So MINIclo - Obviously a thumbs down on Oklahoma, but is that a thumbs up or down as far as the Colgan bra?

 

I had a Colgan Bra in my '04 MCS and it did manage to cause some scratching of the clearcoat. The very curvy profile of the MINI's bonnet make it difficult for Vinyl bras to obtain a solid, consistent fit. Colgan makes the best vinyl bra in the market, but even them, have not been able to get around the problems created by the overall shape of the hood.

There was some wind buffetting on the top region of the bra and no amount of readjustment and re-tightening would completely eleminate it.

The lower bumper piece works great. I would say that it does provide better protection than the top bonnet piece.

In all and all, not bad for $100 shipped to your door, but the MINI being such a beautiful car, why hide its face under an ugly black vinyl mask?

When I got my 2005, I opted for the VentureShield clearbra kit instead and I have been very happy with it. My car will be 2 years old in March and the front end is perfect, zero chips, and the invisible bra has worked wonders. I no longer have to worry about removing the vinyl mask to get it cleaned, washed or dry after a heavy downpour and no more problems with scratches caused by wind buffetting.

The subject of paint protection is pretty much whatever floats your boat. If you don't mind the high maitenance of a vinyl clear bra, go for it. If you perfer to spend $200-$300 bucks on a quality clear bra solution, don't worry about maintenance (Other than washing waxing over it) and want to preserve the lines of the car, then go for it.

Other folks absolutely dislike either option, so they go naked, collect a ton of chips and either live with them or repaint/respray their bonnets every few years. Nothing wrong with that but keep in mind that excessive paint rock chips and hood repaints do tend to lower the resale value of the car, regardless of the repaint job quality.

Really, it is up to you.

 

They are telling us $400 to $500 for the 3M Clear Bra. That is a little high but also have a few chips already at 3,000 miles.

I just wish they painted hoods that did not chip.

 

I paid like $300 for my full VentureShield bra kit, including installation. I would say you need to keep price searching different installers in your area. Ask the dealer to see if they recommend a particular installer of clearbra and if they are willing to extend a discount.

Check and see if your local MINI club already has a relationship with an installer(s) in your area and if a club discount applies.

 

Actually yes and yes.

This is who the dealer and our Mini club recomends.

 

Just a comment that wasn't really solicited lol...but I have a clear bra on my PW and the line is almost invisible. It's much more aesthetically pleasing to me than a regular bra, and one benefit that I hadn't expected is how easy bugs come off of the areas that are done.

Just make sure that your installer offers a good warranty. Mine gave a lifetime warranty on both the film (no yellowing, peeling, cracking, hazing, etc) and installation/workmanship (lifting at the edges, poor cuts, whatever I think I don't like). I actually need to get it in this week because one edge on the bumper lifted and got dirt behind it; that piece will have to be replaced. On a darker colored car, you might not notice it, but on PW it bothers my OCD-ness. I called, told them the problem, and they said no problem, just bring it on in.

So I paid a bit more than I could have, but the piece of mind that they'll fix anything at anytime for the life of the car is worth the extra bit I paid.

 

I ordered my PW/B with the 3M Invisishield; it was dealer installed and carries a five year warranty against all defects to the material and to the car. I paid more than if I had had an independent installer do the work; however, I know my dealer will be around in five years if there should be a problem. A warranty is only as good as the people you are dealing with.

Here in Denver they put sand down on the roads and in that sand are stones/rocks; if you do not have the clear bra you are bound to get dings on the bonnet. I have been driving in the snow for the last two weeks and no damage has ocurred to the front end. I think it is money worth spent for the protection. Further, it is very hard to detect on the PW that there is a clear bra installed. I also had the headlights covered. The Invisishield was a good investment as far as I am concerned, would not want to live without the protection it offers.