I'd like to know too. I found a list online, but I'd like a personal experience recommendation.
The list by the way from clearbrafilms.com includes:

Film FX
Penfield's MARS
m2 Windshield Repair
River City Dealer Services
Men from MARS, Inc.
Ultrashield of San Antonio #1

Anyone in San Antonio or thereabouts have work done by any of these guys?

 

I contacted Mark at Clear Auto Bra after ordering my MINI because I wanted to have the clear bra installed as soon as I got the car. I mentioned this to my MA and he said that Mark could install it at the dealership's shop before I picked up my MINI.

My MA called on Friday 8/29 and asked if I could pick up my MINI on Saturday 8/30. I immediately called Mark but unfortunately he was booked Saturday morning and could not make it to the dealership to install the clear bra. We made arrangements for me to bring the car to his shop after I picked it up.

When I arrived at the dealership on Saturday morning, my MA told me that Mark had come by Friday evening (of a holiday weekend) and installed the clear bra! Thanks to Mark's great customer service I got to enjoy driving my new MINI on a beatiful Saturday afternoon instead of taking it to his shop.

The clear bra looks fantastic. It is obvious that Mark took his time and did it right. It was a pleasure doing business with him.

 

I just had my JCW handled by Mark at Cleat Auto Bra, LLC. He did an excellent job. He not only dealt with my pickiness in a very professional manner, but catered to it.

I contacted Mark soon after I ordered the car, and he worked with me to settle on what and how I wanted done. He made meaningful suggestions and offered customization options to address various concerns I had. When my JCW arrived I took it over to him right away (I didn't even put 10 miles on it). He worked overtime to get the car done and delivered back to me the next evening.

Here's what he did:
Sport stripes on bonnet, roof, spoiler, boot, and bumpers. I bought an extra stripe kit and he custom striped all the way down the bumpers for me, which is a much cooler look (like the Challenge race car). He also added a stripe to the root spoiler, which looks very trick. Then he added the clear bra. He applied it over the bonnet & front bumper stripes to protect them as well, and ran the clear bra for the bonnet stripes all the way to the windshield. Now the entire front stripe kit is protected. He also added clear bar to the door edges and in front of the rear wheel well -- and he added that as a bonus. He also tinted my windows (35% all around).

First rate work, meticulously done. I wouldn't even think about going elsewhere for any of these services.

Here are the very first shots of my JCW. I still need to get the dealer to swap out the black driving lamps for chrome (the VDC screwed that up).

 

for Mark at Clear Auto Bra LLC (new name). I know him and, although I haven't had him do any work for me, it sounds like he does make a lot of people happy.

 

Dean - congrats on the new baby! Are you sleeping much at night (or just dying to get up and drive??) hehe

 

I personally like the black lamps...

 

I really don't. They just get kinda lost in the grill. I've seen a similar car with the chrome lamps and it looks much better.

Anyway, I haven't had much chance to go driving yet. Hopefully this weekend. A road trip to Petit Le Mans is coming up in two weeks.

 

Just to follow up. MINI of St. Louis swapped out my driving lamps as promised, to chrome ones with white caps. Totally changes the look for the better.

Anyway, I called Mark after leaving MINI service, and he had me come over right away. He added clear bra to the new driving lamps, and included it as part of the work he already did, charging me nothing extra.

 

After seeing the tint on Dean's JCW for it at the Tech Event in Janurary I decided to go for it.

As always, Mark did an amazing job.

Thanks Mark!

 

Wow great posts here for Mark in St. Louis. I just talked to him and arranged for my clear bra to be installed this Wednesday.

Thanks!
TPH

 

Mark installed the clear bra on my 2009 Mini hardtop today. Wow. Great service, and a great guy. He not only did a super professional job but gave me a ride into Clayton where I work while he did the installation. Mark covered the front of the car, headlights and the stripes. The car looked so good in the front that I hand-washed the back half of the car in my garage when I got home. Plus Mark gave me the discount for being a club member!

Thanks Mark!

Tinpan Harry

 

Mark installed my MINI Challenge race side stripes today with clearbra protection on top. As usual, he was meticuolus and did an excellent job. Thanks Mark.

