Does anyone have opinions on this product?
It is being offered for hood,mirrors front bumper for around 1,000 dollars
10 year guarantee. We had a 2006 MCS with a similar product from 3M but we were
Unhappy with the dirt build up on exposed edges.

We will need to decide in a few days.

Driver will be 90% city driving and showing car at car shows. I have seen the new mini with Expel applied and it did look good and was less tacky (sticky) than the older 3m product we had.

Thanks in advance for any feedback

 

spend that 1K on a car wash membership

 

I had a quote for $450 for the whole hood....means no ugly lip..Toronto!

 

A car wash coupon ain't gonna do a whole lotta good with stone chips! Face it, folks, as low to the ground as our cars sit, they ARE gonna collect their fair share of crap thrown back by the vehicle we're following.

If you're in the VA/TN/WV/NC area, these folks did mine: http://www.uniquekarkare.com

And, yes, I'm VERY pleased with the result!

 

i've got this - i think the warranty speaks for itself - http://r56hs.com/2013/11/01/xpel-ultimate-clear-bra/

though i'm not sure about the dirt on the edges, and $1,000 is a rip off

 

For just the hood or does that include the rest of the cars front as well?

 

No just the hood. From my R56 that is what gets most off the damage...

 

I had this thrown in with my 2009 JCW. Full hood, side view mirrors, full bumper. Its been on the car for over 5 years and its held up well. I had bonnet stripes on top of the XPel film for 2 years and they came right off. You can still see the area where they were just a bit in the right light. I had racing stripes put on and have been on for the past 3 years.

I was told this would last 7 years. I am going to take it off in another few years when I give the car to my son.

I think its a good investment and XPel is a good product.

 

Did you put Xpel over your stripes? I also have a black Mini with White stripes and I'm considering having the front end done.

Thanks!

 

We had it done back in July 2008 and would do it again. It was 699 then for half the hood, bumper, headlights, door handles and bumper. Was X-Pel with a five year warranty. I do not have any marks on the car, honestly the only marks on the car happen when I take it in for oil changes. I have original strips over the X-Pel so they could be removed if needed, they still look ok. Little build up on the door handle ones but not bad enough to remove yet and the one on the boot has taken some abuse but again better than the bumper. Picture was taken last week. I am careful with micro fibers, never let dealer wash the car and using hydro at each car wash. No garage in NC.

 

Calicoskies - I love that color. They quit making it the year I started looking at MINI. Your car looks fantastic!

 

So most people have said they have the stripes OVER their clear Bra... so the folks at the clear bra installers do that? Ugh. I'd hate to have something go amiss with the removal and replacement. I'm going to have to do a lot more research before pulling the trigger.

 

The stripes can't be removed and then reused.

 

i have clear bra over the stripes. they cut "relief" lines into it so it separates between the vinyl but it is still on top of the vinyl. makes a big difference for protecting the vinyl too, kinda wish it covered the whole stripe

 

Thanks for this information, Would you mind posting pictures of the "relief" lines? I can't get a mental image of what you mean.

I'm going to ask my local MINI group here if they can recommend any good installers.

 

tried to take some pics here. he called them "relief lines" but really its just separating the clear bra int 5 pieces and putting it on the hood, stripe, hood, stripe, hood. car's kind of dirty.

 

Thank you so much for explaining and taking the time to take pictures! I completely understand now, and feel very good about having the clear bra installed and explaining what I'd like done if the installer doesn't suggest it him/herself.

 

Could not open pictures?

 

The problem with this is you have 4 additional seams that will accumulate wax and dirt.

 

The way I see it, without the clear bra, I already have 4 seams, so having protection without getting rid of the seams is a small price to pay. Kyoo, can you comment on your experience with the Clear bra over the stripes and any positives / negatives?

 

what miniac says is true - not so much about wax or dirt, since a wash will take care of that, but claybarring is very difficult. that said, i don't really need to claybar the clear bra lol. i think that's a non issue, and very happy with my clearbra.

pros is that it will protect the stripes from stains. my car was parked under a tree which let out some incredibly staining flower crap. it washed away fairly easily from the paint roof and clearbra - it took a LOT to get it out of the stripes, and actually i was resigned to thinking it would not come off period (https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...l-stripes.html)

cons, i guess stuff can get trapped in there, idk. not a big deal to me frankly