I was doing a nice thorough QD on Clara today and found a chip right through the clear bra right next to the corner of the upper grille. It didn't take a chip clean out of anything, but there is a little cut in the film that peels up and an odd little piece of paint that peels right up with it. When I gently sort of peel it back with my fingernail, I can see gray (presumably primer) right underneath it. It's really not very big (maybe 1/8th inch long and peels up maybe 2-3mm) but it makes me sad anyway.

Boo.

But the good news is, I called Clear Armor, who did the installation and they have a 4-year, 50,000-mile warranty against damage through the film due to rocks, bugs, etc.

They will take a look on Wednesday morning to see what needs to be done. He said they will likely just remove the film, touch up the area, and put new film on. When I told him I had stripes on top of the film (good call, BTW, guys ), he said no problem, they would cover the cost of new stripes. They even offered to install them, if I want (I did the existing ones myself). I must say, this service and warranty is worth the difference I paid them versus some random guy with some film and a truck

So provided that all goes as planned on Wednesday, at least it should be a good outcome. But I am sad, Clara has her first real owie that can't just be handled with a little Scratch-X.

 

I'm happy to hear things worked out for you. As I was detailing my car, I noticed that someone tampered with my ClearBra down by the MINI emblem, leaving deep cuts/scratches. Fortunately, it didn't hit the paint, but it sure looks nasty. Why do people do stuff like that?

 

Sounds like they might have been trying to steal your emblem!

 

No, it's off to one side...about 3-4 inches away from the emblem. To me, it looks as if they were being inquisitive [trying to figure out just what it is that I have on there]...but it's a vertical 2"x1" rectangular patch that looks like crap.

I can live with it as it's on the MCS and it's a daily driver. If it was on my Cooper, I'd be devastated, since I mostly just show it anymore.

 

I saw a beautiful SG MC yesterday at the mall...made me stop and go "ahhhh....".

That was the color I originally was going to get, until I learned more about MINIs and found out it was no longer available :(

 

let me know how it works out. Most likely the guy would try to weasel his way out of the reapplying the clear bra, saying that it's not that big of a deal. I hope that it works out for you.

 

Yeah, normally I would be pretty pessimistic about it, but this is a pretty large, well-reputed installation company in the area (Jerry Rice is their spokesperson!). It'll cost them maybe $100 in parts and labor to repair, and they were overpaid way more than that to start with. They provide the warranty in writing and it's on their website. If they screw with me I'll just call Channel 7 On Your Side

 

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I really lucked into my SG. I was looking for a used BRG, but this was all that was available. It was bought in 9/02 and taken back to the original dealer at the end of 3/04...with only 2200 miles on it! I snapped it right up, but didn't know about the short color run til i took it to the Dragon that Oct. and people started telling me how rare it was, especially with the emerald interior and the green/black leather. Now, since it's a CVT and prone to CVT issues, I just take it to shows or on short drives.

 

Yeah I have a CVT too...and what I call the "saving up for extended warranty" savings account

I really do love the SG. Every time I see one it makes me stop and go "OOOoooooo a SILK GREEN MINI!"

Do you have photos of the emerald interior? I've never even heard of that!

 

Someday, before I go to MINI Heaven...or Hell, I may just learn how to use my digital camera. However, since I'm a braindead, non PC person who just managed to retire from teaching as the tech world was starting to really get rolling, I'm now on the outside looking in. In the meantime, my camera just sits and sneers at me...still filled with the Dragon pics I took quite awhile back...and I still sit, dumfounded as ever, not understanding a single thing about it, even after having read the manual. Well-meaning friends have taken pics of my MINIs and have sent them to me [I was able to download them onto my PC], but none contain my emerald interior. I guess the world will have to wait a bit longer...OR, I'll have to make one more trip to the Dragon with it. I'm not sure how it would do at MINIs in the Mountains or if I'd dare drive it that far, especially thru "tornado alley", on I-70, from western Ohio.

 

The whole procedure today went off without a hitch. I drove in around 9:45, the owner and a technician came out and looked at the chip and a couple of spots where edges were lifting, and by 11:30 Clara was touched up and re-filmed and ready to go home.

However, now she has no bonnet stripes. They are going to put new ones on but I had to tell them where to get them from. She looks nekkid.

for Clear Armor in San Carlos. A job well done without a penny from me.

 

Very nice! Glad to hear everything went smoothly and Clara is all well now

 

ohhh Melissa. Sorry to hear about Clara. I am glad they got her fixed up for you. That would really just,..well,..I dunt(tm) want to think about. Someone would get hurt...let's leave it at that.