That's it, I'm getting a Clear Bra!
 

Was just out lookiing at my car and noticed a nice rock chip on the hood and windshield of my week-old MB Z. God damn it, you just can't have nice things, can you? :icon20:

Can anyone recommend an installer in the LA/IE area? Also, what has everyone been paying for the full bumper/hood/mirror set?

Well it should have been the first thing you did. I put mine on three days after I picked it up, and sure enough a nic in the left front bumper was already there. Make sure you only have a factory trained 3M Installer to do the work. Make sure you only use 3M film. It is one of the only ones that actually has a clear coat on it. Click here under the dealer locator http://www.xpel.com/

that is life get over it, I know that this sounds like a cliche, but it's just a car if it was a LS, or GS or some 400k dollar car that costs alot to paint then I would trip, especially if it's a unique color. But it happens to us all.

Joey:

Thanks for the link. I had previously found that but it wasn't immediately clear if those were 3M dealers.

You're a twit. I realize it's not some high-end car, but it is an investment nonetheless. That and the fact that I've only had it for a week.

Try Envisage Design Labs in Torrance. They did a great job on my interlagos fire. Plus if you mention that you are from the forums they give you a discount. Do a search for them on here and you will find that there are many, many happy customers. With my new daytona blue, I have an appointment with them next tuesday. I'm not taking my Z on the freeway until it has a clear bra on.

Kinda late for clear bra now don't you think? Unless you're planning to fix it than install the clear bra.

Thanks, IF...do you have a phone number by any chance? Their web site appears to be under construction.

Yes, I do.

Dude, i bought a clear bra thinking someone would install it for me for under 150...I spent 250 on the kit itself to try and save like 200 bucks. Its a pre cut kit, but no installer wanted to touch it until it was their own kit. Its still sitting in my closest. I've had the car since september on only 2 small knicks on the front bumper. I would like to install it, but for the complete kit with materials installed its like 600 bucks. I'd say thats a little pricey. If you can find someone to do a group discount or they'll use my kit, i'll go with you. Let me know.

i was contemplating putting it on, but since i had to drive the Z 120 miles from the dealer to home, i figured it was too late anyways...

after almost 2 years of owning my car,
i have :-
5 nicks/chips on my hood (2 noticable, 1 really bad)
30+ chips on my front bumper (2 noticable)
2 chips on my roof (1 really noticable)
3 chips on my left fender

I have a leather bra i use for road trips, so this is just normal 405 driving to & fro work...

There's a Star Shield place in Irwindale. Google it.

Oh man, do I know how you feel. When I bought my 05 ZR, I got a nice chip in the middle of the windshield after two weeks and then 3 chips on the passenger side after a month. It makes you ill when it happens. :icon16: Luckily, I had rockguard installed when I bought the car so it could have been worse. I totally recommend rockguard/clearbra.

PM SENT

It seems as rock chips on DB Z's are really noticeable compared to other colored Z's. It's pretty noticeable on my DB Z, at least. And the sucky part is that if i get my front bumper repainted, I have to wait 2-3 months for the new paint to "oxidize" properly before I can put a clearbra on.

I also regret not having put it on when I bought the car. At least I had an excuse when I purchased the ZR in 2004, I didn't know about them. I found out the hard way like you. If the salesman that sold me the car would had offered it, it would have been an easy sale. You should pay no more than $600 for the full protection kit (bumper, hood, lights, fenders and mirrors). Otherwise they are overcharging.

Really, I was actually considering getting the side fenders, bumper, and mirrors repainted then putting on the clear bra since I have to get a new hood to replace the damaged one from when someone backed into my car. The body shop that gave me the estimate didn't mention anything about having to wait before putting the clear bra on.

Remember pricing varies from area to area there are no set prices. It all depends on the area you are in and from dealer to dealer, it is usually good practice to take a recommendation from someone else and do your own homework as well. 600.00 is fair price for the Z you may find some slightly more or less shop around. 3M and Avery are the only two films that have a clear coat.

Brian

My feelings exactly! I just got my Z and on the 3rd day on the way to work I got behind a tractor trailer truck hauling a flatbed trailer with those wooden crates that are used in warehouses to stack things on that forklifts use to get under. I immediately wanted to pass but couldn't and wouldn't you know it a few seconds later the truck drives over a bump in the highway and all of these large gravel stones fly out from the wooden crates and pelt my car! It sounded like cinderblocks hitting my car! I was pissed! :icon20: Now I have three large stone chips that I need a bodyshop to fix in my roof a few inches back from the front windshield! :( Luckily no dents or dings! 3M Clear Bra wouldn't have helped me there, but I have gotten them for my last two cars and they were worth the money IMHO.

Personally, I go to my local Porsche dealership. They do an immaculate job and if there is ever any problems I just take it back and they re-do it free of charge! Porsche owners are very picky and I can't blame them if they are going to spend $90K or more on a 911 or Cayenne Turbo -- they want things perfect. My local Porsche dealership cuts their own right there. They have a computer program with a database of the templates for different makes and models. They have a special "plotter" printer that they load with the 3M material and instead of the "plotter" printer having ink it has an exacto knife and cuts the template when the guy chooses "print" from the program. Pretty cool I thought. So you might want to check your local Porsche dealership. All I know is that with one of my cars I thought that I would save some money and try to install it myself -- man was that a royal PITA and took me tons of time and in the end I did a crappy job and wasn't satisified (so I spent more money to have it taken off and had them install). In my mind, it is worth the extra money to have it professionally installed! :)

HTH

I get my cars done at a local shop and it runs just under $600 for the whole setup. They do a great job though and bring in a touch-up painter to take care of any dings or nicks first. I have had it on three cars and they have been flawless. My 04 Z still doesn't have a chip (knock on wood.) It's well worth the $600, if not for the price to repaint, then for the peace of mind of knowing that everytime you take it out you aren't jacking up the front end.

I have a 2005 SB with 12k miles with no chip on the front bumper. I bought it brand new, and till this day, no chip whatsoever. I have seen a lot of ppl getting rock chips. i guess it's the driving style, i usually don't drive too closely to the car infront of me.