Clear bra - Is it worth it?
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Clear bra - Is it worth it?
Thanks to a young girl who didn't think the red light was for her, I just got my black '03 back with a new front bumper, hood, and driver's fender.
The bumper and a bit of the hood had significant rock chips from 40k miles, looked terrible. I know this is a common problem with the stock paint, particularly black. Word is, the body shop used a high end paint called Glasurit, wondering if that might help going forward.
Called a number of clear bra installers in the Dallas area that were recommended here in the forum, cost for the basic kit (bumper, partial hood, fenders, mirrors) is around $700 total on average.
So the options as I see it are:
A) Bone up $700 for the bra
B) Skip the bra and see how the better paint holds up
C) Skip the bra, it's cheaper to just repaint the bumper once a yr.
Please give me your feedback...
The bumper and a bit of the hood had significant rock chips from 40k miles, looked terrible. I know this is a common problem with the stock paint, particularly black. Word is, the body shop used a high end paint called Glasurit, wondering if that might help going forward.
Called a number of clear bra installers in the Dallas area that were recommended here in the forum, cost for the basic kit (bumper, partial hood, fenders, mirrors) is around $700 total on average.
So the options as I see it are:
A) Bone up $700 for the bra
B) Skip the bra and see how the better paint holds up
C) Skip the bra, it's cheaper to just repaint the bumper once a yr.
Please give me your feedback...
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Of the $700 total, about $400 was bumper only and about $300 is for fenders, partial hood, and mirrors. Bumper is harder to install, so they tend to charge more.
Going bumper only is something I'm considering as well...
Going bumper only is something I'm considering as well...
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#8
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5 quotes now, all basically the same amount, ~$700. Best deal so far includes 3M with 5 yr warranty covering bumper, 24" of hood, fenders, mirrors for $670. $390 of that is the bumper.
I'm surprised to see quotes around $250 for the bumper as the best deal I found online to order the material is $210 before shipping. Either your shops are getting a significant discount on the kit or they're charging almost nothing for labor.
I'm surprised to see quotes around $250 for the bumper as the best deal I found online to order the material is $210 before shipping. Either your shops are getting a significant discount on the kit or they're charging almost nothing for labor.
#9
'12 TL SH-AWD
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$550 installed with material for a Clear Bra install.
But FYI, it costs the same to have your bumper repainted and the hood. Since you have better paint now on the front of your car I can almost gurantee you that it probably will not chip near as easy so its probably not worth it.
But FYI, it costs the same to have your bumper repainted and the hood. Since you have better paint now on the front of your car I can almost gurantee you that it probably will not chip near as easy so its probably not worth it.
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Might want to look into the starshield bra. It's supposed to be better than the 3M. I'm thinking about getting it when I get my front end redone after zdayz
http://www.starshieldarmor.com/
http://www.starshieldarmor.com/
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Looked at Star Shield's site, looks like they use 3M (look under material specs). I keep hearing 3Ms the best, especially considering the 5yr warranty against yellowing, bubbling, etc.
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Originally Posted by SwedeZ
Looked at Star Shield's site, looks like they use 3M (look under material specs). I keep hearing 3Ms the best, especially considering the 5yr warranty against yellowing, bubbling, etc.
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3M FTW
I installed the clear bra on my '06 Z last year a couple of weeks after I bought her. It's one of the best investments I've done on my Z. For $700, the 3M clear bra was installed on my bumper, hood, fender, headlights, side mirrors, and door edges.
The price they quoted you is too high for not including the other areas that I had done. Check the website below for the nearest 3M dealer in your area:
http://www.xpel.com/products/dealersearch.asp
The 3M dealer in SA came to my house and installed the clear bra in my garage. Took about 4 hours and the results are amazing. They normally install the clear bra on high end cars & SUVs -- Porsches, Ferraris, Lexus, etc. So if it's good enough for these cars, I figured it's good enough for my Z.
