I have a IB/W MCS, and after less than a year I am having the bonnet repainted (as we speak actually).

I had knocked my son's bike over and gave the bonnet a dent. Then some very bad person did something which looks like a kick to my bonnet, producing a dent and trailing scuff.

When I took it to my dent guy, he said I should just repaint the bonnet. He showed me the HORRENDOUS amount of paint chips; little white flecks like dandruff all over the front of the bonnet. I don't drive on gravel roads, so I was astonished to say the least.

I showed my BMW tech, who called the manager, who said I had to speak to the "Mini Rep", who apparently makes his divine appearance once a month. I would need an audience with him to make my case of what I feel is substandard clearcoat. I had already booked an appointment to get it painted, and was in a one month waiting line. When they told me the Mini rep's arrival date in the city, I would be out of town. I couldn't stand the thought of going another month with my bashed bonnet, so I'm going ahead with the paint job.

The BMW manager thought I might get half the cost from the rep, but the rep made it clear over the phone that they weren't going to do much, if anything. Seeing as I can't wait, I get nothing (except my baby back in perfect condition )

Anyone else had a peppered nose after less than a year?

The dent guy is offering an ironcoat paint protection for $250 Canadian, with a re-buff/touchup every year for $50. Is this a neccessity?

 

we all have the epa to thank for the fact of substandard paint.After 2 years and 35,000 miles the front end of my 2002 mcs looks as if it had been fired at point blank by a 20 gauge shot gun .Too many chips to even count.I figure that by the time I'm ready to paint Zane Grey, I'll be talking to my body shop about Imron, or some other bullet proof paint.

 

Get a Clearbra once the new paint is on. I can't stress enough how good of an investment they are.

 

It only took 2 months for the front end of my pure silver car to have a million white chips all over the front of the lower bumper and hood. It seems you have to drive several hundred feet behind someone on the freeway to avoid it.

 

Wait a few months before you add the clearbra as the paint needs to dry

completely. Until then, drive at least 4 seconds behind a car on the
expressway.

 

Between the MINI's low front profile and the weak eco-friendly paint, the car is extraordinarily chip-susceptible. After a year of frustration and chip-filling, I am getting a Clearbra. It's not just the MINIs though -- our other car, a '99 Volvo, has such thin and watery clearcoat, you can literally take it off the car with your fingernail.

 

I have IB/W with lots and lots of paint chips-1000s and I don't really drive that much or that fast on the highways. It's just wear and tear with soft paint.

I'll repaint the bonnet when I add aero skirts and front aero bumper and make then contrasting colors at the same time with more durable paint.

Anybody have a report on how the clearbra holds up after one year?
Is it chipped as well?

Dark cars will show lots of knicks and chips but lighter cars will show them less. They all have the chips. IB and Black probably show it the most. Same deal on my old Black maxima but the paint is a little tougher than the MINIs.

 

Sounds like the Cler Bra is a must. My WP/B MCS arrives next month. Should I have the bra installed by the dealer 9they offer the option on the miniusa web site)? If so, then how can they offer this option if the paint must cure for a few months?
Thanks,

Nando

 

Yeh, lots of dandruff on my nose too. I think it is from driving in the winter, (salt and sand used to clear the roads). When I respray mine (not an if anymore, I'm afraid) I'll get the clearbra too.

 

My IB MCS has a snoot full of chips as well. There's also a particularly massive rock scuff that makes me cringe every time I look at it.

I will eventually have it painted, however I've a door with a REALLY bad series of scratches (got to love people who have no problems slamming their door into yours while parked) which gets my re-painting priority. Sometime this week, in fact...

Hate the paint. Gr.

 

I have been noticing this a lot, especially of late, as well. The front end of my IB/W MCS is beginning to look like I was following a gravel truck at 90mph...which is odd because anytime I am going to be doing extended highway driving I put a bra on my MINI. I have been looking into the clear bra option for a few weeks now, and I think that is the way I am going to be going in the very near future.

