RX-J

Has anyone put a clear bra in the RX-8 yet?

How does it look? Which brand?

Does it work???

(oh, my... So many questions... I look like a 4-year-old kid asking questions about the world to his parents... Well, the RX-8 does make me feel like a child! :D )

I've been digging the forums but I might be kind of tired (or just plain lazy) and couldn't find specific threads about that. If you know of one, feel free to redirect this one to the other.

More specifically for the NW community: do you guys know of any good place to do this job around the Puget Sound area (the closer to Redmond, the better )

RX-J

Well, I found this thread specifically for the Clear Bra discussion:
http://www.rx-8forum.com/showthread....ight=clear+bra

Anyone in Puget Sound with tips about places to install it?

tpryor

Pics of my Yellow - the pics with the ClearBra are labeled - located at http://community.webshots.com/user/traypryor. This is the X-Pel kit (http://www.xpel.com).

VERY happy with it.

RX-J

Wow! It's pretty invisible! I really like it!!!

Did you get the xpel to install that or they have a representative in Texas (or you did yourself)?

Do you know if they have anyone here in Washington State (Seattle area)?

tpryor

I had been asking around about the kits (car dealers, parts stores, etc.), and when I finally asked my tint guy, he was an installer! He had the kit in two days and installed it that weekend.

Xpel rates the install of this kit as "for experts only", and my shop took 7 hours to get it on correctly (he said 1/2 hour for the mirrors, hood, and top of fenders, 6 1/2 hours and three guys for the front bumper piece). He isn't sure he ever wants to see another RX-8.

The short story is that I think you could find an installer in your area. My installer says they mostly put those kits on RV's, so you might start there. If you can't find one, let me know (PM) and I'll get the name of the X-pel rep (he helped with the install) and he can point you in the direction of the rep for your area.

RX-J

A friend has an WRX and just installed a kit from Rockblocker (www.rockblocker.com)

It looked great to me, but I don't know any other products. Do you know any differences (quality, mainly) between the Rockblocker, 3M and yours Xpel? those are apparently the big three in the places I've seen so far.

rex

iTrader: (2)

University Mazda in Seattle has a vendor that's installing clear masks on the RX-8s they're selling. The only problem is that they want $800 which seems out of whack with what other people on the forum are being charged. I asked them for the name of the installer they're using but although they've promised to let me know I'm getting the impression that they want to keep that middleman mark up. Anyway, it might be worth calling them and seeing if you can get the information from them.

Also, if you want to see the mask installed, they have a special edition silver Miata in the "lower" showroom with it installed and they have a customer (Hi if you're reading this!) who's picking up their Nordic Green RX-8 with mask installed next Monday, so you might be able to see what it looks like if you can get there before then (bad news, they're not open late on weekdays, how broken is that?). The sales guy I've been working with is Lee Schamens. His number (206) 634 1191, e-mail lee@umazda.com. Phone is probably more effective.

Let us NWers know if you find out who does the installing and what they're quoting for price.

RX-8. Now what's the question?
Clear bra. Oh yes.

3Rotor

I had a full front (Nose, front of hood, front of fenders), mirrors, door edges, door cups and rear runk opening shelf done for $749. No tax because it was done in Oregon. I did quite a bit of research and looked at three different products. The two that seem to have survived are the 3M product - 6 mil thick and a 3 year warranty and Venture Tape - 12 mil thick and a 6 year warranty. The venture tape made a beliver out of me. You can tear the 3M product with your hands. No way you can tear the venture tape. In fact, I couldn't even puncture it with my key!Clear Bra of Oregon was highly recommended by the manufacturers of Venture Tape. They did the Ferrari Enzo that was featured on the cover of a recent R&T (I think it was Road and Track). They did an excellent job and I am very happy with my choice. They do not do "patterns" - they actually custom wrap your car. It took them about 6 hours to complete it. I left my car there and used their loaner to go see they guys at Pineapple Racing and Corksport.

www.clearbraoregon.com

rex

iTrader: (2)

Thanks for the excellent information 3Rotor! From the samples images on the clearbraoregon.com web site it looks like on light colors such as silver than you can see a difference in color. How does it look on your Velocity Red? Venture Tape does sound like it's superior to the 3M product. The thicker, more durable material and longer warranty are definitely appealing. How long have you had the clear bra installed? Has it been damaged by any rock impacts yet?

Invisiguard

In WA get a hold of Dean and his guys at Clear Statement . They've been installing paint protection film longer than anyone I know on the west coast and are the only people we will refer work to up north. Tell them Jeremy from Invisiguard sent you, they'll take care of you

[moderator edit]

Invisiguard

3M is a maker of urethane film that companies like Xpel and Rockblocker make their kits with, 3M does not actually design their own kits but many people refer to these generically as 3M kits. The other two producers of urethane paint protection film are Avery Dennison and Venture Tape. Each of these films have seperate qualities that make them better suited to different applications, but generaly we use 3M for black or close to black colors and Avery for white or close to white colors.
Jeremy

3Rotor

I'm happy with the install. My biggest concern was what effect the film would have on the ability to see the reflective qualities of the mica in the red paint. Obviuosly when they mean it's optically clear, they mean it. You can still see all of the pretty mica flakes in the sun, just like on the rest of the car. At 5 feet from the car, you can't even tell anything is in on there. Upon closer inspection, primarily due to the texture difference, you can see that there is something, but you really have to stare at it to figure out what it is. Most people touch it and then ask - "Is there something on there?" As far as "Is it working?" I sure haven't noticed any dmamge to the protected area and considering all the chip sealing they are doing in Lakewood, I would say it's doing it's job.

