How Many of You Installed A Clear Bra on Your Z?

Sly Nic · 01-30-2015, 09:04 AM

I had 3M applied to the entire front, half the hood, lower full rocker panels, mirrors and around wheel wells.

It is expensive but worth it. A person backed into my car (2 months old!) and marred the film but not the paint or actual body. It cost me (well, actually the driver of the other car who left a note paid for it) $450 to replace the film on the front.

It was the best mod I have done to any of my cars. You will not be sorry.

quickboat · 01-30-2015, 09:16 AM

Did not have it done and have nicks galor. I was talking to a guy who installs them and he was telling me that the cost of the bra is prohibitive. He said I could have the dog house painted for about the same cost. I use the car for a dd and drive mostly highway. I had a large rock bounce off the hood and crack the windshield already (7000mi) so it may not have helped that (gash) in the hood. I have some touch up paint and am not affraid to use it. I guess if I had it to do over, I would have done it.

cdumitru78 · 01-30-2015, 10:41 AM

Got it done within the first 50 miles, front bumper, half hood, mirrors, side skirts. I don't regret it one bit, well worth it, Japanese cars have terrible thin paint, especially if you DD the car. I daily drove a brand new WRX through one winter here in OR, no clear bra on it, and that pearl white front bumper looked terrible by spring time.

90 ST · 01-30-2015, 11:19 AM

Got a "Bikini cut" done before I had the car home. Wish I had more covered.

jshare1 · 01-30-2015, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

and got a f-king chip on my trunk

I got a small slash on my side skirt, guessing a rock bounced by on the highway. Then a small divet on my mirror right about where the wrap ended.

kenchan · 01-30-2015, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jshare1

I got a small slash on my side skirt, guessing a rock bounced by on the highway. Then a small divet on my mirror right about where the wrap ended.

yah, for me 4yrs babying my Z, a f-king bed frame fell on her rear bumper and scuffed it up.

at least yours is a road rash.. mine is like wtf, my car wasnt' even moving

we were doing a garage sale/donation collection for a local charity event... dinged the Z's rear bumper in the am, dinged my dd's otherwise spotless rear bumper in the pm from something falling out of the trunk when i made delivery to a local goodwill

Robert Yuras · 01-30-2015, 06:28 PM

I have the entire front bumper, a 5" piece on the front of the hood, and the trailing edges of all 4 fenders done. Worth every penny of $575.

kenchan · 01-30-2015, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Yuras

I have the entire front bumper, a 5" piece on the front of the hood, and the trailing edges of all 4 fenders done. Worth every penny of $575.

nice handle..

4TthAnnyZ · 01-31-2015, 11:39 AM

I have bikini cut, could use more coverage but I don't drive the car much and i keep my distance from other cars. Will likely have it all redone this year, It's starting to show wear.

lgarcia · 02-04-2015, 10:58 PM

Got it done within a couple of weeks after getting my Z, looks like the first day after a year in the Florida Sun, I got the 3M one.

Zipper 104 · 02-05-2015, 03:39 AM

Around the 1000 mile mark I had Xpel installed.
Full front, headlamps, full fenders, full hood, mirrors, A pillars, rocker panels and a strip behind the rear wheel wells. C-Quartzed everything that didn't get the Xpel. I'm half thinking of having a small patch applied where you pull to close the hatch. Water beads unreal.
It was pricey but the first time it saves me from getting a chip I'm sure I'll change my mind.

104

silentnightz · 02-11-2015, 01:17 PM

Mine came with clear bra installed saved my car from a lot of rock chips. Mine covers front bumper, part of tge good, and part of the fender. I took off the side mirror one since they really didn't do a good job on it.

3Aims · 02-12-2015, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentnightz

Mine came with clear bra installed saved my car from a lot of rock chips. Mine covers front bumper, part of tge good, and part of the fender. I took off the side mirror one since they really didn't do a good job on it.

I had Xpel installed and my mirrors look like crap. The installer is not giving me much comfort with fixing them and says paint will likely be damaged when removing. Pretty disappointed and really don't trust the guys given that they basicly admitted they rushed my job.

Did you remove your mirrors by yourself? Any issues?

kenchan · 02-12-2015, 02:17 PM

not sure about that. ive removed xpel on my cars in the past with no issue. i heated it up with my heat gun, pulled up a corner and continue to apply heat while i pulled it off. it's not super easy or quick, but comes off clean.

if you have aftermarket paint, i suppose it could peel the paint off with it.

check youtube. ive seen xpel do demos of their install and removal

ZeroZeta · 02-12-2015, 03:33 PM

+1 for Xpel. I have the pre-cut 3M (partial hood) on my car and I already had a few nicks go through. I think the Expel would hold up better.

