clear bra anyone?

[SlikM]

hey all,

just had my clear bra put on today and was extremely pleased with the results, very subtle and gives me a little piece of mind.

I did the hood (partial), fenders (partial), headlights, mirrors, and bumper. Worthwhile addition in my opinion.

Local company to SoCal did a great job, did it fast (his experience showed), and did it for a really good price compared to what i had been quoted.

If anyone is in the market let me know, this is the guy to go to.

[M_Six]

I've been trying to get quotes all day. A friend had a local shop do his VW R32, which is close to Interlagos blue. He had the whole front bumper and entire hood done, as well as several other smaller areas. It looks great. If you look really closely, you can see the line on his fenders where it stops. But from a few feet away, you can't see a thing. I'll probably end up using the same shop to do mine.

[Burt Reynolds]

I had a guy here in Chicago area come to my house and install it in my garage for a great deal. I had side skirts, door cups, mirrors, headlights, rear bumper, front bumper part of front fender and front part of hood done for around 800.00. It has saved my hood and bumper already multipel times.

I highly recommend you fellow Z owners to get it done.

[BMW Maniac]

How about as far as applying wax and what not? I've seen it applied to white cars and it looks absolutely hideous...yeah, your paint's perfect, but you see a clearly defined outline of it....

[SlikM]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

How about as far as applying wax and what not? I've seen it applied to white cars and it looks absolutely hideous...yeah, your paint's perfect, but you see a clearly defined outline of it....

yeh i see your point, but im an everyday driver on unfriendly freeways. he gave me some product to use when cleaning the bra as it should be cleaned the same way as you clean the car. My previous car (which i used to travel the same route as now for the past 2 years) looks like a dalmatian up front because it was silver too but now has so many rock chips exposing the black under the paint.

I couldnt stand that to happen again so took the clear bra opportunity and definately pleased that i did.

[BMW Maniac]

Not hating, just not a fan. Wish I could have the protection and perhaps disguise it a little better. I wonder if it stood out even worse on black/dark colors compared to silver. And my 97 M3 has a couple rock chips right on the tip of the hood.....hate it!

[M_Six]

I had a dark green E39 that looked like a planetarium show with all the white spots showing through. My E38 and my current X5 are both silver, so it's not as obvious. The Z4 is Monaco Blue, so it'll be essential to protect it. Out here they "pave" the roads with oil and gravel and fill potholes on the highway with tar and pea stone gravel. Rock hits are a given on my daily 110 mile r/t commute. I'd like to avoid the expense of a clear bra, but a nice paint job is more important, so...

SlikM, can I ask what you paid for your clear bra work?

[thekurgan]

First thing I had applied to my car was the venture shield. The dealer allowed the company to do the work right after it was prepped from South Carolina. The bra covers 1/3 of the hood, mirrors, headlights, and door handle cups. I've applied P21S after a quick once-over with Menzerna Final Polish II using a porter cable. The bra is extremely tough and polishes up nicely.

[Burt Reynolds]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

How about as far as applying wax and what not? I've seen it applied to white cars and it looks absolutely hideous...yeah, your paint's perfect, but you see a clearly defined outline of it....

White is probably the only color I would worry about with Clearbra. Mine is gray and it is nearly invisible. I am sure silver would be a good color for it too- especially if it is applied correctly.

[SlikM]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I had a dark green E39 that looked like a planetarium show with all the white spots showing through. My E38 and my current X5 are both silver, so it's not as obvious. The Z4 is Monaco Blue, so it'll be essential to protect it. Out here they "pave" the roads with oil and gravel and fill potholes on the highway with tar and pea stone gravel. Rock hits are a given on my daily 110 mile r/t commute. I'd like to avoid the expense of a clear bra, but a nice paint job is more important, so...

SlikM, can I ask what you paid for your clear bra work?

$450 covered the Mirrors, bumper, headlights, partial hood and fenders (24" i believe)

[cal meeker]

slik, where did you have that done, is clearbra a 3m product?
thanks
c

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by SlikM

$450 covered the Mirrors, bumper, headlights, partial hood and fenders (24" i believe)

That sounds about right. My friend with the R32 had his entire hood done, plus the whole nose and about 10" of the fenders, mirrors, rocker panels, and rear trunk lip for $800. I'll stay closer to what you had done.

[SlikM]

actually it the company (more the owner) comes to you if you are in Socal and installs at your house.

He has great experience with Porsche, BMW, Lambhorghini's! and so i know his work must have been good and it was.

The product i have is the Ventureshield becuase i have read that the 3M enhances the orange peel effect. This was his recommendation.

[cal meeker]

slik, do you have a contact number, have a brand new black Z4 and i best to get something on sooner rather than later
thanks
c

[cruisingdog]

Slik, do you have any piccies. If possible please show it in direct light as well as shade.

I'm wondering if Black would look good in this stuff ?

[Dammmittt]

Need to find a german place that'll do this...

[Spartiati]

Originally Posted by BMW Maniac

Not hating, just not a fan. Wish I could have the protection and perhaps disguise it a little better. I wonder if it stood out even worse on black/dark colors compared to silver. And my 97 M3 has a couple rock chips right on the tip of the hood.....hate it!

It's much better than a bra no? Anything that is going to protect your paint will be seen. I felt like you in the beginning too, but had it done anyway. Think they look pretty good. If you have someone who does a good install I think it looks really good actually.

[SlikM]

Originally Posted by cruisingdog

Slik, do you have any piccies. If possible please show it in direct light as well as shade.

I'm wondering if Black would look good in this stuff ?

hey sorry got a little busy at school. i will snaps some pics in the next few days and post.

[FloridaBoy]

Do it, it's a very good investment!

[BigLeo48]

Wow $800 is expensive! That stuff is worth about $20 a sq/ft. They download the car's vector, cut with a vinyl cutter and apply (using soapy water to position and remove bubbles). Had my ///M done (front, lenses, mirrors and rockers) for $300 Canadian (that's about $25 US).

I had my wife's Lexus IS done a couple of years ago with the same stuff and it has been durable. Makes it real easy ti get the bugs off.

BigLeo

[teezee]

Originally Posted by M_Six

I had a dark green E39 that looked like a planetarium show with all the white spots showing through.

Oxford Green here too- your comment made me laugh out loud. My next BWM will definitely get protected.

[Rick Hunter]

I'm extremely happy with my 3M clearbra. Almost impossible to notice unless you're closeup.

That being said, though... if I had the chance to do it again I'd go with the Venture Shield clearbra instead. I've heard pretty top reviews about it vs. 3M.