I don't know if this topic has been mentioned before: Vehicles produced after 2000 have water based paint instead of the traditional thick oil based paint. As a result, all new cars have the orange peel effect and weak paint that chips very easily. If you visit any new car forum, you are likely to find these 'paint chipping' posts. This is due to the EPA lead-free regulation that forced manufacturers to use thinner, but also weaker paint on new vehicles.

While traditional vinyl bras will protect the car from paint chips, do you really want your brand new RX-8 to look like a dork? I honestly believe clear bra is probably the best investment you can add to your brand new vehicle whether it be a RX8 or a Ferrari. It is barely visible, protects your paint from corrosion, easier to clean and guaranteed to never fade, bubble ot discolor.

It's better to be safe and install clear bra when you take delivery of the vehicle. A friend bought a 350Z without the bra, and in 2 weeks he had half a dozen chips before installing the bra. By then, the damage was already done. :( So if you decide to go with clear bra, do it as soon as you pick up the car.

Anyhow, just a friendly reminder because I am sick and tired of hearing paint chip complaints and "I should have......" posts in the G35 forum.

Where would you get one? Does the dealer sell them?

I think most dealers sell them, but at a higher cost, obviously. You can call around local area to see if there are independent installers. I recommend going with custom bras with wrapped edges so they are basicly invisible on your car. The prefabricated pieces usually leave a visible gap around the bra, and they cost just as much.

Generally they cost around $500, but worth the price if you ask me. It sucks to drive around a brand new car with sandblasted front bumper and hood.

A Clear Bra? Wouldn't they be reflected by the sunlight and it would look like you put sandwich wrap on your front lip? How about a bra that matches the cars color? I 've seen these before but the design was really dull.

a few things

1. u dont apply it to the whole car, just the front

2. it might yellow over time

3. u guys might want to look into another product called stonguard

read these threads

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=28749&perpage=20&highlight=clear%20AND%20bra&pagenumber=1

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=74353&perpage=20&highlight=clear%20AND%20bra&pagenumber=1

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?threadid=60766&highlight=clear+AND+bra

Hey Tribal none of your links worked....:(

Nevermind, it looks like the server was down for a bit...

The prototype cars (and I would assume the production) had the 3M material applied to the front of the rear wheel flare.

When I read the threat title I was really wondering what this was about... (My wife needs a new bra for this car? I need a bra now? And clear???). Now it is clear, however. I am wondering again only because you literally never see his in Europe. They ight be practical but I think they are ugly and destroy the look of your car. Anybody trans-atlantic can help me on the background, why it is sooo different at your place???

I found this on the web. It looks pretty good

http://www.mishield.com

You gonna put training wheels on it too? how about an umbrella over the top?

Originally posted by RX-3_13B_Tommo
You gonna put training wheels on it too? how about an umbrella over the top?


Are you serious? Here in were I live there are more dumptrucks then SUV's on the highways when I go to work. You could bet your ass I am going to try to protect my 31k car.

LMAO!!! Training wheels. Call me wasteful, but I like to live. I will not be spending any extra money to protect my leased vehicle unless it is cheap, and dosen't interfere with the look, style and liveable qualities of the vehicle.

I also sit on my couch without the plastic cover.

The stuff I saw installed just like window tint.

Who said water based paint? no way..

Remembered reading about this on the audiworld site a while back. The TT owners rave about it and suggest it be the first mod. Invinca-shield -- emailed the company and they said a custom RX-8 kit will be out soon after the model is launched.



http://www.invinca-shield.com/

...that clear-bra stuff is spiffy and everything, but i worry about when water gets under it... like i've seen (on the old van we used to have before the Matrix) algea grow under that kind of stuff... what's the deal?? is the adheasive just mega-poisonous?? ;)

Originally posted by RXhusker
Remembered reading about this on the audiworld site a while back. The TT owners rave about it and suggest it be the first mod. Invinca-shield -- emailed the company and they said a custom RX-8 kit will be out soon after the model is launched.



http://www.invinca-shield.com/ Did they say how soon?s

The 3M stuff works great. I have it on the entire front of my Prelude and on the lights of my 2.5RS.

http://www.xpel.com

They don't show the RX-8 kit yet, but it's in development.

Originally posted by Cylo
LMAO!!! Training wheels. Call me wasteful, but I like to live. I will not be spending any extra money to protect my leased vehicle unless it is cheap, and dosen't interfere with the look, style and liveable qualities of the vehicle.

I also sit on my couch without the plastic cover.

ROFL.....I'm not leasing, but personally I would rather deal with a minor paint chip here and there if/when it happens with some carefully applied touch-up paint than to pay several hundred dollars to put plastic on the front of my RX-8. I've seen it on a couple of cars, and although it's not that obvious, you can tell it is on the car and just takes away from the overall finish IMHO.

I obviously plan to drive aware of road debris and trucks, but if it happens, it happens. If you use a fine tipped model paint brush you can make paint chips virtually invisible if you take your time and do them right. Sometimes the primer/material color underneath helps to conceal them anyway depending on the color of your car.

The plastic coatings are chip resistent, not chip PROOF. If a sharp stone or other debris ever hits it and punctures through, there goes your little "investment" because you will have a little spot where the plastic is torn or punctured that you can't really do anything about. Not to mention if you ever go to take it off, all those little nicks it supposedly saved you from, will probably peel right off with it. It just holds them in place so they don't fall off. I'd also be hesitant to apply this to water based paint and/or aluminum painted surfaces because of the lesser level of paint adhesion in these situations. Also, if you don't have a perfectly sterile environment to install it in (and even if you do as much as possible), in most cases you will have little particles trapped under the plastic like what happens with window tint, that may or may not show up on your vehicle's color.

Just some thoughts.....