Clear bra

badfish · 03-05-2008, 06:23 PM

Hoping this can be the official clear bra thread with pictures and prices, since everyone always wants to know the price.

I got 2 quotes today for the same type of protection. I wanted Venture Shield, full front bumper, part of the hood, headlights, and mirrors. These shops are both in SoCal.

Aerotect in La Verne said they had the pattern. Price was $729 installed and they would include the headlights for free.

StickerCity in Sherman Oaks quoted me $590 installed for the same treatment, headlights included. They didn't mention whether or not they had a pattern. I asked about the hood coverage and they said it would be about 18 inches.

Since StickerCity is closer and cheaper, I will go with them. I've been to their facility several times to purchase bulk film. I will update with pictures once my car is taken care of. Should be sometime middle of March.

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 06:35 PM

well make sure they have the pattern! if they don't have the pattern then make sure they are really good to do bulk film!

the quality of work can vary significantly, so make sure you check them out.

any reason why not xpel?

badfish · 03-05-2008, 06:36 PM

I've installed clear bra and honestly I don't trust those patterns. If you do it all by hand then you can cut it and customize it to fit perfectly. Some of those kits leave big gaps on the sides depends on how it got laid on the car it might not be even without trimming.

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 06:37 PM

well the m3 bumper ain't easy to do...

badfish · 03-05-2008, 06:39 PM

Isn't xpel the same thing as 3M? I have 3M film on a white car and it's already started to yellow. Venture Shield is a superior product but harder to cut if you are trying to do it yourself.

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 06:41 PM

hum 3m makes the film and xpel make the design.. venture make there own film?

badfish · 03-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

hum 3m makes the film and xpel make the design.. venture make there own film?

I don't know who makes it but I hate my 3M bra. It has yellowed in less than a year and has orange peel. Independent tests confirmed what I'm already seeing.

http://www.ventureshield.com/

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 06:56 PM

yeah 3M does yellow... i think if you have a white car you shouldn't get a clear bra. also 3m comes with 4 year warranty, so why don't you just get it replaced?

badfish · 03-05-2008, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rldzhao

yeah 3M does yellow... i think if you have a white car you shouldn't get a clear bra. also 3m comes with 4 year warranty, so why don't you just get it replaced?

Because if I get it replaced it will be with Venture Shield and the warranty doesn't cover that.

Bottom line is I don't have time to go out there and have this done all over agian.

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 07:01 PM

k. well i have no experience w/ venture, so good luck. but i did have expereince w/ bulk film and you will really need an experienced installer to make it good. whereas pre-cut ones do not require as much expertise.

after all, each has its advantage, so really up to personal preference.

rldzhao · 03-05-2008, 07:05 PM

here's the bumper pre-cut kit.

devo · 03-05-2008, 09:05 PM

Bulk film is the way to go. Yes, you do have to find a good installer. Prep and install technique are everything. With bulk film every possible seam is tucked. The headlights and any other removal object are removed and the film is tucked inside. I had my 997tt done by an installer that did this. The end result was fabulous.

I have heard that Venture is an excellent product. It does have less orange peel than the 3M product. Although, my car with 3M looked great. Again, proper installation can minimize orange peel.

chasem3 · 03-05-2008, 09:37 PM

Dont get precut. it does not cover everything and u see all the edges of the film that show wax and build up dirt.

It is ugly.

Get custom full wrap.

bKan · 03-05-2008, 09:41 PM

Has anyone ever got their clear bra done by the dealership?
If so, do you know the price range?
I heard they were pretty good. It looked nice on my friend's AW Z4.

inmotion · 03-05-2008, 09:42 PM

don't use a dealership, they're probably subbing the work out to the lowest bidder.

PortoM3 · 03-05-2008, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bKan

Has anyone ever got their clear bra done by the dealership?
If so, do you know the price range?
I heard they were pretty good. It looked nice on my friend's AW Z4.

I am getting mine done by the dealership in Seattle. I am getting the hood, mirros, and edges of the doors for about 450 dollars (plus tax). I am not sure how much they will charge me for the bumper and the headlights.

chasem3 · 03-05-2008, 10:20 PM

If you are picky you will probably not be happy with the final results. I have seen lots of clear film installs and it is very very hard to do well. There are so many dealers who do it but a handful that will do it perfect.

