[mccannable]

my step by step diy for clear bra installation.

step 1. Start with a clean surface, clay and remove all trim pieces.




step 2. cut film to general size and peel back off.


(wife at a weird angle)

step 4. spray water/alcohol mixture on backing of film and car surface and drape over bumper



step 5. now pay close attention because this is where you will fail and fail miserably.

step 6. spend hours trying to correct you failure. give up and rip off what little success you have accomplished.


step 7. Have a drink, go swimming, and pay someone else to do this.

[Showney]

LOL, might have to try this on Saturday

[fazman]

Awesome DIY!!! I need more pics details on steps 6 and step 7 hehehhehehe

[Dark_Knight_335]

Haha - that would totally be me!! This was an epic epic thread!!!
To your point, I know an amazing clear bra guy in South Jersey- my buddy Ed can attest to him
Anyone who's interested definitely let me know via PM- the guy is an amazing perfectionist!!

[DrewG13]

Nice. Sounds like me but looks like your wife did all the work while you took pics. LOL

[mccannable]

I have a new respect for this career and why it cost $700. We did the vinyl wrap on trim on my car and did a great job. Figured we are both crafty so why not.

[Revlis]

Mostly I want to know why you're parked on a cow...

Also, thanks for the DIY, lots of useful information.

[Revlis]

What was the failure though? It's something that might really help.

[mccannable]

Originally Posted by Revlis

Mostly I want to know why you're parked on a cow...

Also, thanks for the DIY, lots of useful information.

Cow jumped about in front of me. It was an impulse buy at ikea and it never laid flat so it got demoted to the garage



Failure.. We got one side decent. It looked good from about 5 Feet away. The outside curves were difficult but could stretch with heat gun. The inside curves are impossible because of excess material. It may be been the film I used. I couldn't get a big enough piece of 3m venture shield so I got some 4mil clear vinyl on amazon. 5x10ft.

[shamu2789]

Haha that's hilarious. I was actually excited to see the final product.

[SHEEDI]

why don't you buy precut film and try again,i did buy precut and installed it myself

www.invisiblemask.com

[mccannable]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

why don't you buy precut film and try again,i did buy precut and installed it myself

www.invisiblemask.com

I can't find a definitive kit for my car. All have 2 versions and no way to distinguish. It was actually a practice for my wife's new mini. I will just hire it out for her. No sense investing they much in a 7 year old car.

[cap1]

Lol, literally.

[yarviinn]

[ramirez330i]

LOL you bastard!!! I just tried it today and failed and i had done everything the same until step 7 then i was like here we go!!...dammit

[ramirez330i]

for those of you actually interested, the water/alcohol mixture should have been water with a tiny bit of soap. The alcohol will actually start eating away at the adhesive and make it cloudy

[mccannable]

Originally Posted by ramirez330i

for those of you actually interested, the water/alcohol mixture should have been water with a tiny bit of soap. The alcohol will actually start eating away at the adhesive and make it cloudy

Makes sense. Didn't matter but makes sense.

[manutdas11]

Ahahahahahahahaa! Damnit! You got me!
I was so damn excited to see how it would turn out since you were building it up in an epic manner.

[Inspired]

<-- DIY Clear bra pro- amateur here

First, there is no way a "first timer" will be able to install a clear bra by cutting it manually to fit the car.

The best way to install a clear bra for noobs is to get the pre-cut clear bra and install it that way. Even that way is extremely difficult so be aware..

[dman918]

My 335 had a clear bra when I bought it. Removed it. To me, I'd rather have a small paint chip than having my whole front end look like it has scratches on it (at the edges of the film).

[Narcosis]

Best post I've read today!

[roadkillrob]

Mine turned out very similar last time I tried it on my old E46, only difference is that my wife had no interest in helping me fail - yours has probably learned now also!