Please everyone, I really want to protect my hood on my big adventure, driving from Massachusetts to Nashville to pick up my golden pup.
I won't have time to get it Clear bra'd which is what I have been considering....I cannot find a removable bra that fits 2007 MY and over (I have a 2008 MC). Anyone have any suggestions, thoughts?
I am petrified my grille and hood will be destroyed between bugs tar and road gravel...please help

 

Try Painters Tape! Cheap and effective!





A little more extreme example, LOL

 

I know this will look ugly as heck but covering the grill and painted surfaces with a couple of layers of 2" blue painters tape should do the trick. Cover the headlight lenses with clear packing tape to protect them. When you return from your journey you can peal this stuff off. This solution is far cheaper then buying a bra for the mini.

 

Or...

 

Ok, blue painters tape....hmmm...on my sparkling Chilired .....hmmm, tempting, but honestly, I will cry all the way to TN if I have to do this to my car........
I like the idea of the clear packing tape on the light lenses though.......
Ok, anyone else than can find me a bra for the 2008?

 

I'd be wary of the clear packing tape idea; most packing tapes out there have pretty aggressive adhesives and will leave massive gummy nastiness!

 

i agree...unless someone knwo of a LESS sticky white tape....

 

Did you try Fredricks of Hollywood? They might have a clear bra.

Seriously, with only 900 miles on Bimini, I took her on a 3700 mile vacation from Dallas to DC and back. Got a lot of bugs, but every couple days I took her to a car wash and sprayed her off with just water - no soaps & cheap/bad waxes. She looked great most of the time.

 

+1 on the painter's tape, a very common practice for those who drive their cars to and from car shows. It won't hurt the finish one bit and when you get home just remove and wash. Who cares how it looks, you're in a strange place with people you'll probably never see again. Just my opinion, I'd definitely do it.

 

Or if it is just temporary for the trip you could buy something like this:


Link:http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...rrivals&page=1

 

Outmotoring: http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...ooper_bra.html

 

Don't tailgate and you won't need one.
Still, I recommend a nice coat of CLEAR CAR POLISH on the bumper and 1 foot of the hood before you leave. That'll make cleaning the bugs a breeze when you get home.
Rain-X is also your windshield's friend.

 

I doubt that clear tape will save your light lenses from rocks. It might keep the broken glass from falling on road, but it wont prevent cracks. You need something that is thick enough to absorb some of the impact.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...on-system.html

 

But that's not a bra...it's a BRO! (or a manzier!)

 

+2 on the painters tape, thats what all my friends that show their cars do, just be very thorough when applying it, I've seen one loose edge pull it all off on a long trip.

BTW I dont get the obsession on this site with clear bras, I have seen well over 30 in person, and not one looked good, and the ones I've seen over time looked even worse, big waste of money IMHO.

 

Thank you !!!!! That is exactly what I was looking for....
I took a trip to Boston (lovely expressway) and came home to the Cape with multiple spots where rocks, gravel had chipped the paint.....
And I don't tailgate.....I used to be a paramedic in my previous life....I have seen the tailgaters in various ways.
I also like those covers for the headlights.....
I will order both today...thanks everyone!

 

Fantastic...thank you!!!

 

FWIW, I've also seen a couple of folks use the press-and-seal food wrap for this... ugly, but easy to apply. Personally, I'd use painter's tape.

Regarding clear bra obsession, just depends on what you're priorities are, I guess... If you want a show-car finish from three feet away, the clear bra probably isn't for you. I drive my car tens of thousands of miles per year at speed on the freeway, and don't like rock chips, and the clearbra has been very effective and looks good from 10+ feet away.

 

No problem on the bra.

BTW, those headlight covers you refer to, do you mean the clear covers? Triple check with Outmotoring. I ordered a set from them that indicated 2007+ MCS compatibility. The set I received had a little half-moon cutout for a chrome feature that my '08 MINI did not have. I believe this is for the lens washer configurations.

 

Be careful with the regular bras, they can sometimes cause more problems than they help due to rubbing and having debris caught underneath them. If you can afford it and can find the time, a clear bra is the best solution. I'd recommend Venture Shield. If you are forced to get a regular bra make sure it fits the bonnet and lower grille area snug. I've seen some examples posted here on NAM that look horrendous. Good luck on your trip and happy motoring!

 

I've always found that Playtex 18-hour bras offer the most support...can't speak for insect coverage, though...

Why are you so terrified of bugs and tar? And are you going off-road? Life happens. That's not a long trip, after all.

 

My wife just peaked at the computer and wondered why I needed a good bra.

 

Actually, the bugs don't really bother me...it is the little chips I have already noticed on the hood from gravel, etc....don't you get that on your chilired?
I am so sad to see it already....
My Tahoe is metallic so those little chips never showed up....
Maybe I may appear a bit obsessive, but that red paint is just so gorgeous..

 

We got the invisible bra product professionaly installed. Since we had the aero kit, it was a complete custom job and we added a piece on top of the rear bumper for dog loading, unloading.

The whole job was only $500 and looks great. It is the second vehicle we have had done in this and it really helps out with road debris.
We won't own another vehicle without having it done...

 

I love the invisibra, I was looking at Mazdas befre I went to look at MINIs and all the Mazdaspeed6 had clear bras and it was just barely noticeable unless i bent over and looked at the seam. I would love to get one, but $500 is a bit stiff at the moment.