New car protection, clear bra? coating?

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soloz2

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Hello,
I just purchased a new WRX and want to keep it looking nice for some time to come. I was considering a clear bra on the front, but they are pretty expensive. I was also thinking that a good coating should help protect not only the front bumper, but the entire car. It would also be less expensive and I could do it myself.

Would one be better than the other? Are there any good coatings that can be applied easily without a garage? My main concern would be dew the following morning. I can plan with the weather for a good time to install, but the next day will usually have dew (gotta love NY)
 
A coating will not prevent bug etching and rock chips (bug etching causes most of the permanent sandpaper feel you get in time). There is a 3M spray-on protectant film that has been reviewed here. Still though, nothing will protect like a clear bra.

From now on, I will always have a clear bra installed on front bumpers that have large flat swaths of painted surfaces - Especially if it is going to be on the interstate/highway more than not. I would recommend one if this is the case with your car.

It can be helpful to look at older cars the same make as yours to see how it has worn with time.
 
It depends on you and if you have the money to spend if you do then I would get a paint coating like opti coat pro to apply on the whole car with clear bra installed onto the bumpers and such
but if you don't have the money then its best if you get a paint coating
 
Regardless of their chemical make-up;
(and with neither product being bullet proof):

-A Coating will provide a "thickness" of:
~ 1.5-3.0 microns (0.08 mils).

-PPF (clear bra) will provide a "thickness" of:
~203 microns (6.0-8.0 mils).

Which "thickness" would you choose
for your purposed action?


Bob
 
Yes and Yes... Why not do it right and protect your investment.
 
Thanks. Is $400 a good price for a clear bra?

Not a pic of the front, but here is what my car looks like.


attached is another pic showing what the front looks like (not my car)
 
I was quoted 400 for 3M clear bra, partial hood, fender tips and bumper. This is the same guy who tinted my previous car and the sunroof on my wife's Forester XT. He works out of his garage, but does pretty good work.
 
soloz2 said:
I was quoted 400 for 3M clear bra, partial hood, fender tips and bumper. This is the same guy who tinted my previous car and the sunroof on my wife's Forester XT. He works out of his garage, but does pretty good work.
Click to expand...
Sounds good...

But I would go full hood if I were you.
If not:
The first blemish/paint-chip to the hood will be
exactly 18 1/2" from the front. (Murphy's Law, et al)

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
Sounds good...

But I would go full hood if I were you.
If not:
The first blemish/paint-chip to the hood will be
exactly 18 1/2" from the front. (Murphy's Law, et al)

Bob
Click to expand...

One more for full hood. I'm also adept of 'smurf's law', but in this case I think also of aesthetics.... I don't like the half hood bra look, and then the dirty mess it becomes in some time where the bra finishes (a line) on half hood (don't know how to call this, sorry).

By the way, I never saw (personally, at least) a full hood clear bra, only partial (that's mostly why I dislike).

Good luck,

Kind Regards.
 
Tato said:
One more for full hood.

By the way, I never saw (personally, at least) a full hood clear bra,
Click to expand...
Not the best of angles...
But here's a picture of one of my vehicles with
the full hood and front clip clear-bra PPF:



Bob
 
Beautiful, I would like to see more when possible, if you can of course.

In Brazil (at least in my region) full clear bra is not so common, there are 'two or three' half hood on the streets I'm seeing. Other styles like 'matte black' or any other color, also carbon fiber parts covered are more common at this time.

However, I'm recommending clear to many customers who travels a lot, as soon they switch to a brand new car.

Is this a good recommendation? Have you coated your clear bra?

(off-topic question: Is 'bra' the support women use under breasts? Why they name this product clear bra?)

I'm also afraid of whoever applies it here, once I saw a man installing that 'carbon fiber' look on a hood and it looked very amateur (cutting with knife over the hood, the 'film' was wrapping and glueing on itself hahaha), but finally he managed to place it right.


Is there a long term harm to a panel covered with this? Is the removal really painless? The advantages surpasses the disadvantages?

I appreciate your help,

Kind Regards.
 
FUNX725 said:
Sounds good...

But I would go full hood if I were you.
If not:
The first blemish/paint-chip to the hood will be
exactly 18 1/2" from the front. (Murphy's Law, et al)

Bob
Click to expand...

I have a 2014 subaru impreza with 600 miles. Already have a rock chip up higher on the hood than 20". Wish I would have done something like this right away! I'll know better next time thanks to this forum.
 
soloz2 said:
Hello,
I just purchased a new WRX and want to keep it looking nice for some time to come. I was considering a clear bra on the front, but they are pretty expensive. I was also thinking that a good coating should help protect not only the front bumper, but the entire car. It would also be less expensive and I could do it myself.

Would one be better than the other? Are there any good coatings that can be applied easily without a garage? My main concern would be dew the following morning. I can plan with the weather for a good time to install, but the next day will usually have dew (gotta love NY)
Click to expand...

If I were you I would do both. The clear bra will protect you from the road rash and debris that will come into contact with the front end. The coating will portect the rest of the vehicle. Additionally I would go wth full hood, full fenders, front bumper, mirrors, and A-pillars.

Here is a full write up I did on an Audi A3 that had clear bra removal along with defects that you should look for that should not in the bra when applied. I compounded, polished and coated the car. Finally, a new bra was put down on the vehicle.
Premier Auto Detailing by Evan: Audi A3 PPF Removal, Full Polish, Opti-Coat & Xpel PPF


Here are some photos of a 2014 Porsche Cayman S that was done. Full hood, Full fenders, A-Pillars, Full roof, Rockers, Mirrors, Full bumper, Lower rear fenders


2014 Porsche Cayman S


















All finished:



 
I got a second quote, this time for expel ultimate. 850 for basic, or 1350 for full hood and full fenders instead of partial. This is significantly more expensive than the quote I got for 3M. I'll have to ask more questions from the installer for my first price quote and go from there.
 
What kind of warranty are either of the installers offering for their work? Also, the prep done before hand needs to be done by a detailer. Decontamination and polish work is usually neglected by the owner and installer. I have a client that had PPF installed on his white GT500 and there were swirls, and iron particles that started rusting, u derived the film. Not to mention the install was not done well. He paid about $700 for just the front end and it was by someone doing it on the side out of their garage, IIRC.
I would go with a reputable, professional installer that will give you the best warranty, and pay what he is asking. Either way it gonna be cheaper than a new paint job in a few years, and more durable.
 
soloz2 said:
I got a second quote, this time for expel ultimate. 850 for basic, or 1350 for full hood and full fenders instead of partial. This is significantly more expensive than the quote I got for 3M. I'll have to ask more questions from the installer for my first price quote and go from there.
Click to expand...

Xpel Ultimate is the best film on the market at this time. The quality of the film is the best. Little if any orange pee In the top coat. The self healing capabilities are amazing. If you haven't check out some videos on it. Your paying a higher price for a much better grade and quality of film with Xpel. There is a 10 year warranty on the ultimate film as well and the certified installer should give you more info on that.

If you go with a PPF I highly recommend you have at least the areas that are going to be covered decontaminated, iron particles dissolved, and the paint polished out. Do not have any wax or sealant on the paint after correction.
 
soloz2 said:
I got a second quote, this time for expel ultimate. 850 for basic,
or 1350 for full hood and full fenders instead of partial.
Click to expand...
Excellent price range for the XPel Ultimate!! :xyxthumbs:

Make sure you get the XPel film, for the headlamps,
while your at it.
yes.gif


Bob
 
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