[LucoftheGarden]

Party a warning, partly looking for others who've been through the same.

Picked up a 2019 M2C (LBB) that was only driven in summer with less than 10k miles on it. One chip on the hood showing the white primer, pristine otherwise. The M2 has been my dream car since it was launched. Unaffordable in my own country (€115k new in the Netherlands for an M2C), I bought it after moving to Stockholm, Sweden for a much more reasonable €50k.

I was not familiar with what winter can do to a car. But after 10k miles the car had one chip, so I figured PPF was not worth it.

In just 500 miles, in two weeks, I managed to add 8 chips to the bumper - They show black instead of white, I guess that's what comes after the white primer layer. The PPF shop tells me April is the worst month for a car with all the rocks & gravel laying loose now the snow has melted.

I plan to just keep driving and enjoy the car. Once the bumper gets pretty ugly I plan to repaint it and add some PPF to it in 1-2 years from now. Question to the winter drivers on this forum: What would you do in my situation? I'm not planning on selling the car.

[captain slowly]

buy a cheap car to drive during winter and save the M2

[Davil]

Originally Posted by captain slowly

buy a cheap car to drive during winter and save the M2

Or better still, move to a country with no snow.

[VisualEcho]

The paint on this car's bumper seems to be ultra sensitive. I have treated my car like a baby since day one, and do 99% in-town driving, and the front bumper is shot, as are the rockers. I've touched up all 300 tiny spots, and that looks almost worse, as each one catches the light even more.

I'll end up getting a front bumper from IND, and new rockers, and having them PPF before they go on the car.

[Tag]

Don't see the point of waiting. Would rather have it repainted, get PPF and enjoy the car going forward with the peace of mind that the PPF will keep it looking good for years to come.

[M2C-NLUSA]

Respray now, and PPF. I know your Swedish/Norwegian roads well and no chance would I ride up there w/o ppf.

[M2C-NLUSA]

Oh bpm is echt kut. flikker op met je 111.000 M2C. Aub..

[stefan]

Winter is ~8mo of the year up here so driving another car means you won't see your M2 much. Either way, road debris exists everywhere. Do not buy a vehicle as expensive as an M2 and then forgo PPF. It makes no sense. I wrap all my cars the same day I drive them off the lot.

[MystroX5]

My M2C is my summer fun car only. I run a Power Wagon as my winter ride. Sits so high it doesn’t get chips. Cars in the winter get hammered sitting so low so never drive any car you really like. My wife’s black Audi A4 gets chipped up every year from winter driving even when being careful.

[Bumpinjeep]

If you're planning on keeping the car for a long time, why not respray it with a unique color? Or you can PPF the entire thing with a unique color, however the rock chips would still be there under the PPF.
If I were in your shoes, I would paint it a Individual color like Merlin, Daytona Violet, or maybe even Dakar Yellow, then PPF it for peace of mind.

[MMMBRAP]

Originally Posted by M2C-NLUSA

Respray now, and PPF. I know your Swedish/Norwegian roads well and no chance would I ride up there w/o ppf.

+1

The very first thing I did during delivery was send my car to get PPF'ed, and I live in a state with little to no winter.

PPF is probably the best investment anyone can make.

[Dave H in NC]

Originally Posted by MMMBRAP

+1

The very first thing I did during delivery was send my car to get PPF'ed, and I live in a state with little to no winter.

PPF is probably the best investment anyone can make.

I agree, mine's at the shop right now getting full Ceramic Pro Kavaca from head to toe. It had 65 miles on it when I dropped it off. I'm trying out their Kavca IR window tint as well.

[ChiTownM]

It comes down to you personally. I have an M3 and I never did any PPF and keep driving it as is. Does it have some visual blemishes on the bumper and aftermarket front lip .... absolutely, I just keep driving it without any particular worry.

I have a new M2CS, that car is getting full front end and roof PPF. It can escalate quickly, because you want to cover more and more of the vehicle and protect it.

So if the look of the car is very important, get it all fixed now, add PPF on top of that. If not, just drive happily the car all year round regardless.

[MMMBRAP]

Originally Posted by ChiTownM

It comes down to you personally. I have an M3 and I never did any PPF and keep driving it as is. Does it have some visual blemishes on the bumper and aftermarket front lip .... absolutely, I just keep driving it without any particular worry.

I have a new M2CS, that car is getting full front end and roof PPF. It can escalate quickly, because you want to cover more and more of the vehicle and protect it.

So if the look of the car is very important, get it all fixed now, add PPF on top of that. If not, just drive happily the car all year round regardless.

I was so irritated with my last car having chips/scratches/etc that I knew for my next car I'd do PPF.

Protection aside, there's also another great benefit from having PPF - it makes detailing/washing the car so much easier.

[akkando]

I had this same situation on my 2017. Repaint, waited a month and then ppf. Now I don't worry about it.

[LucoftheGarden]

Thanks guys for the recommendations. Listened to the "do it right away" sentiment. Decided to work with Chipex touchup for my 8 small chips. After some practice I've learned how to properly fill the chips so the result is hardly visible and also the chip is level with the rest of the paint to avoid any air under the PPF. I have an appointment for PPF early July, that was the earliest the best shop I found in Stockholm had a spot available.

Hood, bumper, fenders & mirrors in Xpel Ultimate Plus will cost me €1800.