What do people think of Clear Bra Paint Protection?

Mike · 08-19-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohioZ

I had some questions about this clear bra thing:

1) Will it damage the paint at all if it is removed?
2) I would probably want to do the entire hood so I wont have any lines...would there be a difference in the way the hood looks compared to the rest of the car? When you wax it does it result in the same shine and beauty as if it wasnt on there at all?

Thanks

It won't damage factory paint. I had a bad repaint on my 350 and it did peel a bit of that when I took it off to be repainted correctly.

You can see it a little, but if you keep it waxed regularly, you really won't be able to notice it. If you don't take care of it and keep it waxed, it will show its age.

TARDCORE,
you still wax, polish, clay etc. I just clay barred and polished my corvette today, including the bra.

Educ8r · 08-19-2009, 09:17 PM

Don't use a clay bar on the clear bra, I was told it will scratch it.

Mike · 08-19-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Educ8r

Don't use a clay bar on the clear bra, I was told it will scratch it.

It won't. Plus if you happen to own a powdercoating business and park your car near your work (in my case, the garage, which is sealed but still gets contaminated), its the only way to take it off. I clay bar my vette every couple months and it doesn't affect it at all. I have x-pel film, so other films might be different.

HTP AutoWorks · 08-19-2009, 09:36 PM

I recommend you use a sealant as opposed to a wax. Zaino works really well. Most brands of way will yellow as it ages on the car. So whatever you put on your film will absorb into it. That creates alot of the perceptions that film yelllows over time. A lot of the times its actually the wax.... not the film. But you do need to protect it and keep it glossy... if nothing else to protect it from bug stains, bird droppings, and so on. I have found an acrylic sealant that seals the film up very well and makes it as glossy and smooth as the paint. Its great stuff and I have had great results with it over the years. It was actually designed for aircraft windscreens... for filling in swirl marks.

AS far as the paint goes it will not damage the paint if its a factory paint job... or if the respray was properly done. There is a ton of info on this if you do a search. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Mike · 08-19-2009, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTP AutoWorks

I recommend you use a sealant as opposed to a wax. Zaino works really well. Most brands of way will yellow as it ages on the car. So whatever you put on your film will absorb into it. That creates alot of the perceptions that film yelllows over time. A lot of the times its actually the wax.... not the film. But you do need to protect it and keep it glossy... if nothing else to protect it from bug stains, bird droppings, and so on. I have found an acrylic sealant that seals the film up very well and makes it as glossy and smooth as the paint. Its great stuff and I have had great results with it over the years. It was actually designed for aircraft windscreens... for filling in swirl marks.

AS far as the paint goes it will not damage the paint if its a factory paint job... or if the respray was properly done. There is a ton of info on this if you do a search. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Speaking of sealers, x-pel has their own sealer that they recommend now. my installer gave me a sample when he did the Z last month, but I haven't tried it yet. before that, he was recommending NXT-2, which is what I use so I figured why switch?

bucknakedru · 08-19-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HTP AutoWorks

I recommend you use a sealant as opposed to a wax. Zaino works really well. Most brands of way will yellow as it ages on the car. So whatever you put on your film will absorb into it. That creates alot of the perceptions that film yelllows over time. A lot of the times its actually the wax.... not the film. But you do need to protect it and keep it glossy... if nothing else to protect it from bug stains, bird droppings, and so on. I have found an acrylic sealant that seals the film up very well and makes it as glossy and smooth as the paint. Its great stuff and I have had great results with it over the years. It was actually designed for aircraft windscreens... for filling in swirl marks.

AS far as the paint goes it will not damage the paint if its a factory paint job... or if the respray was properly done. There is a ton of info on this if you do a search. Let me know if you have any more questions.

You have to make sure not to use waxes with petroleum distillates. My installer recommended Plexus. Its used mainly for the avation industry and contains NO patroleum distillates. This stuff is awsome!!
Plexus

FricFrac · 08-21-2009, 12:00 AM

I've been using Turtle Wax ICE synthetic wax and it seems to work great. Since is not a natural wax it doesn't yellow and it makes the surface quite slick (its pretty "grippy" when you slide a wool mit over it compared to the clear coat until you seal it). It also doesn't interfear with the edge (transition between the paint and the surface of the film) and give you a line of white wax residue. So far so good. Turtle Wax ICE can be applied to plastic trim (and it looks great) whereas Meguires NXT recomends not getting on plastic and since the film is plastic I'd go with ICE....

flashburn · 10-11-2009, 09:02 PM

I just got quoted a price of $1500 in order to install the clear bra on the entire hood, bumper, and fenders. It seemed extremely high to me. What do you guys think?

B1nks · 10-11-2009, 09:16 PM

Yeah, way high although I don't have it on the whole hood/fenders just 1/3 or half-ish but I only paid 500 for full bumper the hood/fender and side mirrors.

schrute · 10-11-2009, 09:32 PM

^ +1.

