Googled "3m clear bra"
 

I clicked on the first link, and there she was, it was like they knew I was coming.

http://www.invisiblemask.com/site.html

I didn't want to get the regular bra because it collects dirt and dust underneath and scratches the paint. I need to get something because the highway out here always has loose gravel and rock etc. every time I get home it seems as if there is a new chip in the front fender from some road debris.

Has anyone had any good/bad experience with the clear bra?

I have had it on 2 cars...

Get it... I have it on my 8 since day 1.. Only thing about is waxing it... The wax can build up on the edge and can be tough to get at it.. Other than that it is great... Had it on my 8 for over 2 years... defeniately saved her from big time nicks and rock chips..

I have one on my '8 as well.

Installed it myself from a kit on ebay.

Highly recommend it. It has dropped stone/rock chip damaged to zero on the front end.

Sounds good but it's coming out to $354.00 for the hood, bumper and lens. Sounds a bit pricey, how much did you get yours for?

$10 + $16 shipping, and I put it on myself, but didn't get the hood or lenses. But I did get also the mirrors.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mazda...6758QQtcZphoto

What really sold me was talking with a couple of racers a few years back. They mentioned how they used to have to re-paint the front end after every 2nd race weekend due to chips from stuff on the track. They put the film on and the repaint dropped to once a season and even then only to change the colors.

it is a lil expensive, but it equates to the cost of repainting those parts if not less.

i had a clear bra on my front bumper and it protected it nicely. took it off because the install wasn't superb and right now i have TONs of rock chips. i will end up putting a clear bra over the bumper again once i get another repaint.

hurry up and pait it danny..haha

Like I said it would have been 400-500 bucks a while ago..

354 doesn't sound too too bad.

Will this work on the mazdasped front too? Is it just a big sheet of film that you fit over the front? Or is it designed for the stock bumper only?

isn't there a kit somewhere that does the whole car in something like this? one of our forum vendors has it.

I've thought about those things, but they are ugly and obvious on a black car and it is cheaper for me to repaint my bumper 7 or 8 times than to install a clear bra.
After a year or two, the clear bra will get pretty chipped up itself and need to be replaced, which often removes the paint from the bumper because of its powerful adhesive, anyway.

What I do is apply strips of black heavy-duty sign vinyl to the chip-prone areas of the bumper. Its inconspicuous and easy to remove when the car is to be scrutinized (like at a show) or cleaned.
Plus, its cheap.

I have had it on my car for over 2 years now. The clear bra is very resilient to chips. I only have a few marks on it... I drive ALOT of highway miles here in New England when in the winter all the sand on the road beats the crap out of the front of the car...

I have never had any problem removing the clear bra's from any bumper or car even after 3 years, baked on in the hot California sun, and have yet to find even one major scratch or chip into any car that I have put it on.

Are you sure you are using 3M material? Or are you just using sign vinyl? 3M is the same stuff that is used on the rear fenders on the '8 from the factory as well.

Heck on my work truck, there is some on the rear fenders that has been on since '99, and it still looks new and could peal off the black fiberglass flares without any loss of paint.

Perhaps you are using cheap other materials that made you post such comments, but using 3M or Samsu flims and you won't have any of the problems you describe.

Was this $10 thing any good?

I'm not using anything - like I said, I just repaint my bumpers. Its easier and looks better.
However, the RockBlockers I've seen are the 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Films.
The OE panel on the front ot the rear QP flare is 3M, and removing it won't damage the paint because it is OE.

When I do my vinyl trick, the adhesive is fairly weak, so it isn't a problem.

yeah, was the 3M film, lazer cut to match the front end.

Had to trim a little to fit the factory air dam though. If you don't have the factory air dam it would fit perfect.

i've removed my previous clear bra with no problems of paint peeling off the bumper. that will only happen if you don't let the paint fully cure or if you apply touch up paint to the bumper.

I noticed that that guy is selling installation kits also. Do you need to buy that as well?

I actually put it on the 8 with a heat gun set on low and a soft plastic panel squeegee from pep boys that they sell for bondo and a empty clean spray bottle from home depot. So I don't know if he kit is cheaper than that, but other than that, I can't see you needing anything else.

But I have used plastic squeegees from home depot just fine as well.

My car came w/ this stuff installed by the dealer.
I plan on replacing it after the winter.
-- How hard is it to self install ??? It looks pretty tricky! And the guy who originally installed mine did a crappy job around the Mazda logo.

The kit I bought for my '8 was already trimmed around the Mazda logo and even provided pieces for inside the logo.

If you have tried tinting a window... it is simpler than that, as you are working on the outside, and if the piece didn't lay down smoothly, you just pull it up, wet it down and try again.

Here are installation videos:
http://www.invisiblemask.com/videos.html

although, if it is a dark colored car you probably want a professional to do it or you will leave tons of stretch marks and adhesive everytime to "pull it up, wet it down and try again."

Think its too late for me... 14k miles and my front end is trashed. :(

If you daily drive your 8 the clear bra is worth it, just for the purposes of cleaning. I drive about 1000km a week. Every night I get a damp cloth and wipe off the bugs keeps it looking nice and takes less than 5 min.