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      04-23-2012, 07:55 PM   #1
CrusherM3
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So just got the Clear Bra and.....

My first impression is I fucking hate it. It is very obvious that it is there and I am really upset that I did this to my car. Buyers remorse for sure. Clear my ass!!!! It seems very thick and it does not blend in at all where it stops. There is a very noticable line across my hood and front fenders.

Did others who had this done react the same way at first? I will try and get some pics. Shouldn't be hard to see. I understand that it works as a barrier coating but come on!!!!
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      04-23-2012, 07:59 PM   #2
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it should be seemless. What brand did you buy?
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      04-23-2012, 08:00 PM   #3
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Hmm, I got it and LOVE it. Who did you use and what clear bra did you get? Mine is VentureShield. I saw some other cars that had it (installed by the same people I ended up using) and except when I looked at the edges of the film, on both their cars and mine I couldn't tell it was there even from inches away after I was told it was there! Sorry you had bad luck, but don't let that sour you on clear bras. They're a wonderful thing, especially with the soft paint BMW uses these days. I'd ask for a reinstall or get a refund and go somewhere else.

Note that VentureShield is only rated to stay clear for 4 years. At that point you can have it professionally removed and reinstalled though. Other than that, the only things I've noticed are that some bug splatter has gotten stuck onto it so there are a couple tiny grayish cloud areas, but you wouldn't notice them unless I pointed them out, and they might not have gotten there at all if I washed my car more. Fyi, VentureShield recommends that you wash your car at least once a month after you get it installed.
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      04-23-2012, 08:03 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4G63 View Post
I knew from the beginning that I would see a line across the hood had I settled for the partial bra so I opted for the full bra (hood, front bumper, front fenders, mirrors and entire hood). I have a jet black car. Its not as noticeable.
+1, you'll definitely see a line with partial hood coverage (but you shouldn't see the film elsewhere as the OP seems to). I got the front bumper, headlights, and mirrors. I didn't want to pay to get the whole hood done but didn't want the line either -- and of course Murphy's Law kicked in and I have some little chips right at the front of the hood. Can't have it all, I guess.
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      04-23-2012, 08:08 PM   #5
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I've got it on my current M3 and my previous car and I don't mind it one bit. It's there if I look for it but not that noticeable to bother me.
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      04-23-2012, 08:13 PM   #6
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All I know is that my dealer showed me a job that their guy did on a jet black, spotless Porsche Turbo and I was amazed at how little I could tell that it was on there. Dunno if it starts to discolor with age, but I'll definitely do it as soon as I'm done with other planned mods
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      04-23-2012, 08:16 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrusherM3 View Post
My first impression is I fucking hate it. It is very obvious that it is there and I am really upset that I did this to my car. Buyers remorse for sure. Clear my ass!!!! It seems very thick and it does not blend in at all where it stops. There is a very noticable line across my hood and front fenders.

Did others who had this done react the same way at first? I will try and get some pics. Shouldn't be hard to see. I understand that it works as a barrier coating but come on!!!!
I really wish you would have read some threads here on this..the clear bra is so obvious and is totally dependent on color..on dark cars they are terrible...plus the dirt and debris get trapped underneath over time and dis-color,

I will never do any wrapping...plasti-diping..clear bra-ing or anything else like that just ruins the car..keeping good paint is a labor of love..and it my opinion is a look that cant be beat.

GL w/ everything
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      04-23-2012, 08:19 PM   #8
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Had it done as part of the deal through the dealer. No mention of the brand on the reicept.

here are some pics....

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I am definnitely less that pleased, especially after the dealer talked me into doing this.
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      04-23-2012, 08:22 PM   #9
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Looks too thick to me. Should be made for a BMW not a dumptruck
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      04-23-2012, 08:24 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Aaron Sweat View Post
Looks too thick to me. Should be made for a BMW not a dumptruck
definitely seems too thick. I would guess at leat 5 to 7 mils thick.
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      04-23-2012, 08:27 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tibra1 View Post
I really wish you would have read some threads here on this..the clear bra is so obvious and is totally dependent on color..on dark cars they are terrible...plus the dirt and debris get trapped underneath over time and dis-color,

I will never do any wrapping...plasti-diping..clear bra-ing or anything else like that just ruins the car..keeping good paint is a labor of love..and it my opinion is a look that cant be beat.