I would request that you ask for your money back if you are not happy with the install.

PortoM3 · 03-05-2008, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasem3

If you are picky you will probably not be happy with the final results. I have seen lots of clear film installs and it is very very hard to do well. There are so many dealers who do it but a handful that will do it perfect.

I would request that you ask for your money back if you are not happy with the install.

Thanks for the tip. I will do that.

sayemthree · 03-06-2008, 04:23 PM

call Bain at Envisage - he is one of the best (better than Aeroshield at Bracket airport but also charges more) - he uses Venture film which is the newest best fil out. he is at 310-613-3978

personally I would rather see some edges of the film than rock chips on my new car. It already saved my wifes fron bumber from a major hit from road debris on the freeway.

as far as looks, the film show much more on white or silver. on black or dark met blue it hardly shows.

I think I will wrap the entire hood on my new M3.

Eclipsis · 03-06-2008, 04:26 PM

Premier is your only choice. They're the best clear bra installers in the United States.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ight=clear+bra

inmotion · 03-06-2008, 09:12 PM

i would not recommend using aerotech as well. This name stands out to me because one of my team supervisor had his BMW done and they cut the paint with their razors. He was not happy at all.

GregW / Oregon · 03-06-2008, 10:08 PM

I don't quite get the clear bra thing, personally. I've got 58k on my '01, and maybe a couple extremely small chips on the hood, and some very mild rash on the lower front fascia. Doesn't seem worth the expense to me. Are conditions back East or other places worse enought to make it justifiable? It's still not bulletproof, obviously.

03-05-2008, 06:23 PM	#1
badfish Major Drives: E92 AW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,043 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	Clear bra Hoping this can be the official clear bra thread with pictures and prices, since everyone always wants to know the price. I got 2 quotes today for the same type of protection. I wanted Venture Shield, full front bumper, part of the hood, headlights, and mirrors. These shops are both in SoCal. Aerotect in La Verne said they had the pattern. Price was $729 installed and they would include the headlights for free. StickerCity in Sherman Oaks quoted me $590 installed for the same treatment, headlights included. They didn't mention whether or not they had a pattern. I asked about the hood coverage and they said it would be about 18 inches. Since StickerCity is closer and cheaper, I will go with them. I've been to their facility several times to purchase bulk film. I will update with pictures once my car is taken care of. Should be sometime middle of March.
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03-05-2008, 06:35 PM	#2
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	well make sure they have the pattern! if they don't have the pattern then make sure they are really good to do bulk film! the quality of work can vary significantly, so make sure you check them out. any reason why not xpel? __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 06:37 PM	#4
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	well the m3 bumper ain't easy to do... __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 06:41 PM	#6
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	hum 3m makes the film and xpel make the design.. venture make there own film? __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 06:56 PM	#8
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	yeah 3M does yellow... i think if you have a white car you shouldn't get a clear bra. also 3m comes with 4 year warranty, so why don't you just get it replaced? __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 06:36 PM	#3
badfish Major Drives: E92 AW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,043 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	I've installed clear bra and honestly I don't trust those patterns. If you do it all by hand then you can cut it and customize it to fit perfectly. Some of those kits leave big gaps on the sides depends on how it got laid on the car it might not be even without trimming.

03-05-2008, 06:39 PM	#5
badfish Major Drives: E92 AW M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,043 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M3 [0.00]	Isn't xpel the same thing as 3M? I have 3M film on a white car and it's already started to yellow. Venture Shield is a superior product but harder to cut if you are trying to do it yourself.

03-05-2008, 07:01 PM	#10
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	k. well i have no experience w/ venture, so good luck. but i did have expereince w/ bulk film and you will really need an experienced installer to make it good. whereas pre-cut ones do not require as much expertise. after all, each has its advantage, so really up to personal preference. __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 07:05 PM	#11
rldzhao Moderator Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Houston/Shanghai/上海 Posts: 4,417 iTrader: (12)	here's the bumper pre-cut kit. Attached Images __________________ RBM3 Powered by M-World/AiM EVO4 Data Logger/KW Competition 2-Way/StopTech BBK/Rear Seats Delete/M-World Clubsport Splitter & Wing/OMP Racing Seats

03-05-2008, 09:05 PM	#12
devo Lieutenant Colonel Drives: 10 Porsche GT3/08 335xi Coupe Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,864 iTrader: (0)	Bulk film is the way to go. Yes, you do have to find a good installer. Prep and install technique are everything. With bulk film every possible seam is tucked. The headlights and any other removal object are removed and the film is tucked inside. I had my 997tt done by an installer that did this. The end result was fabulous. I have heard that Venture is an excellent product. It does have less orange peel than the 3M product. Although, my car with 3M looked great. Again, proper installation can minimize orange peel.

