After seeing the chips on a couple of MINIs with no bra, I think I am going to spring for this. Does anyone know good installers?

 

just a warning... you will still get chips even with the clear bra... I have had my bra since Clear Armour did mine at a NorCal party in January 2004.... I have a lot more chips now than before (don't get me wrong, it helps a lot)! I know some who repainted their car's front end two years after purchase.

 

MLWagner79,

I see you are from Morgan Hill so this might be a fair distance, but "A Shade Darker" in Santa Rosa, CA did a good job on my MINI. 707-546-2827.

www.ashadedarker.com

 

I am very happy with the product and service I got from Clear Armor in San Carlos. Nicely machine cut film and quick, flawless installation. They will come to you to install, and offer a 10% discount to NorCal MINI members. Highly recommended.

Clear Armor
Protection Inc.
963 Industrial Road Suite A San Carlos, California 94070 Telephone: +1 .650.654.6141 www.cleararmorinc.com

Cheers,

Stephan

 

I was about to get a clear bra installed too, but now that Im hearing
you still get rock chips I'm a bit concerned about spending that much money.

Stephen- how long have you had yours and have you had any rock
chips since youve had it installed?
Thanks!

 

I'd definitely recommend Omega Tintwerks in Pleasanton, CA. The owner, Vincent Tran, does mostly window tinting, but when I visited him to pick up a car that a friend had tinted, told me that he did "emergency clearbra" installs (i.e., someone purchases a new car and wants it protected immediately). He was nice enough to take a look at the clearbra that I'd installed myself when I told him that I had a couple areas that weren't done right. He immediately pulled out a razorblade, made a few incisions, and viola! - something that I would never dream of attempting, for fear of cutting into my paint.

Pricing is quite reasonable, though he only accepts cash. All the tints and clearbras are custom-cut. He also contracts through several car dealerships in the area, so you know that he's excellent at what he does, and you don't have to pay the dealership markup for his work.

 

I've had my Clear Armor since the day I picked up my car in December '05. No chips so far (fingers crossed); but I can only speak to my own experience. Results may vary, based I suppose in part øn where and how one drives (for example, I avoid 101 north øf San Jose; too many trucks and too gritty with the interchange construction). However, having said that, the nose of my car survived the Big MINI*Day at Willows: up and back, totally filthy and bug incrusted, pocked with greasy imbedded shredded tire rubber from lapping on the tail of several other cars which sprayed me with fine grit when going wide at the turns... It all washed off with no chipping.

Re: hand vs. machine cut film. To each his/her own. IMHO, I personally prefer the precise look of a machine cut pattern, exactly keyed to the shapes and curves of the car. For example, Clear Armor's gas cap surround is a little work of MINImalist art.

Stephan

 

UK Dragon,

I have been very happy with my "clear-bra". I decided to paint the car after driving it for only a couple of months and before installing the clear bra. Since then I have not gotten any significant "chips". You have seen the "Pooper" up close so you know how it's held up. I have had it since Oct. 2005. Granted its not a daily driver, but I have driven it through some rough roads and spirited runs.

To compare what I experienced for the first two months of driving without vs the last 10 with, it's like night & day. I am glad I did.

 

I had my done by Transparent bar .com. It came out great and they come to you. They came to my house in Salida near Modesto and did my mini in Oakland at Bay Bridge Motors after I had it repainted. Price is not bad. I think they are located in Marin county.

 

What's the difference between machine cut and hand cut? Just a cleaner edge?

 

Thanks Norm- good to know.
Gotta protect my baby! I recently even had a rock puncture through one of the bonett stripes
Ive actually got a lot of mods in mind soon. So Im thinking
that I better get them done asap so I can get the bra installed over them-
Too bad money doesn't grow on MINIs, they're such money pits! :impatient

 

Another for Clear Armor ... they used my MINI for their original MCS pattern in July 2002.

 

What did the Clear Armor run you, for those of you who had them do it? I'm leaning towards them because I like the idea of a nice tight machine cut and after reading the horror story of someone's hand cut clear-bra job that sliced-and-diced her paint!

Thanks guys for all your help...can't wait to be seeing you all out there in a month or two!

 

I am having Armorglove installed in Morgan Hill on Sunday. Some of the early delivery GP's in Monterey had this product applied prior to leaving on MTTS.
It looks like a quality product and the installer knows his stuff.

 

Well it's on, Installer did a great job. Front GP aero bumper, bonnet slighty above scoop, headlights, mirrors, rocker panels, top of rear bumper at the boot $550.00. Armor Plate product, most pieces were factory laser cut, had to make a couple of pieces unique to the GP, I don’t especially like the looks of any clear bra but decided to install after I looked at MINI’s that had less then 10K miles and a lot or rock chips in the impact areas. Sand me a P.M. if your interested in the Morgan Hill installer.

 

How long after a new paint must you wait to install?

 

How much of the mirror was 'clearbra'd ? was it the whole thing, or just an oval shape ?

 

Sorry, Andy,

But I don't understand your question. It reads as if you are asking about clear film on the rear view mirror?

Stephan

 

Sorry... you're right. I wasn't clear.

It's the two side mirrors I'm talking about. One person told me that because of the 'shape' of the side mirrors, that the 'standard template' is just an oval that doesn't cover the whole front-facing part of the side mirrors. Stating that MINI's, M3's, and a few other cars, have this 'challenge'.

For those of you with clearbras on your side mirrors, how much coverage do you have ?

 

The film on my side mirrors covers the "impact zone", leaving uncovered a tapered area (which varies from 2.5 to .25 inch) of the mirror cover above and below the film. So far, the bugs and rock chips have splatted only on the film.

Stephan

 

Cool., thanks for the info.

 

Is it too late to have this done if there are already touch ups and small chips?

 

The film protects and covers, but does not hide, whatever blemishes are on the paint surface. If the surface in question has a lot of issues, and you are comfortable with chip repair, (lots of threads and information on this subject) then you can fix the dings yourself before the film goes on, or alternately have an auto body shop repair/respray the surface. Then (the hard part) wait 30 days and have the film installed. Make sure you tell the paintshop you plan on having film installed.

The best film installation I have found is done here:

http://www.painttechnic.com/

Steve does mainly Ferrari, Lambo, and Porsche film protection. He uses what to my eye is a superior grade of film with very little orange peel. He is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. He recently redid my hood with 20-inch coverage, and I'm very happy with the beautifully installed result.

Stephan

 

If you are considering installing a clear bra and doing repairs and painting beforehand, look over your MINI closely. I found that there are some other "impact" zones, such as just in front of the rear wheels. Alot of this depends on if you have any other exterior body mods. I also decided to do the door jams along the floor. I found that when you are getting in and out it is very easy to scrape your feet here. I would suggest that you repair ALL areas that show chips or dings, then wait the 30 days (DON'T DRIVE for 30 Days) after painting, then have the clear bra installed.

The clear bra really does protect your paint!

 

What is the typical price range for professionals to fix the chips for me? I'm not to fond of the DIY when dealing with the car paint....