Ok, this is a more generic Mini post, and I hope this hasn't been mentioned already. While at the dealer monday to get wifey's door sill fixed, we noticed several cars, especially all their loaners, had this clear film over the hood and front bumper. Looked like screen protectors, but very transparent, couldn't tell it was there unless you noticed the faint line at the edges. The lady there told us they use a detailer who installs those things, and they can be easily removed later with a heat gun ( ) without damaging the paint. It can be installed on the hood, front and rear bumpers, mirrors and roof top as well. Works to prevent chips, scuffs (even heavy ones), much like a bra but without the ugliness. I think they mentioned the price is around $800 installed, for the front bumper, partial hood and mirrors. Not bad really, considering the rocks and gravel damage around this area.

Anyone else here have experience with these? Can you order and install them yourself? What do you think?

Daniel

 

Lots of people have this. Search "clearbra". Opinions are mixed...I didn't get it and I have lots of chips.

Installation is not for rookies, but I would NOT get it from the dealer. They are making tons of money off it. Buy the kit yourself and have it installed. If you can find out who does it for the dealership often the same guy can do it for you and cut out the middleman.

 

Thanks for the link, much appreciated. Yeah, I got the detailer's name and may use him for the install. I'll do a search on here too to see the opinions on how well it works.

Btw, love the sig.

 

If you can get this site's search engine to work for you (it's a dicey proposition) you'll find no less than 30 threads about the Clear Bra, I assure you.

My opinion: I put the clearbra on my CR Cooper when it was a month old. My fiancee decided not to get one on her PW Cooper. We later bought the used 05 MCSC.

Chip count (approximate):

2006 CR Cooper: 2
2006 PW Cooper: 15
2005 JB MCSC: 75

MINI makes some money off touch up paint so I'm sure they prefer you not to have the clear bra.

 

Yup, from reading some of the threads I gathered most are happy with the install. I'll probably use the wife's as the guinea pig (it's almost brand new) and see how well it goes doing it myself. 3M guarantees even newbies can do it, and I've had some experience putting on things like decals and small stripes. My 05 still looks good, although I'm debating whether a clearbra is worth it at this point. Did you end up putting one on the 05?

Daniel

 

I had the dealer put it on mine before I picked it up on Saturday. I think its a good idea if your going to keep the car for a while.

Richard

 

Thanks Richard, I agree, which is why I'll do the wife's as soon as the weather warms up. I'll post a writeup if anyone's interested about how to do it yourself.

Daniel

 

I'm glad I had it applied to my car before taking delivery.

I've seen Minis that's just a few years old with front end that looks like it was sand blasted. The area between the headlights and the front grill is very vulnerable to stone chips.

When shopping around for a kit, get the one with the most coverage as possible. I have a Cooper S and the film I have only goes up to the top of the hood scoop. I've managed to get a few small chips above the coverage area Thank goodness for Langka.

 

Man, sounds like your roads are a lot like here!

I may try the shorter one like you have at first, just to get comfortable with installing the kit. The bigger hood version looks a bit tricky to do. My biggest worries right now are not the top of the hood necessarily but rather the windshield. Not a month after she got it big rock put a crater in the windshield. Hasn't spread, but I need to get it replaced as soon as winter's over.

Daniel

 

+1 for clearbra. 28K hard highway miles and have touched up maybe 4 little chips around the edge of the bonnet, grille and headlights where the clearbra doesn't cover. And the clearbra has a couple of big divots in it that would have been MAJOR chips if not for the bra...

 

I think I must have ESP. I was just thinking about this and had just called the dealer regarding this topic and then came to NAM and this thread is here. In checking with several online companies the cost of the kit alone ranges from $500-$600 and then you would have to find someone to install it, unless you want to take the risk yourself. I think the dealer said the cost installed is around $800.

 

Call around to some of the local shops. The place I had our cars done charges $450 total for 3M film and installation, and that's to cover the headlamps, foglamps, front bumper, first 18" or so of the bonnet, mirror backs, bonnet scoop, and grille slats.

 

The one body shop I found in Richmond, VA said the total cost would be $550 installed and if I wanted the lights and fog lights covered it would add $100. They are a 3M shop.

 

Hmmm, that sounds a bit less than what the dealer wanted to charge me. Btw, 3M insists the kit is easy to install even for a novice, and the entire front costs a bit over $200 in parts. If I mess up the first time I won't be that bad off getting another set and trying again. Shoot, I might even go into the business, lol. I think it's really a worthwhile dyi project, with very little risk involved.

Daniel

 

i had an authorized 3m film installer do my mini. cost around $600 and is fully warranteed. i highly recommend it cause dealing with a traditional car bra is a hassle (especially in rainy season) and it scratches the paint. getting the whole front end repainted runs about the same but the down time is a big setback. i think you can go to the 3m site to search for installers.

 

Yup, I've had this done on a few of my cars...very happy with the results. I'm going to be getting this done to my new mini as well.