Clear bra opinions?

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:36 pm

I mean the kind that go on cars... I think you need to go to a different forum for the other type

Finally took delivery of Malia's new "company car"/kid and family hauler - a brandy new Mazda 3. (Don't get too excited, this is the 39 MPG version complete with auto). We'll likely have this one for a while, so am thinking about maybe trying to protect the front end a bit with a clear bra.

Anybody use one of the DIY kits, or use a local installer, and have any experiences to share?

steve remchak · **Posted:** Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:11 am

Dustin check places like Rennsport.com. p-car guys are all about some film on the nose.

Kevin Harvey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:49 pm

I have a Venture Shield on my Z06 that was installed by Pro-Tint in Concord immediately after I bought the car. I love it; it does an excellent job of protecting the car. I had them do 24" up the hood (vs normal 12"), the front bumper cover, the side mirrors and stems, the rocker panels, and the rear quarter panels. Much more than a normal kit. It isn't cheap, but it definitely works.

http://www.protint.com/Racing/ppf.htm

After my experience with this one on the Z06, I will never own another nice car and not have one immediately installed at least on the nose. When I look at the nose of our 47k mile black 01 Cobra vert, I have HUGE regrets as to never getting a clear bra installed on it.

-Kevin

Brad Mackey · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:36 pm

Dustin, Doug Gubbins, one of our track instructors did his 911 himself using the 3M stuff. He said it requires lots of patience, careful cutting and squeegee'ing, but he saved probably $600 by doing it himself. I think he said he took a few days to do it. And that's a relatively smooth 911. I would think that a Mazda 3 with all the nooks and crannies up front would be a real PITA to apply the stuff.

We priced the 3M turn-key for our Cayman S and I think the guy that Leith recommends told me about $1200 for everything to the windscreen and front edge of the doors.

It would only take one large pebble impact to require at least a partial reapplication, and I'm thinking I can get the whole nose prepped and shot for $2,000, so I passed. My $0.02

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Thu Dec 22, 2011 7:10 pm

FYI, did a little more research, and TVPauto (N.W. Raleigh based) comes recommended from multiple places. I got a quick quote of $350 for bumper and mirror protection, and $600 for bumper, mirror, plus front half of the hood and front edges of the fender. We are in a holding pattern right now, though, as one garage is getting sheetrocked and the other is loaded up with crap, so the car is parked outside waiting for a nice day to detail and bring to the shop (assuming we do it). Pretty sure we will do at least the bumper and mirrors, though.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

We have one on the mini, and the only drawback is that the seams are now a lot more obvious from dirt built up around those seams. Part of that is the fact that its a beige/white car though. Other than that detail, its been great, and protected the car quite nicely.

RamVennam · **Joined:** Thu Nov 11, 2010 7:31 pm **Posts:** 132

I don't know how I feel about it. I have it on the cayman....I have 2 spots where I hit a cone and it looks like someone took sandpaper to it. I think I would have rather the cone hit my paint than have a scratched up plastic shield.

RobLupella · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:52 pm

RamVennam wrote:

I don't know how I feel about it. I have it on the cayman....I have 2 spots where I hit a cone and it looks like someone took sandpaper to it. I think I would have rather the cone hit my paint than have a scratched up plastic shield.

Yeah but you Porch people just replace it when it gets damaged :lol:

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:42 am

RamVennam wrote:

I don't know how I feel about it. I have it on the cayman....I have 2 spots where I hit a cone and it looks like someone took sandpaper to it. I think I would have rather the cone hit my paint than have a scratched up plastic shield.

The difference being, you can usually compound the hell out of clear bra and not worry about punching through to the metal. I'll bet that scrape could come right off.

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