I installed the clear bra on my '06 Z last year a couple of weeks after I bought her. It's one of the best investments I've done on my Z. For $700, the 3M clear bra was installed on my bumper, hood, fender, headlights, side mirrors, and door edges.
The price they quoted you is too high for not including the other areas that I had done. Check the website below for the nearest 3M dealer in your area:
http://www.xpel.com/products/dealersearch.asp
The 3M dealer in SA came to my house and installed the clear bra in my garage. Took about 4 hours and the results are amazing. They normally install the clear bra on high end cars & SUVs -- Porsches, Ferraris, Lexus, etc. So if it's good enough for these cars, I figured it's good enough for my Z.
#16
'12 TL SH-AWD
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Mobile Tint did mine for $550 with Llumar on a G35. They did all that you said as well including a lifetime warranty. I know this place has had to remove a lot of the 3M ones due to fading and orange peel after time.
Originally Posted by z-u-later
3M FTW
I installed the clear bra on my '06 Z last year a couple of weeks after I bought her. It's one of the best investments I've done on my Z. For $700, the 3M clear bra was installed on my bumper, hood, fender, headlights, side mirrors, and door edges.
The price they quoted you is too high for not including the other areas that I had done. Check the website below for the nearest 3M dealer in your area:
http://www.xpel.com/products/dealersearch.asp
The 3M dealer in SA came to my house and installed the clear bra in my garage. Took about 4 hours and the results are amazing. They normally install the clear bra on high end cars & SUVs -- Porsches, Ferraris, Lexus, etc. So if it's good enough for these cars, I figured it's good enough for my Z.
I installed the clear bra on my '06 Z last year a couple of weeks after I bought her. It's one of the best investments I've done on my Z. For $700, the 3M clear bra was installed on my bumper, hood, fender, headlights, side mirrors, and door edges.
The price they quoted you is too high for not including the other areas that I had done. Check the website below for the nearest 3M dealer in your area:
http://www.xpel.com/products/dealersearch.asp
The 3M dealer in SA came to my house and installed the clear bra in my garage. Took about 4 hours and the results are amazing. They normally install the clear bra on high end cars & SUVs -- Porsches, Ferraris, Lexus, etc. So if it's good enough for these cars, I figured it's good enough for my Z.
#17
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Do it
I had a VentureShield bra installed for $550. $700 seems a little steep, but if you got a bunch of quotes for around the same price, it must be the going rate in Dallas. Either that or there's some anti-competitive behavior happening
Anyway, I guess you could say it was my first mod, and I'm really happy with it. No orange peel, you can only notice it from certain angles, and driving on the freeway is definitely not as stressful as it used to be. Why even deal with repainting? I say even for $700, go for it.
Anyway, I guess you could say it was my first mod, and I'm really happy with it. No orange peel, you can only notice it from certain angles, and driving on the freeway is definitely not as stressful as it used to be. Why even deal with repainting? I say even for $700, go for it.
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Can anyone recommend a good clear bra installer (preferrably that comes to you) in Los Angeles?
Thanks!
T.
Edit - VentureShield, StarShield Armor and Xpel all seem good - just wondering if anyone has objective comparisons on which is least visible/most resistant to damage?
Thanks!
T.
Edit - VentureShield, StarShield Armor and Xpel all seem good - just wondering if anyone has objective comparisons on which is least visible/most resistant to damage?
Last edited by Z-T; 05-23-2007 at 10:09 AM.
#19
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Originally Posted by Z-T
Can anyone recommend a good clear bra installer (preferrably that comes to you) in Los Angeles?
Thanks!
T.
Edit - VentureShield, StarShield Armor and Xpel all seem good - just wondering if anyone has objective comparisons on which is least visible/most resistant to damage?
Thanks!
T.
Edit - VentureShield, StarShield Armor and Xpel all seem good - just wondering if anyone has objective comparisons on which is least visible/most resistant to damage?