I'm looking at a newer car with factory stripes underneath a clear bra , Too bad because I like viper stripes. How hard is it to remove the bra? The spacing is such that I can't save too much of it.

 

It's quite easy to remove clear bra. Just let the bra warm up in the sun for a few hours and find an edge and lift away. The stripes may stay intact but may not match the exposed parts of the stripe. Replacing the stripe is the same method and they don't cost very much to replace.

This is one year old clear bra


Here is what old clear bra looks like

 

So related to this, should clear bra be replaced every few years? Or perhaps just when the swirls in it get too bad.

 

If you take care of it you should never have to replace it unless it gets beat up from rocks and debris. It gets waxed and maintained just like paint. By quality and get a good installer. I go full hood as I hate seeing the line and whole hide needs portection anyway. The new stuff is so clear that even on a black car it is very hard to see it if you do whole hood and they if they do the fron in one piece. They custom made one for my JCW as the pre cut kit does not exist yet.

 

Well the bra shouldn't be getting swirled in the first place, lol. If it is, you need to change your maintenance methods. I have yet to see clear bra that hasn't yellowed. Even the year old clear bra that I removed off the VW which was mostly garaged had a slight yellow tint to it. Of course, if the owner applied a carnauba wax, the yellowing could be due to that as well.
Whole hood clear bra makes my job must easier! Less paint to polish and restore! Unfortunately, a full hood doesn't shine or reflect like unprotected paint. Relative to the paint around it, it looks dull, and with the hood being one of the most important visual aspects of a car, it's really a shame. I had a black Porsche Cayenne customer remove the whole hood bra after he saw what the rest of the paint looked like after it was polished properly.

 

There are a few different types of Clear film. Some are easier to remove then others. The length it has been on the car also can make it harder to remove, as the film can get hard over time (mostly the old 3M). If the bra has been beat up, there can be chips under the paint, & removing the car can & will remove paint when you pull it off.

What I have found is the best way is to use a heat gun, get it nice & warm. Then get a corner off, & pull UP & AWAY. If the corners were wrapped, it's best to try to get all corners loose first.. Try to do one section in one try, so brace your self, & keep your body stable, as it can give way & have you fly across the room.

If it doesn't come off in a couple of big chunks, & you got glue all over the paint. You can use a vapor steamer to remove the rest, & glue, or go to a body shop & get some "Prep Solv".