Opinions on ClearBra and Similar Products

TnM6i · 07-06-06, 07:44

I just brought home my new car a few days ago. I want to protect the front-end and headlights as much as possible against rock chips. I'm considering a Clear Bra or similar paint/lense protection system. What is the general concensus on items like this? I know it would protect the paint amd headlights, but how does it look? I have a silver car and I don't want to be able to see the outline very much. Also, i worry about the product yellowing/wearing over time. Are any of these things removable? Also, how much can I expect to pay? Thanks in advance.

Lou K · 07-07-06, 07:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnM6i

I just brought home my new car a few days ago. I want to protect the front-end and headlights as much as possible against rock chips. I'm considering a Clear Bra or similar paint/lense protection system. What is the general concensus on items like this? I know it would protect the paint amd headlights, but how does it look? I have a silver car and I don't want to be able to see the outline very much. Also, i worry about the product yellowing/wearing over time. Are any of these things removable? Also, how much can I expect to pay? Thanks in advance.

I have had it on several cars --- all dark in color. It does show on dark colors and much less on lighter colors. It will stain and scratch easily and marks are near impossible to remove. It will also haze over and will collect dirt and wax in the edges. As you can probably tell I am less than impressed with it, to the point where I finally removed the junk from my cars.

I would however do the headlights since it is fairly invisible.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 and up depending on your vehicle.

astro13rm · 07-07-06, 09:07

I really like my clear bra that I have on my silver Accord. I find it makes getting bugs off a lot easier and I don't have to worry about them etching the paint.

I can guarantee you that it has saved my paint from rock chips, etc. I'd rather have a dinged clear bra than a dinged car. The clear bras are removable and will not hurt the paint (if done properly). They often come with nice long warranties as well. In fact there is some bubbling on mine, so it'll just be reapplied completely. The warranty is for 10 years or something like that. It cost me around 200-300 -- I can't quite recall exactly.

It can be waxed just like any other part of the car. Honestly -- I love the thing. If it gets too beat up, I'll have a new one put on (that kind of stuff is not under warranty) -- I don't mind paying it. It's a great thing. I'll probably do it on all my new cars in the future as well.

roaringmouse · 07-08-06, 03:03

Add me to the fan club. I've have the 3M Clearbra on my car for about a year. Looks great, no stone chips or love bug marks. Most people don't even know I have it. I do have to spend extra time cleaning the wax from the edges but I gladly do it to keep my ride as nice as possible.

TnM6i · 07-08-06, 06:20

Looks good, roaringmouse! Ok, I'm interested in doing this to my car. What's the best brand? Also does the ClearBra brand include headlight lense protection?

roaringmouse · 07-08-06, 06:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnM6i

Looks good, roaringmouse! Ok, I'm interested in doing this to my car. What's the best brand? Also does the ClearBra brand include headlight lense protection?

I had my headlight and fog lights both protected. I located my installing here: http://www.xpel.com/ Just enter a zip code.

I actually had 2 kits installed an x-pel and an invinca-shield http://www.invinca-shield.com/. invinca-shield made me some custom pieces that weren't available from x-pel including my mirrors. My x-pel installer installed both kits.

TnM6i · 07-10-06, 12:24

Anyone else have any experiences with these products? I'm in a hurry to decide if it's worth the cost. I know my front end will be dinged up before too long. I want it protected while the car is still young. I have less than 500 miles on the car and not a single blemish. I want to keep it that way.

astro13rm · 07-10-06, 12:27

Why not just try it. It's not cheap, I'll grant you, but the worst thing you'll be out is a couple hundred dollars. It won't hurt your car or paint in any way.

Krautfed 03 · 07-10-06, 12:50

I will show stains, especially on white cars, but they fade away after a few days in the sun. I have hit pieces of tires at 70mph and had absolutely no damage. My car is a year old, and I have no chips on the front paint , and one VERY small nick in the clear bra, which would have been a HUGE chip in the paint. I feel that it is well worth the investment.

Dr. Peters · 07-10-06, 01:21

Call around to a few body shops and see if they do Armorcoat. This stuff is amazing. It doesn't leave lines like clear bras and definitely won't change colors like clear bras. It's worth a shot. The front end should be around $200 to spray.

http://armorcoat.armorauto.com/

deadlock32 · 07-10-06, 01:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Peters

Call around to a few body shops and see if they do Armorcoat. This stuff is amazing. It doesn't leave lines like clear bras and definitely won't change colors like clear bras. It's worth a shot. The front end should be around $200 to spray.

http://armorcoat.armorauto.com/

As awesome as this is... it is easier to just replace the film after its spent if you have a daily driver.

But then again you do have more clear paint thickness to work with a polisher...

Blake · 07-10-06, 01:45

Have it (on Silver) and it has saved me numerous chips. If I had to do it again I'd vbe first in line.
I have 3M and it is an extremely good product.