What kind of clear bra brand is best? 3m/ventureSH. and how much did you guys spend??
 

im looking around to get a clear bra for my new white 370z... 2 places i kno does venture shield... another does 3m.. the venture shield place is asking me 830 bucks for full bumper, part fenders, mirriors, fog light, headlight, and part hood.... it comes with a loaner car and lifetime free waxing of the clear bra wen installed der.
how much did you guys pay for the clear bra? i think 830 is kinda too much iono.
EDIT::: i called that same place back, and they want 500 bucks MORE for full hood and 250 for full fenders.... jeez........ does anybody think its worth paying more to get full coverage on hood and fenders??

Paid in that neighborhood, maybe a touch more, for 3M - same configuration except no fog and pattern extended 30 in. hood and fender, which covers the full front rise of the fender. To me, $$ are worth it if the pattern and install is tight - things like good fit in all corners, wraps tucked under hood, no bubbles or excessive stretch. Also would suggest a hood pattern that sweeps. Some are straight cuts across but the sweep is way nicer, better complementing the shape of the car IMO.

I'm not sure the wax is all that. What do they use? The 3M tends to crackle slightly as a reaction to chemicals laid over it. I use only Plexus on clearbra and restrict use of detailer, wax/sealant, etc. on painted surfaces. Recommended by my installer and working very well for me.

Over years of installing I have settled on VentureShields Ultra. Its a great orange peel free film that has a lifetime warranty. 3M is a good film as well but it has too much orange peel in it. $830 is a pretty decent price as long as their work is good. When you think about having to repaint your bumper, hood, fenders, and a cracked headlight alone will cost more than $830... well its a pretty good deal. Not to mention all the time you would be without your car while its in the shop, you would have decreased resale value because it was repianted, and having to worry about them matching the color. There are a lot of issues to consider. If they do good work then its money well spent. I would recommend checking out some of their work and see if they are good.

By the way you do not want to use wax on film... especially with a white car. A lot of waxes will tend to yellow over time. Film absorbs whatever you put onm it so if you use wax and it yellows, well your clear bra will look yellow. A good sealant will work better and not cause the film to ywllow. Zaino works very well.

I paid $1200 for my Ventureshield. Covers full bumper, full hood, full fenders, headlights, mirrors. I think you are getting a good quote but at the end of the day its all about why you want to get it in the first place? I assume you want to avoid chips in the paint which on the 370Z is known to be very soft and prone to chipping. Once that occurs its too late and the bill will be more to repaint. I got my Venturshield put on within days of purchasing my 370Z. Ventureshield has the lifetime warranty and you can use wax but they recommend Plexus to clean and shine it. Either way, get something on it before it is too late. Good Luck!

I too got the Ventureshield Ultra insatlled on my Z a few days after I purchased the car. Full front bumper, full hood, parial front fenders and side mirrors... cost $850. It took 2 guys about 3 hours to do the job, and the good thing is they traveled about an hour to come to MY garage to do the job. Came out absolutely perfect and was well worth the investment. Although partial-hood coverings are offered, I sleep better at night knowing that the full hood was done... and not that they're really noticeable, but it's nice not to have any lines on the hood.

Having said that, your quote sounds very reasonable. Good luck with your decision!

I have the xpel pattern and xpel film. Cost was 621 for bumper, fenders, hood and mirrors.

I was quoted $700 for the bumper and half of the hood/fenders and $1100 for the whole hood/fenders. Can't remember if this included the A-Pillars or Mirrors but I think it might have. Local guy, recommended by my brother's shop (Park Place Lexus Plano), seemed very knowledgeable and helpful. SpeedShieldUSA.com

Ventureshield is the best, and they also bought out 3m

weird, the guy i called said 3m bought out ventureshield. the guy i called recommends 3m cuz its more shinier, and you can do something about waxing it with no hassle blah blah blah... im not sure.. ppl been saying 3m has the orange peels..... in the end it costs the same, 3m or ventureshield.

oh yeah, and one more thing, i called another different shop and they quoted me full base coverage...(headlights full bumper part fender and part hood, etc) for 650 out the door. (cash) den he said its 500 bucks extra for full hood and full fenders. WAYYY better deal den the previous shop i called. also, they only do formulaONE pinnacle tint and they say that goes for about 275. - dont kno what kind it is, but ill find out. he asked his boss about any discount and he is willing to give me the base coverage (650) and tint for 875. -so basically 50 bucks off from buying separately. and last question, is it worth the money to get full hood and fenders???

