Why does no one use 3M clear bra?

[Daywalker7VII]

We all spend a lot of money on our aftermarket bumpers, so why doesn't anyone use 3M clear bra?
Is there something I should know before I do this?

[BasSpyder]

its expensive, thats really all i know about it. but ive read reviews and heard it was a pretty good product.

[Nemesis]

Originally posted by: BasSpyder420
its expensive, .

Bingo. I was estimated over 300 dollars to do my Millenium front. Hell ill go to home depot and spend 5 bucks on painters tape and be done with. 300 dollars... [censored]... I could buy another millenium front for a spare.

[Daywalker7VII]

WOW! $300.00 for a piece of plastic film?
Is there any other way to keep from getting rock chips on your fiberglass bumper?

[EternalOne]

If you see this when its installed, you'll understand why its so expensive. They actually heat and cut and twist the plastic to cover the exposed areas. On top of that, when they are done you can't really tell its there. Spend $300 to protect a $5000+ paintjob, sounds like a good deal to me, especially for those of us who used paint that cannot be blended. (Crispy, Puck at least would benefit from this, and I'm sure there's other ppl with tri-coats/kandys or the like.)

I'll be putting it on the front-half of my car when it comes out of paint, I do too much highway driving.

E1

[COOGAH]

ditto

they are waiting for me and my car at the place that does it. i might do the rear bumper too :tongue:

[PGCougar]

I got some of that for my mom's new Jetta. It works damn good, can't even tell its there at all!!

[Daywalker7VII]

Has anyone ever considered buying some on ebay and doing it yourself?
It runs around $50.00 on ebay for an 18 X 72 roll.
It couldn't be that hard to put on.

[YOSLVR442]

can you take it off and on or is it permenant?? what kind of places would install it??

[EternalOne]

Has anyone ever considered buying some on ebay and doing it yourself?
It runs around $50.00 on ebay for an 18 X 72 roll.
It couldn't be that hard to put on.

That's for a straight flat piece, and it requires a Heat Gun to put on properly. (Also, be sure that the Ebay version is actually the 3M product, and not some cheap knock-off.)

Its very difficult to put on, even harder than a full-body graphics kit. It can be done, and it would save you a ton of money, I just prefer to let the pros handle something like this.


can you take it off and on or is it permenant?? what kind of places would install it??

It can be taken back off, but its generally ruined once removed. You can get it installed at any Ziebart -- they are the authorized installer across the US.

E1

[Daywalker7VII]

That's for a straight flat piece, and it requires a Heat Gun to put on properly. (Also, be sure that the Ebay version is actually the 3M product, and not some cheap knock-off.)

This stuff comes on a roll, I also found a website that offers an instructional video.
I could take a small peice and practice on my old bumper. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[jlcamp7]

Uh I would definately talk to Morph about this. They install this stuff at him and his wifes detailing shop in Florida. From what he has told me it is extremely hard to put on and takes alot of work. If it doesn't lay perfecly flat then it is going to look really bad. As for the product itself, I have only heard great things about it and Morph will give you an honest answer on how great of a product it is. I am hoping that someday when I head down to Florida, to stop by their shop and get my front end done in it, even though it is quite expensive. EternalOne nailed it right on the head though. We spend quite a large amount of money every year protecting our engines so they will continue to run, why not spend a couple of hundred dollars to protect something that would ended up costing even more just to get repeainted once?

[Daywalker7VII]

OK. I got the official 3M instructional video and all you need is a bottle of 1/2 water 1/2 alcohol and a squeege.
I,m using 3M painters tape to mask the parts I want covered and using that as a template.
I,ll be installing the 1rst peice this friday.

[EternalOne]

Yup, goes on just like tint, then. I found (back in the day when I was tinting) that 3/4 water, 1/4 baby shampoo works better than the alcohol. 1/4 is probably too much, that's just a general guideline, you don't want it soapy, but you don't want it watery.

E1

[InFRoRedCouGaR]

my shop does this option, i like it and dont like it. its nice when u first put it on. but remember that it is film on the front end. it can peel and look real ugly/ also just like a regular bra, when you peel it off you will notice a difference in paint protected and unprotected. Can't go over it with a buffer, no point. and when u hit enough rocks it will puncture the plastic let air in and start to peel, many audis and bmw's ave been redone. Id say people who get it done have been replacing once a year or so. When it looks bad it looks bad

[EternalOne]

Is that the real 3M stuff, or knockoff film? I've seen cars go 3+ years of highway miles and not have a problem.

Perhaps it depends on the area, as well. In San Anto we don't get much rain (except the past year, heh), much snow, much of anything but hot.

E1

[Daywalker7VII]

I'm not sure we are talking about the same stuff.
In the instructional video they show someone shooting a side mirror that had been wraped in the clear bra and not a scratch.
I myself tried to push through it with a key and couldn't penetrate it.

[ReToM7]

just curious, but what is the cleaning process for it. I mean, once it's on you can't clean up your car, so does that mean that you have to do a full wax and everything before it goes on? That would suck to get it done and see a bug under it, lol.

Also, once it's applied, is it easier to clean off the bugs and road tar and stuff? I would almost look into it just for that reason alone, lol. Of course, now it doesn't matter.

[CTC]

I see many people that use a food plastic film to protect the front bumper when drive many Km
In Spain there are many expensive paint jobs and the people that payed for it 5000 or 6000 euros haven´t problems to protect it with plastic film, painter tape or something

[Daywalker7VII]

The experiment was a success! I didn't try to cover the whole bumper, just the flat parts that would catch the most rocks.
I used 2 inch tall and 12 inch wide peices on the bottom parts and an 18x84 peice across the top.
It was very easy to put on using only alchohol, water and a squeege.
If you get about a foot away from the car you can see it, but any farther than that and the stuff is invisible.

[Daywalker7VII]

The experiment was a success! I didn't try to cover the whole bumper, just the flat parts that would catch the most rocks.
I used 2 inch tall and 12 inch wide pieces on the bottom parts and an 18x84 peice across the top.
It was very easy to put on using only alchohol, water and a squeege.
If you get about a foot away from the car you can see it, but any farther than that and the stuff is invisible.
My buddy is coming over with a high rez camera tomorow. I'll take some pictures then.

[Blessed]

seems like wax would build up at the edges when you wax, or even dirt would stay around the edges. I like the idea for my headlights, but for the bumper, I'll leave it as is and in a couple years have an even better excuse for a new paint job...Jamie