Well, I just ordered the Colgon. Once more installers are on board with the 3M product and gain experience/practice time...then I may try it.

 

did you try and install it yourself???

 

No, I went to a place that was listed on this companies website.

 

I debated with the clear bra and there seems to be more folks disatisfied with the results than not.

I decided to use the Nissan factory Nose Mask. I love it! Fits like a glove, easy on/off. Used properly, gives great protection.

I guess I prefer tried and true instead of a sticker on the front of my $30k car!

 

I've got the 3M Clear bra and absolutely love it. Very clean, not pre-cut and wrapped around all edges. No one knows I've got it until I point it out. It's gotta be the installer. .

 

Clear Bras seem to be tried and true in results when a top quality installer is used (read post of people like RodH that have cars with years of use on them). Remember, traditional bras have draw backs to:

1. Rubbing
2. Uneven fading, they cover part of paint job thus no fade vs exposed areas of car.
3. Looks, this is subjective but for me, I really do not like the loos of a regular bra.

 

A quality installation is the key. Go to http://www.clearbra.com/ and get a list of trained installers. I spoke to Edre at Envisage design labs in Torrance Calif. He claims they are the oldest installers of this product on the west coast. Lets say you have them install it and do not like the way it looks, they will give a money back 60 day warranty meaning if you do not like it for any reason within 60 days, they will peel it off and give you a full refund. Of couse that is just the warranty for if you do not like the looks of the installation. Additional warranties are included of course. I would suggest that if you are considering this type of product that you call him at (323) 466-0608 or another certified installer like him at addresses they give for installers. A majority of the complaints I see on this thread are related to poor installations not the product. Many want to be tint guys are trying to learn this product by doing your car. Yes, it is slightly cheaper but it is a crappy installation.

This product is not for everyone but this product is for no one with a poor installation.....if you do it, do it right. I think you will find some people love it, others don't. Most of who dont had a poor installation. I hope this helps.

 

I think you are only seeing the complaints. Those of us happy with this don't post every week that we are still happy. Mine, while not a perfect install (couple of specs of dust under it, and a wrinkle in one spot that has faded some) is very good in comparison to the one that started this thread.

I hate the black bra look with a passion, and I would have been bugged by all the chips. I saw a front nose of a car with 5K miles on it before I got mine, and decided I definitely didn't want that to happen with mine. Now, with 5K miles on my car, it looks very good. None of the stuff ares complains of, and if people don't know it is on the car, they generally don't notice it unless they are going over it with a fine toothed comb.

 

yeah, mannish is right, there are TONS of people with this bra, I went to a meet in GA and like 4 out of 6 cars there had it, I was one of the 2 that didnt. it was way better than a black bra, much much less noticable of course, but it was still noticable to me, mainly across the hood. if the cover went over the ENTIRE hood, it may have been perfect.

that doesnt change my opinion about the 3m dealers bra showing all the dings just like the paint would, and as long as it costs more to reapply the 3m than it does to repaint it, I dont follow the logic... but his must have been atleast 2-3 years old, so perhaps they have improved it to where it doesnt show dings at all.

 

One thing everyone has to keep in mind is that some of us don't live in places like California where there are tons of installers with a lot of experience.

It would be like going to LA and finding someone that knew how to fix a John Deere tractor.


BTW-I'm still a fan of the clear bra. I'm just warning people to get a good installer and just because a person is listed on someones web site doesn't mean crap. Look at their work.

 

Yeah, I have wondered about this also. Does the clear bra get dings??? I mean, it is only plastic, I would assume that road debris would damage it too. Man, I am undecided on this thing.

 

LOL, look, I have ABSOLUTELY NO INTEREST in this product, BUT my wife has had it for 3 years, it covers the front of the car and a bit of the front sides, where there IS NOT a 3m bra covering (just in front of hte front wheels), there are noticable chips (remember, this is in an area that is NOT exposed to road debrit NEAR as much and the DIRECT front. There is 1 spot on her car that is NOTICABLE that a large ROCK has hit the front and chipped the paint, BUT, the ONLY thing you see is the paint stuck to the clear bra and ONLY slightly raised up, it to me a lot of time and playing around to realize that it was a chip. The BEST part about it, is that you still can't see the black primer underneath and it DID NOT damage the bra!!!!

does it "ding" the bra, I am not sure how to answer that, I gave you the WORST case I have expereinced and it is still MUCH better than the alternative!!