Also to anyone that hasn't installed yet - Go for full hood. The top end of mine is not covered and is suffering.

Once I get my car out of the shop I will be doing close to the full car in Xpel.

01-30-2015, 09:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
Sly Nic Base Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Calgary Posts: 61 Drives: 2014 PW Roadster AT Rep Power: 13	I had 3M applied to the entire front, half the hood, lower full rocker panels, mirrors and around wheel wells. It is expensive but worth it. A person backed into my car (2 months old!) and marred the film but not the paint or actual body. It cost me (well, actually the driver of the other car who left a note paid for it) $450 to replace the film on the front. It was the best mod I have done to any of my cars. You will not be sorry. __________________ 2014 Roadster - pearl white with frost leather and black top. Hood struts, tinted glass, HR spacers (20mm front/25mm back), blacked emblems, blue LED lights.

01-30-2015, 09:16 AM	#17 (permalink)
quickboat Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: ohio Posts: 65 Drives: '14 370Z TSN M6 Rep Power: 10	Did not have it done and have nicks galor. I was talking to a guy who installs them and he was telling me that the cost of the bra is prohibitive. He said I could have the dog house painted for about the same cost. I use the car for a dd and drive mostly highway. I had a large rock bounce off the hood and crack the windshield already (7000mi) so it may not have helped that (gash) in the hood. I have some touch up paint and am not affraid to use it. I guess if I had it to do over, I would have done it. __________________ 2014 370Z Magnetic Black, M6,Touring, Sport, Nav

02-05-2015, 03:39 AM	#26 (permalink)
Zipper 104 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Canada's Wet Coast Posts: 480 Drives: '13 PW/Frost/Spt/AT Rep Power: 10	Xpel Around the 1000 mile mark I had Xpel installed. Full front, headlamps, full fenders, full hood, mirrors, A pillars, rocker panels and a strip behind the rear wheel wells. C-Quartzed everything that didn't get the Xpel. I'm half thinking of having a small patch applied where you pull to close the hatch. Water beads unreal. It was pricey but the first time it saves me from getting a chip I'm sure I'll change my mind. 104

02-11-2015, 01:17 PM	#27 (permalink)
silentnightz Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: North Jersey Posts: 90 Drives: 12 370z Silver Auto Rep Power: 13	Mine came with clear bra installed saved my car from a lot of rock chips. Mine covers front bumper, part of tge good, and part of the fender. I took off the side mirror one since they really didn't do a good job on it. __________________

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01-30-2015, 10:41 AM	#18 (permalink)
cdumitru78 Base Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 69 Drives: 2014 370Z, 2005 E55 Rep Power: 10	Got it done within the first 50 miles, front bumper, half hood, mirrors, side skirts. I don't regret it one bit, well worth it, Japanese cars have terrible thin paint, especially if you DD the car. I daily drove a brand new WRX through one winter here in OR, no clear bra on it, and that pearl white front bumper looked terrible by spring time.

01-30-2015, 11:19 AM	#19 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 420	Got a "Bikini cut" done before I had the car home. Wish I had more covered.

01-30-2015, 06:28 PM	#22 (permalink)
Robert Yuras Base Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Texas Posts: 99 Drives: 2013 Nismo 370Z Rep Power: 10	I have the entire front bumper, a 5" piece on the front of the hood, and the trailing edges of all 4 fenders done. Worth every penny of $575.

01-31-2015, 11:39 AM	#24 (permalink)
4TthAnnyZ Base Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Saint Cloud, MN Posts: 171 Drives: 2010 40th Rep Power: 10	I have bikini cut, could use more coverage but I don't drive the car much and i keep my distance from other cars. Will likely have it all redone this year, It's starting to show wear.

02-04-2015, 10:58 PM	#25 (permalink)
lgarcia Base Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Weston, FL Posts: 154 Drives: 2014, 370Z PW Rep Power: 11	Got it done within a couple of weeks after getting my Z, looks like the first day after a year in the Florida Sun, I got the 3M one.

02-12-2015, 02:17 PM	#29 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	not sure about that. ive removed xpel on my cars in the past with no issue. i heated it up with my heat gun, pulled up a corner and continue to apply heat while i pulled it off. it's not super easy or quick, but comes off clean. if you have aftermarket paint, i suppose it could peel the paint off with it. check youtube. ive seen xpel do demos of their install and removal

02-12-2015, 03:33 PM	#30 (permalink)
ZeroZeta Track Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Austin TX Posts: 543 Drives: 2013 Z Rep Power: 12	+1 for Xpel. I have the pre-cut 3M (partial hood) on my car and I already had a few nicks go through. I think the Expel would hold up better. Also to anyone that hasn't installed yet - Go for full hood. The top end of mine is not covered and is suffering. Once I get my car out of the shop I will be doing close to the full car in Xpel.