nmerhaut

Just had a young man come to my home yesterday and install the 3M clear bra on my new VR Z06. He worked from 1:30p to 7p covering the front, half hood, lights, fogs, mirrors, partial rockers and suggested an area around the 2 rear side intakes which he said has shown to be prone to chipping. He's a graphic designer who has been doing this 8 years and he's a very deliberate worker. I had the Avery product on the VY '08 and decided to try a different method. I'd post pix but you really can't see anything. In fact no one ever knew I had the bra on the '08.

I will post pix later of the new baby since it's all washed and waxed.
BTW if you haven't tried that Invisible Glass appliance where you can reached into all the corners of your windows, do it. My interior windows have never been so clean.

AORoads

Sounds good, Norm. And is that the "as seen on tv" glass cleaner? I don't know which one I got, but it works great.

nmerhaut

It's the one from Invisible Glass,Bill, that I bought at Target--very inexpensive. Wish I'd have invented it. Should enable me to get in that tough slanted rear window of my G8GT. Have a great trip and be careful.

Korbo

FYI just spent over 5 hours trying to get the darn adhesive off(3M product) after removing just the lower front bumper piece. 3M adhesive remover and WD40 were useless. Local body shop gave me an enamel product that worked S-L-O-W-L-Y with constant buffing and rag rotation.

jaswart

I had the 3M bra put on my 08 almost two years ago and have been very happy with it. Makes cleaning bugs and things off the front end much easier. And of course, no stone chips on the paint.

chgoblue

What do these cost, roughly?

Figure it would be expensive to have someone put these on, is it?

Just looked up the 3M bra, was $400+. Question is, did you put it on, or did someone else, and how much does that cost?

Where would you have it done, a body shop, or who?

The bugs are getting to be a real pain in the bumper.

nmerhaut

Do you mean that the installer left a lot of adhesive after installing the clear bra or did you remove an older clear bra yourself and try to remove the residue it left?

nmerhaut

Two years ago I paid $1200 for my '08.This time I tried the 3M product and it was just north of $900. Looks to be a phenomenal installation, done with great care and deliberation.

chgoblue

Thanks much, who did you have put it on?

cartop2

$900 for all that coverage sounds like a good deal if that is for both the material and installation.

nmerhaut

If you go to www.blockachip.com you'll see my installer. I think I found him through the internet or on the forum. He lives only a couple a miles away and is a graphic arts major from Kent State who's been doing this for 8 years. He has a little panel truck all decorated by himself and took great pains to be as perfect as possible. I cleaned out and vacumed my garage the day before and he spent about 5 1/2 hours while his father sat by and watched. I believe he's a one man operation but he may know of installers in your area. If you're like me, DON'T try it yourself. I would have wound up looking like the mummy and probably remembering every cuss word I ever learned. I'd show pix but there's nothing to see. I also believe some colors lend themselves more to this
application.

AORoads

Charles, if you want one of the best, contact Edre (pronounced, "Ed-dray") at Envisage Design Labs in Canoga Park. Excellent work. I've had his work and it is excellent.

nmerhaut

Listen to this man Charles. he knows his stuff.

jaswart

I can't find the receipt but I think it was about 650. Had it done by an installer in Charlotte NC, Autoshield. They used a clay bar on the front of the car before installing. Had them do wind tinting too.

chgoblue

Thanks, Bill, and Jaswart. After having 5,500 miles of experience with the car, that would be my most preferred 'mod'!

It has a permanent solid color bra that came with the car. Blue, like the car, but took it off thinking it was destroying the paint underneath...was gooky, but cleaned up.

Just doesn't look as nice with it on.

Bat Man

If you plan on removing the bra, heat is your friend. Leave it outside on a hot day, then get the blow dryer or heat gun out,

cartop2

Perhaps a little caution about not using too much heat?

XPEL

As someone else said, heat is your friend. The adhesive softens at about 170 degrees (about the temp of the paint after sitting outdoors on a sunny day). If the adhesive is cool, it is very hard and it will break up when you pull the film off.

The second part is even more important. You have to STRETCH the film off the car (see attached pic). What I mean is, when you pick up a corner of the film to pull it off, do NOT pull it over itself where you are pulling toward the opposite side of the car. Pull it toward the side you started at. This will help the film release from the paint and GREATLY reduce the amount of adhesive left behind (if it leaves any at all).

nmerhaut

That was the total for everything.

Skullbussa

I had a clear bra professionally installed on a new black Subaru Legacy. Within 2 years rock chips had already penetrated the bra and, even worse, the bra started to peel in certain areas. This peeling was exacerbated by car washing (something black cars require often!). And no, I wasn't rally racing behind dump trucks.

Next time I'll keep the $1000 I spent and just get my front bumper repainted if needed.