Can there be happiness without a clear bra?

[davn8r]

I've searched the forums and seen positive comments about clear bras... and I've also seen extensive debates about how best to apply, what to do with stripes when a bra is used, whether paint will weather the same under and not under the bra, etc.

My question is simply: "Are there any happy MINI owners without a clear bra or similar protection?"

I realize that foregoing the bra entails risk. So does crossing the street. So does not crossing the street...

Having said that, I'm very curious to hear what those who have had MINIs for a while believe about happiness and clear bras.

[sketchedin]

I had a clear bra for about a week. I hated the terrible line that went all the way across my hood. Basically, it wasn't invisible enough for me. But, it doesn't bother some people. Yes, I have a few chips, but really, they are less noticable than a line going across my hood.

[ImaVunDerBrah]

I think there are two distinct camps on this issue. I'm adamantly opposed to Clear bras/3M film. My bonnet has fared reasonably well over the years. I have a few rock chips, but nothing major. I'm also very picky about who I'll follow on the highway in an attempt to minimize rock chips (its a theory I have.. who knows if it actually works ).

[mbabischkin]

I didn't have one on my Cooper and was very happy. Had the car for two years.

I was pissed at the humongo rock strike we took one day that left a divot on the front of the car. It was IN the chrome surround for the headlight, so even if I had sprung for the clearbra it wouldn't have helped me.

Of course there's a possibility that having the clearbra would mean I wouldn't stress quite so much when I get stuck behind a dump truck or cement truck with crap flying off the back... Yeah right!

[Squirlz]

I've always been a big fan of bralessness But seriously...I got my MCS in December and immediately began racking up about 100 miles a day. Now that the salt is gone and I can actually see my front end...yeah, there are a few chips that disappoint me as I haven't even hand-washed the thing yet. But I bought it to drive and I'm loving every minute of it...pristine paint or not!

[gavin7777]

I have a black S, and the clear bras look NASTY on black. Very noticeable! So I didn't get the BRA on mine. It's fine! I had the bra on my 04 silver MINI, and it really wasn't that noticeable. Even with the bra though, a good enough rock, etc., will go right through that thing! Don't get it, and put tons of good wax on the front of your car, don't follow too closely to other vehicles, and clean the bug guts off ASAP.

[eMINI]

It's a tough decision, with pro's and con's for both sides. Didn't have it on the M3, but wished I had. Got it on the MCS, but the line is visible. And, I got a tiny chip on an unprotected portion of the bonnet.

[davn8r]

Thanks to all for the provocative feedback thus far...

I'll be curious to see what other posters will say, but I'm already relieved to learn that, at least for some of you, there truly can be happiness without a bra (provided one still exercises common sense on the road and demonstrates appropriate affection for the bonnet off it, of course).

By the way: C4, glad you liked the SAV! Next time you're up, give me a holler. I love Savannah and am always happy to share...

cheers,

[sequence]

Originally Posted by gavin7777

...don't follow too closely to other vehicles

Follow? haha I follow no one! jimbo

[kaelaria]

Originally Posted by sketchedin

I had a clear bra for about a week. I hated the terrible line that went all the way across my hood. Basically, it wasn't invisible enough for me. But, it doesn't bother some people. Yes, I have a few chips, but really, they are less noticable than a line going across my hood.

I agree 100% But I have no chips (yet).

[Rally@StanceDesign]

I got my car way before they had the bra....and i still dont have it. I'm happier then ever with my car. Certainly after almost 3 years it has some chips....but the chips are as much of a distraction as a big line on the hood is. I rather have some scattered chips then to pay for a clear bra and always have a big line on the hood. My dad has one on his audi, and my buddy has one on his BMW, and I still feel happy about not having one. If i were given one for free, i would debate putting it on, but i am happy without one as well

[neilgj]

The clear bra brings back recollections of my grandmother's living room in which every piece of furniture was lovingly wrapped in plastic and into which no one was allowed to enter. The few times we were allowed to sit on the furniture it was quite hard, crackly and uncomfortable. After she passed, we took off the plastic and it turned out the furniture was really rather cozy.

I think there's some sort of allegory about clear bras in there somewhere.

[davn8r]

Nice point, NeilGJ. You've reminded me that someone once said...

"A ship in a harbor is safe, but that is not what ships were made for."

[MINI-stir]

I got my DS "S" back in July of '03. I've found that just as bad as winter sand is summer paving. I picked up the car without a clearbra, and after only one month it looked like a teenage kid working at a burger joint, COVERED in little, white spots. It didn't get any better once winter arrived. I put up with it for a year and a half, but finally I couldn't take it any more. Before this past winter, I had a clearbra put on. I STILL got a few sizeable chips this winter, since the clearbra I bought only covered surfaces facing forwards, not those facing up.

In short (sort-of): I've determined there is ultimately no way to avoid chips entirely on this car, especially if it's a daily driver. If you are anal about keeping your vehicle looking pristine, it's certainly cheaper to put the clearbra on when you get the car than to pay for a respray of your front bumper (as I did). Is it noticeable? Yes. Do I prefer noticing it instead of a bumper full of rock chips? Yes. But that's just me.

Last notes:
1. I have the Aero kit bumper, which some say tends to "attract" chips somewhat better than the stock bumper.
2. Honestly, if you can keep the car garaged/covered when you're NOT driving it that will do a lot for keeping the paint looking good, whether you have a clearbra or not

[mbabischkin]

What I am considering is just putting the clear bra on the headlight lenses and the driving light lenses. A rock strike on them would cost a fortune to fix!

