Any Clear Bra Advice?

Keen · 10 January 2012

Hi guys.
I'm thinking about getting a clear bra for the car. Has anyone found a kit for the NSX or had any experience installing one on the NSX? I keep going back and forth as to whether I should tackle this one myself or hire it out

.

Thanks!

Sleek · 10 January 2012

They do make pre cut kits pretty much for any car. My company installs clear bras and the best advice I can give you is, have it professionally installed. Especially if your wanting it on the front bumper there are a lot of bodylines/ angles and curves that the material needs to be manipulated to fit properly. If it's not installed right it can really look bad..

Big_D · 10 January 2012

Venture Shield is a good product from 3M. I have also heard good things about the Avery Nano Fusion. I would definately get it done by a pro.

http://www.nano-fusion.net/

RedWings · 10 January 2012

Have a professional do it and beware the blade...
don't want some beginner cutting into your paint

I have Xpel half hood kit on my car, pro installed it, nice product

highly recommend the full hood kit with mirrors, door edges, intake edges (since they commonly take stone hits ), front edge of rear wing, and perhaps A pillars and the top of the windshield if you want over the top coverage

Don't follow trucks works well too...

CL65 Captain · 10 January 2012

I have the NEW Xpel Ultimate.

Self-healing clear coat. It actually works. It ran $1400 installed for full fenders, full front, and full hood (type R custom cut) and mirrors. Fenders and hood were wrapped around the corner so the seams don't show. I even pulled the side markers out while he did the install so there is no seam there either.

So it's quite a bit more than 3M and their regular Xpel but I'm totally digging the self healing film.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2Se11LSRnKA?rel=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

stevieray122854 · 12 January 2012

+1 to what the Captain said. I have an Xpel kit on the entire front end of my '97 and the fit is superb. Although I have the regular film, I have seen the Ultimate in action and it's absolutely amazing. I just wish I had known they were coming out with the Ultimate because the first time I saw it "heal" itself, my jaw hit the floor. As long as you have a good installer for it, you're golden.

vmax · 15 April 2012

Keen said:
Hi guys.
I'm thinking about getting a clear bra for the car. Has anyone found a kit for the NSX or had any experience installing one on the NSX? I keep going back and forth as to whether I should tackle this one myself or hire it out .

Thanks!

Just installed 3M aeroshield on the lower 9" of quarter panel to see how it would go. I really took the time to watch the videos and get the proper equipment (squeegees etc.) I got it on but I had to keep working it to get it on. I bought enough material to do the rocker panels but I am not sure that I will do them. In the end I would recommend the use of a professional. For what it's worth I am not all that hot at wall papering either. Both are a bit tedious.

PHOEN$X · 16 April 2012

CL65 Captain said:
I have the NEW Xpel Ultimate.

Self-healing clear coat. It actually works. It ran $1400 installed for full fenders, full front, and full hood (type R custom cut) and mirrors. Fenders and hood were wrapped around the corner so the seams don't show. I even pulled the side markers out while he did the install so there is no seam there either.

So it's quite a bit more than 3M and their regular Xpel but I'm totally digging the self healing film.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2Se11LSRnKA?rel=0&hd=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Amazing product!

I need that for my NSXs.

CL65 Captain · 16 April 2012

I now have a track weekend under my belt with the new Xpel Ultimate and it was great. Came home and all the black rubber marks wiped off easily and not only were there no rock chips but no scratches at all in the film because it "healed" itself. :biggrin:

RedWings · 17 April 2012

PHOEN$X said:
Amazing product! I need that for my NSXs.

That was the stuff I was mentioning the other day

I'll call the guy as I know there are others that are interested

PHOEN$X · 17 April 2012

RedWings said:
That was the stuff I was mentioning the other day

I'll call the guy as I know there are others that are interested

Cool. I'd like to have my cars done by the end of next week if possible. Let me know.

PHOEN$X · 18 April 2012

RedWings said:
That was the stuff I was mentioning the other day

I'll call the guy as I know there are others that are interested

Thanks for the contact info buddy! I am having Xpel Ultimate installed on both of my NSXs next week at their north Phoenix location. $1250 for both vehicles, standard install (22 inches from the front, fenders, mirrors, rear bumper, and I added the areas behind the door handles). I ordered touchup paint for my Silver NSX to fix a couple of minor chips, and I'm also going to have the car washed/clayed/waxed again before the film is applied. The blue sled is all ready to go, I already had it washed/clayed/waxed. Can't wait!

PHOEN$X · 25 April 2012

FYI, I started a new thread here for the Xpel Ultimate film. Captain, please feel free to chime in with your experiences. :smile:

RobD · 14 May 2012

PHOEN$X said:
Thanks for the contact info buddy! I am having Xpel Ultimate installed on both of my NSXs next week at their north Phoenix location. $1250 for both vehicles, standard install (22 inches from the front, fenders, mirrors, rear bumper, and I added the areas behind the door handles). I ordered touchup paint for my Silver NSX to fix a couple of minor chips, and I'm also going to have the car washed/clayed/waxed again before the film is applied. The blue sled is all ready to go, I already had it washed/clayed/waxed. Can't wait!

