I wish I clear my front, tons of rocks chips thanks to Florida resurfacing all the highways and tracking. Would rather peel and clean than respray when it comes time to sell. Same cost probably when its all said and done..

 

A few things I don't like about the clear bra is I have seen very few that don't look like they have a clear bra on. Even on full panel job stretch marks are very common. I removed the clear bra from the M3's hood and fenders because the stretch marks were so bad. I originally thought it must have been some cheap ebay kit but I found the PO's records and it was 3M and he paid over $1,200 for the job.

I'd imagine there wouldn't be any problem getting the hood on the 996 to look good since it is basically flat but anything with contours is going to need heat, stretch, and shrink and I am going to see the marks. The best job I have ever seen was on a local 458. One of the top shops did it with their top of the line product and I could still easily see stretch marks.

 

My installer did a stellar job on my 996tt, full frontal Xpel Ultimate, and you cannot tell anything is there unless you look VERY closely. The edges are wrapped over and the only "seam" visible is in the lower center of the bumper. He did all the PPF for 2 Lamborghini dealers in the past few years. Lots of experience and a bonus that he is right down the street from me.

 

I imagine the hood is good but how is the bumper?

 

I would never go without a Clear Shield... Some great NEW Product Lines on the Market. I am going to have mine done at our local Cadillac / Lexus Dealer.

It is the shiniest and clarity yet. (XPEL Ultimate, I believe). Many have gotten better, they showed me a couple of things they have discovered to make me choose their product.

I am replacing mine this year and it has a tear where it save the Paint (somehow) and new patterns are now available that wrap the edges. I can tell how much this car was spared by having it. My BMW E39 was nothing but Peppered with chips and the touch up was becoming very noticeable at 180,000 miles...

 

PERFECT. Tough to see in photos. Hopefully some local MI members will get a chance to see it this season and chime in on the quality.

 

I am new to the forum... Uploaded 3 high Res photos, On other forums they display either Random or all Stacked... Must say I like the Stacked method better... Better Quality.

Regards, thanks for Noticing! If any other way we could post Photos in a better quality, let me know where...

 

Could you let me know the name of your installer? I am in SE Michigan also and will need to have my hood and front fenders redone with Xpel Ultimate.

Thanks,

Harry

 

A good install will not have ANY stretch marks. A lot of that is due to lack of experience in the installer and type of film used. Price for the install doesn't mean a good job as a lot of new installers have high prices to cover film they know will have to be replaced.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. I am very particular and the only panels I haven't see stretch marks on were on very flat panels like Gallardos hoods. The day I see a very contoured piece with zero stretch marks is the day I will believe that.

 

PM me your email address and I will be happy to send you plenty of pics. There are also a few clear bra installation companies on here that provide quality installs without stretch marks. And to clarify something, what you are seeing is NOT stretch marks. The film is designed to stretch... so when it does it doesn't distort in any way. What you are seeing is where the installer has stretched film where the underside had already stuck to the surface. So the adhesive is distorting because it is being pulled. Its a case where the installer isn't using enough soap in the slip solution. Also some films tend to have stronger adhesive than others... causing it to stick more quickly. A good installer will know not to stretch the film once it grabs... but rather to lift it up and apply more slip solution under it. The two films I use (Xpel Ultimate and Suntek) have very good adhesive which pretty much eliminates the possibility of getting stretch marks... if you have your slip solution mixed properly.

 

I would need to see in person. I know the abilities of the installer are going to have a lot to do with the quality of the final product but until I see it in person I am going to maintain that the material has limitations. I am very open to being proven wrong because I want it to be an option I would consider.

Even if it is possible to get a perfect looking product on a heavily contoured panel it is clear not many installers can do it. When I am at car meets when I notice a car has a clear bra I look over it very closely and often ask the owner who did the work. Like I said, I am yet to see one which doesn't show signs of stretch (either from material or adhesive as you said).

 

Sending PM.

 

Mine is a Basalt Black and half of the car is covered on clear bra... its been around a year and a half and no problems so far. I use my car almost everyday.

 

Mine came with one installed at the dealer, so it's only a year and a half old and I've always thought it was kind of ugly.

Net net, when you sell the car it'll be like 15 years old. No one is going to collect 996's anyway, so just let it get chips and sell it to some kid who wants to make it the next Supra.

Your next buyer (my guess) is more likely to be someone who will replace the front bumper/hood or wrap the car in some some stupid color, so I doubt the chips will make much of a difference.

If this was an F car I would get it.