Forget the 3M clearbra product. There is a much better and stronger clearbra alternative in the market: VentureShield clearbra. This is what I have installed in my '05 MCS. Here is a sample of a black 2005 BMW 5 Series that got its front bumper scraped against a garage wall, which was hit at 8MPH (See the amazing results here):

http://www.invisiblepatterns.com/showcase.asp

VentureShield is much stronger than the current 3M clarbra products and does not lose strength integrity like the 3M film. It has a LIFETIME warranty against yellowing, peeling, cracking or fading. Its optical clarity is also much superior to the 3M film making it much more invisible. Compare this warranty against the 4-5 year limited time coverage offer by 3M.

Here is the website of my local installer. He can cut virtually ANY pattern needed for the BMW MINI:

www.accuguard.biz

 

Here's another alternative: a Bumper Badger:
http://www.chariotauto.com/
I have no experience with this product - just saw it on another Mini website.

 

I went to an auto parts store and picked a set of "Trimbrite" bumper strips. Cost about $14 for two. Their pretty decent, 3M adhesive and all that. They don't protect the whole bumper, but cover the most vital to impact spot. Check the photos in my gallery, I have them on both my cars.
The Seeker

 

Good move eVAL!!
I am installing the Aero Kit next week on my car. Since I brought my car to NYC my car has been getting a fair amount of parallel parking scratches that drive me nuts (especially on a Jet Black ride!).
Solution:
Since I moved back to Manhattan I had to find a quick solution to leaving the car outside overnight, so I found a nice small parking spot indoors (450. a month starting today), plus I am going to order this product when it becomes available.
Leaving a Mini outside in a city is a killer. I rather pay the extra dough and don't have to worry about parallel parking or overnight garbage pickup crew who tend to toss the garbage bags over the parked cars and every once in a while they miss the mark and leave nice scuffs on the cars adjacent to their dump trucks!
But the killer for me is movie crews. they come overnight, post a sign and by morning you r ride is been moved to some other location all scratched up.
This happened to me last week. Since they couldn't grab the car from the front, they opened my ride, put it in neutral, lifted the car from the back and moved it. In the process they scratched my hood scoop and rear bumper. Nothing really bad but when you really take care of your ride every little bit counts. So the mini is going for a little pampering this week. Ill post some pics after the job is done.

Here's the nice sticker that was left in my car after the movie crew decided to open private property.

BTW: they have been contacted and agreed to pay for the damages.

 

Ugh!!! What a nightmare!! I had no idea about that. I'm from New York but no friends/family have cars in the city so it has never come up - that is awful!

The garbage stuff is horrid too, a big congrats on getting the parking space

By the by, we installed the side panel protection that Auto Clear Guard did for us and its been good to have to prevent rock chips and the errant shoe scuff. Since the panels are flat its not at all a bad DIY (unlike the bonnet). Insofar we have not done the front/rear bumpers since we have waffling on getting the aero kit and also have been very careful about parking so it has been a non-issue for the moment.

Good luck with the repairs

 

thanks!!

 

See I told you!!!! Pay close attention and you'll notice the sample BMW has a NYC licence plate!