VentureShield - is it worth the $$$$?

[Kurohouou]

Originally Posted by 5erman

Can you post some pics? Do you really NOT see this at all and is totally not visible?

I guess my thought is why couldnt you just get a new paint job on your bumper or maybe even the hood every 5 years. Seems like a lot of mess and money to "protect" something that is relatively easy to re-paint in 5 years.

I would really miss waxing mine

I would try to post a picture but my car is covered in a layer of east coast salt Maybe in a few days when I get it washed I can post a picture. Honestly its very hard to see on my Jerez Black M3. The day it was put on I was walking up to the car and at first I didn't even think they had put it on yet. Not until I was about 2-3 feet away could I just make out the line on the hood. The bumper is almost impossible to tell that it has a clear shield. Like I said, its not a 100% perfect solution, but I am very happy with it.

As for repainting the bumper every 5 years, I am against painting in general, for one it might not be 100% match and two after one or two years your bumper is going to look like crap with chips.. do you really want to see that. With the clearshield it looks great day in day out for years. Seeing a small little line on my hood is worth it to me not to have any chips. The last car I owned without a clear shield the bumper looked like it was under mini machine gun fire with all the little chips on the bumper after just one year. It was horrible! I don't ever want that again.

[Kurohouou]

Originally Posted by kaykay

I fully agree.

Why do you guys clear bra your cars?

I never understood this principal...

I wax/polish the clearshield on my car, never had any problems with doing that before. Looks very shinny and clear afterwords. I guarantee after a proper cleaning and waxing no one will even be able to tell you have a clearshield on as they walk past your car. Its not until they get up close and analyze your car that they see it. And if you don't have the clearshield on, when they get up close and analyze your paint all they will see is a ton of little rock chips

[E92_SID]

Originally Posted by joelk

thanks!

edit: pretty poor dealer network so far... not even a shop in atlanta.

My dealer said that it is not commercially available on a large scale yet. Only to certain dealers for testing.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by tripberger

I will be Zaino'ing the car, I guess it will look odd then since the front half of the car will not be as shinny because of the VentureShield

this is exactly why i elected not to do the hood and fender wrap..wasnt a matter of cost...did only bumper..cuz i like a shiny powerdome...physchologically was wierd for me to zaino 2/3rds of a car...but i hate having to bend my back over for a long time to detail and polish the curves of a front bumper...so with the clear bra, i just spray with water and soap and wipe dry..done deal and looks new

[ihyln]

3M > Ventureshield

[PKL]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

It's worth it on every color but White. Ask enough people and they will tell you it turns yellow. Every ventureshield installer I asked admitted that the film will turn slightly yellow over time. It's especially noticeable on white.

If I see a dump truck, I change lanes.

lol, well said!

[tripberger]

Originally Posted by ihyln

3M > Ventureshield

3M does not cover the entire hood unless you do 2 sheets and it only has a 5 year warrenty. I would not go with 3M.

[E92_SID]

Is nobody listening? Avery-Dennison Nano-Fusion FTW! Its brand new, not widely available yet but it can be acquired, lifetime warranty for parts and labor, guaranteed not to yellow, much hight resistance against scratching, much higher gloss then anything else out there. What more do you need to hear?

[devo]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

It may not matter anymore because I heard 3M bought out VS. They may be using the exact same stuff. But VS has shown in several independent tests that they outperform 3M. I have even been able to buff out small surface scratches on my VS film.

3M did buy out VS, but they are not the same. The pros at Detailing Dynamics (these guys are at the top of the heap) say otherwise. They won't work with VS anymore.

[devo]

Originally Posted by 5erman

I take it you dont wax this stuff Why not just use a good layer of wax every month and keep it shiny and new.

Problem with this stuff is you cant buff or wax or polish your car and give it that really glossy extreme polished look with a coat of zaino. That sucks

Because a good layer or countless layers for that matter won't protect against the smallest of the small stones being hurdled at you car's paint at 50+ mph.

[llis]

I had about 40% of the hood done (just covering the front of the bump), and got a small nick from a rock about 3" past it. Full hood may look better, too, without the faint line. Fenders definitely. Don't forget the mirrors. Some people do the running board area due to rocks being kicked up by the wheels. But I have not done the bumper (the shop I went to rarely does bumpers, as bumper material is more robust than the clearcoat/paint-on-metal).

Can't comment on the material. 3M on mine, and it's been great so far, and has a proven track record for clean damage-free removal years later.

[KTM505SX]

Originally Posted by E92_SID

Is nobody listening? Avery-Dennison Nano-Fusion FTW! Its brand new, not widely available yet but it can be acquired, lifetime warranty for parts and labor, guaranteed not to yellow, much hight resistance against scratching, much higher gloss then anything else out there. What more do you need to hear?

Sounds promising,my car will be getting this!

Had Ventureshield on a previous white car and It was flawless..Maintained it with Plexus and it looks great after 2 years.

[m3s_are_crisp]

Word...man I was going to get it on my car (white) but decided against it. I talked to a lot of people beforehand and heard that you'll eventually get some dirt under the edges of the film. I also heard about the yellowing. Either way, not something I want showing up on my car. Bought myself some Langka for the occasional chips, etc.

[KTM505SX]

Originally Posted by m3s_are_crisp

Word...man I was going to get it on my car (white) but decided against it. I talked to a lot of people beforehand and heard that you'll eventually get some dirt under the edges of the film. I also heard about the yellowing. Either way, not something I want showing up on my car. Bought myself some Langka for the occasional chips, etc.

Premier did a custom wrap and tucked in all the edges on my car and it was perfect.No dirt in the edges even around the wheel wells.Cost around $1500.

[geneatals]

If you are leasing: NO

If you own/are purchasing: Perhaps...

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by KTM505SX

Premier did a custom wrap and tucked in all the edges on my car and it was perfect.No dirt in the edges even around the wheel wells.Cost around $1500.

yup this is true

[Joonsup]

definitely go with a custom wrap and not pre cut. 1500 seems high since I paid around $500 for custom wrap when i used to have a 335i which covered front bumper, headlights, 1/4 hood, side mirrors, and some of the fender. Maybe it's the location as well.

[Elaz]

yes clear bra but not for that price.that is way to high.check out clear bra nj his prices are much better.also you can chose the film.

[KTM505SX]

Originally Posted by joonsup

definitely go with a custom wrap and not pre cut. 1500 seems high since I paid around $500 for custom wrap when i used to have a 335i which covered front bumper, headlights, 1/4 hood, side mirrors, and some of the fender. Maybe it's the location as well.

This was on a 997gt3,full hood,full fenders,bumper,mirrors,wheel wheels,Head light had to come out etc..All day job.Guys at Premier came to my house and knocked it out.

[ihyln]

The problems with Ventureshield is that 1. it WILL yellow without a doubt and 2. scuff marks show up very easily on it whereas the 3M won't. you get what you pay for.

[quadpipes]

I have had both VS and 3M recently on different cars. The 3M looked and held up a great deal better than the VS. In addition, the quality of the install is probably just as much the installer as it is the material so check references/experience. Good luck. PS - If you do a search on "clear bra" you will find lots of other threads on this that might help.

[tripberger]

This is an amazingly hard decision, there are a ton who say you gotta do it, others say 3M all the way and others that say go with nothing. I have a tough time going with the 3M because of the line halfway up the hood. VentureShield apparently scratches way to easily so thats out, that and its really expensive. 2 weeks till I get my car and I'm going to drive myself crazy making this decision. Given that I will be Zaino'ing I want everything to match.