[bmwboy29]

I hope someone can give me a lil info on the best way to protect the metallic paint on my soon to be new baby? Anyone have any great ideas?

[BMRu4ia]

Clear bra!

[scottz5]

Zaino

[itznin]

Originally Posted by bmwboy29

I hope someone can give me a lil info on the best way to protect the metallic paint on my soon to be new baby? Anyone have any great ideas?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=687

Page 29 - C

Clear Protective Coating

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by bmwboy29

I hope someone can give me a lil info on the best way to protect the metallic paint on my soon to be new baby? Anyone have any great ideas?

do clear bra. I think that those polish, paint protection liquids/paste are totally scams. I tried it before and doesn't work at all. 3 years protection my @$$. Just get something that you can see, at least you know you bought something. Those Zaino and other paint protection polymers/polish/wax....totally useless against rocks

[LEDZEP]

I've considered the clear bra option on each of my last 3 cars - but have yet to try it. On my last car I bought the vinyl bra, which actually made the car look sportier (Passat). The photo I've seen of the bra for the E90 makes it look stupid. But the clear bra is very expensive - I figure about $800 installed. Unless you live on a gravel road, for $800 you could get the entire hood and front of the car professionally repainted after a few years. Also, my car is Alpine White, and I don't care what they say, that stuff is bound to "yellow" over time. You wouldn't notice it on other colors, but on white it would probably show.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

I've considered the clear bra option on each of my last 3 cars - but have yet to try it. On my last car I bought the vinyl bra, which actually made the car look sportier (Passat). The photo I've seen of the bra for the E90 makes it look stupid. But the clear bra is very expensive - I figure about $800 installed. Unless you live on a gravel road, for $800 you could get the entire hood and front of the car professionally repainted after a few years. Also, my car is Alpine White, and I don't care what they say, that stuff is bound to "yellow" over time. You wouldn't notice it on other colors, but on white it would probably show.

You can get the BMW clear bra from Pacific BMW for about $300, hood & bumper. X-Pel, who makes it for BMW, is now giving them the extended coverage which is much better than was on the E46. An experienced installer could probably do it for about $200.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichReg

You can get the BMW clear bra from Pacific BMW for about $300, hood & bumper. X-Pel, who makes it for BMW, is now giving them the extended coverage which is much better than was on the E46. An experienced installer could probably do it for about $200.

I am getting mine from a Xpel dealer. Covering the entire car (all painted area). But thinking if I should just do the entire front, mirrors, door handles, and rear bumper. My friend just took his 350Z to the xpel dealer and got the same set up, not too bad. His car is black and you can barely see the bra unless you go really close to it. But remember not to use paste wax afterwards, only liquid unless you want a thick white line where the bra stops.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

I am getting mine from a Xpel dealer. Covering the entire car (all painted area). But thinking if I should just do the entire front, mirrors, door handles, and rear bumper. My friend just took his 350Z to the xpel dealer and got the same set up, not too bad. His car is black and you can barely see the bra unless you go really close to it. But remember not to use paste wax afterwards, only liquid unless you want a thick white line where the bra stops.

Yes of course, no paste wax. But I can't imagine getting rock chips on my door handles or rear bumper.
How much is he rapping you for this whole deal?

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Yes of course, no paste wax. But I can't imagine getting rock chips on my door handles or rear bumper.
How much is he rapping you for this whole deal?

it's not just for stone chips. It's for finger nails (door handles), scrapes (rear bumper). He's giving me a good price (I've been looking into it for quite a while.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

it's not just for stone chips. It's for finger nails (door handles), scrapes (rear bumper). He's giving me a good price (I've been looking into it for quite a while.

OOOOOOOOOO....so secretive!

What's the big deal? Are you embarrassed that you paid too much?
I think the words 'BMW' and 'overpriced' go hand in hand in these forums, so you should be no exception.

OR, are you preferring not to give out some helpful info so that others (like myself) might also get a good deal?

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichReg

OOOOOOOOOO....so secretive!

What's the big deal? Are you embarrassed that you paid too much?
I think the words 'BMW' and 'overpriced' go hand in hand in these forums, so you should be no exception.

OR, are you preferring not to give out some helpful info so that others (like myself) might also get a good deal?

the price is pretty standard from all xpel dealers. BTW, not all xpel dealers are willing to do your entire car so it's pointless to post the price. the first step should be seeing what your xpel dealer is willing to do.

[scottz5]

I did not mean that Zanio would protect the car from rocks and stuff. I dont like the look of the clear stuff. I just try to stay off the bumper of other cars in the winter around here. On my E46 I had only 5 chips not bad in 4yrs and with touch up could not tell. But my wifes RX330 she has two bad ones and it is only a year old (the dealer today gave me the paint for free wow lexus). I think the shape of the car has a lot to do with stone chips. I had an H2 and it was wrecked in the front from stone chips, more then I could count. I would be more worried about the windsheild on the e90 around here.