[gokartride]

I'm on my second bonnet because of a nasty wreck sometime back (...in which my MINI performed flawlessly, thank you ). The first bonnet had no bra and I had picked up some small but bothersome stone chips. My second new bonnet has a clear bra and is still flawless.

In the end, here's my take: clear bras are expensive, but mine has worked wonderfully. The "line" is invisible on my IB front end...and looks good.

Would I do it again? Maybe not. I have learned to avoid rock haulers like the plague (...my windshield looks good, too) and there are certain "developing" communities around here that I have vowed never to enter again because of those stupid trucks. I would also have loved to, instead of having a bra, master using the Langka (or similar) system to deal w/ rock chips as they happen, but I haven't mastered it yet and metallic paints w/ clear coat seem to be a problem for me at this point.

Yes, you can be happy w/o a clear bra, but if you can simply develop an effective plan for dealing w/ chips, then you can be even more happy, and not worry about stone chips on your bonnet or any other part of the body.

If you do get a clear bra a word of advice: locate the absolute best installer you can possibly find. Accept no compromise.

[pauliekeys]

Has anyone just put the bottom half of the clearbra on? or maybe having the clearbra cut down so that the line is not so high up on the hood but still protects the area that slopes between the head lights.

[ofioliti]

I don't have the clear bra. There are a few chips and nicks on the front of the car but no one ever notices them. I notice them only when I am right there in front drying or zaino-ing the front with my face right there. I figure after a while I'll just have a major touch-up weekend and everything will be brand new.

[MINI-stir]

Originally Posted by pauliekeys

Has anyone just put the bottom half of the clearbra on? or maybe having the clearbra cut down so that the line is not so high up on the hood but still protects the area that slopes between the head lights.

Actually, at least on my car, 90% of the chips happened on the "bottom half" of the front bumper. The two big chips I got on my hood were too far up to be prevented even if I HAD had the bra installed. Originally, I was only going to do the bottom half, but it wasn't any cheaper than the whole thing, and since I wasn't too hung up on the "line," I just did the whole kit.

[minicoopermike]

Highly recommend the 3M clear bra! Expensive, maybe, but very worth it! Recently bought a 12" x 15 ft bulk section from Ryan at Auto Paint Guard (NAM sponsor). :smile: As long as you are patient and use lots of spray (water/shampoo combo) it's fairly easy to apply yourself. The hardest part for me was custom cutting each piece to match my parts.

A couple of weeks ago I had a dumptruck throw rocks at my car on the highway. I didn't have the clear bra but I had a Colgan bra on the bumper at the time with no protection (upper Colgan piece removed) for the bonnet and headlights. That worked great for the bumper. The passenger side lense took a big hit and now it has a 1/2" x 1/8" deep chip in it. I'm very impressed that it didn't crack or break completely therefore keeping my headlight intact - way to go MINI :smile:. The bonnet also took a shot and now I have a 2-inch scratch/dent combo near the upper grille . When my insurance takes care of everything (windshield cracked in several places too ), I will be adding the clear bra.

Over the last week, I've been installing clear bra on my newly painted trim pieces. NO WAY am I going to drive with those parts unprotected after spending $500 for nice paint work. If I buy an '06 MINI , I would definitely add the 3M clear bra - it rocks!

[VoiD]

I only have the lower bumper, all lights and front grille/hood scoop clear bra-ed..
the upper hood piece was a pain to install and couldn't get it on.
But I think I like it this way as it is nearly invisible than having some line run across the hood.. I guess I'll just put some stipes and hope the rock lands on the stripe and not on the paint.
In my previous experience with a lowered miata, the sandblasting effect happened mostly on the lower part of the bumper with a couple rock chips on the hood..

[meb]

I installed the headlight, turn signal, foglight kit. I drive about 50k highway miles per year. After just one winter the front end looks a tad sandblasted. The windshield is awful - and has been on every car. I just get a new one every 100k miles. I may opt for the entire clear bra. But If I pruchase the aero kit, I'll keep the standard front bumper for winter. Lots to do and worry about...should just drive a junker in winter.

[davn8r]

The original question has been answered.

According to many of the posts in this thread... "Yes, there can be happiness without clear bra protection."

[We already knew from other threads on the site that it was possible to find happiness with a clear bra, and kind souls have reiterated that fact here as well. This just seems to confirm that MINIs in various manifestations seem to produce happiness... though I think it's also beginning to seem that happiness may be easier to find down South, away from those nasty gravel trucks!]

Thanks to all for posting!

[bee1000n]

I've got 14K on my MCS, and there has been significant chippage. Mostly on the bumper, not the hood. Mostly I don't mind. If I were going to try to keep my car looking brand new, I'd go insane. However, if I had had $600 (or however much the clear bras cost installed) when I got my car, I probably would have gotten one. As it is, I'm happy anyway!

By the way, someone on Roadfly went to the extra step of removing the wheel arches, grilles, etc. so the only edge that showed with the one across the hood. I think that's the way to go if you do it.

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by mbabischkin

What I am considering is just putting the clear bra on the headlight lenses and the driving light lenses. A rock strike on them would cost a fortune to fix!

I was thinking of that too.And one for the windsheild would be a bonus.