jeroplex

i think its almost time for love bugs. what do you guys do to prepare for this? im thinking of buying a nose bra just to avoid the hassle of cleaning them off everyday

FlipRizzi

nano fusion clear bra =) not from florida

ssjoeboe9

Got an oem carbon fiber weave bra. Works great, even through the harsh weather.

jeroplex

yea my paint isnt great. i thought that clear bra had to be put on when the car was new or no paint blemishes

Professor

Don't drive as fast. Let the bugs have time to fly out of the way.

BaoZZeR

Speed limit in gville is 20-30 mostly where I go so I don't get love bugs unless im going down south, but I'm interested in solutions as well

PyroDave

TN gets them just the same. trust me. i drove from NJ to TN for bonnaroo, and didn't clean them off so they baked in the TN sun for a week. i needed to get them BUFFED off, and that even took some effort. this was in june btw lmfao.

swarlos

yea. if you didnt get a clear bra when the car was new it may no longer be a good option. any imperfections or chips will probably cause bubbles. I would just get the oem and bra and keep it on. Thats what I'm going to do. I usually do a partial bra for the drive down to miami. But during love bug season, i put on the entire thing. Just remember to take it off after a rain storm. I've heard it can ruin your paint if you allow it to sit like a wet sponge on top of your paint. Or just let em eat up your front bumper. Good excuse to get an aero bumper lol.

a35tl

How long does the "lovebug" season last? Is it just a short period or all spring and summer? Not from FL.

TSXKid2010

Yeah Louisiana gets this problem pretty bad too. And I commute pretty long everyday, so usually by the end I have a graveyard on my bumper. I wash my car every week during lovebug season, use a pressure washer on the lowest settings and then use a paint safe scrubber from a body shop my uncle gave me. Does the trick. Using a pressure washer really makes a difference on how easy the bugs are to remove!

Professor

Idea #2: Blow the car horn.

ceb

There is no such thing as a "paint safe" scrubber. In addition, body shops know nothing about paint care.

The best way to remove bugs is to prep the surface beforehand.

Create a smooth surface by claying and polishing. Add a few coats of a quality sealant and wax and use a quality bug and tar chemical to remove the carcasses - then re-wax.

swarlos

Best way I have found to get them off is claybar then re apply a nice quality carnuba wax. I heard that dryer sheets remove the splatter pretty well too. But its taboo to use anything but natural fibers to scrub a cars finish. Could leave swirl marks. =(

Speed2000

I've put paint protection film over all kinds of blemishs and have been surprised many times at how much better the car looks. Obviously its not going to help a black chip on a white car, but small scratches that aren't through to primer disappearing as well as all bug etching. A few years back I tried to talk a customer out of putting one on big red G35, it was horribly ate up by bugs, why protect that? But he wanted it so we covered it and I couldn't believe how the well the film hid all the etched clearcoat.

For those who already think its too late, find a local installer and ask them for some scraps to put over a small section. It's like putting a new clearcoat on.

jeroplex

which do you guys recommend? 3m, venturesheild, avery etc?

PyroDave

nano fusion. only. see benbens thread, i believe we discussed it there haha

Speed2000

The Nano film from Avery seems to do the best with bug etching, although its very hard to get due to production shortages. These bugs were deliberately left on for over a month and cleaned right off.

ceb

Depends who you ask. Speed2000 is the resident clear bra expert here and he prefers the Avery product. Other installers like other products and each has a very persuasive reason why their film is "better."

The installer is more important than the film. Find a good installer and there is a good chance that he'll be using good film.

Greggsg

I am thinking about having the Clear Bra put on the '10 TL SHAWD 6mt I just bought. Tint World wants about $495 for this with a "lifetime" warrantee. it does the nose, part of the hood and the mirrors.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Gregg

Speed2000

First off, lifetime warranties are a tool for poor salesmanship. There are a few film companies doing this but come on. Five years is about as long as you would want to leave ANYONE'S paint protection film. Over time it loses its plasisizors. Like an old shower curtain, or tires on an old car, it will eventually become brittle and at that point becomes almost useless for protection and nearly impossible to remove.

Can't quote prices, that's going to vary wildly depending on the company and locatoin. I have a shop with overhead costs, some work out of the trunk of their mom's car. I can say if your quote includes the bumper, ya got me beat.

Mr. NC

Drive so fast thus creating a vortex of air pressure that just whips up and around the car? Pushing any and all things away from car?

centflatsx

I do not do a thing..lol I wipe them off as quick as possible, and no special coatings or bra. I lease so it is not much of a worry. I would not worry too much if you lease or bought. Just wash your car within 24 hours with a sponge that has the scrub pad on one side. Enjoy the ride.

BaoZZeR

Um the scrub side of everyday dish sponges will scratch the shit out of your car lol

ceb

Reason 4973 for never buying an off lease car.

PyroDave

we haven't broken 5000 yet? PM me, i'll list you 27 things that i've done to my car that would make you never wanna buy it. 3 of those things are ed's mom, just saying

drove down the turnpike today right after getting a wash, windshield, grill, and bumper covered in guts... this was in my MDX

ceb

OK, I'll add those 27 so we're up to 5000 now. Let me add one more ("I use only 85 octane because it is a lease") so we're at 5001.

PyroDave

i prefer no octane. that way, whenever im on a roadtrip, i can just pee in the tank instead of going to a gas station. problem?

ceb

It isn't a problem as long as it is a lease. However, you might want to devise a mod where you can pee directly into the tank from the driver's seat - that way you won't get done for indecent exposure

opboarding

Turn your seats into toilets. Best idea ever for road trips, think of all the time you'd save!