"ClearBra" Questions???

I am considering having a clearbra installed on my 996. I was wondering of those that have or have had this what their experience and feelings on the product were. Also: 1. What areas were covered other than the major parts of the front end...i.e. side mirrors, A-pillars etc. 2. Did you have any problems with wax showing up on the edge of the film? 3. What's involved when it's removed? Is it easy? What is left behind? Did the paint fade differently than the uncovered parts?

Lance, I have experience with Stongard and X-pel, two of the available brands. The Stongard provides better coverage, often wrapping around edges where X-Pel stops near the edge. If you are **** about keeping your paint free of rock chips, I highly recommend the product. It does work as advertised. Installation is very critical!! Make sure the person that does yours has done your model car before and make sure they are confident they can do it right. It takes a lot of skill to put on the front of a Porsche because it's got serious compound curves. I have had a lot of trouble finding a Stongard installer in Maryland that can do the C4S front bumper. On mine, there is coverage for the bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors, door handle cups, fender flares, and rear parts of the wheel wells. You can get a lot more if you want, but at some point you have to draw the line. Wax will show up at the edge of the film. A finger equipped with moist towel takes care of that problem. It can be removed. It will likely leave some adhesive residue which can be removed with the appropriate solution. The paint won't fade unevenly. The stuff is very, very close to transparent. But it is not quite 100% perfectly clear. It doesn't look great on a white car (but not terrible), but all other colors seem to look almost unnoticeable. Cheers! Ken

Ken is absolutely correct. I got the X-Pel version (that doesn't wrap around). Covers front bumper, mirrors, sides of fenders front and back where dirt kicks up. Also did around the headlights and the trunk lid as well as underneath the flared rockers and where they come up behind the front wheel. Also put some on the bottom of the gas filler area so no nozzle nicks. The instller was good. Came to the house with all his pre-cut stuff. Took about 3.5 hours. He worked like an artist. The film hardly shows. IMHO it was well worth it. Cost about $500. More installation pics at <a href="http://www.986host.com/gallery/doncapecod?&page=20" target="_blank">http://www.986host.com/gallery/doncapecod?&page=20</a> <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/doncapecod/3M_Scotchacal_Film.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/doncapecod/3M_Scotchacal_Film_11.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/doncapecod/3M_Scotchacal_Film_21.sized.jpg" alt=" - " /> <img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/doncapecod/3M_Scotchacal_Film_19.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

I have xpel covers on my lights and InvincaShield on bumper, mirrors, behind front and rear wheels. Have never removed a piece, but it is in sections in case one piece gets messed up. Wax buildup is no problem. I track the car alot and get much tire rubber marks all over the place. It is easily removed with one of those citrus cleansers. My car is speed yellow and you can hardly see the shield material. Install is done wet with 25% alcohol and 75% water, and should only be done by a pro. I did the xpel light covers myself with a wet install and it came out with no blemishes.

I've got Armourfend, manufactured by 3M, on my 996 Cab. I went a little crazy, I had it installed on the hood, fender "wings", mirrors, rear fender flares, behind front and back wheel arches, door sills, gas tank, headlights and bonnet pulls. I'm very happy with it...definitely gives me piece of mind when I'm "drafting" other cars. Wax will show in the seams, but I use Zymol which doesn't dry white. I had my front bumper repainted and the body shop told me that the film came off with no problems or damage. Hope this helps.

Thanks guys...big help!!!

Does anyone have any experience in the UK with any of these products? Tom

Good question Tom, I await the answer too. Colin

Tomsk, There are many companies looking into getting involved with the paint protection film business. I know that when the new 2004 Lotus Elise that is in the U.S. for display at the local Lotus dealers, the Lotus factory had StonGard make a template of the car a year before it is out in the U.S. Lotus forsees a large increase and growth for the product in the UK, so if it is not there now it soon will be I am sure.

ruacop Thanks for the info - having had my new C4S for two weeks and already collected a stone chip I wait with interest.. Tom

Armour fend/fist was originally franchised from Europe. When I took the M5 in early 2000 they said the template they had gotten from Europe wasn't as good as they wished so they templated my car. When I had the 02C2 done, they said they'd done tons of them and just brought the car in for the full treatment. I'd do it again in a second!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Tomsk: <strong>Does anyone have any experience in the UK with any of these products? Tom</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Are you looking for an installer? Or just someone across the pond w/ first hand experience with the product. The material is basically the same 3M material just marketed under different names by different suppliers/installers. Some can be purchased as DIY kits (ie Invinca-shield). (no affiliation, yadayadayada..)

I was going to get some clear bra material installed but the guy quoted me the following: front bumper:$495 side skirts:$140 front wheel well:$40 Rear Wheel well:$75............and it just kept getting more and more expensive. My friend has a body shop and can paint the stuff for close to the same price so I decided against it.

Here's a question...I got my car used and it has 1 or 2 very small chips already. Can the clear guards be properly installed over chipped areas? <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Yes, but you will be able to see the chips!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by SICAONE: <strong>I was going to get some clear bra material installed but the guy quoted me the following: front bumper:$495 side skirts:$140 front wheel well:$40 Rear Wheel well:$75............and it just kept getting more and more expensive. My friend has a body shop and can paint the stuff for close to the same price so I decided against it.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">No way would I spend $500-800 to have someone to this - do it yourself for $150-200. You should have no problems with the flat pieces, only the bumper is a marginal challenge. There are a few discussion on this on the 993 board as well.

David You asked whether I was looking for an installer or just someone in the UK with first hand experience - Im really looking to get a recommendation for an installer fotm someone who has had it applied to their car here.... Its mainly cos I want to track <img border="0" alt="[jumper]" title="" src="graemlins/jumper.gif" /> the car but when I did it it with my previous one it ended up looking like it had been shotblasted across the front - dont get me wrong, I dont want the car as a garage queen and worrying about a few chips wont stop me driving it but it would be nice to be able to avoid looking at a respray every couple of times it goes on a track! Tom

Tom - if the primary purpose is to protect your paint during track sessions I think you'd be better off with Elephant Racing skins. <a href="http://www.elephantracing.com/paint/paint.htm" target="_blank">http://www.elephantracing.com/paint/paint.htm</a>