Gees, didn't get the clear bra and ordered with stripes. What now. Hate to throw them away, in order to put the clear bra under. Suggestions?

 

I would just remove the stripes. They're not hard to take off (especially when almost-new), and not too expensive to replace. Or, you could have the clearbra trimmed so that it doesn't cover the stripes. This would give you the freedom to later replace the stripes with a different colour or style, as long as they're the same shape and in the same location.

 

I have both stripes and clear bra. I think they just put the bra right over the stripes. No problem as far as I am concerned.

 

I've read on the boards that putting the clear bra over the stripes doesn't allow a secure seal b/c the stripes are raised. Dirt, grime, and water can get underneath. Have you experienced any issues like that? Like the OP, I was thinking of ordering the factory stripes, but want to clearbra, so I may have to go dealer or aftermarket.

 

In over 2 and 1/2 years I have experienced no problems.

 

I've got the clear bra cut to fit around the stripes and have no issues about it.

Hey Scott!!

 

I haven't had any problems with my clear bra over the stripes. You can't see any difference over or around the edges of the stripes. Leave them on.

 

Me either, coming up on a year with the clearbra over the stripes, no problems whatsoever.

Of course, the preferable way is to put the stripes over the bra. But if you have new stripes or very close to new, I would just put the bra on over top of them... the bra is probably going to need to be replaced about the same time as the stripes.

If the stripes are already two years old or more, I would peel them off, but on the bra, and then add some new (cooler) stripage.

 

I have Pepper White with black bonnet stripes. The clear bra went over these stripes, but I defintely have grime building at each point where these stripes meet the clear bra, but I have it in plenty of other places too. I wash the car probably once a week, myself, by hand, yet grime gets under the clear bra and stays there (and not just by the bonnet stripes). Is it because this is a white car? I doubt it. Grime is grime and I'm sure it would be noticed on any other car color, except maybe black. What do you do to get rid of it?

 

We just had our bra installed over the stripes and looks great ! You can't even see the bra unless your right up on it .

 

Probably more a reflection of the installer's expertise than the process itself.

As far as getting grime out from under the bra once you get it... remove the bra and have another installed. Unless someone else can think of a way to get it out of there. In which case, I would declare that person a genius.

 

That's a nice looking li'l hot-rod ya got there, mister..

 

I'm curious. Do the people with the clear bra over the stripes have the 'whole' bonnet done or just the front half? I'm thinking that if you get the whole bonnet done with the stripes underneath, how can dirt and grime get under it. Does that make sense?

 

I don't know if they even make an clear bra for the entire bonnet. If so, I've never seen nor heard of one.

No, clearbras go about 18 inches up the bonnet on every clearbra I've seen (including my own).

 

That's what I figured, but I wasn't sure. Btw, where did you have your's done? I live in the Columbia, MD area and I'd like to get it done asap after the car comes in.

 

I had mine done in your neighborhood, at Proform:

Address: 3220-D Corporate Ct. Ellicott City, MD 21042

Toll Free: 1-866-PRO-3682
Phone: (410)750-8371
Fax: 410-750-8370

Be advised, they are not cheap. But they're good. The guy who does the installs is the guy who trains others all over the East Coast.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I contacted Rob already. He wants over $1,300. I'm trying to find someone cheaper. I know you get what you pay for, but someone out there has to be decent at installing clear bra's and not charge an arm and a leg. Know what I mean.

 

You need to get out more.

I had the choice of gettng a clear bra that covered half of the bonnet or one that does cover the entire hood. I opted for the full coverage.

Clear Bra of Oregon, locaed in Hillsboro, fitted my car with the Venture Shield film.

I think the concerns raised about dirt getting underneath is probably at the seams. If there wasn't a tight fit, I could see where grime might work its way under. I haven't had that problem.

 

Sowellman, thanks for that info. I'm going to start calling around for better prices. I'll also ask about full and half bonnet installs as well.

 

Guess so !!

That's a lot of film ! In this high-cost area, that would probably cost about $2,000.

 

I have my stripes over the bra, and I'm glad I do. This way, if a stripe gets chipped or fades or I burn part of the color off with my PC (don't ask), it's very easy to replace the stripes - much easier and cheaper than replacing the bra.

 

Do you have the whole bonnet done or just the first 18 inches?

 

It wasn't that bad. Just under $800 and that included the bonnet, the outside mirrors, headlights and fog lights, door edges and cups, along with a boot lip protector. From an earlier thread weighing the pros and cons of the clear bra, I thought it sounded like a fairly typical price.

If I remember correctly, if you only had the half bra on the bonnet, it was about $200 less.

 

^ But you're comparing the cost of living in Oregon with that in the DC Metro area.

Next to Connecticut, this is probably the hightest cost-of-living area in the U.S.

 

I'm not discounting your costs there. What I was trying to say was the Portland price seemed comparable to what other people reported from other parts of the country.