Hello and Thank you for such a great website! I've learned more about lower EGR stovepipes and intake gaskets than any woman should. But that'* a quesion for another post in a different forum.

I have a 2000 SLE that had a mere 31k on it in Jan...obviously the previous owners admired it more than drove it. I've racked up 10k miles in 7 months and began to notice a sandblast effect on side molding (both sides) where it flares out after only 5k miles. I've never seen mud flaps on any other Bonnie....but seriously need to fix this problem before getting a new paint job. Anyone else have this problem? :?

Once I figure out how to add a picture here...I will!
Tracy

You mean the flairs just ahead of the rear wheels? Mine is also blasted, put mudflaps on to no avail...

The only other thing I thought of was to maybe apply some of that 3M clear paint protector stuff there.

If you have any other ideas I'm all ears :p

Ok, this is weird. In comparison, Jseabert'* 93SSE has NONE. My 93 SSEi was BAD. The difference? I spent a bit more time in the triple digit speeds than him. How'* YOUR driving?

Another thing, comparing 2 2000'* side by side last year, Pdad and Pmom'* 2000 has a 'rough' finish from the factory.....or was it smooth? Maybe it was 2000SilverBullet'*? Anyway, the finish on the rocker panels was done differently between the two cars, not sure if that was done for durability.

My advice would follow that above. I don't think mudflaps would help. But that 3M protective clear would. I've repainted one of my rockers on the 93, and plan to do the other soon. Then I'll put that stuff on. Mudflaps would only slow me down.

Thank you both for your input -

Yes - it'* the flairs just in front of the rear wheels.
Triple digits! I drive like an old lady now that the gas prices are so flippn high! Seriously...maybe the road conditions has something to do with it too...<thinking>....1/2 the roads here are stoned as opposed to paved - and although I try to avoid such roads when they put down fresh stone, obviously they're going to kick up a bunch more debris than a paved road. Hmmmm.....

As far as the finish...smooth...assumably factory smooth. But then again, I see other'* that look smooth and don't appear to have the damage...maybe color has something to do w/it too...mine is Cranberry....

<sign> Well, at least that answers the mudflap question...didn't want to put them on anyhow...thanks again!

That rough finish is actually a special paint made to be more durable.

And on those flairs being blasted. At least you match the majority of bonnevilles out there. On a 95 I have I got a spray can of touch up paint and gently sprayed them over and over. Looks good an no one knows.

singscountry1967 , I have never heard our car called the coke bottle style.
I always put that with the late 60'* early 70'* dodge charger.


anyyyy Whoooo Welcome to the Gang fellow 2k SLE



and as I have about the same amount of miles as you
I do not have this Sandblasting problem that you have.. And I do not have that ruff finish these guys are talking about.

I do mostly city driving Myself.

the 3m clear works great used it a few years back have to redo them soon

A cheaper option is to make your own like 2000SilverBullet did. He has no rash at all and although he does not have as many miles as us, he has had his bonne "up" to speed more than a few times

My rash I now come to belive is two fold?
It got road blasted once, repainted and a rino type stuff applied, I bought it then blasted it off again. I showed Paul this summer where I discovered some over spray that could not have been factory and we both felt it must have been a repaint.

I actually thought about putting Line-X on it (like we line our truckbeds with)...but figured that would ruin the look of the car....<scratching head>....of course...it looks like crap now!

This is a common problem on the 2000+ SLE'* & SSEi'*. Gumball, it may not be that obvious on your bonne because of the white finish.