klas

Is it worth $900 for it?

hrj

iTrader: (1)

$900 is pricey.. i got mine installed for $650 (door edge, side mirrors, 1/3 hood, full bumper, 30mm headlight protection film, fenders).

rx280

I've had the Autobahnd Rockblocker film on my 2004 TSX for two years. (If I'm remembering correctly, the film Autobahnd uses is manufactured by a company other than 3M.) That dollar figure you mentioned is mind-boggling to me, seeing as I paid $325 for the full application: front of hood and front fenders, front bumper and mirrors. I guess I got a good price through the body shop that repaired my car (exactly one year old at the time) after a deer bolted into my path at night. I had the film put on right after the damage was repaired. As I mentioned in a post last year, there's one negative to having clear bra on your car: The film becomes more visible over time because it doesn’t “age” the same way the uncovered paint does. Very gradually, it gets hazy with very fine scratches. Cost aside, the question is whether you'd rather have a slew of stone chips or expanses of film that gradually go from being nearly invisible to quite noticeable except at a considerable distance. I have a black TSX and was really bugged by seeing a rapidly growing number of white (primer-color) dots all over the front surfaces, so I decided I had to go the clear-bra route. I don't regret the decision, although the haziness is a bit disappointing. Now, if I'd been given a price quote of $900, my response would have been: "Bring on the stone chips."

Overtaxed

I have the 3M film too.

Front hood and fenders.

250 Canadian.

EDIT: Forgot to say, yes, I think it's worth it, definitely. Can't prevent all chips, but I've heard the TSX's paint job is not very resistant to stone chips, so hopefully it will prevent the majority.

Only got where there's metal, as I'm mostly concerned about rust.

klas

$900 was quote by the Acura dealer when I was purchasing my TSX, but I might be able to find it cheaper somewhere else, although just the film is around $350 I wonder how much should I pay for labor. $500 total price would probably be more reasonable. btw, was it easy to install it yourself?

Gen4MDX

NEGOTIATE - They will deal on this. I think we paid somewhere around $600.00 for the full meal deal.

Rocket_man

When I shoped for a clear bra I was told that the 3M product can fade and does not come with a lifetme warrenty. I ended up going with the Venture Tape product usually called Xpel (but I'm told that is the name of the pattern cutting company). Anyway the product is invisible except for the edge. If you have a white car, I believe it is the 3M product that has a very slight yellow tint and will not look right on a white car. Do some research before you shell out bucks for these products. Yeah and $900 buck is crazy. They are just taking it to a local shop anyway, so cut out the middle man.

ninjamyst

I also have clearbra and paid about $600 for front bumper, hood, side mirrors, and back bumper. I say to spend the money on Hondata reflash instead. It protects your paint but you stll gonna see the chips and scratches on the clearbra itself. So visually, it doens't do much until you take off the clearbra i guess. And if the stone chip leaves a dent, well...the dent goes down to the paint too. Save the $600.

yeefuchew

Seems pretty high.

I bought my 3M kit off ebay for about $180 and installed it myself.

Gen4MDX

I highly reccomend it, it has saved my bumper from many rock chips. I have Premium White Pearl and it looks fine. It is also guaranteed against fade & peeling. It is your choice, rock chips or 3M.

CJams

our shop installs them for about---$350 full bumper, $180-hood fenders and mirrors $60 for headllights and a few other little options.

$900 sounds like a dealership price. The infinty dealer next doors charges $1400 for a full kit. If you go to a private shop you will save money. the dealers charge about 2x as much as a normal shop so they can make a buck on it. Unless you're getting it thrown in to the mix with your financing, go elsewhere and you will save a few hundred $$$. Spend that extra cash on other toys for it

I wish mine had it on before it left the dealership parking lot

Sclass88

I strongly disagree. The paint on the TSX sucks, it has saved the front end of my car. My dad didn't get it on his TL and at about 43,000 miles on his TL, the entire front end of his car is destroyed. Spend the $600, you won't regret it.

yeefuchew

It was easy only after I learned the secret. Before that, it was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life! The secret is to have more than enough "slip" solution (baby shampoo concoction) ready and in use. My problem was that I started to run out while trying to install the toughest part--the front bumper.

klas

thank you for your replies, but my wife said NO to protection, so we'll be having a lot of little rock chips coming soon

daftfunk

if you do a lot of highway driving then I would cover the the hood/fender/mirror/lights.
i also put 3m film on my bumper since I don't do any highway driving. if i did I would rather repaint the bumper every few years.

klas

i tried searching for 3m film online, but can't find it. Is it something that can be purchased in retail?

hrj

iTrader: (1)

try xpel.com...

Sirzodiacdj

I got the 3m product with my WRX 5 years ago, and it has Never faded. Its a great product.

nnh768

does anyone know where i can a clear bra installed in northern va, dc, md area???

Thanks

SoCaliTrojan

I'm in my 7th month, and haven't had any scratches or chips at all, even though there have been a few times when gravel and rocks would fly out of the construction trucks on the freeway and pounded my car.

