Who around here can install the clear Bra for a good $$$. Not like what the dealer charges.

 

Update and a warning to anyone wanting to get a clear bra installed here: Winner's Tint in Rockville re-did the clear bra and it is an improvement to the very sloppy initial job. Still not perfect but I guess it isn't possible and I'm pretty nit picky and detail-oriented. While they did what they could to make me happy they also lied about the razor blade cut marks on my car (the cuts are right along where the clear bra was applied on many parts of the car). Basically, although the price is right and you will get a decent clear bra application, if you want perfection, go elsewhere because they lack the skill here and aren't 100% professional. He said that according to industry standard a perfect job is when it looks fine at about 10 feet away...which it does but up close not so perfect.

Also got the tint done at Solar Solutions yesterday and it looks great!

 

do you have a phone # for them?

 

I suppose I should not have been so hasty to post my initial satisfaction with my clear-bra application at Winner's. As of right now, I am holding off on recommending anyone (at least not any R56 owners because I can only assume that he does not have the updated template) take their mini here for clear bra. I am currently trying to work on some issue that have popped up since application....

I'll post a follow-up as soon as I can. *grumble*

 

We can have it done for you at our shop. I have it on my R56, which is at the shop most days. Come by if you want to take a look.

--Dan
Mach V

 

I don't recommend you skimp and save when it comes to the clearbra. You may well end up regretting it in a year... three years. A few hundred extra dollars over the life of your MINI, it's nothing.

I'll take ProForm's lifetime warranty and the peace of mind knowing it's the best film and the best install possible.

 

Makes total sense but at over $1k at ProForm...not everyone has that type of money to just drop on a non-critical accessory. This was something I had to really think about before even spending $550 because I could very well have used that money for something more important like better tires. At the same time I went with the recommendation of a very critical friend and Winner's has a lifetime guarantee too. In this case, I suppose I took a gamble but the vendor is working with me to rectify the situation. I told him straight up that I went ahead and did this also hoping to offer other mini owners a reasonable alternative to the dealer or ProForm. I am sure ProForm is the master installer in this area but the prices are just a bit outrageous (though I guess in this area people don't even bat an eye when quoted prices like that anymore). Although I do understand what you are really paying for is the skill and guarantee since the materials can't cost them any more than $100 or so for our small car.

 

I agree with you in principle, but you have to decide whether the extra money is truly getting you a better product and installation, or if it's just padding the installer's profit margin.

For our MINIs, I went with a shop that uses 3M film and did a beautiful job with the install, for $450 per car. That price was for the first 18" of the hood, the hood scoop, front bumper, mirror backs, grille slats, headlamps, fog lamps, and turn signals.

It's been about 15 months and 30,000 miles since the install, and both bras look like they did on the first day.

 

Scott,

Where did you have these bras installed ? Here in the DC area which has a very high cost of living ?

Also, did you know about the installer before you went there, or was your decision based solely on the price ? I'm betting it was the former and if so, it still backs up my point. The rep of the installer is the most important thing, if you plan on keeping your MINI more than a couple years.

If you found a highly reputable installer for that kind of price, excellent for you. I know of nobody in this area that has the reputation of ProForm.

 

I had them done by "Ultra Shield". They're a franchise, and I went to their installer in Chesapeake, Virginia.

I didn't know the installer beforehand, but the MINI dealership had an Ultra Shield pamphlet in the showroom, and that's how I found out about them. I don't know if the installer I went to is the same one that does the clear bras for the dealership, but if he is, then the dealer is tacking on a $200 surcharge just to act as a middleman.

 

Question on the Clear Bra: I was quoted $650 by the Richmond, VA Ultra Shield. It seemed like a lot $$ to me to just cover some parts! Is that a reasonable price? Anyone have any experience with the Richmond folks as far as quality of install goes? I know this is a DC thread... Thanks in advance for any help.

 

The Chesapeake installer was about $450-500. That's for the bumper, first 18" of the bonnet, bonnet scoop, grille slats, mirror backs, headlamps, turn signals and fog lamps. I don't know if the prices have gone up in the 18 months since we did our cars, though.