to those with the clear bra (Invisiguard), did you have second thoughts or realized it was not worth it due to the visible lines left on the car?

when waxing, will there be leftover wax left at the edge of the film which make it harder to wax and buff the car?

i'm in a dilemma now whether this add-on is really worth it or not

could use some help here deciding.

 

I noticed it a bit more than I thought I would but then again I was looking hard to see where the lines were. The only line you'll ever notice on a daily basis is the hood/fender.

But when I think of what my BMW's hood looked like after 6yrs/138k miles and then take into account the $700 I spent to have the hood/fenders repainted before I could even sell the car (and had 3 chips within a month of painting), the $470 I spent on the ClearBra was well worth it and so is the line. I see that line and think of how smart I am to protect my car.

I haven't waxed yet, will do this wkend, so I can't say what it's gonna look like but I've heard that it's not noticable.

 

It's more noticeable then I originally thought, but I found 2 other cars at my work parking lot with clear bra on them as well, and they were equally visible. The line doesn't really bother me, after all, think of it as one of those black leather bra, but MUCH MUCH less visible!

 

The place where I was tinting my windows advertising a Llumar Paint Protector, it LOOKED clearer than the competing products, including clear bra. Might want to check that out.

 

I now have 6800 miles of mostly freeway driving and no paint chips. I forget the bra is on the car most of the time. When I wash it or wax the car I notice that the bra has almost the same reflective qualities of the rest of the car. If I look at it closely I can still see some "adhesion spots" (look like fingerprints).

I am very pleased with my clear bra investment. My 1995 Legend coupe looked terrible after 140,000 miles of similar driving conditions.

 

If they are installed correctly (and if you don't have a white car) they look pretty good. I have it on my car and it was great until I called the guy back about a distortion that I saw. He ordered a new panel to replace the center hood piece and really messed it up on the re-install. It just got warm here so I will be having it re-done shortly. Get a good installer, get references and get an iron clad agreement to not damage your car when installing.

 

This statement about sums it up

This film was designed to be an alternative to a traditional vinyl car bra (that looks much worse and in time causes more problems then they solve) that still provides the same level of protection while being nearly invisible. That said, any film that is going to provide any meaningful amount of protection will be thick enough to leave a rasied edge, though as you have already seen, this edge is only really visible within about 5 feet, and even then you typically have to be looking for it to see it, the majority of people passing by your car will never even notice it unless they are told about it. But if your the type of person where even this bothers you, than you will really be unhappy in a year or two with how noticeable an unprotected front end looks!

If anyone has any other question about clear bras feel ree to drop us a line!
Jeremy
Invisiguard@sbcglobal.net

 

I have a black car with the Xpel extended kit installed. I waited until about 8 or 9 thousand miles to put mine on. In that time, I already had tiny chips on my hood. We were noticing it as the PPF was being installed. The line is nothing compared to what my black '97 Maxima's front end looked like. Gimme lines over that hood that looked like somebody had nailed it repeatedly with a meat tenderizer!

I'll put the kit on any future cars I buy as well - no doubt in my mind.

 

Rocketsfan, what brand of stuff did you put on your car? How much?

Thanks.

 

This is really interesting - I hadn't heard of this product before. Do you get this at the dealer or aftermarket? Is it permanent? How does it look on the silver?

Stonechips are a real problem here - lots of dirt trucks spitting gravel behind them (Vegas has no soil, just sand and rocks). How does this thing stand up against bigger rocks? I don't mean boulders, but something big enough to leave a big stone chip? My truck is peppered with them, and the lovely low nose on the Acura will be toast.

 

Some dealerships sell this as an option but not many, look here for a dealer finder by ZIP code, Xpel.com , if that doesnt find one close enough to you try Chad at Rockblocker.com, he knows alot of good installers in the country and might know someone out in Vegas

And yes this film will protect against pretty big hits, I have seen cars that were in accidents where the bumper folded but the paint was still perfect under the film, cant ask for much more!

 

my previous car was bombarded with chips but i still couldn't get myself past the clear flim on the car. i saw the clear bra in person at the car show on a silver car and it stuck out like a sore thumb to me. i know it will cost me more to repaint the hood and/or fenders later on. but i can't stand to spend $500 now and have that film annoy me for the next few years.

 

I got it installed from Invisiguard.

I'll rather have a visible line on the hood than chips. Actually it is pretty invisible. None of the friends noticed it until I told them. I've Zainoes recently after installation and did not find any wax residue, however, I've not "waxed" it so would not know.

Get it done. Jeremy is very good installer and I'll recommend him. Very professional and prompt in answering any queries you might have. He used Llumar film on paint and 3M films on headlights. Guranteed for life as long as you own the car.

 

Thanks guys, I'll look into it when I get closer to getting the car (probably an '05 after October). Of course, it depends of how it looks and whether I can persuade hubby that it's a good idea!

 

I dont know any in Vegas but in Scottsdale I have a great installer there if needed. We will be in AZ next month too for an installfest. BTW, it looks awesome!!

 

Hmmm is it just on the lower bumper on that picture? Where the paint looks a little darker? And can I get the whole car done in it? Extra thick to protect from door dings, shopping carts, etc?

Mmmm Toasty! Arizona in June! Especially if you're headed to Phoenix. My old 2000Tl came from Scottsdale Acura - great folks!

 

Actually it is the full kit on the car. The hood, fenders, mirrors, mirrors posts and front bumper pieces. Here are a couple more. Hit me up if you want to come down and have it installed.

 

Once installed, how difficult is it remove? Assuming that the film takes multiple hits, does the film itself eventually show wear (ie, scuffs, tears, etc.) and thus eventually be replaced?

 

rets,

I put the Xpel kit on mine. I drove from Dallas to San Antonio to get it done by "Xpel Headquarters". I got the extended coverage bumper and extended coverage hood + headlights for $725. The standard coverage alone was a bit under $400 I believe.

 

The product is not that difficult to remove and will not harm your paint if taken off my a trained installer. You cant just rip it off. Yes the product can take some scuffs and hits over the years. I actually just got my pentration in the film on my fourth vehicle and 200,000 miles. The cool thing was the paint isnt damaged.

 

http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin...CURA&model=RDX

 

Back from the dead?

 

I have had several cars with the clear bras. The only one that seems to last and NOT get dull looking is the 3m product. Have it on Rl and corvette, the Mdx was another brand and is dull looking now. I have expel headlight and fog lamps on my other car MDX and they have turned to junk also. Standard bulbs and the fog lamp covers have blistered. The headlight have turned yellow and curling on edges.

 

I bought my TL with 6 miles on it. Drove it a whole winter and noticed how pitted the front bumper was in just a few short months. I too was worried abut the line which is why I didn't do it in the first place. Maybe it's the vertical part of the front bumper that caused the damage, but I was shocked at how pitted the front end was in only a few months. I took side roads and never drove on the highway too!

So, I bought a 3M bra from invisible mask a few years ago. It cost me about $300ish. The $900 local price was crazy. Installation was not easy and it does not look perfect, but I saved some money and assume it will be pulled off in about 4 to 5 years anyway.

My half hood kit included lights and mirrors. The line does not bother me and I have a lot of stretch marks which no one sees until I point them out. I just wish I had done it right when I bought it.

 

have any pictures? Ive heard these turn yellow after time.. but im sure it'll only be noticable on white