What I do need though is to have my entire sides covered with 3m. I have scratches from door dings on my two driver's door as well as a paint chip on the front fender. I cringe when parking beside other cars, but I don't worry as much when I'm behind a truck on a freeway

klas

that's what i figuired you may protect your car from rocks, but you can't really protect from bumper scratches and door dings. So, if you can't protect it completely what's the point of partial protection? Might as well save some money...

Ideally, we need a car with plastic all around it like on some SUVs or Subaru

Knox

3M on the headlights for about 8 months. No problems.

Milton TSX

I have it on the hood mirrors and fenders great investment. $900 bucks is way too much I would suggest shopping around

Gen4MDX

You can sure try though, do you see that one lonely car parked way out at the end of the parking lot? Thats where I park. 8 Months and counting and NO dings

CurryFishBall

Got 3M installed on my hood & fender for CDN$250 at a specialist place. Compare to $500 at the dealership!
The 3M was made with urethane, which they claim will not turn yellow, have yet to see about that. The 3M they used were 8mil thick and 24 inches from the tip of the hood. So it pretty much covered half the hood. It does have a hazy look to it, but from a distance, its hard to tell.

I think it'll well worth it, since you already spent so much on the vehicle. It protects the metal from chipping and rusting which I think is very important.
Especially useful if you live in places with snow; when there are lots of stone and sand on the road waiting to chip your car.

jeffstsx05

had it installed (full front end, mirrors, etc.) by the dealer for $600 at the time I bought the car. It's been on now for 16 months and has protected as advertised. It is true, the film will become more noticable over time but I'd rather that then have stone chips and potential for rust. Mine is the the "autobahnd" product, not 3M by the way.

I also installed (aftermarket) the 3M product on my wifes car and it's been great as well, however it seems like the film thickness is a bit thinner, however, the 3M seems to wear better - no yellowing or aging effect to report after 12 months

daftfunk

Guys at my work had 3M film installed on 4 cars. On the white STi there is noticable yellowing. The other cars are darker so any discoloring is harder to see. BTW, these cars are very well maintained (clayed, Z'd, smooth as silk paint).

Alin10123

Be careful, if the paint on the bumper doesn't 100% match up it could affect your resale value. Somebody could think that the car was in a minor accident. When i had a 540, the radiator blew (common defect) and it was replaced. When i tried to sell the car the guy got an inspection on it before purchasing. The inspecting mechanic told him my car was probably in an accident because the radiator was new and shiny. If it was me, i probably would be wary of a car that has had the hood repainted. But that's just me. You can never be too careful nowadays when buying a used car. Or if you trade it in the dealer will find all sorts of excuses to give you a lower value on your trade.

I would just go ahead and do the whole front end. Especially on darker colored cars.

Alin10123

It's under warranty, so they could probably get free replacement if the color is changing.

cc2010

Could I have the name of the installer/where you took your car? I'm in the Seattle area as well, and would love to cut out the dealer profit. Thanks.

hrj

iTrader: (1)

Accutint, not best but not the worst either.

you can also ask CJ shades, i believe they use different materials, not yellowish like 3M.

L1StarTSX

Check the black market area, Rockblocker has a deal for TSXs right now...The blue tint on the headlights and side mirrors looks very cool, I have a PWP and some protection is def a good idea, mainly for me its the lip of the hood and mirrors that seem to need it the most.

oh, and re-occuring theme, the 900 is wayyyy high

ninjamyst

I have clearbra on my front bumper and 2 days ago, some idiot hit my car while I was shopping. The clearbra took most of the damage but some parts did tear and damage went to the paint. So now, I have to take off the clearbra, repaint the bumper, and put on another clearbra. So the clearbra actually ends up costing me more money to repair it. *sigh*

ChrismanTSX

Sorry to hear your car got hit... that really sucks.

It is more expensive to fix your bumper now, but that will happen with an accident. the clearbra is designed to protect your bumper from stone chips, and other road debris, not from some idiot's bumper... IMHO, given how my '97 Civic's bumper looked when I traded it in, I'd say that the additional problems you get when you have an accident are more than offset by what damage you would get with stone chips if you didn't have the protection...

kyotousa

yah save the 600 get the bumper repaint later

RockBlocker

If we can help answer any questions or get your products please let us know. We are the online supplier for paint and headlight protection films for the Acurazine community

klas

CJ shades used to have different material, when I went to get price quote he said he will be using 3M material from now on. It was going to be a good deal for clearbra and tint, but my wife said no to either one I am using leather bra for now.

Accutint quoted me before I priced it at CJ at $699 for clearbra & $325 for tint + 10% off if doing both. Also they would drive you to work if you work nearby.

hrj

iTrader: (1)

oh i didnt know that. but dont use leather bra, they will scratch your TSX' paint and make it looks faded.

klas

I just used it for a long trip Vancouver-Seattle. It was a pain to put it. I had it on only for 5 days, so I don't think paint scratching should be a problem.

Actually, the real paint scratching problem is my wife. Who doesn't understand that I am trying to take care of the car and there is no protection from that.

It hurts me to see every time she would put her bag on the hood/roof or hit the skirt to remove snow from shoes...

hrj

iTrader: (1)

well, just wait and see, dont use it during the rain too..