Clear bra maintenance?

Burns ST

Burns ST

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This summer I bought a brand new Focus ST and installed a clear bra. The installed didn't have many tips on maintenance on it other than 'just keep it clean'. Is there any specialty products or tips I can do too help maintain its look and keep its longevity?
Luckily I have a covered parking garage to cut down on UV. I've also been coating it with CG M Seal. I'm now reading carnuba based products work best for them. Any help from pros would be welcomed. Its 3M Scotchgard PPF, if the brand makes a difference.
 
What color is your car? If it is white or a light color I'd stay away from yellow carnauba based waxes as over time the film will yellow. The biggest thing is to keep the film clean and it will look great for years. On previous vehicles I preferred using Zaino Z2 on the PPF. I'm currently just using ONRWW when I wash on my black BMW and have been very happy with the slickness of the film. I have a non 3M film on mine but this seems to work well on the 3M film on my wife's. Just cleaning regularly and keeping a good wax or sealant on it should keep you happy with it.

PS: Another reason I preferred the Zaino was it doesn't build up and leave a mess in the seams in the PPF and on the edges. ONRWW seems to avoid most of this but be very careful applying a standard wax to it. Wax on the edges and seams will look nasty.


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Xpel, a company who makes paint protection films makes an "aftercare" sealant for PPF films. I've used it on mine and it works very well, but it doesn't last long.

I've been putting Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant on mine and that works well also, it also holds up a little longer.

To avoid getting build up on the seams, you can use a small strip of painters tape (find the narrowest width you can). It won't pull up the film and will help with build up of product on the seams. However, if you are just applying a sealant of some sort to it, you don't really have to worry about that if you use the correct amount.
 
Opti coat it. Winning proposition!

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I have a clear bra installed on my vehicle, yellow, so if it yellows I wouldn't know. But as far as maintenance, I highly suggest when you apply anything on it or clean it, clean away from the seam, not against it. That way you don't get dirt or wax or anything pushed into the seam and it will be difficult to clean out or risk lifting it just a little. I currently have WGDGPS on it and treat it as if it was paint as far as maintenance goes. I do plan on applying Opti-Coat to it since I applied WGDGPS on it on May 2013.
 
Can you opti coat a CB? Would it bond properly?
 
Opti-Coat would be best IMO, but otherwise I suggest clear sealants like Opti-Seal or Blackfire Crystal Seal so that you don't have to worry about product getting caught in the film edges.
 
I'm not a professional, nor do I own polishing equipment. Do I need to polish before applying opti coat?
 
Burns ST said:
I'm not a professional, nor do I own polishing equipment. Do I need to polish before applying opti coat?
Click to expand...


You don't if you like how the finish currently looks. Opti-coat will seal whatever it looks like now and it will continue to look like that. Most on here will correct the finish prior to opti coat as that perfect finish is what will show.

I'm about to put opti coat on my wife's new X3 and I plan on doing a full decontaminate and correction even though the paint is in decent shape. The car also has 3M PPF I'll be putting OC on.

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a side question:
I have opti coat pro on clear bra on my car. Part of the clear bra was lifted by installer 2weeks after installation to remove trapped dirt. Will opti coat be damaged on the lifted parts of the clear bra?
 
twobucket said:
a side question:
I have opti coat pro on clear bra on my car. Part of the clear bra was lifted by installer 2weeks after installation to remove trapped dirt. Will opti coat be damaged on the lifted parts of the clear bra?
Click to expand...
I'm not sure how that is done but I've never seen a clear film successfully lifted, re-seated, and actually have it look right. If it did I think it'd be really possible the OC could be cracked. Are you sure they didn't replace the piece of PPF?
 
JamRWS6 said:
I'm not sure how that is done but I've never seen a clear film successfully lifted, re-seated, and actually have it look right. If it did I think it'd be really possible the OC could be cracked. Are you sure they didn't replace the piece of PPF?
Click to expand...

Yeah I saw it done..
 
twobucket said:
a side question:
I have opti coat pro on clear bra on my car. Part of the clear bra was lifted by installer 2weeks after installation to remove trapped dirt. Will opti coat be damaged on the lifted parts of the clear bra?
Click to expand...
What kind of film?
 
twobucket said:
a side question:
I have opti coat pro on clear bra on my car. Part of the clear bra was lifted by installer 2weeks after installation to remove trapped dirt. Will opti coat be damaged on the lifted parts of the clear bra?
Click to expand...

Does the bra look the same after its been lifted? I've got some trapped dirt where two seams meet. I thought I was stuck with it.

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