clear bra--does it look good?

[pick333]

Picked up 135i yesterday! looooove it! Thinking of adding full clear coat bra for $895. Like to hear from anyone who has done it. Does it affect the looks negatively?

[jester17]

+1

[tuco44]

I have the 3M clear bra on the front end of mine. It extends up the hood about 18" or so. My car is Jet Black, and you can see the line where the film ends on the hood in certain lighting conditions. Overall, it is not very noticeable and does not detract from the looks of the car. I also had the same film on a previous LeMans Blue car, with similar results.

It does provide noticeable chip protection over a period of years. It's really a personal call whether it is worth it or not.

[Badabing]

I got the clear bra put on at the dealership. I am impressed with how unnoticeable it is. You can of course find the line if you are looking for it, but otherwise you dont see it. Does a great protection job too. I drive cr color if you want to know.

[Dackelone]

I have one on my car. I like it. Checkout page two for close up pics.

DIY Clear Bra install...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361895

[EnlightenedOne]

I guess I'll be the sole detractor lol. One of my previous cars came with the factory installed clear bra. I peeled that thing off almost as soon as I got home. Just a personal thing but I don't like anything covering up the paint unless it is covering up all the paint, such as wax/polymer protectants. I just don't want to be concerned with uneven paint wear, seeing the lines, or noticing that one portion of the car doesn't look like the rest. The cost of it is a whole other thing... I can't imagine paying $900 for it.

[Badabing]

I agree with the cost part. I negotiated it as part of the sale of the car, so that was a non factor. Not having to worry about the damage is what made it worth while to me. Just differing opinions about looks vs protection. Its all personal preference, do whatever makes more sense for you and bottom line, enjoy the new car!

[MightyMouseTech]

My sister had the entire hood done on her R8 so there was no line half way up. Looks much better IMHO.

[Joeyb7]

I paid top dollar for mine, but I love the product and its basically invisible. I also did the mirrors, rocker panels and behind the rear wheels. It's not much to pay for never having to worry about rock chips IMO.

[Kgolf31]

have ventureshield installed on my z4m and 128i. loved it, still love it.

covers the cost and hassle of repainting a bumper and hood

[Kgolf31]

have ventureshield installed on my z4m and 128i. loved it, still love it.

covers the cost and hassle of repainting a bumper and hood

[cheshirecat79]

IMO, if you can get the entire front quarter panels, hood, mirrors, and front bumper done, it's a no-brainer. Quality clear bras are just about imperceptible if installed correctly across the entire panel.

They will save your paint from road damage big time. They're not inexpensive, but it's a good investment.

[Swadeness]

If you are concerned about looks, do the whole thing or don't do it at all. I have my full hood, fenders and bumper done and it is one of the best things I have done for my car. Here on the Autobahn I have come across lots of small rocks and thousands of bugs at high speeds and have never found more than a tiny tear in the film. It is almost imperceptible unless you are looking very very close. I had one of the best installers in Florida do mine and checked out a brand new Porsche he was working on. Even with a skilled installer I could still see the line on the hood from 20ft away.
My suggestion:
- Find the best installer you can! Do your research, talk to some of the high end speed shops, dealers, word of mouth etc. There are a ton of hacks out there, there are good competent installers, and then there are the OCD type guys who obsess over getting it perfect.
- Don't cheap out on the film (except maybe on the mirrors or headlights). You don't have to buy the absolute most expensive stuff but don't buy the cheap stuff. See the first suggestion, if you find a good installer they will give you the honest real deal rundown on the films. I have XPel on mine and love it, 3M is no longer the leader in films.
- If you decide to do the whole hood, bumper, and fenders make sure they take off the side signals, roundel, hood washers, and headlight washers. This part is an often neglected step but is essential to hide all of the edges of the film. I made a deal with my installer and took these pieces off myself. This gave him more time to concentrate on the install and he cut me a break on the price.

[drcollie]

This is the current hot licks for film protection - no need to spend a lot of money getting it professionally done.

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-new...-ar154393.html

[JB007]

I got a local shop to cover my whole front end with XPel Ultimate
- Full hood wrapped around edges
- Front bumber
- Front fenders
- Headlights
- Side skirts
- Top of rear bumper
- A pillars

Can't tell it's there. Easy to maintain, and self healing!

[cvandenhaute]

Originally Posted by EnlightenedOne

I guess I'll be the sole detractor lol. One of my previous cars came with the factory installed clear bra. I peeled that thing off almost as soon as I got home. Just a personal thing but I don't like anything covering up the paint unless it is covering up all the paint, such as wax/polymer protectants. I just don't want to be concerned with uneven paint wear, seeing the lines, or noticing that one portion of the car doesn't look like the rest. The cost of it is a whole other thing... I can't imagine paying $900 for it.

I am the second detractor, even less convinced after reading this tread:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=863856

Seriously, I have no problem maintaining my white paint (supposed to be more fragile than a metal paint) with Dr ColorChips for the occasional chips. And I live in colorado that is supposed to be bad for chips, I just keep my distances when I follow trucks