Going Bra-less
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 3
From: DFW Texas
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
I remember one recent thread about a black Vette for sale at Standford. The pictures taken at about 12 feet look like it was sandblasted.
Bras are easier to see on a dark car but so is a partial repaint jobs.
I don't tailgate in my non DD and I picked up a chip on the back half of my hood. My clear bra only went back half way. Another member picked one up on the front half but the clear bra.
A lot of the quality depends on the installer.
Bras are easier to see on a dark car but so is a partial repaint jobs.
I don't tailgate in my non DD and I picked up a chip on the back half of my hood. My clear bra only went back half way. Another member picked one up on the front half but the clear bra.
A lot of the quality depends on the installer.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
My $0.02... I made the mistake of not putting a clear bra on my Z06 5 years ago. I told myself if I ever get it re-painted I'm getting a clear bra stat. My car is going over to the local ultrashield installer next week for the 3m 8mil film.
These cars get really beat up if you drive them and certain colors are evil to match... especially yellow. I suffered through 5 years of owning a mismatched car after someone hit me 2 weeks after I got her.
This go around I painted the car with a 2-stage paint vs. the tinted clear of the OEM millenium yellow (velocity yellow is a 3-stage too) for easier matching.
These cars get really beat up if you drive them and certain colors are evil to match... especially yellow. I suffered through 5 years of owning a mismatched car after someone hit me 2 weeks after I got her.
This go around I painted the car with a 2-stage paint vs. the tinted clear of the OEM millenium yellow (velocity yellow is a 3-stage too) for easier matching.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 3
From: DFW Texas
My $0.02... I made the mistake of not putting a clear bra on my Z06 5 years ago. I told myself if I ever get it re-painted I'm getting a clear bra stat. My car is going over to the local ultrashield installer next week for the 3m 8mil film.
These cars get really beat up if you drive them and certain colors are evil to match... especially yellow. I suffered through 5 years of owning a mismatched car after someone hit me 2 weeks after I got her.
This go around I painted the car with a 2-stage paint vs. the tinted clear of the OEM millenium yellow (velocity yellow is a 3-stage too) for easier matching.
These cars get really beat up if you drive them and certain colors are evil to match... especially yellow. I suffered through 5 years of owning a mismatched car after someone hit me 2 weeks after I got her.
This go around I painted the car with a 2-stage paint vs. the tinted clear of the OEM millenium yellow (velocity yellow is a 3-stage too) for easier matching.
Make sure you wait about 30 days before having the kit installed. The paint needs to fully cure out before putting the film on.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
^ That's what they use as a rule, but my painter has baked everything and it's all BASF product. He and the 3M installer have said I'm good to go after 3 days... it's been about 2 weeks.
16 Vettes and counting…..
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1,146
I didn't get a clear bra for that reason, as I saw a few in person and I can still see it. I run a SL bra, sure, it doesn't look terrific on but I can take it off when not needed and you don't see anything. Best of both worlds. When you need it you are protected better than just a clear film and then when you don't need it you can completely remove it. 
The people who "swear" these things are invisible either need glasses or they're trying to convince themselves they didn't waste several hundred bucks on an ugly, worthless mod.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
I have never really liked the Clear Bra's on cars. To me it is like putting vinyl slip covers on a couch.
I would rather re-paint when and if it is necessary. In the past, I usually repairthe chips my self with a little painting, sanding and buffing. I then have a pro spray a few coats of clear over the entire car then wet sand an buff....
About $1,500-2,000 and it looks BETTER than new....
I would rather re-paint when and if it is necessary. In the past, I usually repairthe chips my self with a little painting, sanding and buffing. I then have a pro spray a few coats of clear over the entire car then wet sand an buff....
About $1,500-2,000 and it looks BETTER than new....
Just deal with it until you decide to re-paint the bumper.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
Why save the car for someone else? Use it, if something happens it can be fixed.
My car has a small nick in the front bumper under the light, when clean you can't see it except up close. I choose to ignore it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 60
From: Haymarket Virginia
I had a clear bra on my black F-350 truck and HATED IT!!! I thought about it on my C6 but after seeing a few in person I decided not to do it. I'd rather have a repaint but that's just me
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
FYI it really depends on the brand, the film thickness, and the installer. Done correctly you can barely see them. Yes there are some that look horrible, but thats usually due to too thick of a film and poor install.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 19,574
Likes: 167
From: Frederick, MD
No one said they are invisible. However, they look a lot better then having a bunch of craters in your car that look terrible from 15 feet away. From the same distance you won't see the bra on my car.
