Got my Mitsubishi Outlander kit installed. Kit came as advertised, and I chose the InvisiMask film instead of 3M. Some orange peel, but really not much at all, and it seems pretty much every film from every manufacturer has a certain amount of this.

This was a partial hood (1/3), partial fender (to match where the hood piece ends), and mirrors.

Started the install with the fender piece, which was the easiest of this kit, after watching the instructional video that ship with it. Install is not hard, but requires a little experience. I made a couple of small mistakes on this piece. One was I left a small bubble, which I was able to remove with the syringe. The other was the film is pretty stretchy, and you have to stretch it a bit in some areas due to the curvature of your car. That's fine, but if you try and stretch too much you get small little white lines (stretch marks).

Moved on to the hood piece and it worked great. Ended up with just one bubble which again the syringe removed no problem. The interesting part is as I first laid it on to the wet hood (you use soap and water so the film doesn't stick at first, then squeegee it out), it is clear it is cut a little smaller than what it needs to cover, so you start by fixing the center, then slightly stretching both sides so they reach the left and right sides of the hood.

The mirrors were interesting, as the film is obviously flat when glued to the backing paper it ships in, but the curvature of most mirror housings, including the one in my wife's Mitsu, is curved both in the horizontal and vertical, like a small section of a ball, so the film wants to stay flat while you squeegee it around. It just takes about 5 minutes of continuous squeegeeing and it conforms.

All in all, a good experience. I am going to order and do the bumper next, which will be one level up in difficulty, then will report back.

Umm I posted this a while ago dont know if this helps anyone find or place a order for Ventureshield.

http://www.the370z.com/europe/1931-ventureshield.html

Where to get clear bra near Boston
 

Hi Guys, I am picking my Z up from the dealer in the beginning of June. I want to get the clear bra installed ASAP, but do not know the best place to bring it. Can anyone recommend a place near Boston or even southern new hampshire? Thanks!

As an update, I received an email from the invisible mask people.

They said that they have been having problems with the bumper kit that I ordered (the one piece) -- that too many people have been finding it too difficult to install, and so they're trying to redo/change that kit. As such, they offered me the other bumper kit, the one that is comprised of more pieces.

Im on the fence whether to go with the other kit or just cancel the whole thing.

Maybe take the kit they have now (the one with more pieces) and ask for 50% of your money back?

Can you buy VentureShield films to apply it yourself? I can only seem to find dealers, not the kits.

I believe that's an excuse.

The one piece top bumper kit needs a bigger potter cut machine and larger piece film which I don't think they have and this is the reason.

Selling something they don't have, very dissapointed.

Wouldn't recommend Invisible Mask to ANYONE.

Poor service and poor business strategy.

I have been trying to tell people for a long time this place is a scam. Clear bra installations is not for an amature, period. They are promoting kits as such that anyone can install a kit. Not true. The only way to make it where people can get decent results is to make a single kit (bumper, hood...) into multiple pieces where no stretching is involved. They are SCAMMING people and should stop screwing people out of their money. I am an installer and know what they are doing... it gives the industry a bad name.

If I were you I would demand all of my money back. You did not get the kit you bought.

I have a quick question: I'm getting the clear bra installed on friday asked to have the headlights protected and the guy said he wouldn't do them because 6 months from now the headlights would turn yellow from the heat, what do you guys think?

I can tell you that he doesnt know what he is talking about and I would be very leary about having him do an install. I have been in the industry for over 5 years, seen many different cars with many different films, and I have never seen a car's headlights yellow. From his statement I would assume he is not very experienced with film... and probably is a window tinter. PM his shop info and I will find out if he is any good. I know a lot of installers and we all know who the good ones are...

I would hate to see you waste your money and get a bad install.. or worse get your paint cut up.

My aunt had to trade in her Mustang due to finances and things happening at her job....she purchased a Nissan Cube (actually they are kinda cool looking) and she asked about clear bra/film protection. The dealer told her that the stuff will damage the paint. Any truth to this as I am interested in wrapping my entire Z at some point?

This is an installer that does alot of work for the dealer i bought my z from, while i was there my salesmen showed me some work he had done on a brand new gtr. It looked very good. He said he could do the lights, just didn't recomend it. I go at 1pm i'll call the dealer in the morning and get his info.

I had them do the lights and I am taking it back tomorrow to remove and get my money back on the lights... does not want to stick... the rest is ok but have notice some spots coming lose.... is this normal? The guy that did it came recommended by the dealer and has good write ups... Has anyone else had problems like that?

I've had several cars done, and with a good installer, never had a problem. I have an install scheduled for the 19th. My car is supposed to be delivered by the 16th.

So I finally got the kit from invisible mask. They ended up contacting me to say that the bumper kit I ordered, they were having problems with and if I would like to take the other bumper kit, eventually, I agreed and took the 4 piece bumper kit.

I did the install on Saturday. I did 99% of the work, my one buddy was hanging around and helped just to first place the large pieces on the car, just the initial picking them up and putting the pieces on the hood and bumper sections, it helps if someone holds the other end for a few seconds, after that you can pretty much do all the work yourself.

