Clear Bra Info/Questions
10-10-2003, 08:01 PM
#51
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Finally, to see what the film looks like at an edge, here is a photo of the film going around the drivers side turn signal. I sure wish I had done this to my Vette when I got it 4 yrs ago!
10-10-2003, 10:22 PM
#54
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This film is a permanent "bra" for lack of a better word. It protects the paint from bugs, rocks, debris, etc. The paint won't chip or get scratched. The film was originally designed to protect leading wing edges and propeller blades for the aerospace industry. It can be removed if desired, but it is meant to be permanent. I plan on going on some lengthy road trips in and didn't want to bother with the problems of a traditional bra, but also didn't want to take the risk of damaging my new bright blue paint. Another problem we face here in Florida is the semi-annual swarm of love bugs. If you don't get them off your paint right away, their acidic juices will eat through your paint. This film protects from that as well. Its easy to maintain....just wash and wax the car as usual, even over the film.
10-11-2003, 12:41 AM
#55
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Originally posted by o_town_racer
Its easy to maintain....just wash and wax the car as usual, even over the film.
Its easy to maintain....just wash and wax the car as usual, even over the film.
Any issues with polish/wax at the seams? I know Zaino polishes up nicely without the buildup that many "natural" waxes leave behind. GOT ZAINO?
And how much was the total cost for the bumper only? (8 hours... damn, dunno if I could go that long without my baby on the road).
Did your installer have the precut kit or did he make it on the spot with his own plotter/program?
Congrats on the clear bra... looks great!, wish my gf would wear a clear bra!
10-11-2003, 07:45 AM
#56
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Prices vary greatly. I talked to 3 different people about putting the 3 kits on (check out www.xpel.com for the kit prices) and the labor was $350, $450, & $85.
10-11-2003, 01:18 PM
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I promised not to mention how much the job cost. He gave me a discount since it was his first time doing an RX-8. Let's just say it was less than $500. He has only put on the bumper piece so far, but I'm also getting the rear view mirrors, door edge guards, and headlight/fog light protection. I don't think there will be any problem with the wax I use (Ibiz liquid carnuba wax). There isn't any problem at the edges of the protective film by the rear doors (put on at the factory). David has all his equipment with him. He downloads the pattern from Xpel and has a plotter/cutter in his van that cuts the 3M material to spec.
10-11-2003, 04:00 PM
#58
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Hi o_town_racer,
By 'permanent' you mean it can never be removed once installed?
If it can be removed does it ruin the paint while removing?
Do you also have to take care of the bra regularly to clean up bugs + debri? Aren't those acids harmful for the bra aswell?
By 'permanent' you mean it can never be removed once installed?
If it can be removed does it ruin the paint while removing?
Do you also have to take care of the bra regularly to clean up bugs + debri? Aren't those acids harmful for the bra aswell?
10-12-2003, 09:43 AM
#62
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Right....if you apply approx. 150 degrees of heat, the adhesive lets go and you can peel the film off. Once removed it is useless and you would need a new installation. Also yes, you still have to clean bugs, dirt, etc. off the film. Over time the film may become damaged, but the underlying paint won't. You can wash it and wax it. The only thing you can't do is buff scratches out.
10-12-2003, 11:15 AM
#63
Originally posted by o_town_racer
if you apply approx. 150 degrees of heat, the adhesive lets go and you can peel the film off.
if you apply approx. 150 degrees of heat, the adhesive lets go and you can peel the film off.
Actually, the plastic probably won't heat up that much, but how about the hood?
10-13-2003, 10:04 AM
#65
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From what I've read about the material, it's 150 degrees F. You still have to pry up an edge of the film to peel it off. It's not going to come off by itself. It also comes with a 4 year warranty. Removing it will not harm your paint. In my book, it's cheap protection and eliminates the possibility of damage from a traditional bra.
10-13-2003, 06:52 PM
#68
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I'm having my RX-8 done in two stages. Last Tuesday I had the hood, front fenders, rear view mirrors, headlights & fog lights done with the x-pel product. ($ 225.00)
Next week I am having the front bumper done. ($ 175.00)
Next week I am having the front bumper done. ($ 175.00)
10-16-2003, 12:46 AM
#70
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I had my Black RX-8 done with the Expel kit on Monday. The hood and front fender pieces behind the headlights came out good. The kit protects at least the first 14" of the hood.
The front bumper, otoh, looks just fine from 6 feet away but under direct light the black paint underneath highlights the stretch marks, swirl marks on the 3M material made by the installer's smoothing(?) tool, and some small bubbles here and there, particularly where the bottom part of the nose creases deeply into the lower edge of the oil cooler openings.
My installer is coming back to massage these areas, but he also says that the stretch marks, etc. will not show so much after the material has been on the car and subject to weathering, sunshine, etc. He also says the 3M stuff can be polished with plastic polish or regular car wax to minimize swirl marks. It's a given that the 3M stuff is softer than the clear coat on the paint.
Up close, tho, the clear bra makes my pristine black front bumper appear as if it weathered about 30,000 miles overnight. I'm out to lunch as to whether I'll have him remove it altogether, or get him to commit in writing to re-doing it if it doesn't improve after a month or two of exposure.
By the way, he used excess material to fashion pieces that covered the front aero spoiler quite nicely.
In summary, I add my caution to those already on the Forum about doing the clear bra treatment to black cars.
The front bumper, otoh, looks just fine from 6 feet away but under direct light the black paint underneath highlights the stretch marks, swirl marks on the 3M material made by the installer's smoothing(?) tool, and some small bubbles here and there, particularly where the bottom part of the nose creases deeply into the lower edge of the oil cooler openings.
My installer is coming back to massage these areas, but he also says that the stretch marks, etc. will not show so much after the material has been on the car and subject to weathering, sunshine, etc. He also says the 3M stuff can be polished with plastic polish or regular car wax to minimize swirl marks. It's a given that the 3M stuff is softer than the clear coat on the paint.
Up close, tho, the clear bra makes my pristine black front bumper appear as if it weathered about 30,000 miles overnight. I'm out to lunch as to whether I'll have him remove it altogether, or get him to commit in writing to re-doing it if it doesn't improve after a month or two of exposure.
By the way, he used excess material to fashion pieces that covered the front aero spoiler quite nicely.
In summary, I add my caution to those already on the Forum about doing the clear bra treatment to black cars.
10-20-2003, 03:19 PM
#74
CHAH-LAY MURPHAAAAAY!
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Originally posted by Ned M
Will try to get some posted this wknd.
Will try to get some posted this wknd.
10-23-2003, 10:38 PM
#75
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Expel Clear Bra on Black RX-8 w/Aero Pkg
I've had the Expel kit on the car about 1 1/2 weeks now and it's settling pretty well. The hood and fenders look good, and the bumper is getting better, altho there are a few small spots where a bubble or stretch mark hasn't settled. At the local Harley store found some plastic polish that really helps the clear bra's appearance in daylight on the black car. Novus 1 is the polish, which as far as I can tell is non-silicone but adds a nice, deep shine to the clear bra. Novus 2 is a very mild scratch remover which I used on parts of the 3M material to minimize a minor scratching left by the installer's squeegee. I also had him come back and work on the bubble spots again yesterday, as well as re-do the 3M in my door handle cups. Much better. Here are a few pics. At some angles the clear bra almost disappears entirely; at others you can see the edge line. Only the perfectionist in me at 2 feet with a flourescent shop light still sees the few imperfections down low on the bumper. 99 percent of people will never even notice it. Here goes: