^^ if you have the aero kit like me with aftermarket paint, then it's a good idea to have. it chips much easier than factory paint.

 

nope, no aero kit

 

You bet I recommend it. You cannot predict when the gravel-haulers and other big trucks will cut you off, or just throw a rock as you motor by the side of them.

That's what happened to me when Wanda was 7 weeks old...a semi cut me off in Houston, threw a rock, and BANG! the windshield was cracked and I had numerous deep pits and chips in the bonnet.

You are confusing the clear-bra with the removable black bras, Jonnie. The clear bra is a 3M material with adhesive backing that sticks onto the MINI permanently (or until you remove it). The folks I know who have had them since 2002 have been very happy with them. No yellowing and they are removable when needed.

I used a black bra on one of my journeys east, and it was a huge mistake: it rained and grit did get between Wanda's bonnet and the bra, abrading and causing super-deep scratches which did not buff out. As I mentioned earlier, at some point I will re-paint her and immediately install a clear bra.

 

I'll never own another car without a clear bra. Nuff' said.

 

^^ be very careful if you choose a light colored car. they do discolor
over time depending on how exposed it is to UV.

 

o-ron, I have the clear shield and like it, especially with all the sand on midwestern winter roads. The dealer would not do the bumper though, they said they had not had good luck with it over plastic. I took them at their word, since they tried pretty hard to sell me on the rest of it.

BTW, don't worry too much about road debris if you are heading west on I-90, it all gets washed away by the HAILSTORMS this time of year.

 

Way to cheer him up!

 

A good clear bra install will only show a fine seamline that looks like a hairline scratch from the side. It's mostly not visible from the front view. A bad install and you'll have permanent finger prints, marks, and other things on the inside of the clear bra for the life of it.

If you know what orange peel is, and you don't mind it, then clear bra is a good solution. It tends to give that effect, and there's nothing you can do about it.

If you're going to do any vinyl stripes, makes sure the stripes go over the clear bra and not under. Should you ever need to replace your vinyl, you don't want to have to replace the clear bra as well.

Everytime you wax your car, the clear bra seam line will become more visible as it gets caked with wax residue. Make sure to clean this off frequently if you want to minimize the clear bra seam being visible.

 

extra cost.. extra effort... may look bad/weird over time... my car will already have stripes from the factory...

I think i'd rather just be careful and either tape up the front for the drive home or ask my dealer to put the white plastic thing back on the hood for the drive home.

Should be good enough.

Thanks!

 

You'll see........at least do the tape idea, Ron. And avoid the big trucks, as much as possible. I was pretty bummed about all the paint chips on my Wanda after only her first 7 weeks, but then I came to realize that they are proof of MANY miles of MINI smiles...

 

Bonnet stripes:
As I understand it, there are 2 ways of ordering bonnet stripes from MINIUSA. 1 way is to order them with the sports package (or in the "details" section of the configurator, step 1). The other way is to add them in the dealer add-on section (or step 5 in the configurator). Since I got the sports package, the bonnet stripes came free with that. I just assumed that meant they were put on at the factory...?

 

If you go for the bra and do get the chips thy will look like tars in the 3m coating and may save the paint when you get home take it off and look at it as travel insurance.

 

automatic car wash ? I did take mine thrugh a tuchfree one was not happy with the wash job . also the pressur from the jets forced water under the top at front windows 06 MCSCa