PSA: Clear Bra

"Tripper" (tripe46) 08/26/2020 at 11:28 • Filed to: None

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For the past year or so I have been passively looking for someone to remove the clear bra on the M3 as it is 11 years old and will no longer come clean when I wash the rest of the car. Everyone I have called is SUPER hesitant like, “Uh....yeah I guess we’ll take it off...but it will be expensive and the paint underneath will almost certainly be damaged.

clear bra

A few weeks ago I found another local clear bra installer and gave him a call. The call started the same way, then he asked what kind of car...I told him annnnd his interest went up a click or 3. Talked about his E39 for a little then kept reiterating how much he didn’t want the work. He asks if I know who installed it, and I told him the guys name was Allen and he was doing it out of his house but was definitely a 3M installer.....

“Oh, Allen!”, He exclaims. “That changes everything, hes about the only installer in the state that did it right.”

Long story short, hes going to do the work. It is going to cost MORE than I spent to have it installed and I will need paint correction on the surfaces where it was removed (Front bumper, 1/4 hood, behind wheel arches, back of side mirrors, rear bumper splash area).

The person I have used for paint correction before gave me a good price on the whole car, so I’m going to go for that so that everything is uniform.

After that I’m not sure. I don’t think I want to do clear bra again. It did it’s job but it has always been more difficult to clean than the paint and the paint on the bumper isn’t perfect anyway. Maybe one of those ceramic coatings, but probably just regular clay and waxing moving foward.

So PSA, If you have clear bra on your car and it’s 5+ years old...get it off. If you’re thinking about clear bra for your car, this Oppo recommends against it.

Good day.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 11:41

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Very good info, but that doesn’t make me feel any better about all the rock chips on my car...

Moral of the story: PPF is a decent option if you’re planning to sell the car in 3-5 years, otherwise, consider the downsides & future costs.

Can in interest you in this? LOL

TheRealBicycleBuck > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 11:41

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The rock protectors on the rear quarters of my WRX need to be removed. They developed pinholes and now stuff is growing underneath!

bob and john > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 11:49

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clear bras are good, but they have their draw backs.

for a daily driven car, id clear it.

for something that will sit and be used only on occasions? ceramic that bishhhh

Dr_Watson > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 11:55

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PPF isn’t supposed to stay on the car much longer than 5 years. My car came with a full body wrap from the previous owner that is looking ragged in places so I'll probably have it pulled off next summer when it will be 4 years old. Thinking about having a new one put back on since I'm going to start tracking the car. It's definitely been working to protect from chips where a ceramic will not.

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/26/2020 at 11:56

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“ Moral of the story: PPF is a decent option if you’re planning to sell the car in 3-5 years, otherwise, consider the downsides & future costs.”

Boom.

lol those leather things have always made my skin crawl

Jim Spanfeller > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 08/26/2020 at 11:56

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Aren’t those typically glued to the car? The only times I see them anymore, they’re all ratty and tattered and hanging off of places. I don’t get the appeal...

Tripper > TheRealBicycleBuck 08/26/2020 at 11:56

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Same, I have a tear on the front bumper that is now mildew colored

Tripper > bob and john 08/26/2020 at 11:58

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Fortunately, all 3 cars get DD duty for part of the year. I guess how big the hole in my wallet is after removal/paint correction  

Tripper > Dr_Watson 08/26/2020 at 12:01

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ooof it’s costing me $1500 to have it removed, cant imagine what a full body job might cost! Although it would probably be cheaper if removing in the recommended window. It has worked for rock chips but it has never looked “perfect” after a wash, even when the PPF was new. Will be a tough call that I wont be able to make until I get the current stuff off and fix the paint.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jim Spanfeller 08/26/2020 at 12:03

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No idea, but I thought they were just put on with straps.

Yeah, they’re gross. Probably beat the paint to shit underneath, too.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:05

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Thanks for posting. I did not think of clear needing to be removed. I have it on the front and hood of my Transit. hmmm...

Is removal a DIY project if it’s under 5 years?