I paid somwhere between $400-$500 for half the hood and fenders and the bumper.

That quote seems high, you should keep shopping.

bluzman · 10-12-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B1nks

Yeah, way high although I don't have it on the whole hood/fenders just 1/3 or half-ish but I only paid 500 for full bumper the hood/fender and side mirrors.

Same coverage for $595.

flashburn · 10-12-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzman

Same coverage for $595.

The second guy I contacted also quoted me $595 for that coverage. Goes up to $1200ish if I want the entire front end covered. Although now that I've found these clear coat bubbles (see paint defect thread), I don't know what I'll be doing yet.

flashburn · 10-12-2009, 08:41 AM

Well they wouldn't budge on the price at all. They were just like "you can ask anyone and he is the best in the business". But $1500 and they wouldn't even do the pillars and headlights? I had to pass.

flashburn · 10-12-2009, 09:41 AM

Heard back from another guy, he wants $1300-$1400 to do the entire front end. That includes bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors, headlights, and a pillars. Better I guess, but not by a large amount. I'm trying to see if he can do it all for $1200.

StLRedrider · 10-12-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashburn

Heard back from another guy, he wants $1300-$1400 to do the entire front end. That includes bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors, headlights, and a pillars. Better I guess, but not by a large amount. I'm trying to see if he can do it all for $1200.

thats rape,

08-19-2009, 09:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
Educ8r Enthusiast Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 397 Drives: a car Rep Power: 18	Don't use a clay bar on the clear bra, I was told it will scratch it. __________________ imagination + creativity = endless possibilities

08-21-2009, 12:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
FricFrac A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 1,481 Drives: 370Z 300ZX 280ZX 240 Rep Power: 230	I've been using Turtle Wax ICE synthetic wax and it seems to work great. Since is not a natural wax it doesn't yellow and it makes the surface quite slick (its pretty "grippy" when you slide a wool mit over it compared to the clear coat until you seal it). It also doesn't interfear with the edge (transition between the paint and the surface of the film) and give you a line of white wax residue. So far so good. Turtle Wax ICE can be applied to plastic trim (and it looks great) whereas Meguires NXT recomends not getting on plastic and since the film is plastic I'd go with ICE.... __________________ '09 370Z - '93 300ZX Vert - '83 280ZX - '83 280ZXT -'81 280ZXT stroker - '72 240Z - Stillen CBE, HFC, G3, Grounding Kit, Sways // Swift Spring // H&R 15mm // 5% Tint // Clear Bra //

10-11-2009, 09:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
schrute Track Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: utah Posts: 781 Drives: my z every day Rep Power: 18	^ +1. I paid somwhere between $400-$500 for half the hood and fenders and the bumper. That quote seems high, you should keep shopping. __________________ my journal \| 2009 370z touring \| 6mt \| platinum graphite \| my album second skin \| mr works \| fast intentions \| ssr \| eibach \| hotchkis \| spc \| toyo \| bluebatmobile \| v-led \| jwt \| ventureshield \| tinted tails

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08-19-2009, 09:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
HTP AutoWorks Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: DFW Posts: 124 Drives: G35, Jeep SRT-8 Rep Power: 0	I recommend you use a sealant as opposed to a wax. Zaino works really well. Most brands of way will yellow as it ages on the car. So whatever you put on your film will absorb into it. That creates alot of the perceptions that film yelllows over time. A lot of the times its actually the wax.... not the film. But you do need to protect it and keep it glossy... if nothing else to protect it from bug stains, bird droppings, and so on. I have found an acrylic sealant that seals the film up very well and makes it as glossy and smooth as the paint. Its great stuff and I have had great results with it over the years. It was actually designed for aircraft windscreens... for filling in swirl marks. AS far as the paint goes it will not damage the paint if its a factory paint job... or if the respray was properly done. There is a ton of info on this if you do a search. Let me know if you have any more questions.

10-11-2009, 09:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 21	I just got quoted a price of $1500 in order to install the clear bra on the entire hood, bumper, and fenders. It seemed extremely high to me. What do you guys think?

10-11-2009, 09:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
B1nks Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 721 Drives: 2009 370Z Base 6MT Rep Power: 509	Yeah, way high although I don't have it on the whole hood/fenders just 1/3 or half-ish but I only paid 500 for full bumper the hood/fender and side mirrors.

10-12-2009, 08:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 21	Well they wouldn't budge on the price at all. They were just like "you can ask anyone and he is the best in the business". But $1500 and they wouldn't even do the pillars and headlights? I had to pass.

10-12-2009, 09:41 AM	#14 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 21	Heard back from another guy, he wants $1300-$1400 to do the entire front end. That includes bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors, headlights, and a pillars. Better I guess, but not by a large amount. I'm trying to see if he can do it all for $1200.