So I got my car detailed and later clear bra will be installed. Detailing costs $150 and clear bra is $960. I was wondering if and how much I should tip for each service. Thanks.

 

you're payin 150 for the detail...doesn't really call for a tip...and esp no tip for the clear bra...thats a hefty price tag to begin with...

 

Most detailers own their own businesses. At least the one's that I've used. I don't tip because of this.

 

where in So Cal are you getting the bra installed?

 

Well, the clear bra price is actually pretty good. I'm not getting the normal one which is just 1/2 hood and 1/2 fender. I got the one that covers the whole fender and hood. So I think the price is good. Actually, I'm not too sure if its called detailing. I believe they're putting some sort of a sealent on my car.

I actually talked to a guy at inspireauto.com. If you want, i'll let you know what I think about the work. Since I have a black TL, it'll be easier to find flaws. I'll post pictures tomorrow probably when I have take the car into the sun and look at it.

 

so I got the clear bra installed. Overall I'm pretty happy with it considering that I have a black car. The guy said to give it a few weeks for things to setting down. Let u guys know how it goes.

 

I installed a clear bra in my wife's white lexus last fall, Pulled all the yellow plastic off yesterday!! I would not recommend it on white.

ml

 

Porkipine...post some PICS when you get the chance

 

Will post pictures soon. Hang in there

 

Whats the reasoning behind this? What if he did exceptional work for you .. ?


I get tipped often .. because of the work quality

 

So finally got a chance to take some pictures. Sorry I'm not too good at photo taking so this is what I can do.

Two pictures of the car with clear bra on. Can't really see it. At least for me.



Now here are some closer pictures I took to show what you might expect. I do have a NBP car so imperfections do spend out more I believe.

This is a picture of the toe hook cap. I believe the film just went over it.

This is the A from the acura from the front bumper. The film does go around it and does not cover it. I just bought a bumper insert to cover the letter so less part of the paint is exposed. Notice bottom left side of the A has parts of the film not attached to the bumper. It can be minimized but I don't know if you can totally avoid it.

Another picture next the the grill. Maybe also because its a sharper corner, the film does not sit on the paint completely. But I'm still ok with that.

This is from below the headlight. Just another picture of waht you might see on the edges. Like I said, can me minimized but not sure if you can totally get rid of it.

This picture shows tha there is about 1/8 of an inch between the film to the side. I did get my whole hood and fender covered. I looked at the guy's car who did the installation (silver TL) and he only have partial coverage. You can definitly see the lines.

So there are bubles in the headlight and foglight film. Supposely it should go away. If not, the installer is willing to replace them.



There are some fine scratches on the film when I got it installed. I'm not sure it can be avoided or not but I read somewhere on the forum you might be able to take them out. I tried getting shots of the scratch but it does not show on the picture. I got my clear bra film installed from www.inspireauto.com. He does mobile installation as long as you have a covered place and enough light. I hope this help you guys.

 

porkipine...I'm sorry that I have to tell you this, but that is a bad PPF job, there shouldn't be that kind of area along the front end of the hood that's un protected, rather it should be covered and folded under the hood, also the gap (pretty uneven too) along the bumper near the headlights is not supposed to be there...it should be covering all of the front bumper area without those gaps

 

Maybe the pictures aren't doing it justice but to me that doesn't look like good work. I wouldn't be happy with the edges looking like that, especially under the headlights.

 

Interesting. The thing is the guy bought the film pre-cut from xpel. Because I just told him what parts I want installed from the xpel site Linky . So I thought the small gap is normal since the size of the kits are fixed. I remember someone did mentioning it does leave a small gap at the edges. When u said the one u got goes in, is it custom cut? Can't really do much now but I'm pretty ok with what was done. Just want to know a bit more if someone was to ask me questions. Thanks.

