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C2Spin said:
Looks Stunning!!! wunderschön. Congrats! Question: Did you or are you planning to do a clear bra on the car?
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turbo'S' said:
The wheels are Rinspeeds. Thanks for all the comments.
I have been considering a clear bra. The guy in the dealership said to avoid it as it looks poor in pretty quick time but I have also heard the reverse. It still is low miles and unmarked so if anyone can say if it is wise I would be obliged.
Black is beautiful but is hard work, I think worth it though
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cannga said:
I had clear bra on my Guards Red 997 & won't be putting it on any future cars. What I found is that it only prevents visible damage from perhaps the tinniest of particles. For example I had a couple 1mm-2mm sized particles that became imbedded in my clear bra and were visible. So then the question is, do you peel the clear bra and re-do it? At $300-400 each time? If I were super rich, it would be easy. In my case, it wasn't.
When hit by somewhat heavier objects (empty cardboard box in my case), as expected and not the clear bra's "fault," both clear bra and paint underneath probably will be damaged. Problem is now you are looking at paying for both clear bra and repair the paint. I suspect anything over say 5mm would leave a dent to the paint underneath at speed.
$ wise, it costs no more than a couple hundred dollars in Los Angeles, to repaint the bumper as it does to re-do the clear bra for the bumper: $600. So I don't see the benefit either in this particular case. You could argue it allows you to keep the original paint, but I doubt clear bras offer adequate protection to paint underneath for moderate size "hits."
These are of course just my opinions, YMMV particularly in darker cars, where surface damages are not as easily seen. It does seem I am in the extreme minority in thinking clear bra is not worth the protection, as these things are used by knowledgeable "car-people," such as Ferrari owners. For sure, it messes up the paint's "look" and I am at a complete loss why some Ferrari owners would complete-wrap their extremely beautiful car paint with clear bra front to back. But me want to cry, but then we all know how Ferrari owners could be. (Kidding, kidding, Rossi, Stradale, Nick, et al.)
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turbo'S' said:
The wheels are Rinspeeds. Thanks for all the comments.
I have been considering a clear bra. The guy in the dealership said to avoid it as it looks poor in pretty quick time but I have also heard the reverse. It still is low miles and unmarked so if anyone can say if it is wise I would be obliged.
Black is beautiful but is hard work, I think worth it though
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STRADALE said:Quote:
cannga said:
Not sure on what type of film you were using to have particles imbedded in the film but 7 cars now later and still own 3 cars currently with 3M installed and never had that happen. My suv has 42,000 miles w/ 3M installed driving through 3 NY's winters w/ ice, salt, sand and never had a particle imbedded. Doesn't sound like your installer was using the right material.
In terms of re-painting the bumper instead of putting on the clear bra just not an option or a even a close decision if you ask me. A re-paint is the absolute last option imo. It's not about the money.
In terms of it not looking right, I've seen pretty bad clear film jobs thats for sure. You need to have a great installer. It would take you at least a few minutes of looking directly at my 430's bumper while kneeling down on the ground right on top of the car to even tell if there was film installed or not and you'd only be able to see it was installed if you are very familair w/ the product. No way you see it on my car just walking by which is a WHOLE LOT better than looking at stone damage imo.
Love the pics btw. Awesome looking turbo!
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cannga said:
My installer was more than likely among the very best here in California; they have plenty of experience with exotic cars. I have no problem with the finished installation. The film used was not 3M, possibly Avery. I don't remember any more but at the time there might have been some issue w/ 3M becoming yellowish over time. I believe the clear bra that Porsche uses for the rear wheel arch area is 3M?
Regardless, my opinion is still it's impossible to install any kind of film and not have it affected the uncovered look of the paint. It's just the degree that each of us finds "tolereable" that is different.
Clear bra surely offers some protection, but logic dictates there are limits to what a thin plastic film can do. In my experience w/ the clear bra, it did not work out for me in situations that I have already mentioned. I do acknowledge that with respect to the "heavier hits," it's not the clear bra's "fault," as it is NOT designed to handle those.
When Ferrari offers this as factory installed option, then I will be more convinced.
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STRADALE said:Quote:
cannga said:
Not sure on what type of film you were using to have particles imbedded in the film but 7 cars now later and still own 3 cars currently with 3M installed and never had that happen. My suv has 42,000 miles w/ 3M installed driving through 3 NY's winters w/ ice, salt, sand and never had a particle imbedded. Doesn't sound like your installer was using the right material.
In terms of re-painting the bumper instead of putting on the clear bra just not an option or a even a close decision if you ask me. A re-paint is the absolute last option imo. It's not about the money.
In terms of it not looking right, I've seen pretty bad clear film jobs thats for sure. You need to have a great installer. It would take you at least a few minutes of looking directly at my 430's bumper while kneeling down on the ground right on top of the car to even tell if there was film installed or not and you'd only be able to see it was installed if you are very familair w/ the product. No way you see it on my car just walking by which is a WHOLE LOT better than looking at stone damage imo.
Love the pics btw. Awesome looking turbo!
Having "plenty of experience with exotic cars" doesn't mean they're any good w/ the film. There's dozens of places here that I would also say has lots of experience w/ exotic cars and I wouldn't let them touch my cars for film w/ a 10 ft pole. It's really all about the install w/ the film. You should find out what film they were using because it doesn't sound like they were using 3M latest stuff. I don't know which film Porsche uses but it sucks compared to the stuff installed by Detailing Dynamics (bar none the best installer in the country). The stuff from Porsche on the quarters is already yellowing on my 997 after 2 years vs. the 2 yr old clear bra/ bumper film I had installed on my 997 the day I picked up my car which isn't yellowing at all.
Reagrding what is "tolereable" in the look of the paint again I would bet you $1000 you could not pick out what I had done on my car unless you were inches away. And I'll bet you I'm more OCD, the guys here can vouch for that. That's my problem w/ needing clear film in the first place nicks or faults in the paint ruin my day. Worse actually. Again it's all about the install and if you haven't seen the best yet I can understand it would be hard to imagine.
In terms of protection let's see since 2001 I've yet to get a single chip in the area of the clear bra and that's driving in NY Metro so it's done it's job perfect for me sounds like you had a bad experience.
Ferrari does put it on the cars from the factory. On the rocker's, behind the wheels. Problem again is their stuff is junk. My clear film installer peeled the stuff off right there in front of me in 2 seconds to put his film on.
In terms of what's acceptable looking at the paint like I said bad install=obvious film. However done right I would never choose chip marks and crapped up paint (which is inevitable w/ out film) over protected paint. Guess it depends on what bothers each of us. For me looking at a Ferrari or Porsche w/ nice big chips in the front is like a hot chick w/ green teeth just makes me cringe. lol! Gotta jet, take it easy.
Apr 13, 2007 7:18:31 PM