Clear Bras

imz4n · 06-18-2007, 10:42 AM

I went to a general BMW meet this weekend. Got talking to various people re: clear bras. I take it that materials are not that costly, its the labor to install that drives the price. There seem to be several different install methods.

You have a precut install where the film does not always cover at the edges and lips. I have been told that the precut install can also wrap as well, you just need to say that up front.

Then you have a wrap install where the film wraps around all edges and does not have a visible edge. With this type of install I guess the do a cut to fit?

You will always have an edge across the hood and part of the fender depending on how much protection you have decided on. Mirrors and headlights can also be done.

I guess my question is, How far up the hood would you go and if there is a specific thickness you would use for a specific area?

I would welcome any thoughts. TIA

inTgr8r · 06-18-2007, 10:56 AM

Mine is a full wrap job bumper & hood.

With our long nose, I highly recommend running it up the hood.
Mine extends 18" up the hood.

Dammmittt · 06-18-2007, 11:19 AM

The only scratches on my hood are near the windshield...

imz4n · 06-18-2007, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Mine is a full wrap job bumper & hood.

With our long nose, I highly recommend running it up the hood.
Mine extends 18" up the hood.

Have you found that 18" is good to go ( no real dings above that )?

Do you happen to know what the mil thickness was?

Who did the install?

Has the film bubbled or discolored? These thoughts may be more evedent in SoCal as it gets very hot here.

Sorry for all the questions. When I get back from HC 07 I will be installing a new bumber and having some painting done and want to do a better job of protecting the paint this time.

BimmerZealot · 06-18-2007, 05:06 PM

Cant you see the seem where the clear bra ends and the non-clear bra part begins? I dont get why it's so expensive I've seen pricing around 1000$ does that sound about right? Also when you remove it later on wouldn't the color under the clear bra be different the the un-clear bra section?

takedown8 · 06-18-2007, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imz4n

Have you found that 18" is good to go ( no real dings above that )?

Do you happen to know what the mil thickness was?

Who did the install?

Has the film bubbled or discolored? These thoughts may be more evedent in SoCal as it gets very hot here.

Sorry for all the questions. When I get back from HC 07 I will be installing a new bumber and having some painting done and want to do a better job of protecting the paint this time.

I have a rock chip relatively high up on my hood. I think that's rare though (it was there when I bought the car).

I've thought long and hard about putting the clear bra on and asked a lot of questions to one of the reputable guys in my area. He quoted me $600 to do the front bumper, part of the hood, the front fenders, and the side mirrors.

If I were to do it, I would pay a bit extra and have the entire hood covered. That way you get the extra protection, and you won't have that line across the hood where the bra ends.

I asked the guy in my area who uses the 3M bra many questions. Here they are along with his answers:

1) How does it look on a Maldives Blue color? (lighter blue)

Great color to have done. invisible.

2) I wash, wax & seal with Klasse twice a year. Will the clear bra
make waxing and sealing annoying? (eg. trapping wax, sealant at
the seam)

No, with a few different techniques - stay away from the seams, and go over that area with a liquid wax.
If wax does get on the seam a q-tip soaked with liquid wax cleans that nicely. Wax shouldn't get under
the product at all. Be careful of orbital machines for waxing.

3) I heard that the 3M material that you use doesn't yellow. Is that true or can I expect the bra to yellow over time and needing replacement?

Guaranteed for 5 years that it won't yellow.

4) Does the paint underneath the bra fade less than the paint around it? Have you seen cars that have had the bras for many years? If so, can you notice a difference in the paint shade in the areas covered by the bra versus those that are not?

The Paint underneath will be untouched ,so if you wax your car twice a year and don't go through car washes you wont have a problem.
If a customer who hardly waxes goes through car washes and really doesn't take care of his car, you will see a difference when you take off the product.
Regardless there is a simple way to fix this. After removal Have the hood buffed Line is gone. we have done this if a car has had it on for a long time.

5) Can you put the bra over pre-existing rock chips? If so, will it effect the adhesiveness?

Yes no problem at all! Even better have the chips touched up before you install the PPF.

inTgr8r · 06-18-2007, 07:47 PM

^WHS... mine is 3M as well.

Ski · 06-18-2007, 07:58 PM

I'll just make it easy for you fellas..

FloridaBoy · 06-18-2007, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

Mine is a full wrap job bumper & hood.

With our long nose, I highly recommend running it up the hood.
Mine extends 18" up the hood.

X2--mine also extends about 18 inches on the hood. If you look for it you can see it, but from a distance of 10 feet it is pretty much invisible. The mirror backs are done on mine too.

Thing is, down here in FL we have the LOVE BUGS. (not good)

They have an acidic juice in them that eats right into the paint, and they are a bee-atch to clean off, but with the clear 3M bra they wipe off fairly easily.

Rick Hunter · 06-18-2007, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takedown8

I have a rock chip relatively high up on my hood. I think that's rare though (it was there when I bought the car).

Not as rare as you think... I got one up high on the hood from a bouncing rock (close to the windshield washer nozzle).

takedown8 · 06-18-2007, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski

I'll just make it easy for you fellas..

How does that help? It's like the fuzziest picture of a Z4 that I've ever seen. It looks like your Zed is wanted and they're posting up still frames from a bad security camera.

Rick Hunter · 06-19-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski

I'll just make it easy for you fellas..

I just noticed... Ski's got the regular car bra on!

takedown8 · 06-19-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter

I just noticed... Ski's got the regular car bra on!

Oh yeah! I couldn't tell with how pixelated the pic was. My avatar looks more like a real Z4 than that grainy thing!

zednik · 06-19-2007, 09:29 AM

My Zeddi shall remain naked, if I get a chip.....BFD.

