I've had it for about a month and already starting to see dings on the front end. Does anyone know if there is anything out there yet in the way of a bra protection. it wasn't my intention to put one on there but I can't stand to see my mini all banged up from the front.

 

Google 3M clear bra. Your area, or nearby, will have people that can do it. I plan on doing that and window tint as soon as I have the keys.

 

OK, good place to start. thanks. I would definitely prefer clear over a traditional one.

 

Interesting......my 2008 Classic .........when I bought it new back then (traded it in for F56 2015).... I paid the dealer $500 to have a clear plastic film installed by the dealer on the bonnet.....it didn't discolour and save my bonnet from stone chips. I feel it was a good investment....I never saw another car on the road with this clear plastic film protector.

 

I did the 3M clear on my front end. The kit covered half hood, bumper, lower, mirrors, etc. There was also a full hood kit. It ran around $1K with installation but it's barely noticeable and the bug guts come off real easy come wash time. No indication of stone chips as yet, but I know I've been hit, so it appears to be doing it's job.

 

If it's done right it should be hard to tell it's there even standing right next to the car. I can find the edge of the film on my hood when washing as it slightly disrupts the flow of water off the hood. But just standing next to the car when dry you really have to look hard to find the edge. I imagine if I'd done the full hood cover rather than the half you'd never know it was there as there'd be no "line" to find

 

I found a photo to help you see it. The photo hopefully shows the clear plastic film on the nose and up to (horizontally) top of the headlight housing, about 1/4 of front bottom bonnet. A little hard to see ( probably a good thing) from the photo cuz the colour of the car is Pepper White. Anyways, I hope it gives you some idea visually what I am referring to. I hope this is what you are looking for and that your dealer (if you choose) will be able to help you out further. Good Luck !

 

first thing i did when i bought my car was put clear bra on it:

http://r56hs.com/2013/11/01/xpel-ultimate-clear-bra/

good for the resale value too

 

got a quote for $450. you guys think that is about right? includes headlights and mirrors.

 

I had this installed and after 2 months, I removed it. Not due to product failure, but you will NEVER be able to wash or wax the paint again. The sun will continue to degrade the paint from the UV rays, and there is no way you can ever apply a coat of wax to the paint again. You need to decide if that's important to you. The money I spent on it, I threw away. You seal out all chances of having your car look the same brilliant shine when you wax it. Those parts bra covered will always look somewhat dull and will not reflect the sun well. It does protect the paint, but there is a price to pay...No Thanks. :(

 

There is always a price to pay for Highway driving. If you are driving you car everyday to and from work, you will get stone chips. Having the bra for me was a small expense to save the paint from stone chips and potential rusting of the front bonnet down the road, especially from winter road salt. For every owner, you will have to decide, but for me it was money we'll spend, after all I got a great price for my trade in, it helped retain the resale value of my vehicle. On my new F56, I did not order it, because my driving habit has changed since my other vehicle.

 

You bring up a good point D. D. I hadn't thought of that. See there's always 2 sides to the coin. Wonder if I should just go with a traditional one instead (when somebody makes one). That way i can pop it on and off to wax and what not.

 

huh?? which are you talking about? xpel ultimate (and clear bra's in general) PROTECT paint from UV rays - the problem is actually opposite, you might find come time to replace the clear bra that the non-protected part of it has faded from UV rays.

the clear bra i have is pretty much invisible except for at the edges. the light does hit it differently and at certain angles you'll see that, but it's otherwise invisible.

angle you can see it:



otherwise:

 

Your paint will never look better than the day the bra was installed....It will de-grade over time. You can never wax that part of your paint again. Also, you will need to replace your stripes when you remove the bra. I am not a fan of these, they esssentially seal your cars finish from you. Also, whenyou wax, you will need to remove the wax at the bra line. It does show. Your car is beautiful and the bra will protect it from those chips, very well. However, they come with a trade off. Good luck ....Nice car and color.

 

This is not correct as the new clear bra material does not degrade or yellow from the sun.The clear bra is not installed over the stripes so its not a issue.Things have changed 15 years ago I would agree with your statements but not today.It is also so thin you cannot see it unless you look carefully.Wax is no problem.If it gets light scratch marks a heat gun removes them.Good stuff!!

 

I'm curious, what benefit do you suppose wax offers modern water borne paint? There's a reason that sealants and other artificial polymers have largely replaced carnauba. Nothing wrong with modern clear bra. I personally don't like them as I like to detail, to the point of wet sanding to minimize orange peel in the clear coat.

I just wanted to point out that a clear bra, or any vinyl really, is doing the same thing as wax or sealants are meant to do. The Mini has a small enough hood, doing the full hood is usually not that expensive and has the benefit of no visible cut lines.