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      05-23-2014, 06:18 AM   #1
rottjr
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Clear Bra Question

Wondering if I should get one of the clear bra protectors put on when the car arrives? My situation is that the car will mostly be a "Garage Queen". It'll get driven less than 5k per yr. and only on sunny days, and very seldom at night. I can see just fine, just have a phobia about driving nice cars in the dark.

Would doing the full hood, front panels, front bumper, mirrors, rear bumper be worth the expense for a car that's not going to be driven often?

If I decide to get the protector its going to be one of the self healing varieties which will be even more expensive.

I know some will say why pay 80k for a car and quibble over a few more grand for a paint protector. I've got to draw the line somewhere.
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      05-23-2014, 06:45 AM   #2
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It seems you'll be treating your M4 much like I treated my E92 M3 and now my 911. The car only gets driven under the best of conditions. If you are on the highway, you'll be very aware to avoid riding behind trucks for extended periods of time. You won't be out in the salt laden roads in the winter (not a problem for me). If that is the case, I wouldn't want a clear bra on my car. Despite the unbelieveable quality of the new films like Xpel, I can still see it. In my opinion, I would rather have a tiny chip or two than having the film on my car. My opinion would probably be different if I had any chance of stay satifyed with a car long enough for a protective film to matter. If you intend to keep the car for 5+yrs, it may be worth it.
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      05-23-2014, 06:51 AM   #3
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I'm getting it. But I'm gonna keep it for 6 years & it's gonna be driven throughout the entire year including northeast ohio winters so it's a no brainer for me.
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      05-23-2014, 07:11 AM   #4
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I drive less than 5k per year. I am getting it because you know that its going to get a chip if you don't. I would rather have the protection than look at that chip every time i look at my car.
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      05-23-2014, 08:01 AM   #5
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I am getting it since I usually keep cars 5 yrs+.. and anyway, the M3/4 has convenient bodywork gaps so I am just going to wrap around those, and not put it in places where there is no fender gap (ie- sides behind headlights).. but I do plan on doing the nose/front up to the upper fender gap.

You can't see the film if you wrap only to the body panel gaps. If you can, then you are clearly doing something wrong with your detailing.
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      05-23-2014, 09:54 AM   #6
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Do you guys have a good source for quality films. Seems like Xpel is the preferred brand.
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      05-23-2014, 03:13 PM   #7
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Come on man, clear are a waste of money. Do you put plastic protectors on you couch? No one see a rock chip but you.
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      05-23-2014, 03:22 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Come on man, clear are a waste of money. Do you put plastic protectors on you couch? No one see a rock chip but you.
Easy to say from Florida.

Try living in a place with snow and ice where they gravel the roads regularly in the winter. The damage that does to a car is horrendous.
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      05-23-2014, 03:24 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myzmak
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Come on man, clear are a waste of money. Do you put plastic protectors on you couch? No one see a rock chip but you.
Easy to say from Florida.

Try living in a place with snow and ice where they gravel the roads regularly in the winter. The damage that does to a car is horrendous.
Still think it's a waste. Get the bumper re sprayed twice. Will still cost less than clear bra.
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      05-23-2014, 03:32 PM   #10
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I love ClearBra or whatever they are calling it today. Had it on my e46 since 2004 (just sold it 2 mos ago) and it really protected it well.

You pay 80K and even though it is only 5k miles statistically your going to have damaging rock chips and bugs unless you drive a t least 200 feet behind every car. Plus bugs (very common where you and I live) can stain a light colored car's paint if you don't notice it in time.

Getting it on my M4 in August. I plan on doing the entire front bumper, rear bumper, half the hood, headlights and side mirrors. Will cost less than $700.
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      05-23-2014, 03:40 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Still think it's a waste. Get the bumper re sprayed twice. Will still cost less than clear bra.
If it were bumper, sure, but it is hood, bumper, etc.

We usually go with 3M film. Doesn't cost too much up here, lasts well, hides well too.
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      05-23-2014, 03:44 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by myzmak
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Still think it's a waste. Get the bumper re sprayed twice. Will still cost less than clear bra.
If it were bumper, sure, but it is hood, bumper, etc.