Dr_Watson > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:05

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Im thinking pulling it off will also be cheaper if I'm paying to have a new one put on. The only complaint I have with the looks is that you can see the edges. I have also read that the 3M is the shittiest one, so that could be a factor. 

Spasoje > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:07

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I was seriously considering a clear bra for my new M4, but was kinda apprehensive at the prices I saw online (entire front end in  XPEL for $2k+). Now that I read this, though, I think I've decided against it.

Tripper > VincentMalamute-Kim 08/26/2020 at 12:09

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Yes and no. It looks like awful work in EVERY video I have watched. So you definitely can, but I would not.

Tripper > Dr_Watson 08/26/2020 at 12:10

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I’ve seen it every brand on just about every kind of car and while some are better than others it’s always obvious somewhere. It definitely looks a lot better when you do the whole car.

Tripper > Spasoje 08/26/2020 at 12:13

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You have to be REAL careful about who you choose to install it. I thought it was just a myth but less than a year ago I saw a dealer installing it...and cut the film ONTHEFLIPPINGCAR.

I didn’t originally plan to keep the car this long, but I’m not selling it now! I paid $1200 in 2009 for 3m medium thickness

phenotyp > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:36

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This is sound advice.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:38

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Hmm, better have someone take a look at the yellowing rock protection film all over the side skirts of my car.

+1 on ceramic coating.  I did this on my previous car and might do it on this one, when the time for paint correction comes.

Spasoje > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 12:38

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TBH where I am, it’s already hard to find any shop that gives a damn about anything more than getting paid...

I plan to keep the car long-term, so having to get it re-done every few years (in the climate I described) sounds even less appealing haha

CompactLuxuryFan > Spasoje 08/26/2020 at 12:46

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I’ve been going back and forth on it for my X3 as well. I’ve asked a couple of installers about the long term effects and they insist films have come a long way in just the past few years. But then I’m like “if these films are so new how do they even know how they’re gonna be years down the line?”. I think ceramic coating +  regular washes and wax is probably the best option overall. And you can get a lot of washes out of the $2k plus it costs for film. 

Tapas > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 13:58

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But clear bras are the only thing that prevent stone chips, right?

Tripper > Tapas 08/26/2020 at 14:09

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Yes but honestly not long term worth it with what I’m going to spend here

feather-throttle-not-hair > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 14:32

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Ugh. I have the front, doors and rear fender on my car. Still relatively new, but i’m thinking it should come off after 5 years since it was dealer installed. I do like having one on quite a bit, especially around those rear fenders which would be rock chipped to hell otherwise.

I’ll probably replace it with another one, possibly done by a more reputable installer when the time comes to take mine off.

Tripper > feather-throttle-not-hair 08/26/2020 at 14:40

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Yeah as much I don’t want to go though this all again...once the car is all prettied up I’m probably going to want to protect it. I would also like to give the man taking the old stuff off the business. He has been the only one out of a dozen to even talk to me realistically about doing the work.

SmugAardvark > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 19:59

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Was thinking about doing this, but I might opt to go for a ceramic coating instead.

feather-throttle-not-hair > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 20:20

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Totally, always good to support someone who knows what they’re doing and does it well. If memory serves, you’re not in the Seattle area, but if you are and i’m wrong , would you mind sharing your guy’s name (or the name of his business?)

Tripper > feather-throttle-not-hair 08/26/2020 at 20:26

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PA haha kinda far from ya 

LJK0916 > Tripper 08/26/2020 at 21:17

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I work for a body shop and we replace a bunch of those and fix the damage from more. The paperwork on most says replace it either every year or every other year to prevent paint damage.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 09/14/2020 at 11:53

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Have you gotten this done? How’s the “after”?

Tripper > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 09/14/2020 at 12:03

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It’s happening next week. I brought it out for him to look at, a week or two ago and left it at my parents because I needed the all track for a little while.

Pretty nervous about it as I’m going to spend a lot of money to maybe be looking at a murder scene underneath. It’s gotta happen though it will only get worse

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Tripper 09/14/2020 at 12:59

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Eek... Yeah. Hope it goes well!