FloridaBoy · 06-19-2007, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takedown8

Oh yeah! I couldn't tell with how pixelated the pic was. My avatar looks more like a real Z4 than that grainy thing!

Ski, I thought maybe the clear bra was over the camera lens when you took that photo...

takedown8 · 06-19-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Ski, I thought maybe the clear bra was over the camera lens when you took that photo...

Nice!

takedown8 · 06-19-2007, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zednik

My Zeddi shall remain naked, if I get a chip.....BFD.

Rust.

Ski · 06-19-2007, 02:10 PM

Ya ya..yuk yuk, my cameraphone sucks what can I tell yas..

acrazygolfer · 06-26-2007, 10:30 PM

Imz4n,

Since you're down in the OC, give Sean at Ultimate Shield a call (714) 412-4851. He did a wonderful job covering 30 inches of the hood plus full bumper/fender, mirrors, fog lights and headlights on my Z4. All for $700.

155MPH · 06-26-2007, 11:14 PM

I saw this on a car in the showroom of my dealer and I thought it looked like crap. I would never have it on my car. I would rather have a couple of chips than have this crap on top of my paint.

takedown8 · 06-26-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 155MPH

I saw this on a car in the showroom of my dealer and I thought it looked like crap. I would never have it on my car. I would rather have a couple of chips than have this crap on top of my paint.

Don't sugarcoat it. What do you really think?

rosierobins2003 · 06-26-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 155MPH

I saw this on a car in the showroom of my dealer and I thought it looked like crap. I would never have it on my car. I would rather have a couple of chips than have this crap on top of my paint.

Could you not sugar coat it and tell us how you really feel?

06-18-2007, 10:42 AM	#1
imz4n Captain 57 Rep 822 Posts Drives: 2006 3,0 si TITANIUM SIlVER Join Date: May 2007 Location: Orange County Ca. iTrader: (0)	Clear Bras I went to a general BMW meet this weekend. Got talking to various people re: clear bras. I take it that materials are not that costly, its the labor to install that drives the price. There seem to be several different install methods. You have a precut install where the film does not always cover at the edges and lips. I have been told that the precut install can also wrap as well, you just need to say that up front. Then you have a wrap install where the film wraps around all edges and does not have a visible edge. With this type of install I guess the do a cut to fit? You will always have an edge across the hood and part of the fender depending on how much protection you have decided on. Mirrors and headlights can also be done. I guess my question is, How far up the hood would you go and if there is a specific thickness you would use for a specific area? I would welcome any thoughts. TIA __________________ SoCal Z Enthusiast contact me to get on the list. Events for like minded people and when you talk about your Z, we will know what you are saying. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ZSCCACalifornia/
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06-18-2007, 10:56 AM	#2
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	Mine is a full wrap job bumper & hood. With our long nose, I highly recommend running it up the hood. Mine extends 18" up the hood. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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06-18-2007, 11:19 AM	#3
Dammmittt My favorite sign. 167 Rep 4,333 Posts Drives: 2007 M Coupe Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Der Autobahnen iTrader: (0)	The only scratches on my hood are near the windshield... __________________ 07 ///M Coupe (Premium Package) Black Saphire Ext. Imola Red Int. Best Website EVER!
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06-18-2007, 05:06 PM	#5
BimmerZealot Major 61 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2019 BMW X3 xDrive30i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (2)	Cant you see the seem where the clear bra ends and the non-clear bra part begins? I dont get why it's so expensive I've seen pricing around 1000$ does that sound about right? Also when you remove it later on wouldn't the color under the clear bra be different the the un-clear bra section?
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06-18-2007, 07:47 PM	#7
inTgr8r Lieutenant General 2426 Rep 11,667 Posts Drives: M2 Comp Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (10)	^WHS... mine is 3M as well. __________________ '21 M2C Hockenheim Silver '18 718 Cayman S Lava Orange (sold) '13 E92 M3 Santorini Blue (sold) '07 Z4 M Coupe Alpine White (sold)
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06-18-2007, 07:58 PM	#8
Ski Hockey freak 27 Rep 237 Posts Drives: Bimmer's Join Date: May 2007 Location: Zaino'd in Binghamton, NY iTrader: (0)	I'll just make it easy for you fellas.. __________________ My Jet Black's '03 3.0i Z4 Loaded '02 325Ci Loaded
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06-19-2007, 09:29 AM	#14
zednik Private First Class 8 Rep 191 Posts Drives: 2006 Z4 3.0i Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (0)	My Zeddi shall remain naked, if I get a chip.....BFD.
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06-19-2007, 02:10 PM	#18
Ski Hockey freak 27 Rep 237 Posts Drives: Bimmer's Join Date: May 2007 Location: Zaino'd in Binghamton, NY iTrader: (0)	Ya ya..yuk yuk, my cameraphone sucks what can I tell yas.. __________________ My Jet Black's '03 3.0i Z4 Loaded '02 325Ci Loaded
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06-26-2007, 10:30 PM	#19
acrazygolfer Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: '03 3.0i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Redondo Beach, CA iTrader: (0)	Imz4n, Since you're down in the OC, give Sean at Ultimate Shield a call (714) 412-4851. He did a wonderful job covering 30 inches of the hood plus full bumper/fender, mirrors, fog lights and headlights on my Z4. All for $700. Last edited by acrazygolfer; 06-26-2007 at 10:31 PM.. Reason: add bumper
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06-26-2007, 11:14 PM	#20
155MPH Major 61 Rep 1,379 Posts Drives: E89 Z4 sDrive28i M Performance Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Jersey Shore iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW xDrive430i ... [0.00] 2014 BMW Z4 sDrive2 ... [5.00]	I saw this on a car in the showroom of my dealer and I thought it looked like crap. I would never have it on my car. I would rather have a couple of chips than have this crap on top of my paint.
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