W204 bonnet protector ?

[john493]

I'm trying to find a bonnet protector for my 2012 W204 facelift - plastic or GRP type, not one of the awful fabric bra types.

Any ideas where I can get one please ? I did find a seller with these listed for the pre-facelift - is the bonnet the same on the pre-facelift & facelift ?

They certainly look the same shape to me although I've not compared them side-to-side. Maybe I have to park next to a pre-facelift in Tescos car park & compare ?

TIA
John

 

[SpikyMikey]

IIRC, the headlights and therefore the bonnets are a subtly different shape

 

[ALFAitalia]

Don't do it.... they look awful!....Imo of course! They make cleaning more difficult too....only the really ugly soft ones actually do anything worthwhile anyway.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I have only seen the 'pvc' fabric 'nose bra' type , I did not know you could buy solid ones , who knew ?

I have seen many of the 'stone' deflector spoiler type on the nose of a bonnet. How about PPF ? But note: that it might affect your insurance if applied.

 

[Pontoneer]

Just don't drive too close to vehicles in front , which is how most stone chips are caused .

 

[ALFAitalia]

The two stones big enough to see coming which caused damage to my Ranger and my 159 screen actually originated from the other carriage way. You would need to be a VEEERRRYY long way back to avoid stones.....the car in front it either jusy lifting them vertically or throwing them back slightly.....meanwhile you are approaching them at 60 or 70 mph!! Its just luck of the draw.

 

[Pontoneer]

The two stones big enough to see coming which caused damage to my Ranger and my 159 screen actually originated from the other carriage way. You would need to be a VEEERRRYY long way back to avoid stones.....the car in front it either jusy lifting them vertically or throwing them back slightly.....meanwhile you are approaching them at 60 or 70 mph!! Its just luck of the draw.

Trucks with double rear wheels are among the worst offenders as quite large stones can get caught between them when on sites , then launched at following traffic once they pick up speed .

Agreed nothing you can do about stuff being launched from the opposite direction ; I once got a cracked screen from a golf ball strike when driving past a golf course ; I was fortunate that the ball landed on the road behind me , so I retrieved it and went in and , nicely , complained in the clubhouse ; suggesting that I would claim for the screen on my insurance if they just paid the £50 excess . I mentioned that I was a golfer too , don't know if it helped , and my club . Anyway , they gave me £50 out of the till in the bar and I signed a chit for it - so all very amicable .

 

[rf065]

Trucks with double rear wheels are among the worst offenders as quite large stones can get caught between them when on sites , then launched at following traffic once they pick up speed .

I remember many years ago in Glasgow their was a fatality when half a brick caught between the tyres of a lorry was launched into the windscreen of the car travelling behind.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I had the same , many moons ago I was on my motorbike behind a truck with double wheels and spotted a whole house brick jammed between the two tyres , back then (overseas) the truck had no type of mudguard at all .

I overtook it and went on my way , I could only imagine the carnage if that house brick was dislodged at speed at the wrong moment.

 

[TC350]

Trucks with double rear wheels are among the worst offenders as quite large stones can get caught between them when on sites , then launched at following traffic once they pick up speed .

Agreed nothing you can do about stuff being launched from the opposite direction ; I once got a cracked screen from a golf ball strike when driving past a golf course ; I was fortunate that the ball landed on the road behind me , so I retrieved it and went in and , nicely , complained in the clubhouse ; suggesting that I would claim for the screen on my insurance if they just paid the £50 excess . I mentioned that I was a golfer too , don't know if it helped , and my club . Anyway , they gave me £50 out of the till in the bar and I signed a chit for it - so all very amicable .

There was a similar incident a few years ago at my local club, but with drastic consequences. A young guy had just started having lessons from the pro and badly sliced his ball on the first tee. The ball sailed over a hedge into the adjacent busy road, striking a cyclist in the middle of his forehead and instantly killing him. The bike, with dead rider, drifted across the road into the path of an oncoming petrol tanker, causing its driver to swerve violently. The tanker rolled into a bus stop and burst into flames, killing the driver and all eleven people who were queuing.

The poor lad on the golf course held his head in his hands whilst exclaiming through his tears "What should I do?" The pro responded "Twist your left hand slightly anticlockwise."

 

[Pontoneer]

There was a similar incident a few years ago at my local club, but with drastic consequences. A young guy had just started having lessons from the pro and badly sliced his ball on the first tee. The ball sailed over a hedge into the adjacent busy road, striking a cyclist in the middle of his forehead and instantly killing him. The bike, with dead rider, drifted across the road into the path of an oncoming petrol tanker, causing its driver to swerve violently. The tanker rolled into a bus stop and burst into flames, killing the driver and all eleven people who were queuing.

The poor lad on the golf course held his head in his hands whilst exclaiming through his tears "What should I do?" The pro responded "Twist your left hand slightly anticlockwise."

I thought the reply was going to be drop another ball ; take stroke & distance !

In all seriousness, many years ago , I heard someone shout ‘fore’ and instinctively turned towards the voice , just in time to see this incoming ball ! Next recollection was my pal trying to bring me round .

Had a bump on my head for a while - some think it explains me being a bit daft !

 

[Pontoneer]

There was a similar incident a few years ago at my local club, but with drastic consequences. A young guy had just started having lessons from the pro and badly sliced his ball on the first tee. The ball sailed over a hedge into the adjacent busy road, striking a cyclist in the middle of his forehead and instantly killing him. The bike, with dead rider, drifted across the road into the path of an oncoming petrol tanker, causing its driver to swerve violently. The tanker rolled into a bus stop and burst into flames, killing the driver and all eleven people who were queuing.

The poor lad on the golf course held his head in his hands whilst exclaiming through his tears "What should I do?" The pro responded "Twist your left hand slightly anticlockwise."

I know that was a joke , but it does illustrate the importance of wearing a good quality cycle helmet , which in real incidents could very well save a cyclists life .