[Mrkalu]

I went to my dealership today and asked them about the clear bra for the Q50, apparently it's not available. Love bug season is approaching and I want to keep my Q protected. What are you using if anything ? Where else can I get the clear bra?

 

[nadir]

I got quoted for Suntek clear bra today ... $700 installed w/ 5 yr warranty. I don't think they make clear bras specific to cars - it's similar to how they apply tint. Most tint shops have this service.

 

[gbert15]

I think its been mentioned on another thread that xpel ultimate makes nice clear bras and one of our members has it on his Q50! Its basically the same as applying vinyl car wraps so shops should be able to fit them even if they dont have pre-cut films!

 

[Mrkalu]

I got quoted for Suntek clear bra today ... $700 installed w/ 5 yr warranty. I don't think they make clear bras specific to cars - it's similar to how they apply tint. Most tint shops have this service.

700!! but thanks. Didn't know where did you get quoted?

 

[Mrkalu]

I think its been mentioned on another thread that xpel ultimate makes nice clear bras and one of our members has it on his Q50! Its basically the same as applying vinyl car wraps so shops should be able to fit them even if they dont have pre-cut films!

Anything on yours??

 

[gbert15]

700!! but thanks. Didn't know where did you get quoted?

Sorry but thats how it runs! Even gets up to around $1200-$1500 for the full hood+front bumper+fenders

 

[gbert15]

Anything on yours??

Nope! Didnt invest in one! Wanna use that money on wheels instead!

 

[Mrkalu]

No bugs in your state? -__-

 

[nadir]

700!! but thanks. Didn't know where did you get quoted?

A tint shop ... paid $225 for my tint all around so I didn't think their clear bra price was all that off. I know in the San Francisco Bay Area clear bras range from 500-1000+ depending on how much you decide to cover and the brand of product. The $700 covered the bumpers up to 1/3 the way on the hood. It also covered the back of the mirrors.

 

[Mrkalu]

Okay thanks! I'm in Florida so ill start hunting.

 

[gbert15]

No bugs in your state? -__-

Haha! Not much but I dont travel as much as well cuz everything is nearby! If anything, i'll clean it up right away but would have loved the clear bra for some protection from rock chips!

 

[jeffkc]

I have been conversing with a professional detail shop, locally that applies a paint protection, good for 2 years. My question stems from the order of things

tint, clear bra, detail

----------
The feedback I got was
The new car prep would be great for the bugs and tar. It does cure harder than the clear coat on the paint, but, that doesn't guarantee that a rock flying at you won't chip the paint. Clear bras really depend on the person. Some people love them, some people hate them. The pro with the clear bra is that it stops visible damage from rock chips and the acidity of bug guts eating your paint up. The down side is that it can fade itself, the paint around it will be faded if you ever remove it, and often a rock will still chip the paint but the paint piece is held in place beneath the clear bra until you remove it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably get the clear bra, then do the detail. A lot of time whoever puts it on will scuff places or put swirls in the paint. Plus, we can put the coating on the clear bra as well, we just need to know if it's self healing or not so we use the right type of technology.
------------------

I would love to know the experience of clear bras on previous vehicles. I know I wish I had one on my previous G

 

[NeilQ50]

My local Ziebart installed something similar. Goes up about 12 inches up the hood. The entire front is also covered. The pieces fit perfectly on all the ins and outs of the front end. $500 installed.

PROTECTIVE FILMS

 

[doodlebug]

I can speak to my experience with a clear bra on my current car. My car had a dealer installed clear bra when I purchased it in 2007. I am so glad that it did. Obviously, the original bra was not the best quality and yellowed within a couple of years. My husband and I removed the old one and installed a new one (3M I think). When we took the original bra off, there was absolutely no fading to the paint at all (perhaps because of my obsession with keeping the car Zaino'd at all times). Going forward, I will always have one on any new car that I purchase.

 

[Mindflux]

I can speak to my experience with a clear bra on my current car. My car had a dealer installed clear bra when I purchased it in 2007. I am so glad that it did. Obviously, the original bra was not the best quality and yellowed within a couple of years. My husband and I removed the old one and installed a new one (3M I think). When we took the original bra off, there was absolutely no fading to the paint at all (perhaps because of my obsession with keeping the car Zaino'd at all times). Going forward, I will always have one on any new car that I purchase.