Then this weekend my drivers side mirror took a wicked hit from a rock or something and put a nice 3-4mm gouge in the white mirror cap . So aparently I will be looking into a new set of mirror caps in the near future, and probably a clear bra on them as well...

Oh well, it's only money right ...

 

The Clearbra can be installed right away, b/c the paint is cured at the factory. A shop that duplicates the factory process can also provide paint which can be covered immediately.

MINIHUNE - The Clearbra material is warrantied for the life of the vehicle (one owner) and holds up very well.

 

yes but a shop will probably never match the factory process. had mine repainted twice after being backed into. first time i told them they did a cruddy job and they re-did it but now it is still infested with rock chips. this time no paint runs though

 

I am the thrilled new owner of a perfect little cooper s and I have been reading your threads regarding paint chipping and scratches. The car I traded in to get the cooper was a 2002 MR2 Spyder that I had to have painted twice incertain areas due to paint blemishes and problems...Toyota covered it because I forced them by pointing out I paid extra for the Toyo Guard and it was rediculous,..anyhow, I am very conscious of paint and don't want to see my little car start looking hurt because of chips. So what is the clearbra? Is it exactly what it is called, literally a clear cover that fits like the bra that are black that I see on other cars? Is this something to get at the dealer? Should I put it on and just leave it? Does it ruin the look of the S? Does it really help protect the front of the car? It sounds like it is worth the investment.. and if so, want to jump on it before it is too late. Feedback? Hope these aren't too many questions, I am just so happy with the car that I can't sit still.

 

And as a follow up to the above questions, when you speak of the clear bra, is this the same thing as the Invisishield?

Objxs

 

Yes, Clearbra is the same as Invisishield, Autobahnd, Armorfend, etc. It's a very thin clear film manufactured by 3M. I've had it on 5 cars and it's very resistant to any damage.

Here's how it looks on the S...it is on there, I promise

 

Wow! I can't even see it! So is this something you get at a car store? Do you spray it on? Appreciate the feedback very much!

 

Check out this site... Has some pictures, and you can buy from them...although supposedly the clear bra looks worst on a black MINI.

 

I had mine installed by the dealer. I'd recommend them or an authorized installer. The product is a film that needs to be cut, strectched, and applied over a CLEAN, soapy surface. Then they sort of squeegie the water/soap out from under the film.

 

So how does the clearbra take to waxing, or do you not wax it when waxing the other non-covered body parts? Can a white wax line show up along the edges where the clear material ends? Does it make sense to clearbra a car that's already got 13,000 miles?

 

Jenn, you should do a search also. You will find lots of info on this. I have seen pictures of an indi blue mini from above about 4 ft away and i couldn't see it hardly at all. Next time I have it repainted this is what I am going to do.

 

You should treat the film just like the paint (wax it). I use Klasse, which leaves no residue, but other waxes can get under the film. You just need to be careful when applying the wax, or you can remove it by wiping along the edge before it dries.

I guess you could install at 13 miles...depends on the current state of the paint I suppose.

 

Saw the first coat applied yesterday. Awesome match! Should bring home my baby today!

Apprently one of the small retaining bolts that holds the black trim on broke when they removed it. It was a RUSTY bolt after only 1 year.

Makes me wonder whether it's an aberration, or the mainstream for all my other bolts.

I'm not sure if the clear-bra is what I want. There are no installers here, and I'm not sure if it would stand up to the extremes in temperature here (from -30 to +30 Celcius) Plus I love touching my bonnet (get your minds out the gutter).

Hopefully the re-paint will stand up better. Maybe I paint it every 3 years???

 

Here are some shots of the clear bra on my IB/B MC:

http://home.comcast.net/~sfconnell/m...erior/home.htm

And here's some shots of the clear bra install:

http://home.comcast.net/~sfconnell/m...arbra/home.htm


Don't leave home without it!