hugh

rxeightr mentioned that he/she has a clear bra on the car. I have seen black bras listed, but never a clear bra. Where can I get one? Seems like nice protection without disrupting the look.

emailists

search for "3M"- you'll see lots of posts including mine- with pics of installation- prices, vendors----

flatso

And he has very good service to boot.

http://www.clear-guard.com

tpryor

Pics of my Yellow with a Clearbra (before and after) at link in signature. You'll love it.

idle0ne

nice pics

o_town_racer

or search for Ultrashield....both in here and on Google....there's a wealth of info out there....

Peakster

Also www.xpel.com.

mdw33333

Good luck with the "clear bra." You'll find this product under a dozen different names, none of whick are worth a... you know what.

I run a custom auto trim shop in Ohio and we've researched and experimented with many brands of front-end clear coating. I have one word to describe them- "impossible."

We've been in business for 32 years, thats right, 32 years. We aren't novices by any means, and we had little success with installing these products.

The concept of this product is genius, but the actual product a major disappointment. Here's short list of reason why:

1. Expensive as hell
2. Absolutely impossible to install without "major" imperfections
3. Any attempt at installing this material requires a "group effort"
(minimum 2 people)
4. Expensive as hell

I attemped (we attempted) to install a kit on my RX8 last week- what joke! After hours of work, we were left with an end result wich was less than acceptable. Those who would choose to spend the money for a product such as this, would most likely expect in to be, at least, near perfect. No chance. Don't bother to waste the money.

The few kits we've installed for my customers have been sub-par as well. I actually felt bad charging them for the jobs. Like I said, great concept, but not acceptable in reallity.

Just some advice...

TiRX8

I agree with you mdw33333. This is the reason why I haven't put one on my 8. Everytime I see one, imperfections tend to show. Even if they are minor, they would constantly annoy me.

i3man

I like my women wearing nice lingerie so I prefer the black bra. Clear bras don't leave enough to the imagination and part of the fun of seeing my woman in nice lingerie is watching her take it off or helping her take it off :p

adrian-1

WOW, I TOTALLY DISAGREE!!!





Yes, these are pictures with the clear bra installed.
CLICK HERE for more of my clear bra pictures (hi res).

I actually had my clear bra kit installed today along with with the light/mirrors and hood kit and it looks great.

Bought it from clear-guard for 25%off in the vendors section. Can't even tell it's there unless you look very closely and then it's only a tiny line. Couldn't get it to show up on my camera unless I was really close and used the FLASH!

No major imperfections since I ordered the venture brand film instead of the 3m film and used a reliable installer. One installer told me he refused to put anything except venture on. The other said he'll put 3M on but he couldn't guarantee it from imperfections or tears. Venture stretches alot more than the others. The installer I finally went with had experience installing them for over a year and said his crew took a class on the proper method to install it. It still took them 8hours (final charge was $170, compared to $280 from the first installer).


I researched this product for over a month since I absolutely hate rock chips. It looked better than a using a leather bumper bra or using touch up paint. Here's a few pictures of my old car's hood/bumper...a 97 Prelude w/ 90k miles.....
pic1 and Pic2 Unacceptable!

In response to mdw33333 , try using venture tape or even taking a class.

In response to TiRX8 , hope rock chips don't annoy you.

I approve of this product (venture film) and also recommend shopping around for an experienced installer.
-Adrian

TiRX8

I hate rock chips!! I already have a few (3 or 4). I am more interested in enjoying the performace of the car for 2-3 years. Eventually I will buy a new car, I don't want to keep this car forever. IT'S ONLY A CAR!! I have been through many cars already and never tend to keep one longer than 4 years. I maintain them as best as possible in that time span. Rock chips annoy me but a few are more acceptable than the big plastic line across your hood!!

adrian-1

I'm definetly into enjoying the performance of this car. Plan to payoff my 4yr auto loan alittle early and hope to have the car for a total of 7years. Not having a car payment rocks. The clear bra is defintely a long term investment. (I wouldn't have paid $565 total if I was getting something else in 2-3years.)

mdw33333

Adrian1, the product I attempted to use was the "Venture Tape" brand. In all the years i've been in this business, I've seen some really "near impossible" things accomplished with car products, but this stuff is not practical for application, let alone, profitablity for for the installer. Like I said, "genius material, poor application."

As for "your" Venture Tape kit, glad it worked out for you. As for your installer, i feel sorry for him, because at that labor rate he won't be in business long. We are professionals who work at shop hourly rate of $68. We can command that rate and get it after 32 years in business.