 

and don't forget, you CAN'T use a NORMAL bra in the rain, BTW, when it is WET outside, HAPPENS to be when the most debrit is kicked up on your car!!

btw, can you put it on the A-pillar, top of hood, door edge, rear view mirrors and light covers????

 

how much does it cost to re-paint the front bumper, 2 front quarter panels, hood, roof, 2 a-pillars, 2 mirrors, 2 doors and REPLACE 2 headlamps???? (btw, are they going to match the color and put it on perfect like the factory, many body shops are NOT perfect)??

btw, you would have to re-paint it several times, so add that to the equation.

NO THANX!!!!

oh ya, I almost forgot, mine LOOKS NEW all the time, I NEVER have a stage where it looks chipped up. it looks BRAND NEW!!!

 

well seeing how I have the ability to not tail gate, and as such, to this day with 5500miles on my Z I have a single chip on the hood. Im not too concerned.

in all my time here, I have never gotten a chip on my roof or side mirrors, or quarter panels for that matter, nor have I seen such a chip on my parents or sisters car. so again, Im not concerned.

that leaves the hood and bumper. which can be painted for around 400$. 400<600 which is what the place I would get it done at was charging. and that was only for hood and bumper, not including roof or side mirrors.

and even if I added a touchup of other areas, Im still betting Im under 600$ since I wouldnt expect more than a single chip on those areas if any, a full repaint is unnescesarry. but in the mean time, I look at my car and I see flawless finish, to me I am a perfectionist, and the line across my hood would drive me insane, yes it is noticable, I saw cars with it and my eye was immediatly drawn to it. more so than the small chip I have on my hood.

as for the lights, never seen a cracked headlight either. first time for everything I suppose. but again, Im not concerned.

 

WOW, I am not as good at avoiding rocks as you.

 

yup, I dont do a whole lot of highway driving, which I think is where most chips come from.

highways I do drive on arent during busy times, typicly late at night coming or going to college. no one infront of me if I can help it, which with the Z, seems to be common.

 

Well I found out the hard way. First day out I got a huge rock chip out of the front bumper. I decided I was not going to be happy with chips all over the front bumper so I removed it and had a friend fix the chip. I also removed the Nissan Emblem and sprayed the bumper. He said the factory paint was garbage and really soft.

I took the car to the Dent Man in NJ. He is a factory installer for Xpel, Avery and a new company called Chipguard. They all use the same 3M material. Chipguard is new to this area and was willing to make the perfect kit for the 350Z. We took their original kit and re-measured everything to get a kit that fits perfect. The seams go right to the edges and actually fits much better than the other kits. In addition they made me a special kit which does not have the front bumper emblem cut out.

I only got the bumper kit, but this includes the mirrors as well. The Dent Man also gave me enough extra material to cover the headlights as well. He said you do not need the extra thick kits everyone else is selling because the lens is plastic not glass and only needs to be protected from chips, not breakage.

I have had the kit for several weeks and I take the highway every day. I have not had any chips on the hood and because the seams disappear under the hood, you can't tell it is on the car at all. Several friends have looked at the car and don't even notice until I tell them it is there.

By the way, the Chipguard kit is much less than the others.

Anyone interested should contact Bill the Dent Man at:

609-298-6551

 

Yeah, I am still undecided, but after reading this trend, I am leaning towards getting it. I would really like the protection, as I have just waxed my car today for protection and of course, looks. I am going to find out more about the bad stories I heard on this thing, and report back. Seems like they said they had problems with the bra being in the sun, but I will check and see.

 

The only color I would worry about yellowing on is white. My mom has a white vehicle we put this on, and it is a bit more noticable than the darker colors. From what one of the installers here posted several months ago, 3M is not the optimal film for white vehicles, and he recommended a different brand film that I can't remember. The white doesn't look that bad, though, it is just slightly more noticable.

Do a search, and look at some of the older stuff. I don't think it was Krinkov, but the other guy that is from Atlanta that did an excellent post on the subject.