RockBlocker

Dean does provide the clear bra services in Lynnwood. The company that has been doing it the longets that would have to be StonGard. WA is where they are based. They are also the supplier to all the cars done at University Mazda. You can try to get the car done by them, but I am sure they will refer you ack to the dealer since the dealer gives them more cars than just yours or mine if you know what I mean.

I agree with Invisguard about the makers of the film such as 3M, Avery or Venture Tape. We carry Venture Tape and 3M. It really depends on what you are looking for in the product itself on which one to use. We never make the decision for the customer we let them make that choice since the prices vary between films.

We are also in WA and would be more than happy to answer any questions about the product.

rex

iTrader: (2)

I took a look at a Miata in the showroom at University Mazda in Seattle yesterday. The dealer said that it had the "stongard" clear mask installed. This was a pre-cut mask, with cut outs for the lights, front grill and fog lights. I wasn't impressed with this installation for a number of reasons:

1. The film installed on this silver Miata was quite thick and although these films are supposed to be almost optically perfect, you could see a color difference. That probably wouldn't be as big an issue for a darker colored car.
2. The kit's cut outs left areas of unprotected paint around the Mazda badge, the headlights and worst of all the recessed fog lights where there were several square inches of exposed paint.
3. The edge of the film was collecting dust which made it stand out more distinctly. Again, probably a non-issue for darker colors.

Based on this observation, I think I would want to have a custom mask installed so that the mask didn't have those areas of unprotected paint exposed.

Thanks for all the helpful information everyone. My sales guy at University Mazda said that it would probably be best to work with the installer on what I want in terms of installation.

Invisiguard

We dont install Stongard kits but Im usually pretty impressed with the amount of coverage they offer. The Miata, like the Porsche 911, is a bit of a tricky install since the bumper is just one big compound curve, kind of like trying to make a sheet of paper lay flat over the end of an egg In situations like this the tolerances for openings such as the grill and fog lights must remain a bit loose to accomodate the amount of stretching and fitting that is required. Yes it is a compromise, but a good kit will be designed so that the areas that are most critical and noticable will get maximum protection while remaining as visually unobtrusive as possible. As for the appearane of the film itself, the thicker films (12mil)are indeed a bit more noticable, but depending on the roads where you live the thinner films(6 mil) may be just fine. Here in Northern California we only use 6mil film since its perfect for the fine debris "sand-blasted" look cars have. On a silver car like the Miata, you would be hard pressed to notice a 6 mil film unless under close scrutiny.
Jeremy

RockBlocker

Rex,

I am in your backyard so maybe I can help out with what your expectations are of the clear bra and also the StonGard product.

StonGard only uses 6 mil so if you think that it was thick on the paint itself then you might not to have one installed. The 6 mil is the standard film used in the industry and across the country like Inivisguard uses. You also have to remember that the product will look different under different type of lighting and angle of light. You were on the showroom that is small so you have to right on top of the car, right. It would look different outside.

The color really shouldnt matter when looking at it for clarity. Sometimes the film can appear to make the paint change colors, but the alternative protection is a black bra that really stand out.

As for the areas left exposed. The Miata badges are a massed installed for the manufacturer as well as the pre-cut kits from StonGard. StonGard has to have a margin for error since they are not all placed in the same area so the kit fits, just like license plate frames and other objects that are installed on the vehicle. Was the gap around the badge more than 1/8 inch. If so it was installed correctly. You can remove the badge and then reinstall once the product is installed, if you want.

The fog light areas are very hard area to cover the entire piece while making the bumper one continous piece that flows with the bumper. The alternative would be to make mulitple pieces for the bumper and it woldnt look as good then.

As for the dust. Of course it was collecting dust I am sure that the rest of the car washaving the same issue. The same problem will happen when you dirve it outside and get pollen or dirt from the road. The cars get dirty, but it can be easily cleaned with just a wash or a wipe of the car with a duster.

Dont get me wrong, I am not trying in any way to dispute what are saying or what you saw when looking at the car and the product. I am just trying to let you know a little bit of knowledge that I have gained in the last three and half years doing this product.

Can the car have more coverage, yes it can. Can the installer make a big difference, most definetely. Are there limitations to the product and what you can do, yes there is. There are many factors in what you are looking for and what can be done. ALll you need to do is find where the middle ground is to make both sides happy.

FYI, StonGard did do the install on the Miata.

RX-J

Few days ago I started this thread and thanks to all feedback received I was able to make up my mind and I just got installed a clear bra from Rockblocker.

So far, so good! I have a black RX-8 and it takes some time to realize it's there. Even not being completely cured yet.
That's something I learnt when the installation was being done. Due to the nature of the adhesive used, there's a period of some days after the installation that the bra can show more that it will when it's finally cured. In my case, I was really concerned with some bubbles that totally went away on the second day. It's still getting improving, though. I'm keeping an eye on the last two wrinkles that I can see (small ones). But it seems they'll also go away soon.

The best part: the kit (without the installation) was $350. Way lower than some other kits I looked around.

As I said before, so far, so good! Labor day is comming and I'll be surely much more comfortable getting some backroads in my way to the Oregon coast!