3m bought venturesheild. Venturesheild is a softer product and id more prone to staining.

Partially correct. But VentureShield Ultra is not a softer film. It is coated just as 3M is but lacks orange peel due to the backing they use. The uncoated VentureShield is softer but a good sealant will prevent it from staining. I have been installing both films for 7 years now and never seen a film stain that couldnt be cleaned. 3M on the other hand cracks, has too much orange peel in it, and also only has a 5 year warranty as opposed to a lifetime from VS.

I was told that if i wanted the entire hood done they recommend VS but it would be very prone to staining and would require more upkeep. I've had 3m on 2 cars and i treat it as if its not there. The installer mentioned without me keeping on top of the venturesheild that it would possibly stain. What type of sealant would you recommend on to use on it?

I have got my appointment scheduled for this Friday. I'm getting the Clear Shield put on before my road trip. They quoted $695 for the hood, bumper, fenders, and mirrors.

Chief Aircraft Inc - Chemical - Acrylic Cleaners & Polishes

Go to this link and look at the item made by L.P. Aeroplastics. It is fantastic for clear bras and is the best product by far I have ever found. One bottle will last you forever. I highly recommend it.

This is a very helpful thread.

So does anyone have first hand experience of VS or 3M for a period of 2-3 years or more on their car??? Sounds like some conflicting second hand info.

i've had 3m on my truck for 2 years, its great. I don't think its conflicting information they are just different products.

I have Ventureshield: full bumper, partial hood, partial fenders, mirrors. Total cost: 400. My installer didn't use a pattern, it was a complete "free hand" install, very nicely done.

AAP on Columbus Ohio quoted:

$698 for front bumper, partial hood, partial fenders, and mirrors
$209 for window tint
$50 discount for both at same time

Still shopping around...but here is a link to interesting videos Automotive Appearance Pros 2007

Im getting Full VentureShield done too. The guy doing it is on vacation right now. Probably will get it done next week :happydance:

Ok, I noticed on my clear bra today that in some areas it looks like what some of the exhaust tips look like with that burnt blue on the tips (think invidia titanium tips). Has anyone had this happen to them? I'm wondering if it's the cold weather. I had mine put on 12/19/09 and was wondering if it just hasnt adhered all the way yet.

Update: I have figured out I only notice this if I am wearing polarized sunglasses.

haha....you are not the first to wonder that...

I'm getting Ventureshield tomorrow. $450 for "the works" quoted on the phone. I'll ask further tomorrow at the shop.

ventureshield
 

so guys, i decided to get the ventureshield kit... cost me 550 - 1/3 hood, part fender, side mirrors and full bumper..... also with formula one CERAMIC tint for 225.... not a bad deal i guess. He first tried to give me formula tint for 275 with only dyed tint, so i declined. The day i dropped off my car he asked me if i were still going to hold off on the tint... and i asked him if i can get ceramic tint... and he quoted me 225... (trying to give his tint-er a job) After a couple days i noticed wavy lines on the edge of the side mirrors. i called in and said that happened due to the cold weather. I took it in the next day and he fixed it in less than 5min. problem solved. oh, and bad thing about ventureshield, he said not to wax the clear coat... just buy plexus plastic cleaner and wax the rest of the car. Unfortunately, plexus plastic cleaner costs a lot. about 19 bucks average per bottle.

Ventureshield installed ....partial fenders, partial hood, mirrors, and of course front end. $550. at Advanced Paint Protection-VentureShield Automotive Paint Protection Film

They told me I could apply wax to it - just don't use high speed equipment. I'l probably just use PLexis, as recommended by Ventureshield.

I have Ventureshield also: full bumper, full hood, full fenders, mirrors, headlights, back rocker panel for < 1k

how do you guys prep for the install? or do you guys just take it there and they will prep the car for you?

Just take the car there clean. You're installer will appreciate that. And they will prep the surface for the film. I always make sure it is perfectly clean. Usually I use a 3M adhesive remover to get the bugs off and then clay bar it. There is no need to strip the wax off really.

By the way. Do bot use wax on your clear bra. Clear bras are pourous and will absorb what you put on them. Most waxes tend to yellow as they age in turn making your clear bra look yellow. A good sealant is the best way to go. Zaino is also very good. I give a bottle of this acrylic sealant I found that is used on aircraft windscreens. I believe it's hands done the best product out there for clear bras... even though it wasn't developed for them.