espdollar

So i ordered a front mask a week ago and it just got it. took about 15 minutes to install. I'm not sure if i like it yet do to the fact that the instructions say that the mask can't get wet while its on the car. If it does it says i need to take it off and let it dry otherwise it could "cloud the paint" . i live in Miami and it rains at least once a week, and that would definitely be a PITA to take off all the time. you guys think its true? or is it just so Acura can cover their butt when owners leave them on for years at a time.

Farage

i duno if i like it either... but thats crazy if you actually gota take it off after rain!

ed_423

i never liked front masks. i think they take away the look of the car. :p

DerwoodEE

Don't like it at all.

JLTSX07

No offense dude, but it looks gay!

Instead of wasting your time and money with a front bra like this, why don't you just invest the money into getting a clear bra? I've had one on my 07 TSX for 2 years, and I have yet to see a rock chip. Plus, it doesn't take away from the look of the car.

In my honest opinion, the clear bra is the only way to go.

09TSXTech

I would try to return it before it rains. They sell the front bra here in Canada for C$210 or US$185.

I had one on my last car 1990 Civic Si, it did leave a mark and the paint ended up uneven as the area under the bra was not subject to sunlight or other weather related wear or damage.

wraith

I do not like it at all. however, I have one on my car and I can tell you that when it does rain I can not take it off right away. I have left mine on for about a day with no problem but I do take it off and let it dry before putting it back on. I can not speak for others who have a clear bra but, I had one on my 07' civic and I was very disappointed with it! I spent a lot of money on the complete front end ( rearview mirrors etc... ) and still had damage!
If you drive the HWY. a lot like I do you can not go wrong with the bra from Acura. I have NO damage to the front of my TSX ( 20k hwy. miles ) except for the grill that it does not cover which is damaged very bad. I rather have the ugly bra than look at all the rock chips when I wash the car.

HeavyDuty

It's black (absorbs heat) and the trapped moisture between the bra and the paint will cloud the finish. Add that to the sand that gets trapped in between which turns the thing into a piece of sadpaper.

It's just like those damned windvisor things for a sunroof or the "hoodflector" deals for truck hoods, sand gets trapped under & around the seal and it damages the finish.

To each their own.

wraith

All I can tell you is I have owned 6 black cars since 91' all Honda/Acura brand and 5 out of 6 I used a bra ( sorry the accord was white ). I never had the paint cloud or any scratches from the Honda factory bra. (I may just be lucky.) The 07' civic that had the clear bra was not what I expected. When a rock would hit the bra it would leave a white mark where the 3m clear bra was and a few actually still left a ding on the hood. I do agree with the sunroof visor damaging the finish the 91' civic was bad when I removed it and would never use one again.

Like HD said "To each their own". That has been my experience.

5thTo2nd

I never understood these bra things...their job is to protect the car so that the car looks good but the irony is that the car looks like crap when the thing's on.

katmai

I tried the bra thing on a car a while back. It did cloud the paint if the inside got wet then I took it off. The haziness went away though if I let it completely dry while the bra was still on the car. If I took the bra off when it was still wet, the white haze would never go away until I put it back on again and let it get wet, then dry. It was odd.

Never again. I have clear bras on all my cars since. Its not perfect but its super good! To me the cost is well worth it.

buddah51au

Unfortunately in Australia we can't get a full wrap clear bra, so the only option if you want to protect your car from stone chips is for a clip on car bra. While I agree they spoil the look of the car they certainly do the job they are designed for. After 15,000km driving on course chip bitumen roads i don't have any stone chips at all. Being felt backed they don't require removal when they get wet. The only time I remove mine is when I wash the car. After having used these on several cars over the years I can say that they do not damage the paint in any way. Here is a picture, as ugly as it looks. It's a 5 minute jobe to remove or fit.

PACman

^^Is that clear plastic covering up the grill?

ed_423

no offense but that looks TERRIBLE!

buddah51au

Yes, I know it doesn't look good, but it serves it's purpose of preventing stone chips - after 15,000km & 2 windscreens there is not 1 stone chip to be found on the front. I could have got it colour coded (white) for extra money so it would be less noticeable, but white discolours easily. These bra's are fairly common in Australia.

No, it is not clear plastic covering the grill, its a fine flyscreen mesh that allows normal airflow, but keeps the bugs out

fjpthree

have the same bra and my car color is the same. I take it off when I wash it. Have had it for a year and have no scratches and there are no issues with the paint becoming cloudy. The bra works as it was intended.......No paint chips and no bug marks. I was told to use a lot of polish or wax and it was good advise. This color bra compliments your paint color. It is all a matter of what you want from the bra.......

buddah51au

I agree with keeping the car waxed, I do the front every 2 months, the rest of the car every 4 months. There is no doubt this helps to eliminate scuff marks.