03-05-2008, 09:37 PM	#13
chasem3 Second Lieutenant Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 259 iTrader: (0)	Dont get precut. it does not cover everything and u see all the edges of the film that show wax and build up dirt. It is ugly. Get custom full wrap.

03-05-2008, 09:41 PM	#14
bKan Registered Drives: 06' BMW X5 4.4i Gray/Black Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2 iTrader: (0)	dealership clear bra. Has anyone ever got their clear bra done by the dealership? If so, do you know the price range? I heard they were pretty good. It looked nice on my friend's AW Z4.

03-05-2008, 09:42 PM	#15
inmotion Lieutenant Drives: where do I start? Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newport Coast, CA Posts: 528 iTrader: (0)	don't use a dealership, they're probably subbing the work out to the lowest bidder. __________________ E60 M5 Silverstone, Balloon White Gallardo Spider, Rosso Corsa F430, Audi CG Q7 Sportline, IS R8 before and DG R8 now, Basalt Black Carrera GT, SG M3 DCT, Orange GT3RS, IS CLK63 Black Series On order: 2010 R8 V10

03-05-2008, 10:20 PM	#17
chasem3 Second Lieutenant Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA Posts: 259 iTrader: (0)	If you are picky you will probably not be happy with the final results. I have seen lots of clear film installs and it is very very hard to do well. There are so many dealers who do it but a handful that will do it perfect. I would request that you ask for your money back if you are not happy with the install.

03-06-2008, 04:23 PM	#19
sayemthree Brigadier General Drives: bmw Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: usa Posts: 4,846 iTrader: (0)	call Bain at Envisage - he is one of the best (better than Aeroshield at Bracket airport but also charges more) - he uses Venture film which is the newest best fil out. he is at 310-613-3978 personally I would rather see some edges of the film than rock chips on my new car. It already saved my wifes fron bumber from a major hit from road debris on the freeway. as far as looks, the film show much more on white or silver. on black or dark met blue it hardly shows. I think I will wrap the entire hood on my new M3.

03-06-2008, 04:26 PM	#20
Eclipsis Colonel Drives: 2011.5 E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: LA & OC, CA Posts: 2,551 iTrader: (6)	Premier is your only choice. They're the best clear bra installers in the United States. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ight=clear+bra

03-06-2008, 09:12 PM	#21
inmotion Lieutenant Drives: where do I start? Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Newport Coast, CA Posts: 528 iTrader: (0)	i would not recommend using aerotech as well. This name stands out to me because one of my team supervisor had his BMW done and they cut the paint with their razors. He was not happy at all. __________________ E60 M5 Silverstone, Balloon White Gallardo Spider, Rosso Corsa F430, Audi CG Q7 Sportline, IS R8 before and DG R8 now, Basalt Black Carrera GT, SG M3 DCT, Orange GT3RS, IS CLK63 Black Series On order: 2010 R8 V10

03-06-2008, 10:08 PM	#22
GregW / Oregon Commander-In-Chief Drives: 2008 M3 Coupe, 2006 ML350 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 6,051 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 M-B ML350 [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 Coupe [4.75]	Clear bra I don't quite get the clear bra thing, personally. I've got 58k on my '01, and maybe a couple extremely small chips on the hood, and some very mild rash on the lower front fascia. Doesn't seem worth the expense to me. Are conditions back East or other places worse enought to make it justifiable? It's still not bulletproof, obviously. __________________ Greg Lake Oswego, Oregon, USA 2008 M3 Coupe - Alpine/Fox Red/Carbon 2001 M3 Coupe - SOLD 3/08 2006 Mercedes-Benz ML350 (2012 ML350 BlueTEC on order)