Waxing your clear bra will help keep it from yellowing. Also they seem to yellow faster on white vehicles (or it's just more apparent, not sure?). Zaino rocks

 

[theNewQ]

The dealer did mine, included in the deal. I'm not sure what brand of film it is but they told me it was pre-cut for the Q50S bumper. It's barely noticeable and the bugs just seem to fall right off of it

They backed the cost of it off the price of the car but its listed on the bill of sale at $730 including front fenders and 12" up the hood. This is a must have especially if you own the car.

 

[bdbaity]

I went to my dealership today and asked them about the clear bra for the Q50, apparently it's not available. Love bug season is approaching and I want to keep my Q protected. What are you using if anything ? Where else can I get the clear bra?

I have xpel ultimate on my car. It is a template from Xpel btw. You can't see the bra at all. The only place it is noticeable is looking from the front doors to the hood. You can see a faint line from that angle.

I would google window tint installers in your area (some do CB or can point in the right direction) and look at the reviews for the shops and get prices and their brands of film they use. From my understanding and countless hours researching on various car forums the notable brands are as follows. ... Ventureshield < 3m < Xpel Extreme < Xpel Ultimate & Xpel's templates are apparently the best also!


I have had all 3 and Xpel is the best from my experience.

 

[brianch]

I have been conversing with a professional detail shop, locally that applies a paint protection, good for 2 years. My question stems from the order of things

tint, clear bra, detail

----------
The feedback I got was
The new car prep would be great for the bugs and tar. It does cure harder than the clear coat on the paint, but, that doesn't guarantee that a rock flying at you won't chip the paint. Clear bras really depend on the person. Some people love them, some people hate them. The pro with the clear bra is that it stops visible damage from rock chips and the acidity of bug guts eating your paint up. The down side is that it can fade itself, the paint around it will be faded if you ever remove it, and often a rock will still chip the paint but the paint piece is held in place beneath the clear bra until you remove it.

If I were in your shoes, I'd probably get the clear bra, then do the detail. A lot of time whoever puts it on will scuff places or put swirls in the paint. Plus, we can put the coating on the clear bra as well, we just need to know if it's self healing or not so we use the right type of technology.
------------------

I would love to know the experience of clear bras on previous vehicles. I know I wish I had one on my previous G

you can do it either way around it doesnt really matter.

you can apply the paint protection on top of the clearbra as well.

So you can clearbra and then apply the paint protection to the whole car.

or paint protection first (since they polish out all imperfections first) apply clearbra and then go back and have the paint protection formula applied to the clearbra.

 

[RocketsFan]

I have had a clearbra on my car since about a couple of months after I bought it. After about 4-5 years, it started to show its age. It's taken a beating from car washes, tons of interstate driving, tons of 100+ temps, quite a few sub-freezing temps, etc. I also didn't baby it by waxing the vehicle or anything. It looks like crap now. I'm still debating whether or not I'll get another one. I tend to hold onto my cars for 7-10 years, so by the time I'm done with it, the clear bra will probably look like crap.

Also, bug splatter can also dry on the film just like on the car's paint, so you better be cleaning ASAP. About the best thing it's good for is stopping paint chips.

 

[bdbaity]

I have had a clearbra on my car since about a couple of months after I bought it. After about 4-5 years, it started to show its age. It's taken a beating from car washes, tons of interstate driving, tons of 100+ temps, quite a few sub-freezing temps, etc. I also didn't baby it by waxing the vehicle or anything. It looks like crap now. I'm still debating whether or not I'll get another one. I tend to hold onto my cars for 7-10 years, so by the time I'm done with it, the clear bra will probably look like crap.

Also, bug splatter can also dry on the film just like on the car's paint, so you better be cleaning ASAP. About the best thing it's good for is stopping paint chips.

It's all about the kind of film and upkeep. If you spend less and go with lower quality film and not keep it waxed or take care of it you will run into issues.