I could not agree with you more. I always tell our clients that you can always remove the fim if you wish, but you can't remove the chips.

Matt

 

I know this is a late post, but my recommendation is to consult your nearest Porsche dealer and use his recommended vendor for clear bra installation. I ignored my own advice shortly after buying my 2006 C4 and had a RoadGard installation done. Installation was sloppy and it had to come off. Long story shortened--after RoadGard refused to make good on their work, I went to the recommended Porsche approved vendor and have been very happy with the result. Moral: avoid RoadGard dealers.

 

Sorry to hear you had some difficulties. I always recommend to check the installers work prior or at least get some referrals. There are some poor installers out there that do not stand behind their work. There is a pretty good network of quality installers though that will refer you to a good installer in your area. I know quiet a few across the country and will refer them without any doubts they will do a great job.

 

I want to second what Matt is saying. My Ventureshield (8 months old) is already starting to get scratched up and is not reparable unless it is removed. When I was getting my car detailed by Matt, they were putting 3M on a white Porsche GT2 and it looked amazing (no silvering, no orange peal). I wish I had put 3M on my car instead and I definitely wished it was done by Matt instead. With that being said, definitely put clear bra on, because when something happens to the car you don't mind as much because it is just plastic. That makes it worth it, just so you don't have to stress every chip.

 

I have 3m (newer generation) on a slate grey. I am on my third install because they keep getting stretch marks that really show up on the darker color. Anyone else having this problem? I live in a relatively remote area and choice of installers is very limited. Thanks.

 

3M is just a bad film. Too much orange peel and they coat it with an acrylic finish (for transporting from the plant to the stores) which cracks and splits. They should know that acrylic will not stretch... so when film is strectched on a car it splits and becomes very visible over time.

Where in Colorado are you located?

 

western slope, down near Telluride.

 

I too am in CO (Denver) and looking for a clear bra installer. I met with Josh at ClearChoice in Boulder today. He's got a 996 TT, so that made me feel comfortable, but he uses 3M, so I would like some second opinions.

He quoted me $600 for the bumper, 18" hood, door handles and mirrors.

if anyone else knows a better/different option in the Denver area, please let me know.

Thanks... josh

 

The Acrylic you are mentioning is actually to protect the film and give it a longer and more durable life. ANY paint protection film on the market will start breaking or crack if its overstreched. Thats why only people with experiance should do the install.

 

Well I have been installing film for about 5 years now and never had film "crack or break" on me. But the films I use do not have an acrylic finish on them to protect them during the transport process. Acrylic will not stretch period. Think of trying to stretch a panel on your car and what would happen to the paint... it would crack. Just about every other film out there does not have an acrylic finish on it due to this fact. So why 3M cant figure it out is beyond me.

I would say with a couple of hundred installs under my belt would qualify me as an "experienced" installer. I would not install 3M on one of my vehicles and do not recommend it for anyone else... unless they were only concerned with durability and not finish... such as a track car.

 

I have the Venture Shield, great product, no complaints. I simply clean with Plexus and it looks great. Well worth the money spent. I could not stand the rock chips I got on my prior P-Cars

 

I have 9 years of installing film and have used any manifacture out there, and there is no other film as durabale as the 3M. If you are talking about a clear acrylic that is removed before installation of the film and its only for transportation purpose (also called cap sheet) 3M does not use such thing. If you are using the 3M Aerospace film. That is a different story. After few conversations with techs from 3M I was WARNED NOT TO USE 3M Aero space film on vehicles because the technology is different and it might damage the paint. The 3M Scotchguard film made for the automotive industy does not come with any acrylic on it during transportation.

 

And also found this on your own website ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

"Our virtually clear abrasion resistant aerospace film is by far the best in the industry. You don't have to settle for 1st or 2nd generation paint
protection film technology any longer!

ClearMask personnel worked with 3M's Aerospace division to develop Aerogard, the most sophisticated leading edge automotive paint protection
system in the industry.

This virtually optically clear, non yellowing product allows the true high gloss of modern vehicle paint to shine through undistorted while protecting
the valuable finish beneath.

The unique user friendly adhesive system has been thoroughly tested for aviation use at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. The combination of
flexibility, durability, transparency and aerospace quality adhesive system make Aerogard the finest paint protection film money can buy.

Aerogard™ polyurethane Protective Film is made from an abrasion
resistant elastomer that resists punctures, tearing, abrasion and
corrosion. It is formulated for resistance to ultraviolet light, corrosion,
abrasion and minor impact damage. Our film is constructed with a
long-aging, solvent resistant, pressure sensitive acrylic adhesive that
is protected with an easy release poly liner.



Aerogard is shipped in three layers: this image shows the white layer,
protecting the adhesive, the film, and a cap sheet. Both the white layer
and the cap sheet are removed at installation. "

 

Just a consumer here, not an expert

I ended up with the 3M film on hood and mirrors and the Ventureshield (recently purchased by 3M) on the bumper. The reason for this was that I had them done at different times, and the 3M installer (that the local Porsche dealer uses) did not want to tackle a 996 bumper.

Both look really nice on my dark red (Orient Red) color. Personally, I like the Ventureshield slightly better--seems smoother. I would have just went Ventureshield if I was starting over, but my preference is not high enough to take off the original 3M product.