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Just curious if any of you waxaholics that are using multiple layers of waxes and voodoo mixtures are keen on the clear bra idea. Or, is it considered sacrilegious to cover the paint and not be able to get at it to make it more beautimous? Would the covered paint eventually look different than the pampered paint?
I am a newbie and like the idea of the clear bra preventing chips, etc, but I also like the idea of the wax experience as I tend to suffer, or enjoy, OCD myself.
Also, do you OCD detailer guys use your cars as daily drivers or are they weekend only cars and show cars?
I'm one of the VPs of the OCDetailers club and I have a clearbra on one of my MINIs.
The clearbra, in no way, detracts from the beauty of the paint. The material is something like 99.9999999 percent clear. So, unless you have Bionic eyes and your name is Steve Austin, the only way you can even tell the clearbra is on the car is by the line created by the edge of the bra. And that can really only be seen from about 10 feet away or less.
As for your final question, two of my MINIs are daily drivers and the other is a weekend toy. But because I'm an OCDetailer, each and every one of them could be shown as a Show Car.
So you don't think that after washing and multiple coats of wax on the exposed paint, say on a early spring clean/detail, that the clear bra part is less brilliant or has less "WOW" factor? Or, do you just get the paint to be covered by the clear bra really nice before the installation? I have the metallic BRG and it looks really cool when the sun hits it. I worry about the clear bra diffusing ( is that the right word ) the light.
Nope... because I treat the clear bra just the same as the paint. It gets washed, clayed, polished, and waxed. It's just as bright and shiny as a new penny. Or, more apt, as a CR MINI Cooper.
I would just like to second everything CRPWJKLMNOP said
Clara has a clear bra and I woudln't be without it. In fact, if I ever do it over again, I will get it up much higher than the standard 18 inches.
I too just treat it like I treat the rest of my paint, and it blends right in. The only thing to do differently is to take care around the edges. I like to use a q-tip along the edge to clean them to keep them invisible. But I have PW so a dirty line would be obvious. On any other color you probably would not have to be as careful around the edges.
I would just like to second everything CRPWJKLMNOP said
Clara has a clear bra and I woudln't be without it. In fact, if I ever do it over again, I will get it up much higher than the standard 18 inches.
I too just treat it like I treat the rest of my paint, and it blends right in. The only thing to do differently is to take care around the edges. I like to use a q-tip along the edge to clean them to keep them invisible. But I have PW so a dirty line would be obvious. On any other color you probably would not have to be as careful around the edges.
I see you turned me into Alphabet Soup now, Mel !
Yeah, care around the age of the clear bra is important. Not only keeping it cleaned up, but you have to be careful with the PC buffer on the edge, too, lest you lift up up a tiny bit and start getting stuff under there. I always tape the edge of the bra when I'm using the buffer.
Yeah I just turned 46 a few days ago. I got the Bionic Man reference. In fact it didn't even phase me or seem out of date when I read it. That might be reason to worry.
By the way, I made an appointment to get the clear bra installed while I am in St Louis next month. I am going to do the bonnet, head lights and rear bumper. I'm down with it as the kids would say. Hmm, maybe they don't even say that any more?
before the clear bra is applied, I assume the paint is polished/waxed so it has high gloss, correct? but then when the clear bra is applied, is there no diminshing of gloss, appearance, even from fairly close, say around 5-6 ft, compared to the adjacent un-clearbra'd paint?
Polished, yeah, if it were old and swirly. Waxed - absolutely not - you want the clear bra applied to bare paint for maximum adhesion. Mine was applied new - before the car came home from the dealer or had any dealer-installed swirls. I'm sure the installer used alcohol or some other solution to remove all wax before applying.
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I'm Paul, The car is Blimey--- BlimeyCabrio's Blog--- 2006 MCSCa w/lotsa mods and Union Jacks
Ten-time Dragon Veteran - Occasional Trackrat - Extreme Twisty Addict - Rhymers Ferry Road Fanatic
Yeah, you want to install it directly onto the paint, of course. If you get a pro to install it, no worries, they will strip the wax before they put it on. DIYers, brave as you are, yes, don't forget to strip the wax off before applying. And GOOD LUCK !
oops...I meant just polish, didn't mean to put the word wax in there...and polish in the 'abrasive' meaning of the word so swirl-free and shiny and virgin paint (not slippery waxed meaning of polish).....but assuming the paint is nice and glossy to begin with, does putting the clearbra over that diminish the glossyness at all even if standing reasonably close to the paint when comparing the adjacent non-clearbra'd paint?
