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

I did some searching but was surprised to not see any threads. Is it not a popular add on with these cars? If you did do it, what parts were wrapped?

You didn't search very hard then. There are lots of threads.

Everything from front bumper and part of the hood to bumper, hood, roof, pillars, front and rear fender flares. Just depends on what you want to pay.

I got it. half the hood, all front bumper. and the front corners of the fenders, what they call their "bikini cut". Lastly the area right in front of the rear wheels.

It was expensive but well worth it. Just with the first 5k miles or so i drove it it was already showing rocks chips and such.
Do it.

Me

:iagree:

I had 3M paint protection the very day I purchased my Z. Failed to have hood done as they could only do half. A mistake. Planning on getting the hood done as soon as I get a VERY small chip repaired. May use Dr. Color Chip as it is not that big. Definitely get it done. You will not regret!

Had some of the car done about two years ago, and I wish I got the whole car done at the same time.

I only did the parts in the attached photo...For all items covered, I was charged $1425 and the installer came to my house on a Saturday and was done in about 8 hours.

So far, it's held up very well and no one can tell it is on there unless I tell them.

I should mention that I did not get a clear bra. And I regret it. Hindsight, I would cover everything from the front bumper to the rear fenders.

I did not get it and regret it.

Hindsight, I would do the bumper and and maybe the hood.

I do not like seams on panels so I would not do half the hood or half of any panel.

Bumper has tons of chips, hood only has 1 and a very light scratch from a piece of flying cardboard on the highway.

yah, i learned from looking at my G myself... :shakes head: no clearbra on her. she looked great until that one f-king winter i drover her as dd. with salt and rocks flying... :shakes head:

was the biggest mistake i ever made my entire life. :mad:

next biggest mistake was walking into the ladies room unknowingly. :mad:
and being accused i did it on purpose. :shakes head:

wtf would i want to see bare taffyapple arse? :barf:

It was the first thing I had done to the car . Had the hood, bumper and mirrors done. IMHO, it's the best mod you can make to the car. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. Should you ever resell it, it'll pay for itself.

About 100 miles in I got my full hood, front bumper, quarter panels, leading edges on the mirrors and leading edge about 6 inches up the roof.

and got a f-king chip on my trunk :shakes head:

I paid $950 for the entire front including the headlights and side mirrors, too much money if you ask me but it saves you more money on the long run.

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.

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.

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.

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

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. :facepalm:

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

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 :shakes head:

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..

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.

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.

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

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?

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

+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.

The Xpel on my mirrors is two separate pieces. You have to look real close to see the seam.


104

can you wash your car as normal with the 3m paint protection?

Anybody have any experience with Clearshield by Solar Gard. I'm thinking of having installed. Come specifically cut for the Z front bumper, hood and mirrors. It's $850 installed. What say you...

yep, just treat the clearbra like the rest of your paint.


no but if you're going to have it installed by a clear-bra pro, you probably dont want to use the pre-cut ones. have them use a big roll and cut it specific to your car. if they cant do that, then search elsewhere for installers.

the pre-cut ones are imho for weekend hobbists like me that do the install at home.

I agree! Both my cars were cut during install. Looks nicer and they tuck the clear bra, unlike pre cut ones where there are gaps for rock chips.

I got the 3M on all the hood / bumper / both front fenders,
had a flaw in the hood and they took care of the problem
very glad that I did, has taken a couple of nicks here and there and nothing has shown