[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by Leaker

Difference of opinion. Of my 100,000 kms ,about 80,000 is on the highway. Does the bra stay on forever? I bet the car looks nice when you take it off or replace it. You guys get it but I don't.

u dont have to take it off and replace it. it's actually not recommended. would you take your screen protector off your phone? Not unless it's really scratched up or replaced phone.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by picus

There is no disconnect. I've been detailing cars professionally for almost 15 years, and I highly recommend clear bras. Stone chips may not bother you, but they bother most people who are finicky about their cars paint. e90/e92s that are highway driven will be essentially sandblasted by 100k.

A properly installed clear bra is just that; clear. The most obvious sign it is on is the line when you're close to the car. I am going out on a limb here, but I believe most people would agree with me when I say a car with a properly installed clear bra looks better than a car with a few dozen stone chips, and a lot better than one with a few hundred.

well said.

[sawzall]

I just had Marco come by and put a clear bra on my M3. Full hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors and headlights. From a few feet away, there's no way you can tell its on. And only when you get really close, and know where to look can you see a seam. My car is alpine white, but when looking at a covered panel to an uncovered panel, you can't tell the difference, and I'm usually finicky about those sorts of things.

I'll post some pics in the next day or two once the film has fully cured. Then you guys can judge for yourself.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

u dont have to take it off and replace it. it's actually not recommended. would you take your screen protector off your phone? Not unless it's really scratched up or replaced phone.

Last post.....What do you do when the car is 10 yrs old and the rest of it is faded/chipped? Its the same as plastic on the couch. I'm done.

[picus]

Originally Posted by Leaker

Last post.....What do you do when the car is 10 yrs old and the rest of it is faded/chipped? Its the same as plastic on the couch. I'm done.

I don't mind talking about this stuff; no worries on asking questions or w/e, hopefully the difference of opinion isn't rubbing you the wrong way.

Older clear bras (from the late 90s) would last ~2-3 years before they would yellow to the point of no return, so people would replace them. Ones from the ~2004-2005 era are starting to go now, people are replacing them (so after 4-5 years). Modern ones, well, no one knows. My guess is they will last 10 years if not abused.

Yes, when you take them off the paint under them is the way it was when you put it on, hopefully perfect. If you have not maintained your cars paint it will look better than the unprotected paint. Of course, you can correct that via compounding. More common though, is that generally people with properly installed bra's will maintain the paint on the rest of the car, so there will be little difference if the bra is removed.

Sort of off topic-ish: Paint with a clear coat (so ~99% of modern cars) do not fade, it's a common misconception. They can *look* faded due to swirls/scratches/chips/contamination etc... however if they are maintained properly it will essentially look the same as when new.

Just as an anecdotal note; I've removed ~50 or so poorly installed clear bras so a better installer could put a new one on; generally speaking the difference in the paint covered vs not is marginal, and it's easy to lightly polish the uncovered area so they look identical.

I'm just curious; have you seen a clear bra you consider to look good? I only ask because, having been doing this for so long, I've met a lot of people that originally say "oh clear bras, those look terrible, like saran wrap", because they haven't seen one properly installed. I used to be like that, too, actually.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by Leaker

Last post.....What do you do when the car is 10 yrs old and the rest of it is faded/chipped? Its the same as plastic on the couch. I'm done.

lol...the bra lets UV through so it will fade with the REST of the car. As for chipped....u wont get it chipped anywhere becuase the point is to cover the MOST CHIPPED lol

[picus]

The bra actually blocks some UV, but like I said above, it doesn't matter since clear coated paint does not fade.

[335BBS]

Originally Posted by picus

I don't mind talking about this stuff; no worries on asking questions or w/e, hopefully the difference of opinion isn't rubbing you the wrong way.

Older clear bras (from the late 90s) would last ~2-3 years before they would yellow to the point of no return, so people would replace them. Ones from the ~2004-2005 era are starting to go now, people are replacing them (so after 4-5 years). Modern ones, well, no one knows. My guess is they will last 10 years if not abused.

Yes, when you take them off the paint under them is the way it was when you put it on, hopefully perfect. If you have not maintained your cars paint it will look better than the unprotected paint. Of course, you can correct that via compounding. More common though, is that generally people with properly installed bra's will maintain the paint on the rest of the car, so there will be little difference if the bra is removed.

Sort of off topic-ish: Paint with a clear coat (so ~99% of modern cars) do not fade, it's a common misconception. They can *look* faded due to swirls/scratches/chips/contamination etc... however if they are maintained properly it will essentially look the same as when new.

Just as an anecdotal note; I've removed ~50 or so poorly installed clear bras so a better installer could put a new one on; generally speaking the difference in the paint covered vs not is marginal, and it's easy to lightly polish the uncovered area so they look identical.

I'm just curious; have you seen a clear bra you consider to look good? I only ask because, having been doing this for so long, I've met a lot of people that originally say "oh clear bras, those look terrible, like saran wrap", because they haven't seen one properly installed. I used to be like that, too, actually.

I can always see the edge of it and it drives me crazy. Thanks for answering.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by Leaker

I can always see the edge of it and it drives me crazy. Thanks for answering.

no if u get a REAL pro, you can't see it or even know its there. Nobody knows until I lift my hood up

[rickyvig]

One of my friends got a clear coat bra installed about 2 weeks ago and it was looking fresh, more glossy on the front end of course. From far back you cannot notice the bra but if you go close up to the car and take a look at the hood, you can see just a line in middle of the hood. I personally think getting a bra installed is a good idea because when your on the highway, their's eventually going to be damage on your front end of your car ranging from scratches to dents and scuff marks from the trucks infront of you.

I am thinking of getting it done soon aswell.

Thanks,
Ricky

[bolty]

I'll throw in my 2 cents here since this topic is still getting played.

I have a relatively cheap clear bra, installed by some local tint guy. I regret not paying more for something decent. Regardless, its doing its job. I have several nicks on the clear bra, where without it, there would surely be a stone chip in the paint.

For me, that protection is way worth seeing that "line" which is really hard to see anyways.

[rickyvig]

Bolty,

I hope you don't mind me asking how much approx. does it cost to get the bra installed?

Thanks,
Ricky

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by rickyvig

One of my friends got a clear coat bra installed about 2 weeks ago and it was looking fresh, more glossy on the front end of course. From far back you cannot notice the bra but if you go close up to the car and take a look at the hood, you can see just a line in middle of the hood. I personally think getting a bra installed is a good idea because when your on the highway, their's eventually going to be damage on your front end of your car ranging from scratches to dents and scuff marks from the trucks infront of you.

I am thinking of getting it done soon aswell.

Thanks,
Ricky

that means u didnt get a good clear bra installer. a good one can customize one and cover your FULL HOOD

[rickyvig]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

that means u didnt get a good clear bra installer. a good one can customize one and cover your FULL HOOD

well, if their are going to be any damage while driving on the highway behind trucks, it will be on the front end of the car. If the front end of the car is all bra'd up than your good to go.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by rickyvig

well, if their are going to be any damage while driving on the highway behind trucks, it will be on the front end of the car. If the front end of the car is all bra'd up than your good to go.

not really. on my e90 330, there was a chip right behind the clear bra. pissed me off but had to fix it being a perfectionist lol. but now i just clear the entire car for the heck of it