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by scottz5

I did not mean that Zanio would protect the car from rocks and stuff. I dont like the look of the clear stuff. I just try to stay off the bumper of other cars in the winter around here. On my E46 I had only 5 chips not bad in 4yrs and with touch up could not tell. But my wifes RX330 she has two bad ones and it is only a year old (the dealer today gave me the paint for free wow lexus). I think the shape of the car has a lot to do with stone chips. I had an H2 and it was wrecked in the front from stone chips, more then I could count. I would be more worried about the windsheild on the e90 around here.

yea....but the clear bra is actually quite "clear". If you put it on bright colored cars, it'll be virtually invisible. The reason why I don't prefer Zanio because I tried the paint protection/sealant from Delta Sonic and it was total BS. My car's condition was not improved and it cost me $100 for it. They told me it last for 3 years but I don't even think it would last for 3 seconds. I'd rather stick to what I can see.

But I totally agree with you. The stonechips does depend on the shape of the car. I tried to stay away from cars from touching my bumper but in Manhattan and NJ, it'll be slightly harder....

[scottz5]

Yea, I live in Central NJ so it is better around here. I have seen cars with the clear stuff and it turns a little yellow after a year or so on light colors. Sorry, I am just anal! If I lived worked in the city I would put it on just to protect my bumpers from others trying to park. You can always tell which cars live in the city!

Listen Zanio is the Shi T, But it will cost around 80.00. I used it on my Z06 after 6 months it was still like the day I put on the 3 coats. It is really good stuff! Damn I feel like I work for them. The bad: it is a lot of work, but damn does the car shine.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by scottz5

Yea, I live in Central NJ so it is better around here. I have seen cars with the clear stuff and it turns a little yellow after a year or so on light colors. Sorry, I am just anal! If I lived worked in the city I would put it on just to protect my bumpers from others trying to park. You can always tell which cars live in the city!

Listen Zanio is the Shi T, But it will cost around 80.00. I used it on my Z06 after 6 months it was still like the day I put on the 3 coats. It is really good stuff! Damn I feel like I work for them. The bad: it is a lot of work, but damn does the car shine.

Better around here? I lost count of the amount of chips I had on my Ford Thunderbird's hood several years back. But after XPelling my E46 on day 1, it is absolutely brand new looking in front 5 years later!

I already found one rock chip (very small) on my E90 and I don't even have 900 miles on it yet. :mad: I really need someone to install my clear covering.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

the price is pretty standard from all xpel dealers. BTW, not all xpel dealers are willing to do your entire car so it's pointless to post the price. the first step should be seeing what your xpel dealer is willing to do.

I can understand now why you'd like the extra stuff done, considering where you live. I never had that trouble with my E46.

I tried pricing X-Pel dealers also, but they just seemed to high for me. When I went to pick up my car, my dealership quoted my friend $750 to do his ZHP!

I was mortified.....

[e90fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichReg

I can understand now why you'd like the extra stuff done, considering where you live. I never had that trouble with my E46.

I tried pricing X-Pel dealers also, but they just seemed to high for me. When I went to pick up my car, my dealership quoted my friend $750 to do his ZHP!

I was mortified.....

did you try negotiating the price? they gave my friend a discount for his 350z $1200 for his entire front, rear bumper, and the bottom of the left and right door (for passenger and gravel chips). But the way how I see it, I'd rather try to talk to my xpel dealer and see if I can talk him into doing the entire car so I won't regret later. It is costly but it's better than repainting areas later (factory paint is just much better than aftermarket). But if they quoted you $750, and it covers front bumper, hood, and side mirrors, then it's definitely a good deal. For the same thing, the xpel dealer quoted $899 for my other friend.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by e90fanatic

did you try negotiating the price? they gave my friend a discount for his 350z $1200 for his entire front, rear bumper, and the bottom of the left and right door (for passenger and gravel chips). But the way how I see it, I'd rather try to talk to my xpel dealer and see if I can talk him into doing the entire car so I won't regret later. It is costly but it's better than repainting areas later (factory paint is just much better than aftermarket). But if they quoted you $750, and it covers front bumper, hood, and side mirrors, then it's definitely a good deal. For the same thing, the xpel dealer quoted $899 for my other friend.

I don't know.....still $750 for a standard BMW X-Pel kit on a ZHP E46 is a bit too much. Yeah, I could see a total price of $750 if you ALSO get the rear bumper, rocker panels & door handles, but if you can BUY the standard hood & bumper kit for $150 (for an E46) or $300 (for an E90), then I can't see a professional taking more than 3 hours to do this.

But hey, that's just my set of values. I watched a guy install the kit on my E46 and he ended up charging me 2.5 hours of labor instead of 3 after he finished early. The E90 might be a tougher job, but I really doubt it.

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by RichReg

Better around here? I lost count of the amount of chips I had on my Ford Thunderbird's hood several years back. But after XPelling my E46 on day 1, it is absolutely brand new looking in front 5 years later!

I already found one rock chip (very small) on my E90 and I don't even have 900 miles on it yet. :mad: I really need someone to install my clear covering.

North NJ is really bad with all the trucks and if you drive on any of the freeways a lot the front will get beat up. Parkway the only real highway I drive on is really clean down here compared to the norths highways.

[RichReg]

Originally Posted by scottz5

North NJ is really bad with all the trucks and if you drive on any of the freeways a lot the front will get beat up. Parkway the only real highway I drive on is really clean down here compared to the norths highways.

True.
But Route 1 or Route 9 or many areas of the Turnpike are definitely NOT like the Parkway, so I find the clear bra to be a good investment.

[bmwboy29]

So what happens if the clear protection gets yellow or messed up? do you replace it and how long is it good for?