Type34

Guys it's no longer the 20th Century...dial-up internet, beepers, and loud siren car alarms died by the year 2000...so did black car bras.

Apparently you didn't get the memo. With this new information, please react accordingly.

buddah51au

It's ok for you people in USA who can get a full front clear wrap, that is an option we don't have here......unfortunately

ed_423

that sucks. you shuold get a US friend to bring one over for u
are you going to keep the bra btw? or you are just going to return it.

buddah51au

I will be keeping the bra & only removing it when the car gets a bath. It serves it's purpose in protecting the front of the car, combine that with the roads i drive on & something is needed otherwise you could be repainting the front of the car every few months.
I don't know anyone in USA, if i did the first thing on my list would be a set of RJ wheels.

305TSXGT

my previous car had so many chip marks on the front bumper that i am considering in buying the bra but it does take away the look of the car so i really need to think about that...other options ive also considered in the invisi bra by 3m but it cost so much money ....maybe ill just drive slow and forget about the bra ..lol

acurarules

My first post here, just bought myself the beautiful 09 TSX Grigio, Tech pkg. Cause I just love gadgets.

On Bras, I actually have one on my old RSX. I bought it because it was on a crazy sale price, just couldn't give it up. One thing good about it was:

One time this old clunker was backing up in an underground parking lot to let someone out of a spot. I was behind him. He kept coming back and back, got a bit close for my comfort, I honked like a crazy guy. But, before I could shift into reverse, BAM, he hits my car.

Dude didn't even think there may be a car behind him. He obviously didn't look or hear me for some reason. When I removed the bra, my bumper was pushed in at the corner.

Brought it to Acura, and they applied some heat and was able to pop it back out. (Clunker guy paid for it).

BUT, the good part is, because I had the bra on, it protected the paint, from cracking, chipping, or what have you. Or else, it would have been another paint job (removing bumper, spraying, clear protect coat, you know...) which would have cost a few hundred bucks more. And the lost of my car in the shop for a few days.

So, the Bra is good for that for sure and saved me from more headaches. especially in Canada, during the winter, slipping and sliding is inevitable.

So, a 3M clear bra would not give as much protection as a leather BRA would.

Besides, I think the Black leather bra on a Silver RSX looks kinda nice.

C4n3s

when I first purchased my car, I had it on for like 2 weeks in miami and it somehow managed to ruin my paint (scratches and car turned two-toned).

this bra sucks

C4n3s

Like all bras, it must come off

TSX1138

Gives the car personality! Looks meaner! Guess I am biased as well because I have the same mask/bra....that said, I am interested in the clear aspect? Are they making a clear full wrap for the 2009 TSX? If so where?

Simba91102

Sorry, I think it's a real 80's and 90's look and can't imagine it doesn't effect the paint, but.... to each their own (it's your car, so if you like it, who cares?). I was sold on the clear bra years ago and have had it installed on my last 5 cars (including the 2 we have now). With 120K miles on the 05 and close to 90K on the 07 (all highway), the protection it affords is striking (in my opinion). The old adage that "they're all highway miles" may mean something positive mechanically, but boy.... all highway miles will do a job on the front exterior of a car (and the windshield too), especially in New England (think winter and all the crap that gets put on the roads). I have to assume that it's available for the 2nd gen TSX, and I would bet you it was available as soon as the cars were a couple of years ago. The stuff does such an amazing job, I truly wouldn't "leave home with it" (and it helps make washing the bugs off a little easier too).

TSteezyX

I'd definitely go the clear bra route. I'd also go to a reputable shop.

I've seen some cars that are <5 years old and the lines where the clear bra begins/ends are REALLY obvious and ugly. The clear bra develops a cloudy sheen, sometimes.

tsx_ridah10

yeh go clear bra man!

centflatsx

Well, being in Florida the bugs are a big issue, especially love bugs. I have a black TSX now that I'm lease ending in a few days. I had the usualy chips that everyone and the bugs of course. I never put anything but wax and it's still pretty good. I have hood chips and replaced one windshield and have two more chips in this windshield so my car has taken some punishment. I would remove the bra as it does take away from the car. Keep heavy wax on the front and that will keep the bugs coming off easy. As for chips there isn't much you can do. Get some touch up paint and hit them with paint. I'm sure the bra will keep the paint better but as you know in Florida it rains almost everyday in the summer.