Subject says it all.

Any idea on the costs? Who does the best installation?

 

I hope they are a good idea because I'm scheduled to get mine installed on Friday. I have seen clear bras on various high end vehicles. They may require attention when washing the car but it seems to me they are a good way to protect the finish.

 

Xpel (self healing) front hood - complete not a bra. $450 in Toronto.
This is the same a the price of a repaint.. Is it worth it....up to you....you can always take it off later with a heat gun.

 

Note I realized after posting my question this wasn't the best place to ask. But I couldn't figure out how to delete my post...

 

I hope they are as I've invested in a front end treatment for my F56S. I live off some back roads and the Yaris I just replaced had little paint/stone chips all over the front. I'm going with a custom cut 3M film kit from Invisible mask. I looked into the Xpel product but could not find anyone local to install it. I'm doing the bumper, half hood and mirrors along with a heavier gauge stuff on the headlights. All told it looks like about $1K for the whole job (installer hasn't given a final quote until he sees the car). I checked out the 3M spray stuff but blew that off quickly. It is cheaper, around $300 to do but only last a year. I'm scheduled for Monday (6/9) and get the car back Tuesday (6/10) and the local window tinting place (Formula One Tint) is doing the work.

 

assuming you can get a decent price, then yes, it is worth it. I have a 2006 with so many stone chips on the bonnet it is ridiculous.... I wish I had gotten on put on when the car was new. That said, if the bra will cost as much as a repaint, not much value at that point.

 

Not sure I agree. A vehicle with original paint usually commands a higher resale value than a repaint, as it is assumed it's hiding something.

 

I installed pre cut ebay clear bra to my wife's 2007 mini cooper (about 7 years ago). (Paid $30 and take a few hours to install it myself).
Heavy chips can't be protected but it gave good protection.
My wife had one accident which had huge tire scratches in the front bumper. I thought I need to repaint entire bumper but after I remove the clear bra. Surprisingly, no scratches at all. Also recently removed entire clear bra in hood and I did not see any color changes.
clear bra worth the $$$.

 

On humans - definitely.

On cars - depends on the cost and where you live/how you drive.
If the car is to be a heavy commuter vehicle in heavily sanded and salted areas - maybe. If it is a weekend ride in Florida or Arizona, then probably not.

The downsides to clear bra are:
- cost (varies a LOT - shop around locally). Often times it's cheaper to re-spray that part of the hood vs. competently apply the clear film.
- looks now - wax will start accumulating on the edges, and you will need to learn to live with it
- looks later - the paint will fade/age differently between covered and un-protected areas. This is inevitable, and after you take the clear film off, you will be able to tell where it was applied.

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