Hello Everyone:

I have researched all posibilities in the DC area to have a clear bra installed.
Unfortunally, the installers in this area are charging way too much for this kind of job. I spoke with one of the Auto Clear Guard vendors in this forum and he is willing to fly to the DC area and install the whole kit for $600.00.
He would like to do at least 3 cars to make the trip worth while. The kit is the 3M Xpell and includes:

Hood and scoop
Front Bumper
Front Grille
Mirrors
Head lights
Fog lights

If your interested, shoot me a private mail and I'll go over more details with you.

Thanks

Juan

 

I had the complete 3M Clear Guard installed on my 05 MCSC before delivery. It included both outside mirrors, door edges, hood, bumper, lights. I believe the price was around $700. They did an excellent job. Their service advisor is a great guy, too. If you call, tell him I recommended them. He will treat your right.

 

You might want to include the new side and rear bumper protection that is just going to be offered.

Should be fairly easy pieces to install so I dont think your installer should charge much more for adding them.

See this thread for info:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...564#post487564

I had considered pre delivery install too, but in thinking about it I would much rather be able to inspect my car's paint with nothing on it before taking delivery just to be sure there are no scratches or chips. I also do not know what the OEM patterns are, but in looking around at various offerings online I have seen different patterns from different vendors, even those using the same film, so I'd want to be sure I like the coverage/cut of whichever they are goign to install (I personally do not like the ones that have more cuts in it to ease installation, and want the most coverage vs some that are lower).

 

Hello everyone. I just wanted to add that the Kits that I sell which are Xpel are the OEM kits for Mini, BMW, and Porsche. Hope this helps.

Thanks
Ryan
www.autoclearguard.com

 

Count me in I will sign up for this. Picked up the car this weekend.

Ryan was a lot of help to this point with research would like him to get my money. I will PM you. Ryan to you need a place to do the install or would we meet at a contact of yours? Details, details, I will just PM the post author and stay out of it.

 

I just replied to your PM

 

What about polishing the car with a clear bra? Do you just wash it?

I saw a few cars with this clear bra and I was not too impressed I don't like the the lines but at the last Tate Mini breakfast someone (don't recall his name) had a MCS CR with a Fantastic clear bra (door edges too). Still, I am not sure...

MD Strega2

... driving "Pepperina" the loaner

 

I saw a few cars with this clear bra and I was not too impressed I don't like the the lines but at the last Tate Mini breakfast someone (don't recall his name) had a MCS CR with a Fantastic clear bra (door edges too). Still, I am not sure...

MD Strega2

... driving "Pepperina" the loaner[/QUOTE]

MD Strega2, that was my car at the Tate breakfast.
It is a Proform clear bra and Mini of Towson had it installed when I took delivery. They don't do it but have a Proform installer come out and do the work. My MA at Towson showed me a sample of the OEM material and the Proform, the Proform was much thicker. I'm not sure that what he showed me was the Xpel or not, but he said the sample was the BMW OEM material. Give Proform a call and see what their prices are: 1-866-PRO-3682. I can't recall what I paid but I'm pretty sure it was more than $600.

HTH

Dennis

 

The OEM kit for mini is a 3M Xpel kit. The 3m is 9 mil thick for paint film and the headlights can be anywhere from 20 mil to 40 mil thick. You can't go any thicker on the paint film, due to not being able to stretch the kit into place. Some of the installers are using other brands of film to reduce costs and for easier installation. The other films such as venture tape are easier, and are cheaper but they do not look as good on the cars especially since the film doesn't have a clear coat finish. The 3m does have a clear coat finish like your cars paint, so it should shine just as well if not better.

Minnizzle - There could be several reasons why the film perhaps didn't look good to you on the cars. (bad install job, wrong type of film, perhaps the owner never cleaned the film, and also different paint colors show the film differently.) The best looking car would be any color except white and of course 3M film that is applied correctly. Either way it looks a lot better than a black bra and tons of chips on the front of the car.

Also a lot of people do not wax the bra, which is strongly recommended to keep it smoth and shiney.

Hope this helps.
www.autoclearguard.com

 

The OEM clear bra sample shown to me by the dealer was not as thick as the Proform and the OEM warranty wasn't as good. Proform has a lifetime warranty. The OEM warranty was a couple of years.

The clear bra that MD Strega2 and I saw at Tate was on a grey or silver MINI. It had a dull finish and the edge lines were very noticable. No idea
what brand or who did the install.

I'm sure if SGT_Pepper goes with you to install the clear bra, you will do a great job!! Absolutely better then rock chips and/or a black bra!!

Dennis

 

Any word on this? Did you get enough people signed up?

 

i ended up paying $1000 to have mine installed (upper and lower, +) through mini of sterling. Dont remember off hand who did it - but it interested PM and I will go take a look though i do know I also have a lifetime warranty. I called around to the area dealers and to proform directly and to have both the upper and lower kit installed was $1000 at the cheapest. Proform quoted me a bit higher than than.

Now when i clean my car, wash and wax it, then clean up the "wax line" on the the seam, it really looks good, the bra is not obvious. There is a slight difference in the reflection, but not bad. Mine is Astro Black.

 

Ryan:

I wrote you a PM on this, but others must have this issue too, which is how do you get rid of the grime that eventually builds up around some of the edges? I wash my car by hand every single week, yet this continues to happen and is getting worse.