Clear Bra issues
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Danville Ca
Clear Bra issues
Good day folks.
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,435
Likes: 19
From: Sioux Falls South Dakota
Good day folks.
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Mount Airy MD
In my experience once VentureShield is scratched it's permanent. I had it on my car, which black and it looked so bad that the installer peeled it all of and I went with the original 3m film which has an automotive clear coat on it and car be buffed using some care. The 3m film has more orange peel in it than the VentureShield film but the ability to remove scratches and scuffs makes it more appealing to me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 3
From: DFW Texas
I have been installing Venture for years and have never had this problem. How old is your film? If it has really lost its shine its because of improper maintenance. But there is a product I use that is excellent on film and will prevent much of what you have had from happening. Its made by LP AeroPlastics adn the link is below. I give a bottle out with all of my installs now. Get a bottle and try it... you will definately be impressed with the results. If you decide to go with VentureShield again, get the Ultra film. Its the new line of Venture and has a clear coat. Its much smoother and glossier than the standard film. Its more durable as well.... without all the orange peel 3M has.
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin...nerPolish.html
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin...nerPolish.html
Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 663
Likes: 172
From: Oklahoma
With Venture Shield you can take a heat gun and remove the scratches by slowly moving it over the surface. This is the upside to the material and actually gives new life to the film. I had some pretty significant scrathes put on my hood by a loving 3 yr old grand child that loved her grandfathers race car. Amazing but true that this process removed every evidence of the scracthes. You can not polish or clay bar the film to improve it. The heat will definitely do it.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,075
Likes: 6
From: Wilmington NC
Thanks for the info, I have VenturShield on the nose and mirrors of my 07 now for 3 years and it looks great (like the day it was installed) except for a couple of scratches. Your info. is appreciated.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Danville Ca
Hi,
The shield is not quite 3 years old. I had a local installer come out and he suggested a very fine polish with a sponge and then try to heat it with an industrial air dryer to remelt the scratches.
I called the guys that did the work and they thought a Meguirs swirl removing polish would help followed by denatured alcohol on a rag to to try to melt the scratches.
Any of these sound plausible? I will check out the product you mentioned too.
Many thanks for your help.
The shield is not quite 3 years old. I had a local installer come out and he suggested a very fine polish with a sponge and then try to heat it with an industrial air dryer to remelt the scratches.
I called the guys that did the work and they thought a Meguirs swirl removing polish would help followed by denatured alcohol on a rag to to try to melt the scratches.
Any of these sound plausible? I will check out the product you mentioned too.
Many thanks for your help.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 995
Likes: 24
From: Las Vegas NV
At this point I would just try to buff it out...I've had minor scuffs and scratches removed from my clear bra with an orbital buffer. Not sure if it's ventureshield or 3M...it was installed by the dealer when the car was purchased. Good luck....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,214
Likes: 894
I have been installing Venture for years and have never had this problem. How old is your film? If it has really lost its shine its because of improper maintenance. But there is a product I use that is excellent on film and will prevent much of what you have had from happening. Its made by LP AeroPlastics adn the link is below. I give a bottle out with all of my installs now. Get a bottle and try it... you will definately be impressed with the results. If you decide to go with VentureShield again, get the Ultra film. Its the new line of Venture and has a clear coat. Its much smoother and glossier than the standard film. Its more durable as well.... without all the orange peel 3M has.
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin...nerPolish.html
http://www.chiefaircraft.com/cgi-bin...nerPolish.html
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 2
From: Carlsbad CA
I was also specifically told NOT to use a clay bar or rubbing compunds but that the surface CAN be hand polished or waxed. They also told me about the heat gun trick but I've never needed to try it. My guy told me that even though you CAN use regular polishes and waxes, VentureShield would only warrantee if you used Plexus. I can't ever remember actually reading that in any of their materials though.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 5,464
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
In my experience once VentureShield is scratched it's permanent. I had it on my car, which black and it looked so bad that the installer peeled it all of and I went with the original 3m film which has an automotive clear coat on it and car be buffed using some care. The 3m film has more orange peel in it than the VentureShield film but the ability to remove scratches and scuffs makes it more appealing to me.
Quite sad how easy it is to scratch Venture shield. I love the clear bra and, will get another one as it has saved the nose from the hazards of highway driving. But, never again will it be Venture shield.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,277
Likes: 6
From: (d/fw) tx
Clear Bra Issues:
Good day folks.
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
Good day folks.
My 2008 had a Clear Bra installed on the front end and behind the wheels and on the rocker panels. The material used was made by Venture and now is owned by 3M. My problem is that I have hard water stains and scratches in the film and it has lost the gloss. The car has 31k miles on it. I hate to spend the money to replace it ($1000) but it does not look as sharp as the new 3M products that are really clear and glossy. Any ideas how to fix this?
Many thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I clay bar my VS clear bra about once per year along with the rest of my car and have never had a problem. It does have Rejex on it though. It has been on for four years and 35,000 miles and is as glossy as the day it went on.
I do have a few scratches and may try the hair dryer trick to see if that works. Thanks for the tip.
I do have a few scratches and may try the hair dryer trick to see if that works. Thanks for the tip.
