[tony20009]

I'm going to put a clear bra on my E92. Over the years I've seen many posts about folks seeking installers, and I have found an installer in my area. I also noticed that one website seems to think that one doesn't have to use a professional installer and that it can be effectively done as a DIY. (http://www.invisiblemask.com/howto.html)

I'm seeking input from folks who have done it as DIY Specifically, I'd like to know what you can offer in the way of "lessons learned" and "if I knew then what I know now, I would have...." thoughts that resulted from your having done it installed it yourself.

Some potential examples of the kinds of things I'm seeking to find out about as potential pitfalls, or factors to consider if not specifically pitfalls, might be:

• It takes a very long time time to install it because you have to....
• The adhesive is very unforgiving and you'll mess up the bra if you very careful
• It's not hard to install it, but if you have a tiny divot in the surface, air will be trapped there and eventually it will cause the bra to start bubbling
• Be sure to use some dish washing liquid to remove any wax on the relevant surface of the car. The adhesive doesn't stick as well to wax.
• Beware of installing it over an area where the paint has already been chipped or is peeling. It's not an issue for applying the bra, but if and when you want to remove it, that chipped or otherwise damaged paint will peel away and act just like a run in a lady's stocking.
• Be very careful when handling the parts of the bra having corners. Even though it's quite good at protecting your car, you can start a tear at a corner far more easily than you'd suspect.
• I watched my installer put it on my car and had I known it's so easy to do, I sure would have done it myself.
• When you order the clear bra, what the installation instructions/kit doesn't tell is....
• Such and such is a PITA that can be mitigated to some degree by....

I will then use the facts folks provide to make a decision about whether to have it done by an installer, or whether to make it a project for my son and myself. I can pay to have it installed, but I see no point in doing so if installing it isn't laden with too many gotchas.

(Note: this same inquiry is also in the F30 forum, so no need to post in both places.)

[tony20009]

Really, nobody has installed it themselves? I guess that answers my questions...

[C.D.335xi]

You may want to check out the following thread from the DIY section:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=854372

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by C.D.335xi

You may want to check out the following thread from the DIY section:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=854372

Well, that may explain why nobody has responded with details regarding the potential pitfalls: nobody's actually done it.

TY

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Well, that may explain why nobody has responded with details regarding the potential pitfalls: nobody's actually done it.

TY

Hello,
I have done it myself, i watched few youtube videos and did it myself, some part of hood,front bumper, side fenders and back bumper are covered. you need patience and do watch some videos.
i bought kit from invisiblemask.com and saved $$$

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Hello,
I have done it myself, i watched few youtube videos and did it myself, some part of hood,front bumper, side fenders and back bumper are covered. you need patience and do watch some videos.
i bought kit from invisiblemask.com and saved $$$

TY. It's good to hear one can do it without a pro installer.

[WRichieX]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Hello,
I have done it myself, i watched few youtube videos and did it myself, some part of hood,front bumper, side fenders and back bumper are covered. you need patience and do watch some videos.
i bought kit from invisiblemask.com and saved $$$

Nice!. Thinking about trying this myself. As OP mentioned, any tips you can share? Videos are videos and I'm sure they don't share their mishaps.

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by tony20009

TY. It's good to hear one can do it without a pro installer.

Trust me its easy, as I said it require dedication and patience, start with hood caz hood is straight forward and you will have some idea, next thing you should do headlights then front bumper. Good Luck
I have few scratches in front bumper clear bra and will re do it,i am going to buy pre cut kit from invisiblemask

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Trust me its easy, as I said it require dedication and patience, start with hood caz hood is straight forward and you will have some idea, next thing you should do headlights then front bumper. Good Luck
I have few scratches in front bumper clear bra and will re do it,i am going to buy pre cut kit from invisiblemask

TY for the encouragement.

Does a clear bra show scratches more readily than does the car's actual surface?

[litxus]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Trust me its easy, as I said it require dedication and patience, start with hood caz hood is straight forward and you will have some idea, next thing you should do headlights then front bumper. Good Luck
I have few scratches in front bumper clear bra and will re do it,i am going to buy pre cut kit from invisiblemask

How much did you spend on materials for DIY?

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by tony20009

TY for the encouragement.