 

Mine was pre-cut as well...they left no spaces near the front or side edges of the hood as they folded it under...also there is no visible line along the bottom of the headlights...the only place the lines can be seen is along the top and sides by the fenders where the film stops and the normal paint is exposed...I'm calling my lexus dealer (who did the installation) tomorrow as there are certain uneven small 1-2 sq. inch areas near the headlights where the bumper bends etc leaving very minor wrinkling there....also there are some areas of air bubbles, this after having it on for 4 weeks now....I must say I am keen on looking at whatever I buy/pay for in detail and for this reason have a problem...so I'm going to have them either redo it or give me some money (around $300-$400) back if they dont want to go and redo it....I STRONGLY suggest you either have them redo it properly or the wiser choice would be to make them refund you in full and remove the film if they choose, if they dont comply simply reject the credit card charage

 

umm... seeing that makes me not want to get a clear bra... that looks HORRIBLE... i thought the idea was that you can't see the bra... for a $1,000 i rather get my paint fixed in 3 years...

 

That money should've been used towards a TL-S...imo. Anyway, if I were you though, I'd detail the car myself. That's what I'm doing this Saturday morning, eh. My first wash for the car.

 

maybe you can see if he will do the bumper for you again...

i had mine done by inspireauto and it was better...

 

I had my '05 TL and now my '07 TL-S done with 3M Clear Bra and it is virtually perfect. It doesn't have any of these unsmooth edges, overhanging pieces or imperfections. My installer said that the 3M product is excellent, but much harder to work with than some of its competitors. You need a very good, experienced installer so the product doesn't get stretched or lay improperly.

I would ask the installer to try again. If it doesn't look 100% better, I would insist on a refund.

Here are a couple pictures I have of my clear bra on my TL-S. They don't show the same detail as your pictures, but you get the idea.

IMG]http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s312/carguyrob/TL-Sfrntqtrpanelclearbrasml.jpg[/IMG]

 

Oops...

 

My reasoning on this is, they own the business, they set the prices and make the profit. In my area these rates are crazy. Unfortunately I haven't encountered someone that has done more than what the say they'll do to begin with. When/if I find that, maybe I'll tip.

I did just tip the guy who installed my dishwasher $20, he made sure that he didn't scratch my wood floors, anything that he dirtied he clean it up immediately. My kitchen and my house looked as if he wasn't even there, except the new d/w. He gets paid buy a company that makes the bigger money, so I tip him. Others would have me cleaning up after they left, such as the case when the locksmith was here a week later.

 

Interesting thread. I just went out and double-checked my clear bra. Appears all covering ends just short of the edge, I'd guess about 1/8" all around, and it does not wrap under the hood. However, it looks terrific, no bubbles, you can't even see it's there, except in certain lighting at an angle. My BIL was in the garage looking at it for the first time, and shouted out that I had a huge scratch along the hood, did I do that? LOL.
Edited to add: I have CBP, so maybe that makes a difference in how noticeable it is. And I have to add that the paint IS very soft as I've seen others remark. I've noticed a chip on the hood, just past where the bra ends.

 

Pretty much agree with you here on the tipping stuff. Tipping was originally done to supplement the low/min wage of workers. Then, it gradually changed to include those who go "above and beyond the call of duty" in there job. Now, we have tip jars everywhere for people who do nothing.

Anyway, I may tip an employee of a company for doing an extra special job, but I definately wouldn't tip someone who left something for me to clean up, nor would I tip the owner of a company if he did the work.

 

Interesting Post. I too am looking at having a clear bra put on my 06 ASM. I did not think it was nearly that expensive though? I thought $400-$500 tops. I have a freind who works at a shop and is putting a Ron Jon kit on for me as we speak. I wanted to put the 3M clear bra on right away before I get any chips. My buddy said he would only charge me for the labor and not for the film. His guy does it custom and rolls the film under the hood. I remember when I bought my wife a lexux IS250 last november they offered to put the clear bra on and I thought it was only $400?? That may have been for a partial kit I don't remember?

Whats the prices everyone has paid for the clear bra????

 

You should be able to get the extended hood kit, full front bumper and the side mirrors for about $500 (depending on the market pricing).