Nope, just as glossy and shiny as the non-covered paint. Not visible to the human eye, anyway.
Trust me, that paint under the bra will look 10x better in a few years than it would look if it weren't protected from flying stones and other road debris.
Clear bra in a $25,000+ new car is a no brainer, IYAM.
I have had mine for 6 months, and I don't think it had detracted from the glossyness or shine.
For some of the folks who have on the scoop, I am wondering if the intense heat under the scoop has done anything to the clarity of the Bra or it's durability. Time will tell.
__________________ Babaganoosh:2007 MCS Lightning Blue|White roof w/ Union Jack |Cold Weather|Sport Pkg|17" Web spoked wheels|Performance Run Flats|LSD|PDC |Comfort Access|Xenons| Rear Fogs|Punch Carbon Leather|Dk gray color line
Ordered: 07/20 | Born 07/28 | Shipped 07/30| Delivered 09/01||JCW Tuning kit Aug 2009|
BTW, I am another "soon to be 47" candidate, if this stupid heart of mine does not give out on me. Two Surgeries under my belt, and I fear for a third.
__________________ Babaganoosh:2007 MCS Lightning Blue|White roof w/ Union Jack |Cold Weather|Sport Pkg|17" Web spoked wheels|Performance Run Flats|LSD|PDC |Comfort Access|Xenons| Rear Fogs|Punch Carbon Leather|Dk gray color line
Ordered: 07/20 | Born 07/28 | Shipped 07/30| Delivered 09/01||JCW Tuning kit Aug 2009|
BTW, I am another "soon to be 47" candidate, if this stupid heart of mine does not give out on me. Two Surgeries under my belt, and I fear for a third.
So, unless you have Bionic eyes and your name is Steve Austin, the only way you can even tell the clearbra is on the car is by the line created by the edge of the bra.
I'm a relatively young 36 year-old and I get the Steve Austin reference. I remember wanting the Bionic Man action figure for Christmas, the sound effect when he would do something bionic, and of course, the (original) Bionic Woman (although, even at a tender age I still found Wonder Woman much more attractive).
I got a quote from the dealer for clearbra or invisibra. I'm not certain I can convince my wife, so we may look for a local installer, or maybe even be bold and try a DIY install.
Hopefully the highway gods will be kind to us on our 300 mile journey home. Otherwise, we'll just have to name the car "Chip."
__________________ HoneyRyder: 2008 Sparkling Silver Sidewalk MCSC, LSD, front and rear fogs, exterior chrome, cold weather, chrono package
^^^If you don't get it done before the motor home, you could make a temporary bra out of blue painters tape. A roll of 2 inch wide tape will do it, it will look funny, but it will protect the front end till you get home. Just don't do the head lights
I'm a relatively young 36 year-old and I get the Steve Austin reference. I remember wanting the Bionic Man action figure for Christmas, the sound effect when he would do something bionic, and of course, the (original) Bionic Woman (although, even at a tender age I still found Wonder Woman much more attractive).
I got a quote from the dealer for clearbra or invisibra. I'm not certain I can convince my wife, so we may look for a local installer, or maybe even be bold and try a DIY install.
Hopefully the highway gods will be kind to us on our 300 mile journey home. Otherwise, we'll just have to name the car "Chip."
Wonder Woman without a question.
When you said dealer, if you are talking about the MINI dealer, you might get it done cheaper at an independent Clear Bra dealer. You can look on the web site for installers in your area.
There was only one in Arkansas and it was a mobile type installer. Not knowing the quality of their work, I was not inclined to test them on my MINI. I found a lot of really good recommendations on NAM from St Louis area members for an installer in St Louis. I was going to be up there next month anyway, so it worked out.
^^^If you don't get it done before the motor home, you could make a temporary bra out of blue painters tape. A roll of 2 inch wide tape will do it, it will look funny, but it will protect the front end till you get home. Just don't do the head lights
Mark
I remember seeing that posted somewhere on here with pics. Thanks for the great suggestion.
I saw three local installers and plan on checking them out this week.
Still, I can hear my wife now, "You're buying your car a clear WHAT?"
Maybe we'll name her Barbarella.
__________________ HoneyRyder: 2008 Sparkling Silver Sidewalk MCSC, LSD, front and rear fogs, exterior chrome, cold weather, chrono package
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