Does a clear bra show scratches more readily than does the car's actual surface?

i installed film in december and since i dont see any scratches on film.
let me tell you this thing. i was planning to cover doors and back fenders also.They dont have pre-cut kits for doors but i was planning to design it myself

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by litxus

How much did you spend on materials for DIY?

Precut kits have different prices
2009 BMW 335 SEDAN I: Full Fender Kit $120.19

2009 BMW 335 SEDAN I: Full Hood Kit $242.18

2009 BMW 335 SEDAN I: Bumper Kit $150.48

http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin...SEDAN&series=I

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

i installed film in december and since i dont see any scratches on film.
let me tell you this thing. i was planning to cover doors and back fenders also.They dont have pre-cut kits for doors but i was planning to design it myself

The doors would be a great place to put it. Bye bye door dings. I sure won't miss them. Imagine how nice it would be to once again park close to the entrances of shopping centers and whatnot. LOL

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by tony20009

The doors would be a great place to put it. Bye bye door dings. I sure won't miss them. Imagine how nice it would be to once again park close to the entrances of shopping centers and whatnot. LOL

Tony....one thing i would like to make clear.....clear bra wont save car from dings, clear bra only save your car from scratches.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

Tony....one thing i would like to make clear.....clear bra wont save car from dings, clear bra only save your car from scratches.

Yes, you are right. I was thinking more about the chips/scratches in the paint rather than the physical depressions. Most of my door dings have both aspects. (I assume you credit me with enough sense to realize the film will do nothing to stop folks from actually creating the dings when they hit my car's sides with their car doors and shopping carts. LOL)

I should have been more precise. Apologies and thanks for pointing it out.

Maybe in the next century someone will have invented a magnetic force field that will prevent things from actually coming into contact with the car.

[SHEEDI]

Originally Posted by tony20009

Yes, you are right. I was thinking more about the chips/scratches in the paint rather than the physical depressions. Most of my door dings have both aspects. (I assume you credit me with enough sense to realize the film will do nothing to stop folks from actually creating the dings when they hit my car's sides with their car doors and shopping carts. LOL)

I should have been more precise. Apologies and thanks for pointing it out.

Maybe in the next century someone will have invented a magnetic force field that will prevent things from actually coming into contact with the car.

Yes in future 2099. the car will slap the offender on contact

[TOGWT]

Words that I haven't seen together; successful DIY and Paint Protection Film installation

[SHEEDI]

here are insyructions
http://www.durashield-plus.com/downl...S+basickit.pdf

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by TOGWT

Words that I haven't seen together; successful DIY and Paint Protection Film installation

Well, there is indeed a first time for everything.

[roadkillrob]

Unless you have unlimited time and don't mind wasting money on material because you will end up doing it several times, just pay someone who knows what they are doing - it will come out better, take none of your time and actually most likely cost less!

[mdosu]

op, I recently just did this over the course of 3 days on my car:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=864559

I say you need three key things:

1. clean hands
2. clean car
3. patience, lots of it

Ultimately, it comes down to a few other factors in making a decision for a DIY:
1. how patient are you, seriously, this will take time and energy and a few days if you're doing it after work
2. you have the luxury of not driving your car for a few days
3. you have a clean, well lit indoor spot
4. you want to save ALOT of money (i've decoupled the costs of an install, the film only accounts for 37% of the total cost if you go with an installer)
5. you need one other person to give you a hand
6. you can live with some imperfections





I messed up on one major section, and had to get a piece recut, and at the end of the day, it's still cheaper for a professional install. there were other parts that were a PITA and my partner was not working with clean hands, etc.

So, I can give you pointers (also DIY links that I used), and recommend a guy who can cut the film. He uses 3M Ventureshield, so it's a good bang for quality.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by mdosu

op, I recently just did this over the course of 3 days on my car:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=864559

...

Nicely done. I think the only differences I can tell between yours and mine are:
You paid a lot less than I (good for you, sucks for me ).
I had only the hood and trunk done, but then I did it because of my cat, not because I care if little stones and whatnot pit the car's paint. I'm not going to sell the car until at least 2017.

It's good to know, nonetheless, that it can be done as a DIY. It's been a while since I looked at this thread, but if I recall correctly, someone else above successfully installed the clear bra as a DIY project.

TY for sharing and all the best.