GL w/ everything
First started on this site after I got the car and agreed to have this put on. Wish I would have read the threads about it first.
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      04-23-2012, 08:35 PM   #12
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Sucks. A distraction for sure, and ruins the beauty of the paint. I'd rather live with a chip or two.
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      04-23-2012, 08:40 PM   #13
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you should of vinyl wrap your car instead. it changes color + protects the paint + same price or even cheaper compare to full clear bra.
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      04-23-2012, 08:40 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
Sucks. A distraction for sure, and ruins the beauty of the paint. I'd rather live with a chip or two.
It actually looks a little better with the naked eye after I wiped some of the dust and crap from the edges of the bra. The camera really picks up all the little dust bunny things floating around that I can't see otherwise.
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      04-23-2012, 08:47 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrusherM3 View Post
It actually looks a little better with the naked eye after I wiped some of the dust and crap from the edges of the bra. The camera really picks up all the little dust bunny things floating around that I can't see otherwise.
Your car is jet black, right?
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      04-23-2012, 08:50 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
Your car is jet black, right?
Yes sir...Jet Black. Some others have said darker colors are worse...and some say better for clear bra... don't really know for sure but not liking mine so far.
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      04-23-2012, 08:57 PM   #17
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I also couldn't stand the line so on my '08 I had a full front clear bra installed. This looked better but on a SSII car, there were distortions when I wore polarized sunglasses. Saw the same distortions on several other light colored cars.

Thus for my '11, I just had the bumper done to protect against bugs and chips. I anticipate chips on the hood but will deal with this by respraying if necessary.

No good solutions if you drive your car at all.
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      04-23-2012, 09:00 PM   #18
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I just recently purchased my 08' m3 with clear bra already on it and want to remove it because of chips on the clear bra and peeling on some corners. Does anyone Have experience removing it and has any pointers for me? I am thinking of using a heat gun to help remove it but I'm just afraid of damaging the paint.
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      04-23-2012, 09:01 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrusherM3 View Post
Yes sir...Jet Black. Some others have said darker colors are worse...and some say better for clear bra... don't really know for sure but not liking mine so far.
Not trying to sound like a jerk, just a helpful suggestion... have them rip that shit off. Jet Black is the easiest color to respray after a few years if you end up with some chips and whatnot.

You're going to see that line every time you get in the car. Would drive me nuts.
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      04-23-2012, 09:06 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SamS View Post
Not trying to sound like a jerk, just a helpful suggestion... have them rip that shit off. Jet Black is the easiest color to respray after a few years if you end up with some chips and whatnot.

You're going to see that line every time you get in the car. Would drive me nuts.
What are the chances of getting the dealer to do that for me? Free I mean. I agreed to have it done and they might just come back at me and say "hey thats what you wanted and it looks normal". I would have to have some proof that they screwed the pooch on the job somehow.

Edit....you're not sounding like a jerk...I appreciate the help.
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      04-23-2012, 09:10 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrusherM3 View Post
My first impression is I fucking hate it. It is very obvious that it is there and I am really upset that I did this to my car. Buyers remorse for sure. Clear my ass!!!! It seems very thick and it does not blend in at all where it stops. There is a very noticable line across my hood and front fenders.

Did others who had this done react the same way at first? I will try and get some pics. Shouldn't be hard to see. I understand that it works as a barrier coating but come on!!!!
You're in Texas? You don't need a clear bra! :P
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      04-23-2012, 09:10 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CrusherM3 View Post
What are the chances of getting the dealer to do that for me? Free I mean. I agreed to have it done and they might just come back at me and say "hey thats what you wanted and it looks normal". I would have to have some proof that they screwed the pooch on the job somehow.
Well if they promised a 100% satisfaction guarantee, then I'd say your chances are excellent. Remember, almost everyone promises that; it's just so seldom used that people forget about it. I'd check that first. If they don't, then your best shot would probably be getting second opinions from other clear bra installers or better yet finding another black car with it installed to show them for comparison, but obviously those could be a lot of work.
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Last edited by jphughan; 04-23-2012 at 09:16 PM..
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