We usually go with 3M film. Doesn't cost too much up here, lasts well, hides well too.
Yeah sure it suck up there. I bet they layed a mountain range of gravel on the roads this year after the winter u guys had. Florida defiantly has the cleanest roads of anywhere I have ever lived. Not even any dust.
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      05-23-2014, 03:44 PM   #13
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Clear bra

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Come on man, clear are a waste of money. Do you put plastic protectors on you couch? No one see a rock chip but you.
Agree. Depends somewhat on you local driving conditions, but you can get the front valance repainted a couple times for the price of CB. Mine is 6+ years old w/ 55k and only has a few small chips.
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      05-23-2014, 03:58 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Yeah sure it suck up there. I bet they layed a mountain range of gravel on the roads this year after the winter u guys had. Florida defiantly has the cleanest roads of anywhere I have ever lived. Not even any dust.
No shizzle. It has been ridiculous. They still haven't cleaned the gravel from most of the streets in the City. And some places/provinces are worse than others - where I grew up they used a fine sand, which was ok. In Alberta, they use small rocks. Windshields and cars get beaten to hell. Good thing if you are in the windshield or autobody paint business though!
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      05-23-2014, 03:59 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rmedeir1 View Post
I love ClearBra or whatever they are calling it today. Had it on my e46 since 2004 (just sold it 2 mos ago) and it really protected it well.

You pay 80K and even though it is only 5k miles statistically your going to have damaging rock chips and bugs unless you drive a t least 200 feet behind every car. Plus bugs (very common where you and I live) can stain a light colored car's paint if you don't notice it in time.

Getting it on my M4 in August. I plan on doing the entire front bumper, rear bumper, half the hood, headlights and side mirrors. Will cost less than $700.
I've installed a clear bra on all cars I've owned, but that's the first time I know that some people install it on their rear bumper so I apologize in advance if my question sounds stupid to you.

What protection do you need from a clear bra installed on your rear bumper?
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      05-23-2014, 04:02 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw View Post
Come on man, clear are a waste of money. Do you put plastic protectors on you couch? No one see a rock chip but you.
This is my take as well - and I live and drive year round in NY.
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      05-23-2014, 04:05 PM   #17
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Clear bra on rear bumper

Quote:
Originally Posted by BuLoOoSki View Post
I've installed a clear bra on all cars I've owned, but that's the first time I know that some people install it on their rear bumper so I apologize in advance if my question sounds stupid to you.

What protection do you need from a clear bra installed on your rear bumper?
All I could see is loading/unloading things from the trunk, but it's not like an SUV where it's flush with the load floor.
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      05-23-2014, 04:08 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BuLoOoSki View Post
I've installed a clear bra on all cars I've owned, but that's the first time I know that some people install it on their rear bumper so I apologize in advance if my question sounds stupid to you.

What protection do you need from a clear bra installed on your rear bumper?
My son is into baseball and is not the most alert teenager (I dont think teebage boys 13-15 are ) and he has scratched my wife's rear bumper twice with his bag.
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      05-23-2014, 07:47 PM   #19
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For me, it basically comes down to how long I plan to keep the car. In the case of the m3, it's gonna be leased for 3 years, so clear bra will not b going on as the car will be going back to BMW after the lease term. Small paint chips are part of normal wear and tear anyways, so no need to worry.
Now, if you're keeping the car for a long time, that's a different story. But I still think you'll come out on top by just repainting the bumper when it get too bad.
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      05-23-2014, 08:00 PM   #20
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I definitely like see-through bras.
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      05-23-2014, 08:12 PM   #21
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Differing thoughts about clear bras abound, but I've never anyone in the flesh that went with a clear bra and then swore them off going forward. Film quality has improved a great deal from twelve years ago when I was won over. Ever car gets the treatment -- No DIY only custom install.

Recently I saw an M3 Individual that had not been clear bra'd from the get go. What a shame. Respraying FTL. YMMV, but I would never buy an M car or anything upscale from that which had been resprayed.

OTOH, I would not clear bra a car that was going to get trailer rides from one show to the next, but M cars are meant to be driven; at least that's MHO.
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      05-28-2014, 01:21 PM   #22
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Too many nervous Nancies in here. It's a car...it's not going to stay perfect forever. Might as well enjoy your car and drive fast instead of wasting time and effort trying to keep it pristine.

That and there are issues of paint discoloration with clear bra....and the clear bra eventually peels and has to be replaced...and their are wax lines on the borders of the clear bra...and you can see the clear bra.

Front bumpers are mostly made of plastic nowadays so people don't need to worry about rust issues or metal exposure.
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