I had Venture Tape clear bra installed on my wife's Cayman just over a week ago. The second day after the installation she drove to Melbourne and back (Round Trip 120 Miles) and naturally at this time of year in Florida got love bugs on the front. After work I tried to clean them off with a wet micrfiber cloth and they had already left stains (More like indentations) on the clear bra. Cannot get them off. Installer says try liquid dish washing detergent, did that and no help. Note that on the car where there is no film they came off just fine with wet rag. Is this normal? If it is in no time at all the film will look like crap. Looking for input. Thanks

 

I would go back to your installer, and see if he can do the "heatgun trick". They should know what you're talking about. You can heat the film, almost until melting, then flash with some cold water, and should get rid of most of the staining. The installer also should have waxed the film for you before the car left their shop. A good wax should have protected the film.


John

 

Unfortunately, there are times where the acid in bug guts or bird droppings are too much for the clear film and will permanently damage the coating. You can try polishing with a mild polish or a paint cleanser and see if that helps. In my experience though, damage like the one you're explaining can't be fixed. Maybe John from Metropolitan Detail or Sam from Premier can chime in with their expert clear film knowledge.

 

John and Moe, thanks. Moe I understand that there are times when the bug juice may be too much, but I am amazed it happened in less than a day. I have lived in Florida most of my adult life and deal with the love bugs all the time. I know that on the car they will pit the paint, but usually you have a couple of days time to get them off. My Cayenne is used to go to construction sites and is parked outside in the driveway and I have managed in 31/2 years to limit the bug damage to just a few small places without any bra, just good washing and detailing. Just amazed that this happened in a matter of hours. I guess I expected better of the product. It was not waxed after installation, would waxing it stop or limit this if I have it replaced. The installer has offered to replace and wax it this time.

 

You gotta remember that the paint is a complete different chemistry than the film. With that said, the installer should have put on a coat of wax that might have minimized the damage. Just make sure to put on a good wax after he removes and installs the film...polish the film every two months and wax from this point on...that will great help keep the film glossy and protected from the pesky love bugs.

 

Not trying to steal this thread but I have a problem with scratches on the corner of my clear bra. It looks as if someone rubbed it with sand paper. Is there any trick or product out there that can remove surface scratches from the bra?

 

Do you have any pictures? Usually scratches are tough to remove depending on the brand of film and its age

 

The film is a pre-cut kit. Not sure of the brand but was installed in April of this year. I do not have pictures right now but can have them tomorrow if it helps.

 

If it is Venture Shield, use the heatgun trick. You can heat the film up with a heatgun until it is almost melted, then flash with cold water.


John

 

Will the heatgun trick that is described work when the area that is damaged is over the urethane bumper cover?

Attached are some photos of the described scratches. Any detailer tricks of the trade that might work on this?
Or at least lessen the appearance of the scratches.

Thanks for any tips you guys can provide.

 

It may work, but that's a lot of scratches. It's worth a shot, otherwise you could have the area lightly polished, and leave it as is.



john

 

So basically heat the area till the film gets soft and then throw cold water over the surface. The heat will not affect the paint on the bumper cover?

When you say polish the area, you mean with a polishing compound and then wax?

 

Exactly. The heat won't affect the bumper cover. You can polish with SIP and a orange CCS pad with low rpms.


John

 

Thanks for the help John. +1

 

No problem!!!