 

Just realized yesterday, while out on a MINI excursion, that Mark had redone my scoop when I had Gimli in for his rear end accident repair. Thanks, Mark Sorry, I didn't see it sooner See you in a month or so to redo the rear bumper

Lois

 

I bought my 2003 MINI used and it came with an 'invisible bra'. It seems to have protected the hood well, but is beginning to weather in the way of splits and discoloration. It's not very noticeable yet, but when it really starts to go, how tough is the removal? Has anyone taken one off?

 

Just a comment on the quality of clear film. It is NOT all created equal. There are some really poor brands out there that are thinner, with lower quality adhesive and a propensity to yellow more quickly. Sorry that you are suffering from this issue.

As for removal, warm the film with a hairdryer and peel back with the help of a solvent to weaken the adhesive. It will come off in a single piece. Pull with your fingers close to the lifting edge and pull parallel to the surface, not straight up. Again, heat is your friend. I am not sure what solvent would be most appropriate with the adhesive you have, I am thinking isopropal alcohol (rubbing alcohol) would work fine. Removal is a bit of a gooey mess since some residual adhesive will stay on the surface. But the project is quite possible for a DIY if you want to spend the time.

 

Ok, not a MINI this time but while I am on the subject of clear bras..... I thought I would mention that Mark of Clear Auto Bra in St. Louis has just applied film to yet ANOTHER car of mine. (In the past he has done my MINI, BMW, Audi, etc.) He did an amazing job, as always! He covered the whole front end, mirrors, and even customized some protective pieces for behind the rear wheels. In fact, Mark even replaced the factory OEM clear piece in front of the rear wheels. His application is much clearer and smoother than the factory. You're an artist, Mark. Thanks!

 

That is true, Brad. You can use GooGone available at local hardware store to clean-up the residual ahesive.

Good luck, Mark

 

Really sweet ride Brad. I know you'll have to be my instructor at the next DE.

 

Thanks fellows. So the superior stuff is from 3M? I have no idea what is on my car at the moment. I will have another one put on when this one comes off, though. My MINI used to be a Florida car, and they put on these bras to combat the 'love bug' swarms down there. The bodies of the mating insect clouds contain an acidic compound that messes with paint jobs, so I'm told.
"Goo-gone" contains xylene as I recall, so I will try alcohol first or take it to a shop for removal. Xylene bad.

 

I'm hoping to get my MINI soon and would like to have the clear bra applied.

What all do I need to have done? I have stripes. Should i have those covered as well? ...Xenons, fogs?

I would appreciate any suggestions you have.

TIA

 

Well, a good clear bra will outlast the factory stripes, so you might want to have the installer "notch out" the clear bra where the stripes go so that you can replace the stripes in the future without disturbing the clear bra.

I have the Xenons and fogs covered on mine and have not had any problems. My installer recommended against covering the driving lights since they put out more heat than either the fogs or the Xenon headlamps and he was concerned about yellowing/blistering.

 

I had my stripes on the front and sides clearbra'd. Mark at Ultrashield did an excellent job. He cuts the clear bra between the stripes and the rest that goes on the paint to avoid gaps and give it a very clean look. In addition, he clearbra'd the hood stripes all the way to the windshield. If you don't clear bra the stripes on the front, they will get nicked and cut from road debris.

 

We just picked up our MINI about 2 weeks ago, and arranged with Mark from Clear auto bra to bring it straight to his shop from the dealership to minimize chips to the front end. As others have stated he was great about working with us to get the car in on short notice, and was meticulous about the installation. We had him do the entire bonnet so there is no line across the middle. We also had him tint the windows while he had it and all came out great. Thanks again Mark! Here's a quick shot of the car at his shop when we picked it up.

 

Looks great! And it's nice that more installers are carrying the appropriate-width film to be able to cover the entire bonnet. I don't know how long the R56 bonnet is from front to rear, but on the first-gen cars, it was about 41 inches, which required wider film than most installers carried.

 

Oops! Just saw I was posting in a regional forum...