By the way, my installers and I have been trained on the application of this material. I installed my kit in 3 hours, to near perfection. Like I said, "near perfection," which isn't good enough for me. Hmmm, maybe I should have taken another 5 hours (lol) to do it...

adrian-1

I'm sure they didn't work on it for all 8 hours, maybe worked on the other 2 cars in their shop also, and hopefully they took a lunch.

They usually cut they're own kits right there in the shop and make alittle more profit that way, but I got mine through clearguard.com at 25%off. The installation price breakdown was $75 for the bumper, $75 for the hood,fender, and mirror, and $20 for the headlights. This sounded reasonable to me since I can see it would be difficult to install.
$170/8hrs is 21.25/hr which is alittle more than I make so I know his kids won't be starving for food anytime soon.

I forgot to mention their site for anyone in the Austin area that is interested.
Click here for the site.

mdw33333, I apologize for the "take a class" comment, that was a bit harsh. I'm just explaining my kit purchase and the outcome. I can easily understand if others have a different opinion on clear bras (like you said, many different materials out there).
One installer informed me that while installing some generic clear bra it wouldn't stretch like others and ended up tearing it and had to purchase a new one out of pocket.
The other installer that said he couldn't guarantee it would be free of imperfections, used to install it for a dealership and stopped after the dealership/ customers kept complaining of small defects.

Like you said, the kit worked for me but that may not be the case for others.
-Adrian

hugh

Thanks, you all have been a big help...looks like we need to research both the products and the installers...and see some work.

hugh

FirstSpin

I'm not sure why these "body guys" are so down on clear-bras. My brother has had one on his lexus for 4 or 5 years and it's holding up just fine. I had mine put on the 8 the second week of December and it's as perfect as I'd ever hope one to be. Like adrian, I only see if I'm looking for it. Regarding the extent of labor, yep it took 2 guys. I sat there and watched them. About two hour total. The cost was $445. Wish I could make $111 per manhour for what I do. I agree--take a class!!

mdw33333

FirstSpin, have a clue before chiming in, ok? If you paid attention to what I was saying you'd understand. My point about this material is a valid one. You need to take a reading comprehension class...

success07

I posted these in my other thread with the rest of the pics of my 8 but I thought I'd put them here for you as well. Thusfar, I am a happy customer and think that everything turned out well. Mine was purchased through Clear-Guard, which uses the Venture Tape.

I had the guy who tinted my windows (on my last few cars & my 8) do the clear-bra application. I only did this because he said that he could do it. His window tinting talents are unreal and the closest authorized installer for Clear-Guard was in the Akron/ Canton area which is about 2+ hours away from me here in Columbus. He said that he hadn't put one on before and that he had only put it on a PT Cruiser or Caravan once before. Basically, I put my trust in him and it paid off HUGE!! Best of luck if to you if you choose to go this route. I am very fortunate that mine turned out the way that it did.

success07

Lights were done also:

Not too bad for his first time, huh?

Speed-ER doc

I wish I had gotten one. I Zaino'ed for the first time yesterday, and you don't realize how many damn rock chips there are until you get a good shine! Grrrr.

Price is a bit steep though, would only be worth it if you were sure you were going to keep it after loan payoff. For a trade-in, chips don't matter in the least. I still had a chip above where the film would be anyway!

TitaniumRX8MD

Here in Chicago there is so much salt, rock chips and sand that would a nightmare to your front. Thank God for my clear bra, best investment so far

MD8

I looked into the clear bra - and still want to get one. BUT, the estimates I've gotten have ranged from 800-1300 for the front kits (bumper and lights/fenders).
Still can not figure out why the prices are so high ($ 100 materials plus $600 PER HOUR in labor ??? (assuming a 2 hour install - the time needed per most posts).

I know people deserve to make a good profit - but that is unreasonable in my opinion. Anyone in the MD area found a good price (with an experienced installer) yet ?

Cheers,

success07

MD8 - My guy told me he origianlly estimated 3 hrs but I think after all was said and done it took him a little over that, maybe almost 4hrs. With the estimates that people are getting I must be extremely lucky to have received $175+tax!!!

Rotary Titus

I just got mine installed today and it was 720 bucks CAD installed hood, front bumper, mirrors, headlights and foglights. After it was done, the guy told me I'm lucky cause he found out how difficult it was to put on the 8 and is gonna charge the next guy at least 850...
but it was raining today and I didn't get to inspect it till I got home and I noticed these tiny air bubbles on one of the headlights... and there's a tiny part in the curve between the headlight and bumper that's not sticking to the bumper and is curling up.... going to take it back tomorrow and see what they can do about it... hopefully they'll just peel it off with heatgun and reapply!