Consider having the film cover the entire hood and fenders...it really makes a difference not to see the 3m film line cutting across the hood. I just had the film redone on my 05 and now you cant even tell it has clear bra at all...isnt that the idea.:biggrin:

PHOEN$X · 14 May 2012

RobD said:
Consider having the film cover the entire hood and fenders...it really makes a difference not to see the 3m film line cutting across the hood. I just had the film redone on my 05 and now you cant even tell it has clear bra at all...isnt that the idea.:biggrin:

Well it's too late. I already had the film applied, and my primary concern was protection from rock chips. If it wasn't so expensive to do the full hood and fenders (especially for 2 cars!), I would definitely have gone that route.

RobD · 14 May 2012

PHOEN$X said:
Well it's too late. I already had the film applied, and my primary concern was protection from rock chips. If it wasn't so expensive to do the full hood and fenders (especially for 2 cars!), I would definitely have gone that route.

2!!!....yeah that cost will hurt more than the rock chips!:biggrin:

arista5 · 14 May 2012

Both of my cars had the half hood/fenders one on them when i purchased. I couldnt justify pulling it all of to re-do it over again just yet.

I would recommend doing the full hood/fenders if possible.

When i re-do it I will be doing most of the car. hood, roof, fenders, doors, 1/4s trunk and wing.

Rob4092xx · 15 May 2012

Doing only half the hood and fenders is zero issue with Xpel Ultimate Film. The film is so crystal clear you can't see it on the car. I did my entire hood and front fenders and it is perfetly clear. I did only the top edge of my spoiler and the film is so clear, you cannot see the line.

Don't worry Phoenix....you are good to go since you upgraded to Ultimate.

PHOEN$X said:
Well it's too late. I already had the film applied, and my primary concern was protection from rock chips. If it wasn't so expensive to do the full hood and fenders (especially for 2 cars!), I would definitely have gone that route.

PHOEN$X · 15 May 2012

Rob4092xx said:
Don't worry Phoenix....you are good to go since you upgraded to Ultimate.

Thanks Rob! I'd love to check out your car sometime! :smile:

BATMANs · 15 May 2012

Who makes the strongest and/or thickest car bra?

I was in an incident where some ding dong didn't signal when he merged in front of me and a later model M3 - making both of us drive in the left shoulder.

Since the M3 was in front of me he kicked up gravel and we were already doing 60MPH~.

Some of the gravel did penetrate my car bra and damaged the paint.

PHOEN$X · 15 May 2012

BATMANs said:
Some of the gravel did penetrate my car bra and damaged the paint.

Were you using a fabric bra or paint protection film? You can see in this post that the XPEL material is pretty strong. If rocks are penetrating that film, you've got bigger problems to worry about than paint damage.

BATMANs · 15 May 2012

PHOEN$X said:
A fabric bra or paint protection film? You can see in this post that the XPEL material is pretty strong. If rocks are penetrating that film, you've got bigger problems to worry about than paint damage.

an actual stick on film.

PHOEN$X · 15 May 2012

BATMANs said:
an actual stick on film.

Do you know what kind of film/material it was?

The XPEL Ultimate is about 10 mils thick:

http://www.xpel.com/products/xpel_ultimate_paint_protection_film.asp

The 3M PPF varies from 8 to 14 mils thick:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...4GSSPD0422000000_nid=XC1XV5L5G8be7PJ6KTK7DLgl

Some other ones are listed here:

http://www.squidoo.com/vehicle-clear-bra-paint-protection-explained

I believe thicker the film, the more visible it will be though. I recall the 3M PPF being much more visible on my red 91 than the XPEL Ultimate film is on my current NSXs.

BATMANs · 15 May 2012

PHOEN$X said:
Do you know what kind of film/material it was?

The XPEL Ultimate is about 10 mils thick:

http://www.xpel.com/products/xpel_ultimate_paint_protection_film.asp

The 3M PPF varies from 8 to 14 mils thick:

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...4GSSPD0422000000_nid=XC1XV5L5G8be7PJ6KTK7DLgl

Some other ones are listed here:

http://www.squidoo.com/vehicle-clear-bra-paint-protection-explained

I believe thicker the film, the more visible it will be though. I recall the 3M PPF being much more visible on my red 91 than the XPEL Ultimate film is on my current NSXs.

Not the XPEL. Dunno if it was the 3M or that other brand that I can't quite remember that is known for introducing film that has no orange peel texture.

PHOEN$X · 15 May 2012

BATMANs said:
Not the XPEL. Dunno if it was the 3M or that other brand that I can't quite remember that is known for introducing film that has no orange peel texture.

It is disturbing if it's 3M or similar material.

Check out this article: http://www.automotivearticles.com/Clear_Bra_3M.shtml

The author shot a pellet gun against his mirror (with and without film) from 10 meters at 280mph, and there was no paint damage when film was applied.

If you're getting paint damage from rocks at 60mph, something is seriously wrong with your film.

Any Clear Bra Advice?

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