The first thing to do on BS

[Garth]

So I have decided the very first exterior upgrade for a new BS is 3M clear protection for the front of the hood the leading edge of the front fenders and the painted portion of trim around the front grill. From my experience and from what I have seen by paint thickness testers the paint is extremely thin compared to most other vehicles. The rock chips appearing on my BS has me searching out a local shop to apply such protection. Many vehicles come with some sort of clear vinyl on the front of the hood and other wear prone areas. Too bad with such thin paint Ford didnt take the initiative.

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[wireman]

Consider the headlight lenses also.

 

[aweston]

Maybe you need a sports bra ...

 

[sajohnson]

Consider the headlight lenses also.

This may not apply, but my 2002 WRX has large round fog lights with ordinary glass lenses. They are close to the road and very susceptible to damage. After one got a 'bird's eye' (aka a "Hertzian cone") from a rock strike I bought thick clear flexible covers from 3M.

No issues since.

I have no idea if something like that is available for headlights or if it would be advisable, but if so, it would take a serious impact to damage the lens.

 

[RSH]

My 2021 Badlands has protective film on the upright piano black A, B and C pillars, they still look like new and it's been 5 years.
Mine is the Area 51 color, it still looks good as well with not so regular washes and a wax job every 3 to 6 months. It sits high enough that the front doesn't really get as peppered with road debris like a normal height car does.

 

[sajohnson]

My 2021 Badlands has protective film on the upright piano black A, B and C pillars, they still look like new and it's been 5 years.
Mine is the Area 51 color, it still looks good as well with not so regular washes and a wax job every 3 to 6 months. It sits high enough that the front doesn't really get as peppered with road debris like a normal height car does.

All but one of our pillars looks good.

I was driving down a narrow road on a windy day when suddenly a broken length of coax cable swung out from a utility pole. There was a car approaching in the opposite lane, and a construction site to the right (no shoulder) so swerving was not an option. The cable hit the driver's side A pillar and wrapped around the sideview mirror. It sounded really bad.

When I had a chance to look at it, I saw that some of the insulation had rubbed off, but it wasn't too noticeable. I removed what I could, but there are still some marks visible at a certain angle.

 

[RSH]

Some of the better self healing and non yellowing PPF's which is a popular choice for Tesla owners because Tesla paint is soft and thin.
Obviously the cost varies depending on model and desired protection coverage.
Tesla's have a lot more frontal area to protect than a Bronco Sport.

For a cost example, Tesla model 3 or model Y partial front protection runs $600-$1200,.
Full frontal protection runs $1400-$2300
Full vehicle/full body protection runs $4000-$5500

It would be interesting to know what the cost for a Sport would be.
If you are just going to do a clear bra type protection for the leading edge of the hood and the painted piece below the grill I wouldn't think the cost would be objectionable.

 

[wireman]

One of these unless you don't like the look. Had one on my 2021 BL & now on my 2025 BL.

Reasonably priced from Ford.

 

[Garth]

I got this

 

[Summers22]

Get an extended warranty, you're gonna need it.....

 

[sajohnson]

Extended warranties are 'betting against the house.'

The underwriter has all of the repair cost data. Most buyers are "losers" -- the cost of the warranty; plus exclusions; plus deductibles; and the foregone interest on the money spent is almost always more than any covered repairs.

In the long run, everyone is better off financially being self-insured when possible.

One exception is peace of mind. If an owner will literally lose sleep over the possibility of a repair bill, then they may want an extended warranty.

 

[wireman]

That's why I was happy to buy my 2025 BL as a Gold Certified used vehicle with an extra year B to B warranty and a 7-year 100K powertrain warranty.

 

[Garth]

When I bought my 2025 BSBL I told my old mother and the first thing she said was “you didnt buy the extended warranty do you? Your dad always said dont buy the extended warranty”. My dad sold Fords for 30 years, but of course I bought a small extended warranty. Why start listening to him now.

 

[dockiwi57]

Extended warranties are 'betting against the house.'

The underwriter has all of the repair cost data. Most buyers are "losers" -- the cost of the warranty; plus exclusions; plus deductibles; and the foregone interest on the money spent is almost always more than any covered repairs.

In the long run, everyone is better off financially being self-insured when possible.

One exception is peace of mind. If an owner will literally lose sleep over the possibility of a repair bill, then they may want an extended warranty.

Winner winner chicken dinner.
I listened politely to all the add-on pitches/warranty options and told the F&I guy "no thanks, I self insure." He remarked that he was starting to hear that more from certain buyers.

 

[sajohnson]

Winner winner chicken dinner.
I listened politely to all the add-on pitches/warranty options and told the F&I guy "no thanks, I self insure." He remarked that he was starting to hear that more from certain buyers.

Considering the profit margin, I'm not surprised more people are declining.

As much as I encourage people to avoid extended warranties on all products, I would consider one if the cost was close to the average repair cost over the term of the warranty.

That will never happen though, because their business model is to scare buyers by telling them (essentially) that the vehicle is a POS, parts and labor are stupid expensive, and then charge several times more than the average cost of repairs for that make/model/year car.

People recall extremes -- the fastest lap time, the coldest temp, the greatest number of points scored in a game -- and the largest repair cost. What we don't know is the frequency of that repair. When we hear that a new trans costs $10K, that gets our attention -- but how common is it? There is a chance that we will be injured or even killed every time we hit the road, but that does not stop us from travelling.

That said, I do understand the 'peace of mind' justification -- whether the owner can afford the most expensive repairs (however rare) or not. Especially if they can't. In that case, a lower priced extended warranty (from say Granger) is a good idea.

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