the Prophet camera to shoot my color for matching. I painted the front cap and it was no where close. Took a another panel over to try it. Shot the front cap, it wasn't close. After running a carfax on the car, it had been wrecked previously having two doors, fenders and rear bumper put on. The paint would never match if I wanted it too because there's wasnt' matching either. So sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and I'll have to blend this one to match.

 

I bought perfectly matching touch-up paint for my 2009 Vapour Grey Metallic Jag from Automotive Touchup, Microfinish LLC in New Orleans. They sell 12oz aerosol cans for $19.95 and 12oz Primer and Clear Coat for $7.95. They also sell 2oz bottles of liquid paint for $14.95 and 2oz bottles of Clear Coat for $7.48. I bought the aerosol in the event of a major issue and the 2oz liquid for minor touch-ups. I have found the key is to apply the liquid paint with the smallest thing possible, the tip of a wooden toothpick or the miniature 'Q-Tips' that dentists use. If you don't have a dentist friend, they're available at Griot's Garage. 25 Touch-up applicators cost $6.99 and 25 Fine Tip Touch-up applicators cost $6.99. The regular Touch-up applicators are very small and the Fine Tip Touch-up applicators are micro-small. I'd get both. After the touch-up paint has dried overnight, go back and apply a layer of Clear Coat with the same type applicators to keep the touch-up paint from fading or changing color due to the UV rays of the sun.

 

I have always found that Automotive Touchup has had a perfect match.
You just need to make sure that you have the proper paint code for the match.

Check them out. Here's the link.

Touch Up Paint and Accessories | AutomotiveTouchup

They also sell a Touch Up Pen with exact color match, a clear coat pen, and a gray primer pen. I have used them all land works great.

 

Just a quick note, if you do go for the clear bra option, my opinion only, do not use the 3M product. There are several much better products that will not give you that "orange peel" dull look for the same price. Check it out before you commit!

 

I have been told by my Jag dealer and a custom repair shop that does Jag work, NOT to do a clear bra. None last and if you have problems you will be repainting the vehicle, all of it to get the match perfect. So go naked and deal with repair chips. **** happens.

 

Agree....100%

 

Lots of people think they can touch-up chips and walla your done. I have never seen a chip touched-up that cant be seen. I touch them up for my clients and smooth them down on their next detail appointment. I sand the touch-up down with 2000 wet sand and buff it up. They never look perfect unless you paint the panel. Most panels are more than 500.00 dollars a piece to refinish. That would be a great deal in today's body shop environment.

 

We have lots of shrapnel flying up here on I-95 death row they call it here. The other day I dodged a guys 1 inch plumbing pipe. The guy in back of me ran directly over it. I escaped unscathed that time. But a month or two back I had a direct hit from a landscapers garbage can. The shower of rocks are endless. It is a heartbreak for anyone who really cares about the appearance of their vehicle. The XK-8 body style is so susceptible to it.

 

The best thing you can do is leave a large following distance so that you can see obstacles and so they don't hit your car before the settle to the ground. I tend to follow very far back, especially if there is a truck in front of me!

It's going to be interesting to see what's going to happen to these clear bra'd cars 10-15 years from now, especially if they are parked outdoors. There's just no way that a clear bra can offer UV protection and yet still have the underlying paint match the same color as the rest of the car!

 

I agree. The touch up on an XK depending on color can come out really nasty and more than cheapen the car. It is not a question of if our cars will get chips but when. The clear bra can and will save most of these mishaps from showing. Yes if it is your daily driver and kept outside, over a long enough time, the clear bra will age as the car does. If garaged, it probably will last the lifetime of the car if cared for. I've always gone the clear bra route and have that extra security when on the highways and yes, always stay at a distance from other trucks and vehicles.

 

Anybody had any experience with the spray-on clear bra from 3M called Paint Defender?
I was actually thinking of using it for my headlights, as the plastic they are made from is very soft and vulnerable to micro chips, but would also like to know how visible/orange-peeley it is on paintwork (celestial black in my case).

 

No, it's true:

Xirallic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

This morning as I made a feeble effort at touching up a dime sized chip that appeared on my newly painted (to get rid of all of the road chips I've accumulated over 135,000 miles) front bumper last night, I was not happy with the result, and will have it painted again in the next couple of weeks. I've tried the more well known touch up kits, and they're not great if your chip is in a very noticeable area. This happened during the same week that a large rock cracked my windshield (and I had to replace it) after which four days later, another small pebble put a chip and 3/4" crack in my new windshield. We were able to repair the second chip and crack. It's said that things happen in threes, I hope I'm done for a while. All three incidents happened within a few miles of home in Los Angeles, at relatively low speeds, and with no gravel trucks in sight on the local freeways (which never flow at posted speeds).

 

I never used the 3M products or any other clear bras for that matter. I did remove the vinyl plastic film for at least ten different clients. A red 240Z that was so oxidized the plastic took on a very dull look. A black Firebird. Same thing. I do at least two removals a season. Clients disgusted they paid so much for the install. It just looked like you know what. I guess Ill just have to take my own cars on the highway less. I dont know how that would be possible. I always stay way back. Out of the line of fire. Getting out of the car to see new damage is gut wrenching. Oh well! Its the way it is.

 

Staying at a distance from cars and trucks might be helpful with some road debris, but will be useless against the many bugs found in tropical climates which will literally eat through clear coat and paint. Clear bras are super effective in bug damage prevention.