Hi MINI Folks,

This is also posted under "Interior/Exterior Mods", but I thought it worthwhile to put here in "Detailing 101" since it relates to keeping you MINI looking its best.

We had a clear bra applied to our Z3 when it was new (70,000 miles ago) and the front end is still in great shape... so we KNEW we would have a clear bra applied to our MINI Cooper S. When we bought our MCS in May, we immediately had a clear bra installed and immediately had problems with it (bad install, in spite of costing $450 or so); that same company re-did the installation and the second job was worse. We weren't about to have them botch it a 3rd time and we never called them again, simply did an Internet search, found half-a-dozen companies around our area doing clear bras, talked to them on the phone, picked one... and lucked out, they did a terrific job. Ours was the first MINI Cooper S with an aero kit that they did, so they had to digitize the front end of our car and make a pattern. Anyway, they did the install in September and this all came back up because I just found out (today!) that there is an article & pictures online (www.speedoptions.com) about installing the clear bra on our MCS. If you're considering a clear bra to protect the front end of your MINI, you may want to check out the article & photos:

http://www.speedoptions.com/articles/3029/

Cheers to a chip-free front end,
Tom & Shannon Wiggins
http://home.earthlink.net/~bmwmini

 

>>... and lucked out, they did a terrific job. Ours was the first MINI Cooper S with an aero kit that they did, so they had to digitize the front end of our car and make a pattern.

*** I forgot to mention the name of the company that did the installation of our clear bra on our MCS-- it's "Star Shield Armor". Their website is:

http://www.starshieldarmor.com/public/index.htm

The Chili Red MCS on the first page of their website is ours. :smile: Now 4 months after the installation and we're still happy with our clear mask and most likely will still be happy with it 4 years from now. Whatever company you use (try searching "Automobile Clear Bra" in www.google), a clear bra is a great way to protect the front of your MINI (and they don't rip off at high speed; personally tested to just over 130 mph with the clear bra on our MCS).

 

I saw StarShield Armor's Work at the LA Auto show and I wasn't Impressed... It was applied on a SCION xB SEMA ShowCar and couldn't have been more than 6 months old...It was peeling and the edging was visible. I was in awe that they left it on there... I hope you're installation was much better.