Thinking about 3m clear bra... need opinions!
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Thinking about 3m clear bra... need opinions!
Im thinking about putting the 3m Clear Bra on my car because of these damn rock chips and scratches I have ALL over my car and I only have 1k miles on it. I want to know if anyone has it and had any problems or if they like it. My buddy put it on one of his cars and said that everything gets trapped under it and then further scratches the car. He also said that sun will bleach the car differently when you remove it so you have to do a whole section which I would probably do anyways.
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I did a forum search on the topic and there were TONS of differing opinions. I would love to know how the products are wearing a year down the road compared to the "big thread" which started last year. Any opinions on longevity?
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I tired searching "3m" "bra" didnt return results, its too short
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I've had 3M, Venture Shield and some other German brand whose name I can't remember. If installed by an experienced installer they don't detract from the looks of the car really; at least not as much as rock chips do IMO.
I believe that the brand matters less than the quality of the install.
The way I recommend choosing a film brand is based on which has and inherint orange peel texture that most closely matches the natural orange peel in the color coat of all modern cars. BMW's for example have more/larger orange peel than Porsche cars.
The guy who does mine actually uses two different materials for Porsches: One for the front bumper that doesn't match the peel quite as perfectly, but is a bit stronger/thicker and better for direct hits. He then uses a brand that better matches the car's orange peel for the hood and fender areas that is not quite as tough/thick, but works fine for more glancing blows since this area is prone to that type of rock hit.
I recommend getting the entire front end wrapped since kits are now available to go all the way up to the top of the hood and cover the fenders all the way back to the door jam. These are less noticeable than the older style that leave a line across your hood and, of course, offer better protection to vulnerable areas on P-cars such as the middle to top sections of the sloped hood.
I also recommend having the A-Pillars done up to the line where the latch is for the roof rack system.
If you want to go crazy, have your sunroof panel done so when cracked open and therefore angled up it is also protected.
Yes, all of them tend to yellow a bit over time so you may want to budget for periodic replacement.....say every two years or so.
Keeping them coated with a product like Zaino will prolong their life. Remove bird, bug and berry stains quickly as some can permanently stain the material.
I no longer even pick my new cars up from the dealership until a full front end bra has been installed since clear bras won't hide current rock chips, only protect from getting them.
The *only* positive I have seen in my area that has resulted from the economic downturn is a whole lot less dump trucks on the road.........glass is always half full!
I believe that the brand matters less than the quality of the install.
The way I recommend choosing a film brand is based on which has and inherint orange peel texture that most closely matches the natural orange peel in the color coat of all modern cars. BMW's for example have more/larger orange peel than Porsche cars.
The guy who does mine actually uses two different materials for Porsches: One for the front bumper that doesn't match the peel quite as perfectly, but is a bit stronger/thicker and better for direct hits. He then uses a brand that better matches the car's orange peel for the hood and fender areas that is not quite as tough/thick, but works fine for more glancing blows since this area is prone to that type of rock hit.
I recommend getting the entire front end wrapped since kits are now available to go all the way up to the top of the hood and cover the fenders all the way back to the door jam. These are less noticeable than the older style that leave a line across your hood and, of course, offer better protection to vulnerable areas on P-cars such as the middle to top sections of the sloped hood.
I also recommend having the A-Pillars done up to the line where the latch is for the roof rack system.
If you want to go crazy, have your sunroof panel done so when cracked open and therefore angled up it is also protected.
Yes, all of them tend to yellow a bit over time so you may want to budget for periodic replacement.....say every two years or so.
Keeping them coated with a product like Zaino will prolong their life. Remove bird, bug and berry stains quickly as some can permanently stain the material.
I no longer even pick my new cars up from the dealership until a full front end bra has been installed since clear bras won't hide current rock chips, only protect from getting them.
The *only* positive I have seen in my area that has resulted from the economic downturn is a whole lot less dump trucks on the road.........glass is always half full!
Last edited by B R A N D X®; Feb 14, 2009 at 08:14 AM.
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I've had 3M, Venture Shield and some other German brand whose name I can't remember. If installed by an experienced installer they don't detract from the looks of the car really; at least not as much as rock chips do IMO.
I believe that the brand matters less than the quality of the install.
The way I recommend choosing a film brand is based on which has and inherint orange peel texture that most closely matches the natural orange peel in the color coat of all modern cars. BMW's for example have more/larger orange peel than Porsche cars.
The guy who does mine actually uses two different materials for Porsches: One for the front bumper that doesn't match the peel quite as perfectly, but is a bit stronger/thicker and better for direct hits. He then uses a brand that better matches the car's orange peel for the hood and fender areas that is not quite as tough/thick, but works fine for more glancing blows since this area is prone to that type of rock hit.
I recommend getting the entire front end wrapped since kits are now available to go all the way up to the top of the hood and cover the fenders all the way back to the door jam. These are less noticeable than the older style that leave a line across your hood and, of course, offer better protection to vulnerable areas on P-cars such as the middle to top sections of the sloped hood.
I also recommend having the A-Pillars done up to the line where the latch is for the roof rack system.
If you want to go crazy, have your sunroof panel done so when cracked open it is also protected.
Yes, all of them tend to yellow a bit over time so you may want to budget for periodic replacement.....say every two years or so.
Keeping them coated with a product like Zaino will prolong their life. Remove bird, bug and berry stains quickly as some can permanently stain the material.
I no longer even pick my new cars up from the dealership until a full front end bra has been installed since clear bras won't hide current rock chips, only protect from getting them.
The *only* positive I have seen in my area that has resulted from the economic downturn is a whole lot less dump trucks on the road.........glass is always half full!
I believe that the brand matters less than the quality of the install.
The way I recommend choosing a film brand is based on which has and inherint orange peel texture that most closely matches the natural orange peel in the color coat of all modern cars. BMW's for example have more/larger orange peel than Porsche cars.
The guy who does mine actually uses two different materials for Porsches: One for the front bumper that doesn't match the peel quite as perfectly, but is a bit stronger/thicker and better for direct hits. He then uses a brand that better matches the car's orange peel for the hood and fender areas that is not quite as tough/thick, but works fine for more glancing blows since this area is prone to that type of rock hit.
I recommend getting the entire front end wrapped since kits are now available to go all the way up to the top of the hood and cover the fenders all the way back to the door jam. These are less noticeable than the older style that leave a line across your hood and, of course, offer better protection to vulnerable areas on P-cars such as the middle to top sections of the sloped hood.
I also recommend having the A-Pillars done up to the line where the latch is for the roof rack system.
If you want to go crazy, have your sunroof panel done so when cracked open it is also protected.
Yes, all of them tend to yellow a bit over time so you may want to budget for periodic replacement.....say every two years or so.
Keeping them coated with a product like Zaino will prolong their life. Remove bird, bug and berry stains quickly as some can permanently stain the material.
I no longer even pick my new cars up from the dealership until a full front end bra has been installed since clear bras won't hide current rock chips, only protect from getting them.
The *only* positive I have seen in my area that has resulted from the economic downturn is a whole lot less dump trucks on the road.........glass is always half full!
Thanks for the write up! No dump trucks so to speak, but this year instead of salt, they laid down sand (mostly small rocks, not grains!) which dont fair too well on my hood or front bumper!
I was trying to pass this 135i and he was playing games with me and kept getting in front of me and spitting rocks up. I got to work, went to go get my back out of the hood and its COVERED in rock chips! I originally going to pass on the clear bra as this car is going to be my daily driver, but no need for it to look like a POS!
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+1 on that one
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