Clear bra after 3yrs and 18,000 miles?

gurneyeagle · 10-20-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphman

Yes baker North, on their website they have a collision section with prices on different panels to paint. Not sure if that is different then painting a bumper that has no paint of not but i dont see why it wouldnt but i am sure that is a non blending price. As for a rep for body work i dont know, Ron was looking into having his rear nismo bumper repaired but i dont know if he used them or not, shoot him a pm. One of my friends is an insurance adjuster and said they have a guy there that does body work that he says does the best work he has seen so far but he has only been an adjuster for 9 months. hope this helps.

Thanks!

pjp98z · 10-21-2011, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murphman

OP i would check locally and see how much a respray would cost. In my area it appears Baker Nissan will repaint your front bumper for 300$ so in my opinion you could get a lot of repaints for the cost of clear bra. If you can get the clear bra before leaving the dealership then that is the way to go but for me since i do not have it and i have plenty of chips. Dr. color chip is my friend till i decide to repaint for 300$

Repaints bring down the value of the vehicle and you would still be left driving around with rock chips between repaints.

It's really a matter of when you want to "spend" the money. You either do it up front on a clear bra, or on the back end by painting one or two times and getting less return when it is time to sell.

2011 Nismo#91 · 10-20-2011, 08:41 AM

Yeah it was insane, I was specifically requesting the 3M one, they did offer me some others manufacturer's clear bras for a bit cheaper. If I was getting quotes for 500 or even 1800 I would have done it.

EL Diablo · 10-20-2011, 09:47 AM

Respray and then put the clear bra immediately on.
protect that nice brand new paint job.

A clear bra is really something that should be done as soon as you leave the dealer.
I think I paid around $400 for just the bumper. It was under $500 for sure.

Doug&Michelle · 10-20-2011, 10:11 AM

Thanks for all the replies and votes so far. I've been using just regular nissan touch up paint and it's not bad. I've been curious about dr color chip for a while. Think I'll have to give it a try. Might by me some time before a respray.

kenchan · 10-20-2011, 03:27 PM

i bought a floor car in the past with aftermarket aero bits and it had quite bit of chips (for my standard). i touched it up and clear bra'ed it. the chips and fix looked much less noticable and from that point forward even after 6yrs ownership the car looked great.

it's up to you. if you do the installation yourself it will save you a couple hundred bucks.

Auto Paint Guard Inc. Tampa Florida Clear Bra 3M Paint Protection Film Car Bras

cjeezy · 10-20-2011, 07:44 PM

I bought my 2010 Z without a clear bra. At that time the bumper was nearly perfect. Literally after 3 weeks I had 50 pin hole chips all over it from rocks I guess. I got some touchup paint from the dealership and then had it clear bra'd along with 1/3 of the hood fenders and mirrors for $800. Yeah I probably should have repainted it all first but after spending $30k I was annoyed I had to repaint it already and was stubborn lol. So am I happy with the clear bra over touched up rock chips? Heck yeah. This car gets chips everywhere anyways. I'm to the point now where I have 26k miles on it so it's not gonna be perfect. You can't even see the chips under the bra unless you really look and there are 0 bubbles in the bra. Just my opinion

gurneyeagle · 10-20-2011, 08:23 PM

For the prices quoted, sounds like a road trip to Texas for Doug and Michelle.

View Poll Results: Should I do the bra now or is it too late.
Do it now before it gets worse.	10	26.32%
Wait til you do the repaint some day then do it.	28	73.68%
Voters: 38. You may not vote on this poll

10-20-2011, 09:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
EL Diablo Base Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: USA Posts: 91 Drives: Not a 370Z Rep Power: 16	Respray and then put the clear bra immediately on. protect that nice brand new paint job. A clear bra is really something that should be done as soon as you leave the dealer. I think I paid around $400 for just the bumper. It was under $500 for sure. __________________ The Z Has Left The Building. Thank You & Good Night!

10-20-2011, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
gurneyeagle A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Houston/Saint Augustine Posts: 2,681 Drives: '18 Audi TT RS Rep Power: 20217	For the prices quoted, sounds like a road trip to Texas for Doug and Michelle. __________________ Waiting on the Z35! SOLD - 2011 Gun Metallic Touring 7AT w Sports Pkg & Nav, Nismo Bumper and Rims, RC Grille, RC Brake Ducts, H&R Spacers, Painted Door Hdls, GTR Start Button, Nav By-Pass, EVO R Fog Light, CF Ducktail, CF Interior Trim

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
I need to do Clear Bra	F.LadyZ	Canada	3	09-19-2011 06:20 PM
Service intervall US: 3750 miles, Europe: 9.000 miles?!?!	JB1	Nissan 370Z General Discussions	4	10-30-2010 08:35 PM
clear bras are sheets of clear laminate film?	elm_tx	Exterior & Interior	9	08-25-2010 08:46 AM
Clear Bra	pgrmstr	North East Region	8	05-10-2009 01:31 PM

10-20-2011, 08:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
2011 Nismo#91 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 2,412 Drives: slowly Rep Power: 40571	Yeah it was insane, I was specifically requesting the 3M one, they did offer me some others manufacturer's clear bras for a bit cheaper. If I was getting quotes for 500 or even 1800 I would have done it.

10-20-2011, 10:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
Doug&Michelle Base Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma Posts: 176 Drives: '09 370z Tourng Auto Rep Power: 16	Thanks for all the replies and votes so far. I've been using just regular nissan touch up paint and it's not bad. I've been curious about dr color chip for a while. Think I'll have to give it a try. Might by me some time before a respray.

10-20-2011, 03:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141522	i bought a floor car in the past with aftermarket aero bits and it had quite bit of chips (for my standard). i touched it up and clear bra'ed it. the chips and fix looked much less noticable and from that point forward even after 6yrs ownership the car looked great. it's up to you. if you do the installation yourself it will save you a couple hundred bucks. Auto Paint Guard Inc. Tampa Florida Clear Bra 3M Paint Protection Film Car Bras

10-20-2011, 07:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
cjeezy Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: USA Posts: 131 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 16	I bought my 2010 Z without a clear bra. At that time the bumper was nearly perfect. Literally after 3 weeks I had 50 pin hole chips all over it from rocks I guess. I got some touchup paint from the dealership and then had it clear bra'd along with 1/3 of the hood fenders and mirrors for $800. Yeah I probably should have repainted it all first but after spending $30k I was annoyed I had to repaint it already and was stubborn lol. So am I happy with the clear bra over touched up rock chips? Heck yeah. This car gets chips everywhere anyways. I'm to the point now where I have 26k miles on it so it's not gonna be perfect. You can't even see the chips under the bra unless you really look and there are 0 bubbles in the bra. Just my opinion