Was wondering if I could get some info on this...I would not watn something that can be seen and that would look funny or fade after a while .. Can it be cleaned / waxed ?/

thanks

 

Clear bra is clear vinyl applied to any surface of the auto. When installed well, it is not very obvious. Some early vinyls faded a little. Current ones from multiple sources do not. The material does not looke "funny," or strange. It can be washed and waxed along with the entire auto.

 

There are many threads on this, do a search for "clear bra".

 

Here are three favorite pics of the clear bra with and without:

http://psmini.org/forum/uploads/redc...0_1330_web.jpg

vs

http://psmini.org/forum/uploads/pixi...okitdamage.JPG

http://psmini.org/forum/uploads/pixi...kitdamage2.JPG

_I_ _WAS_ _SOLD_.

 

lemme get this straight...

The first photo is WITH the clearbra?

REALLY??? I can't see a thing!

-B

 

I originally took delivery of my MINI without a clearbra, worrying about looks. After two weeks, the chips started to appear. When I had to have the bonnet reprayed after 6 months (somewhat unrelated), I had the shop put a clearbra on.

Mine is the higher end one (3M I believe) and you can only kind of see the line when standing near the rear wheels and looking forward. I'll see if I can dig up a pic.

Edit: Here is a pic of the entire bonnet. The car in front is mine, and the clearbra goes about a third of the way up the bonnet.



Wouldn't go without one. As shown on the other pics above, the alternative is much, much worse.

Oh, and Miniphatty: nice shine!

 

I have clear bra on my MINI. My position is this: if you can afford it, and the ability to see the line from *just* the right angle and distance doesn't completely turn you off, get it. The boxy shape of the MINI chips sooooo easily.

 

Hehe - not my mini \ - but i am getting mine soon

 

Some have said that the choice of a clear bra is one of aethetics. While I love how my "naked" (bra-less) new Mini looked those first few days I had her, I was very nervious about getting any dings or chips. I opted not to drive the car for 4 days until I could get a clear bra installed. Let me just say the latest ventureshield application is quite amazing. You can still see it but you really have to look for it.

I had mine professionally installed for 650.00 on my brand new R56. I think you could get it done for less (depending on your geography), but here in NoVA where the dealer is charging 995.00, I thought I got a great deal for a first rate product.
just my 2-cents...
Melissa

 

This is a close up pic of the clear bra under flourescent lighting.

 

To those about to get a clear bra installed, get the one with the most covereage as possible on the bonnet.

I had one installed prior to delivery and it goes up to the top of the hood scoop seam. At first I thought that's sufficiant. But after two years of ownership, I got a couple of stone chips right above the clear bra .

I've touch it up with touch up paint, then sanded down with 2000 grit sandpaper and polished it. The repair doesn't look that bad. But if I had to do it again, I would get one with more covereage. Heck, I would go as far as to get one that covers the entire bonnet .

But I should be thankful b/c I'm sure the clear bra I have on my car now has saved my car from many more stone chips.

 

I've had a clear bra on my car for almost 5 years. IMHO it's worth every dime. Don't forget to protect your light lenses as well. Get thicker film for those.

 

Clearbra (or whatever word you call it) CAN be cleaned and waxed. It's more porous than paint, though, so it can be tough to clean if you've let it go for a while. Frequent washing helps prevent buildup of hard-to-clean residue, and keeps it from yellowing from stuff sitting on it.

Keep in mind that it WILL eventually yellow, and it may need to be redone after a few years. Check with your local installer about their policy on this.

It's easier to remove if you put it on fresh clean paint. If installed on old, pitted paint, the adhesive tends to get down in the pits and sticks very hard -- I have seen it pull up the paint in that kind of situation. So install it when the paint is new and clean, or not at all. If installed onto new paint, it should remove cleanly.

Also note that paint isn't that expensive. $650 will usually get your entire bumper and hood resprayed. On the other hand, in the mean time your paint work is getting all chipped and pitted. But I wouldn't say that clearbra is a money saver compared to periodic painting.

All that said, I get clearbra on all my new cars. I really have been happy with it. It keeps the front end looking nice, and it's almost completely invisible.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

I guess the pessimist in me says that putting a clear bra on the car will ensure that dings and scratches will happen where the paint is not protected.

About 5 years ago, one of my VW friends in Colorado had a clear bra installed. Seemed like a good idea because there is a lot of gravel on Colorado roads. After a year, he had some reason to remove it and was horrified when all these little bits of paint came off with the clear bra. Apparently, the paint still got rock chips but the clear bra just kept them in place until it was removed.

Of course, this was a few years ago and I do not know the brand or quality of clear bra he used, but seeing his bumper full of chips has left me skeptical ever since.

 

Curious, what was the mileage difference between those examples?

 

Apparantly, I've had clearbra on Tina since day 1 (I got her used. Previous owner had it put on), and I n ever noticed it until I was washing her one day.

I'm extremely happy with it, and will be getting it redone when it comes time for it.

 

Do you know what brand it is? Was it a factory unit or an after-market item? Any way to tell?

-B

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