[Z06] Clear Bras
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
Clear Bras
I bought my yellow '03 Z in New Jersey two months ago and drove it home to Denver (that's a whole 'nuther great story). There is one small mar on the hood from some jerk throwing ice out of his window in front of me.
I'm considering having a clear bra installed, and after getting prices from a guy who is familiar with Vettes, I would like your opinions and experiences.
He'll do hood and fenders (to tops of headlights) and mirrors for $170, and I figure that's the minimum. He'll do the front bumper for another $150, but I don't how susceptible the soft bumper is to chips. Then he'll continue behind the wheelwells and on rocker panels. The whole "package" then is $400. He has also covered parts of rear decks and rear bumpers as well as the lower half of doors (told him I was beginning to visualize a Z06 completely wrapped in 3M!).
Any advice would be appreciated, and probably followed, since I'm impressed with what I've been seeing on this site. Thanks.
I'm considering having a clear bra installed, and after getting prices from a guy who is familiar with Vettes, I would like your opinions and experiences.
He'll do hood and fenders (to tops of headlights) and mirrors for $170, and I figure that's the minimum. He'll do the front bumper for another $150, but I don't how susceptible the soft bumper is to chips. Then he'll continue behind the wheelwells and on rocker panels. The whole "package" then is $400. He has also covered parts of rear decks and rear bumpers as well as the lower half of doors (told him I was beginning to visualize a Z06 completely wrapped in 3M!).
Any advice would be appreciated, and probably followed, since I'm impressed with what I've been seeing on this site. Thanks.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere CA
I had my black 04 Z06 delivered from the dealer to the Ultimate Auto Care in So Cal on a flatbed. He did the entire front end (up to the headlights), Side View Mirrors and rear of wheels.
Used 3M tape, took him 3 hours and not a blemish anywhere. 8000 miles on the car with a lot of Desert driving - I visit quite a lot of military basis & out in the Yuma desert, I open it up all the time - 160 on average.
Best $600 I ever spent - you get what you pay for! Since then, I had the Suburban and the wife's Jaquar done - at a discount.
Good luck
Used 3M tape, took him 3 hours and not a blemish anywhere. 8000 miles on the car with a lot of Desert driving - I visit quite a lot of military basis & out in the Yuma desert, I open it up all the time - 160 on average.
Best $600 I ever spent - you get what you pay for! Since then, I had the Suburban and the wife's Jaquar done - at a discount.
Good luck
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Best thing you could ever do to keep your car in new condition and not have to repaint. The place that takes the most beating but is the least noticable that people forget about is the entire rocker panel between the front and rear wheels, and the bottom edge of the door that angles down towards the rocker panel. I have seen cars with only a few thousand miles on them where if you look close enough these areas are already damaged with chips. The tires kick up sand and gravel bad there. I just bought an 02 Torch Red Z06 with 8k on it and that is the first thing I did. 3M is good stuff!!! 
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Do it all! Those prices are unbelievably low!! Go for it, or CO will eat your paint alive. I know I made the mistake of not having it done, and in a year there were more chips than paint left.... An expensive lesson...
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Pro
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 706
Likes: 1
From: Somewhere CA
It does yellow after 4 years or so, but against dark colors or if not exposed to the sun all the time, you will not see a difference.
The 3M tape was originally manufactured for Helicopter rotor blased - chip prevention! Its pretty hard stuff! An by the way, don't use a novice on this - it takes a pretty good hand to apply.
The 3M tape was originally manufactured for Helicopter rotor blased - chip prevention! Its pretty hard stuff! An by the way, don't use a novice on this - it takes a pretty good hand to apply.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Denver CO
Thanks for all the good comments and advice. I'll go with the hood, bumper, mirrors, wheelwells, rocker panels, and lower doors.
My installer says the latest generation of 3M is guaranteed 5 years against yellowing, cracks, stains, discoloration, and shrinking. He's been doing it for 11 years, so I'm hoping for good results.
HHZ06 is right on - I had my wife's Explorer done 2 years ago by an amateur, and it looks terrible.
My installer says the latest generation of 3M is guaranteed 5 years against yellowing, cracks, stains, discoloration, and shrinking. He's been doing it for 11 years, so I'm hoping for good results.
HHZ06 is right on - I had my wife's Explorer done 2 years ago by an amateur, and it looks terrible.
