I heard somewhere that if you do not touch up rock chips with paint + clear in a timely manner that it will eventually cause rust. This seems logical to me, but I just want to check with everyone.

I have a ton of chips on the front of my DD ('94 318is) that have been there for years, and I haven't touched them up, but plan to eventually. I'm not terribly concerned with the car looking perfect, just maintained. I'm most concerned with longevity, that's why rust is a concern.

As for the Z, this information will obviously help when I have a few more miles on her, but I have been keeping up with touch-ups nevertheless.

 

it will cause rust eventually
maybe u wont be able too see it for awhile i guess

 

The Z's bumpers are plastic and the hood is aluminium, neither will rust. The other body panels are steel and will eventualy rust.

 

I didn't know the hood was aluminum. I guess that makes sense, otherwise I'd probably be breaking my back opening it if it was steel.

 

i have rock chips and i can see little rust spots and i have a full warranty does that mean nissan will replace the body panels?

 

i doubt it...not for a few little rust spots. i could be wrong. doesn't hurt to ask them tho.

 

I think the rust warranty only covers things that won't rust.... like aluminum, glass, etc....

 

the rust spots you see on aluminum is just surface rust. thats like having dead skin cells on your body. it doesnt hurt and wont do damage. aluminum cant rust.

 

Am I the only one who doesn't understand what this means?

 

hehe...

 

haha i dont get it either . i have rust spot on my roof not my hood and i can see little rust spots. and the hood is aluminum and it does not rust.

 

Yeah, no touching up rock chips will definitely cause surface rust. As far as like huge rust is concerned, it would have to be a pretty big chip and be left for a really long time ot actually spread underneath all our other paint. Best thing to do is to just touch em up before they get surface rust. Or, as was my case when I got the car, and you find a few that were neglected by the previous owner, you gotta scratch off all the surface rust from the chip and then touch it up.

 

Touch up paint from Nissan will seal it ........or the old lady's clear nail polish