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      09-05-2012, 12:31 AM   #1
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clear bra input

anyone have some close up before and after pics? was considering getting one because of driving on the interstate to and from work but wanted to get some input first.
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      09-05-2012, 12:56 AM   #2
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From what I gather its around 1g for a good job, and for that money you could have your front end repainted.
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      09-05-2012, 01:05 AM   #3
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wow I didn't know it was that much. I never even priced them before, I just heard people on here raving about it. Yes I agree at that price it would be cheaper to just repaint it if it gets that many chips.
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      09-05-2012, 01:51 AM   #4
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I was quoted €700 (VAT/Tax included, 20% Belgium) from the BMW dealer doing my delivery. With current exchange rate, that is ~ $1k
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      09-05-2012, 03:29 AM   #5
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I love clear bras. I think all bras should be clear. Oh wait. What was this thread about again?
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      09-05-2012, 08:49 AM   #6
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I'm getting a clear bra installed on my M-Sport next week....had one on my previous E92 and won't have a car without one again. It's true that it will be about $1K for a good one, but the hassle-free cleaning, and the fact that you don't have paint chips at any time during the ownership of your car is worth it to me. Sure, you can have the car repainted to remove paint chips, but as soon as it is repainted, you're gonna get paint chips again. I personally like the ability to have a car without paint chips at all

I'm sure that other people will disagree, but that's just my personal opinion and experience.
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      09-05-2012, 04:44 PM   #7
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Some of the other guys in the wrap business are going to kill me for saying this but realistically, you are looking at about $75 worth of material and I could do the job in a few hours because our bumpers kind of suck (at least on my sport line compared to some other cars) The entire car is something around 40' of 60" and is quite easy to do.

I'm going to post a paint wrap of my f30 from mineral grey to another color here shortly, I am just waiting on healing from surgery to actually do the work :P
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      09-14-2012, 12:46 AM   #8
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Clear bra is way to go. Repaint sucks because the paint is softer and will be more prone to bigger chips once a rock/object hits.
I have a good friend and got the 25" hood, bumper, headlights, foglights, mirrors, and rocker panels for 790.00(would have been 1200+ if I was a regular customer)
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      09-16-2012, 11:03 AM   #9
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I am glad to see a thread on this. I started one in the Canada section but no one replied. I have it on my BMW 135 and on my Audi A3 and it has been excellent. My 335 M sport is arriving in about 10 days and I need to decide if I will put this on it.

I have been quoted as follows for 3M Ventureshield:

Hood and fenders 3m film installed is $280. Add bumper kit film for $340 installed. These are Canadian dollars. Although the Canadian dollar is slightly stronger that the US dollar right now, the exhange rate is pretty close.

For those who got in on the F30, which parts did you get done? The hood and fenders only or the bumper too?
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      09-16-2012, 11:08 AM   #10
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I've got the 3m set-up on the front bumper, fenders and hood. Does it's purpose, but cant get the same shine and deepness as the jet-black paint throughout the rest of the car-seems to have maybe a slight haze to it.. though just a slight difference, and not really noticeable, it's tempted me to have it taken off on a couple occasions.
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      09-16-2012, 12:57 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jtg151 View Post
I've got the 3m set-up on the front bumper, fenders and hood. Does it's purpose, but cant get the same shine and deepness as the jet-black paint throughout the rest of the car-seems to have maybe a slight haze to it.. though just a slight difference, and not really noticeable, it's tempted me to have it taken off on a couple occasions.
Do you know which 3M product you have? There are two products: 3M Scotchguard and 3M Ventureshield. I have both - one on each car - and the 3M Ventureshield is much clearer (even on my black car). I have no hazing with it.
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      09-21-2012, 06:03 AM   #12
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Do the 3M Ventureshield.
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      09-22-2012, 09:53 AM   #13
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thanks for the input
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      09-23-2012, 11:42 PM   #14
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I wrap cars on the side, and honestly the commonly available paint wraps are great for paint protection so you don't have to buy expensive clear bra, just buy something that you can reapply every year or two. One of my friends has a purely track driven car that has had an oracal wrap last almost 2 years but its chipping in a few places so we expect to replace it soon but those rocks hit at 150+mph and from cars with slicks kicking them up non stop. I personally don't think that any of the clear bra materials that I know of are actually clear and they always have templates with annoying cutouts because the material is so thick that it doesn't stretch. www.xpel.com has clear kits, but look at the templates and you'll see what I mean. Lines catch waxes among other things so you want thin.

Getting clear is a little harder than colors but its doable for around $100 or less in material. I wouldn't advise installing our bumpers yourself though so talk to a wrap guy because its slightly complex but it's maybe 2 hours of my time if I work alone. This stuff is much thinner than conventional paint protection films so it stays CLEAR and you can cover the front half of your car if you want.. no lines with 60" material

personally I would wrap the entire car though, resale is nice for perfect paint over the entire car and you can pick a non dealer color. I have some matte white left over that I have been planning on using if you happen to like alpine white. Here is a car that one of my friends did

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      09-24-2012, 11:07 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brian99997 View Post
Is this a scene from Back To The Future????
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      09-24-2012, 11:29 AM   #16
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My Black 335i will get a full coverage front "clear bra" in Atlanta on the day after my PCD (next week). http://chuforiagraffix.com/ that's the guy I'm using. I know him from the Lotus crowd, he does fantastic work.

He uses XPEL brand film.

My cost is going to be 1k-1.5k. This is much cheaper than a repaint...especially when you consider that most repaints suck, and are obvious repaints, and will decrease the value of your car (repaint often means wrecked...no dealer is going to take you on your word that you had a BMW repainted due to rock chips.

My Elise still has the OEM clear bra, and the car is rock chip free...

Last edited by Mrcarcrazy; 09-24-2012 at 11:45 AM..
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      09-24-2012, 12:57 PM   #17
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Xpel is one of the best in the business for clarity and I had it on one my (track driven) cars for over a year before I removed it to sell the car and the paint was perfect. My problem with all of the pre-cut or templated stuff is that there are lines and they under cut edges instead of overcut like a paint wrap will do. It looks good, but not great to me anymore. 8 mil is really thick but that car took a tire snake and it scuffed the clear, but didn't remotely touch the paint.

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      09-26-2012, 05:45 AM   #18
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I have a clear bra on my 335i sport
I always get one on every new BMW I buy.
the new bra I just got....you can't even tell that it is on there unless you look at it in the right light.
my installer took a brass barbacue grill brush to a ferrari and scratched the hell out of it.
he then poured some water on the scratches and they disapeared.
the new clear bra technology is amazing.
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      10-12-2012, 01:57 PM   #19
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I should update. Mine is done....looks fantastic. Once I wash it I'll take pics.

I went with full coverage on hood and fenders as I HATE the line running across 1/4 up the hood. As you'd expect it costs more, but it's worth it for me
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      10-12-2012, 03:15 PM   #20
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I got the Xpel. Agreed with the precut, undercut and leaves lines everywhere. I would attempt to so it myself but the film is pricy as it is.
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      10-12-2012, 03:52 PM   #21
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ok would love to see the pics
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