Short story, it took me about half hour to wash the car, with special attention to the front. I used one of the tar/bug removal solutions on the bumper. Afterwards, I spent a total of about 6.5 hrs to do the entire bumper, the bottom/front bikini portion of the hood and the little pieces that go on the front portion of the front quarter panels. I ran out of time to do the mirrors, but I can probably bang those out in an hour one of these nights.

Don't want to tout my own horn, but the job came out about as close to "awesome" as you can say. I initially ended up with some tiny tiny bubbles on the hood piece, and although I was reluctant, I used the syringe they give you. Just be very careful, and insert it at pretty much a flat angle, as to the hood, all you have to do is just pierce the skin of the film (unless I assume the bubbles are large, which I didnt have) and then you can just remove the syringe and rub the tip of your finger around the bubble, squeezing the air out of the completely invisible hole that you just created. Essentially the air will escape by itself, you almost dont even need to 'massage' the air bubble for the air to escape. I repeat, that the hole that you make is invisible, like you probably wouldn't even see it with a magnifying glass. Didn't really get any bubbles on the other pieces.

I started with the little front quarter panel pieces. They were pretty simple, and required minimal stretching. Then I did the hood piece. Also no stretching, also pretty simple, but because of how big the piece is, watch out for those bubbles. Then I did the two central bumper pieces, the one that goes around the large Nissan logo on the front, and the one that goes on the fangs, at the bottom of the bumper. First one, fairly simple, required some stretching (which really isn't very hard to do). The second one, the one on the fang, I literally stretched by like an inch and a half, otherwise, surprisingly easy to install on that fang section which is both vertical and has many many curves.

Finally, I did the two pieces that go on the corners of each side of the bumper. These were Tough! to install. They were difficult for two reasons, the part of the bumper is basically one big bubble (not an air bubble, just it's shape), and you have to somehow wrap the piece around and not end up with wrinkles at either of the edges, also it required some weird stretching, but mostly at one or two of the corners. Biggest advice, just don't give up, no matter how much it looks like you may have positioned it wrong, just keep evening it out at the edges and it will eventually work out.

Finally, watch the dvd they send you. It's a doozer, but it is educational. Mix the solutions as they suggest. You will definitely need some rubbing alcohol and baby shampoo as those are the two things they don't provide. Otherwise, everything they give you is exactly what you need.

FYI: I have no affiliation with these guys, I have never been able to get someone on the phone there, but they do respond to emails quickly. And once I emailed and asked as to the status of my order, they admitted that due to the change in the bumper kit, the order felt through the cracks, but they were sending it out right away so that I would have it for the weekend, which I did.

I drove the car right after finishing all the installs. I've driven it more late on Sat and again today on Sun. Walking out to the car this morning, two other people could not tell there was anything on the car, until I pointed their attn at the very thing edge of film going across the hood. Btw, that film edge is much less noticeable than I thought.

Im a firm believer in that if you can do something yourself, you should. A) you same some money, B) you learn something in the process and C) it feels good to have done it yourself. I thought I would be cursing the whole day I was doing this, but surprisingly I actually kind of enjoyed the install. Sure it took all day, but it helps if you have some music on in the background, a good buddy to bs with, meanwhile, and I only wish I had a beer while doing all this. As a result, the experience was actually kind of relaxing and I absolutely was not cursing my decision at any time.

If anyone has any questions, shoot!

You need to take it back. If the kit is already lifting you are going to have major problems with it down the road. I have been installing film for years and having film lift is a sign of a bad install. Once dirt gets under the film it will be ruined. Take it back now and demand that it be replaced and that he should heat seal the edges with a heat gun next time.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me.

Do you recommend the "do it yourself"er heat seal the edges? Why is it necessary if you get a good adhesion?

Thanks....

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

I had a question too... since the clear bra is a barrier against the paint is there a point to waxing or polishing anymore with it on? Im guessing wax will create another barrier but do you still polish, seal, clay etc the car?

Good input on this thread. :tup: I think you're giving everyone quality information. I assume you're a dealer?
I'm a large Clearshield dealer in my part of the world and technical trainer for Bekaert Canada.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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....

ok so basically I no longer need to go through the long process of wash, clay, wash, polish, glaze, seal, wax. now its just wash, clay, wash, seal?

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?

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.

^ +1.

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

That quote seems high, you should keep shopping.

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.

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,

Well, its better than the other place that wanted $1500 just to do fenders, bumper, and hood. Oh, and the guy for $1200 gives a lifetime warranty, where as all the other places seem to give a 5 year warranty.

Not sure what to do, but I need to do something quickly. I drive a lot on the highway, so I'm bound to get some rock chips soon.

wow, thats cray. i spent roughly $740 or something . no pillars and no headlights. Excellent job

Can someone please delete that dumb !&% picture, since it has absolutely nothing to do with the thread!!!

WTF!! i guess the girls on the bikes have "clear bras"


kinda wish a few didnt though......ew

:iagree:

Thanks for making the thread not work safe :shakes head:

I just had the entire front/mirrors done for 625. The shape of the front pretty much requires a clear-bra in order to remain clean. Lot of surface area on the front of these cars.