I deliberately caught the line above the tire just to show where the bra is.
16 Vettes and counting…..
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1,146
No one said they are invisible. However, they look a lot better then having a bunch of craters in your car that look terrible from 15 feet away. From the same distance you won't see the bra on my car.
I deliberately caught the line above the tire just to show where the bra is.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
From what I've seen the so-called invisible bras do what they're supposed to. That said, I've never had any desire to wrap my car in 'Saran Wrap.' I like my car to look nice but I'm not totally **** about it...I realize it's going to show some wear and tear over time. I live down the rock-strewn dirt road and I track my car (using PVC tape on the front leading edges and around the wheel wells) and so far I haven't sustained any damage worth getting upset over. I think you'll be fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 3
From: DFW Texas
A vinyl bra gives real protection and the clear bra doesnt??? I guess thats why you see a lot vinyl bras on the nose cones of aircraft and helicopter rotors. Because they can handle the high wind speeds that are generated... and the rocks/sand that hit them going 500+ miles per hour.
I guess I should be shocked to see the military using clear film instead of vinyl...Sounds to me like someone isnt ready to move with the advancement of technology. How does that 8-trak sound???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 5,411
Likes: 2
From: N Carolina 08 Z51 Coupe
I got tired of all the hassles and cost it takes to protect the car for the next owner..
I just drive it and so far the front end looks great except for one small nick you can barely see..
As was mentioned in a previous post... I will just repaint the front-end IF it is ever needed.
I just drive it and so far the front end looks great except for one small nick you can barely see..
As was mentioned in a previous post... I will just repaint the front-end IF it is ever needed.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 22
From: Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania
To each his own, some folks don't mind running around with white chips all over the front of the car. Just for me it drives me insane. I like the clear bra concept and usually get it just for the bugs. I hate scrubbing my clear coat after every evening drive. If you own black and drive it, you will get chips no matter how careful, and if I can do something to prevent 90% of them and a 4 day trip to the body shop every year, hey why not.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
I find it funny how so many are just like, "I'll paint it when the time comes", yet you have no idea how hard some of these paints can be to properly match. I guess if you don't care about paint match then that's fine, but anyone with a pickey eye will pickup on it.
As a former insurance adjuster I've been in many body shops and seen many cars being repaired... I've been through heck with my car getting hit 2 weeks after I got her back in '03.
Sometimes it's not that simple to just repaint it w/o chasing paint match around the car. I mean look at all these guys doing the Z06 quarter panels and having issues with paint matching to the door and rear facia.
As a former insurance adjuster I've been in many body shops and seen many cars being repaired... I've been through heck with my car getting hit 2 weeks after I got her back in '03.
Sometimes it's not that simple to just repaint it w/o chasing paint match around the car. I mean look at all these guys doing the Z06 quarter panels and having issues with paint matching to the door and rear facia.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,002
Likes: 2,679
That's why I have AW, easy as hell to paint match.
16 Vettes and counting…..
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 1,146
A vinyl bra gives real protection and the clear bra doesnt??? I guess thats why you see a lot vinyl bras on the nose cones of aircraft and helicopter rotors. Because they can handle the high wind speeds that are generated... and the rocks/sand that hit them going 500+ miles per hour. I guess I should be shocked to see the military using clear film instead of vinyl...
Sounds to me like someone isnt ready to move with the advancement of technology. How does that 8-trak sound???
I guess I should be shocked to see the military using clear film instead of vinyl...Sounds to me like someone isnt ready to move with the advancement of technology. How does that 8-trak sound???
The ugly clear bra will stop bugs all day long, but any road debris larger than a pebble can easily puncture the tape. Not only is the paint damaged, but the clear bra will need to be replaced.....what a great investment. A vinyl bra will easily stop what the clear bra cannot....and it can be removed at any time and the car will look original, something that NEVER be done with a clear bra, which looks crappier the longer it's on the car.
8-track? What's an 8-track, Grandpa?