Project X

Is the 3M clear bra worth it - I'm thinking of putting this on a used TL that's black and figured it'd help with rock chips in the front hood/bumper.. any cons to it?

01tl4tl

its awesome- no cons
try ebay stores -there is one that has complete kits and deluxe kits made exact for the car, all pieces cut-
plus buy some on the roll to put on the rear bumper- protects from shopping cart damage there and some in front of rear wheels to keep rock chips down

avail in 3 5 and 8 mm thickness- at this time of year (cold out) thinner is easier to work with unless you have a well heated garage, goes on like window tint with a heat gun and squeege

wash, claybar and wax the car before install, in 5 years you can remove and no damage
I would get some extra feet on the roll and practice before the car

jeowen

i HAD it, on my 07, ironically I came across the car at a golf course, and it showed discoloration on the hood, where the clear bra lining was...i refuse to do it on my 08, or any future car for that matter.

VTRAN

iTrader: (1)

the guy who owned my nbp type-s before me had it put on. when i first bought the car i didnt mind it, but then i noticed it made the hood look dull and not as shiny as the rest of the car. i had it taken off by a professional and it looks 100X better, and i love it the way it is now.

Fatfrii

i have it on my a-spec lips and side skirts. i came on the car when i bought it and took me days to realize that they where there lol. no discoloration at all. the only way i noticed that they where there was from the very thin line between the pieces. tell me if u can even see the cracks between the peices

01tl4tl

you have to do a nice job of prep and polishing/waxing on the parts that will be covered, so they maintain a shine

leedogg

I got a bra cut. Basically a crescent curved cut thats harder to see and looks better. 3m is the way to go as it has a clear coat finish.

NSXTC

iTrader: (1)

Definitely worth it!

I've had mine on since I purchased the car new, and the 3M clear bra still looks fantastic.

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

3M's film tends to yellow. It also gets "dull" over time. "VentureShield" by Venture Tape is a film that is clearer and flatter than 3M's Clear Bra.

3M actually bought out Venture Tape, but both companies are still producing their own film. VentureShield is not as prone to yellowing as the 3M film, and is easier to install as well. However, VentureShield is more prone to "scratching" since it does not have the extra protective coating that 3M film does.

There are pros and cons to both, so it is up to the buyer to decide which is better for him.

itsryanftw

iTrader: (2)

I have the 3M bra on my WDP, and it has also yellowed over time... I think it's more apparent on white anyway. I feel like taking it off, but the clear bra has completely protected my front bumper for the last few years.

My co-worker has it on his gunmetal Lexus IS, and it has not appeared to yellow at all... still looks good.

Trendzero

iTrader: (1)

I have one on my 05 AM and you can't even tell it's there and I have zero rock chips on the front of my hood because of it. Well worth it IMO.

SpecialFX

I had it put on my '04 right after I picked it up. After about 20k miles or so I had an accident that required the bumper cover and fender to be replaced and the entire nose repainted. I did not have it reinstalled because there were gaps around some of the openings and there were plenty of chips and scratches in those areas.

The paint under the film looked like new when the film was removed but since there were unprotected areas it was not worth it to me to have it reinstalled.

Also, don't be fooled by the photos. The film IS noticeable, but not too bad.

xmrgoodcatx

iTrader: (1)

So where did you get this information to wax the car prior to installation?

This a no no and the alcohol and water solution will strip this anyways. The surface has to be clean of all debris and residue including wax. The wax may cause the film not adhere very well and make the install more difficult. Over streching the film will also ruin the film as will heat. So it is advised not to use a heat gun.

If you are planning to do this your self ask the seller about the hood and fender coverage. I have been out of the PPF game awhile, but if I remember correctly they range between 10", 12", 18" and possibly 22".

I have 18". Also where they get there design templates from. I would try to locate someone who uses XPEL design. The film is only half the battle. The cut of the film is plays a big part becuase and inferior design will require you to stretch the film to much. If you strech to much it will leave marks and if you stretch it beyond what the film is capable of then it will be ruined.

corduroy

I have one... it's great! Wish I got it earlier before all the rocks got to it =( honda is notorious for having soft paint.

dj5

I had the VentureShield clear bra installed at the dealer before I drove the car off the lot. You can barely tell it's on and it really helps with the stone chips. I would never buy another new car without installing it.

shezi01

iTrader: (1)

i bought my 07 TL-S in June had 3m shield installed in September, and this is my daily driver driving anywhere from 65-70 miles and its worth every penny. I believe 3m comes with 5 year product warranty

three weeks after i got mine installed found out through friend at work that i could have gotten the wrap done for free from AVERY DENNISON, they just released a new product which they show cased at Sema auto show 09 and it suppose to be top of the line. I'm thinking about getting front lip and if i do i will be going to get the whole bumper redone with their product.
I believe Avery Dennison brought camaro(bumble bee) with wrap to the sema show.

jime

I had one installed on my Anthracite TL in December of 2003 when I had 100 miles on my new 2004. I now have 92,000 miles on my TL

Hood and top of fenders: Product works great to protect from chips. After 2-3 years it started becoming a little duller than the rest of the hood/top of fenders. I took the portion off the hood a year or so ago and just have it on the top of the fenders. Now after 6 years what is left on the top of the fenders is definitely duller than the rest of the car and I notice that the edges seem to be splitting. I plan to remove this portion of the clear bra when it gets a little warmer.

Front of car: Product works great to protect from all types of damage. I even hit parts of what looked like a demolished white picket fence board that came flying into my car on the freeway at 70 mph – no damage at all. It has not faded and you can’t even tell it is on the car.

Back of rear view mirrors: Product has done its job as there are still no chips, but the plastic is quite chipped and ugly after 90,000 miles. I plan to remove these sections this summer.

I don’t know if I will purchase a clear bra for my next car, but I would certainly consider one.

Red89gt

I have the 3m product on my wdp tl.
So far it is holding up great, have to be careful what you clean them with. Any petro products, wax cleaner, bug tar remover, etc. will stain and yellow the product as warned by the installer. I use clay bar and nsx so all good.