26 captured repliesPartial discussion capture · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHFirst Clear Bra Kit
Leading reported evidence
Install on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
There is also no mention of exactly what the coverage is, the photo shows a 12' piece being installed on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage on the Cayman hood.
Leading evidence: 'Install on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Install on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had 2 pieces installed on a rear bumper on a car once, 3M and a competitor and 3M held up MUCH better.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
They are located in my hometown and used my car as the model for their kit.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
cut to fit depends heavily on the installer and material used, whereas with a kit much of the guesswork is taken out but still depends on the installer.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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Suggestion
eecsdude, the chip might be easily repaired using the Langka paint touch-up system.
These are separate views of the same evidence. Frequency alone does not establish a fix, and these counts must not be added together.
Install on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
There is also no mention of exactly what the coverage is, the photo shows a 12' piece being installed on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage on the Cayman hood.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
cut to fit depends heavily on the installer and material used, whereas with a kit much of the guesswork is taken out but still depends on the installer.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
26 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Planet-9: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
K-Man S...thanks, I'll let you know when I get it fixed and how it looks.
The first clear bra kit is on the market, I received notification from Alan Seligman [phone removed] tell him you saw it here), Here is what Alan sent me:
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See
http://www.starshieldarmor.com
for more info!
There will not be enough Cayman owners around here to support a trip by Alan (unless he wants a visit to Santa Fe). The best local installer uses 3M shields that they cut to fit. Are there advantages to the kit? Would I be better off getting the local installers to use this kit? Do you know how the other 2 kits will differ from this one?
I am not sure that there are that many in SoCal to have Allen do it as well. I do know that I will only be driving the car home and then not again until I get the clear bra on with the way roads/construction is here. Did find one person that has Cayman on order that will do it as soon as I get the car to him (in San Diego) so will trailer it down (if necessary) and let son drive truck/trailer home...... lol
Guys,
Keep in mind that there are kits for thousands of vehicles, including planes and RV's, so if you can get other car owners in your area that want installs you can get Alan to come out. Last time here we had 2 Porsches, 1 Mini and a Ford I think, or a Lexus I can't remember.
Back to the question is there an advantage of using a kit vs. cut to finish? And this product vs. 3M? Got to do this right but don't want to risk damage between purchase and driving the gravel road leading to my place so time is critical.
cut to fit depends heavily on the installer and material used, whereas with a kit much of the guesswork is taken out but still depends on the installer. 3M makes the material that most people use and most kits are made from, but not all. 3M has the best reputation in the material business but competitors will argue that their film is better. I had 2 pieces installed on a rear bumper on a car once, 3M and a competitor and 3M held up MUCH better.
Hope that helps!
What a rip off!! Hes asking for wayyyy tooo much, total of $960 for everything. Just wait a couple of months and there will be complete 3M kits for less than $100 on ebay.. I bought the complete kit for my IS300 for $49+shipping from ebay. Same material, same profesional cut, just $900 cheaper.
Blackbullet S
First off Alan doesn't make these kits, this is what one of his suppliers offers. As I said above this is the first kit, is from the UK and is likely more expensive than later US kits will be from other providers like Invinca-shield or Starshield, etc.
However, there won't be a $49 kit for the Cayman, in fact I would not put a $49 kit on my car because I know that 3M charges more WHOLESALE than $49 for the material needed to make one of these kits. $49 is a 3M-like material and a pattern with less coverage and no warranty like what is provided from the major suppliers, and of course you still have to get it installed and installing on something like a Lexus IS is a LOT easier than installing on a Cayman with compound curves.
In essence you get what you pay for. I would anticipate that kits from US suppliers will be in the $400-$600 range installed depending upon coverage, etc.
I did a quick search on ebay and came up with a few items.
This guy will make a kit for any car and he charges around $250. And he uses the same 3M protection film as the one described in this thread.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-911-996-3M-Invisible-Clear-Bra-Paint-Protection_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ50457QQitemZ8025903247QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
Edited by - BlackBullet_S on 01/05/2006 3:01:44 PM
Like I said, you get what you pay for, note that the kits are for 2002-2004 Porsche only, the reason? These are 'old' kits using 3M's previous generation material. These are sitting around gathering dust so they are blowing them out. There is also no mention of exactly what the coverage is, the photo shows a 12' piece being installed on a hood and you'd want the 24' coverage on the Cayman hood. Last, but not least, installation really depends on how good your installer is, I trust Alan because he's done several of my cars, I don't have any idea what this person is like and how much he charges for the install.
I'm not trying to be negative for shopping around, I encourage it, but I haven't seen enough info here, such as the pattern graphic to show the coverage and whether or not it is the new 3M material or one of the prior generations of material (there are at least 3 gens that I know of). It helps when you can compare apples to apples.
I had my 350z done by Armourfend in the UK around 15 months ago. Cost was about £350. The film has been brilliant - no yellowing, no lifting corners (after many washes and polishes !), and a couple of hefty stonechips, which have made a mark on the film, but not got through to the paint. I'll certainly have them do my Cayman. Tonse
I am not sure that there are that many in SoCal to have Allen do it as well.
Hvdcman - How many prospective SoCal Cayman’s do you have so far that maybe interested in the install party? It sure would be nice to have the best installer to do the job.
zornet
Scottsdale Porsche offers a clear bra with the new 3M material as a dealer option at $699. They also have a great ceramic tint also for $699. It seemed to cut almost all transmitted heat.
All:
My first experience a 'clear-bra' is almost 2 years old. I had the 3M material put on an '04 Acura TL, put it on my bumer, nose, fenders, lights and door edges. A few observations.
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[*]quality installation requires someone w/experience. See their other work. Ensure they've done many (say over 20)
[*]It has certainly keptfrom getting chips...I have over 20k w/no chips/dings/dents
[*]You will see a 'line' where the bra ends. I don't think it's an issue, but it is noticable.
[*]About 4 edges have come up in the 2 years. Dirt gets under and it looks lousy. I'm going to see my installer if they can fix.
[*]If this can get fixed, I will probably get a clear bra for my Cayman.
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PACayman,
Alan could fix it, he just trims back the piece a little and lays it back down as there is no way to get the dirt off and have it stick, that's why you want to keep an eye on edges the first couple of weeks as if they come up they can get dirt underneat them and then the only solution is to trim the piece back a little to get rid of the areas where it peeled up.
Any NorCal people with experience with ProFinish installing the 3M clear bra? They seem to be the only one in the East Bay. Would appreciate a referral.
Well, I got my first rock chip 10 mins after picking it up from the dealer. Guess where it is? A place where no clear bra kit is every installed... the leading edge of the roof. Maybe that's something to consider when coming out with a clear bra kit since the car's roof rises above the windshield so much.
Sorry to hear that and actually on many SUV's and mini-vans that area receives protection as well. You could always have Alan fashion a custom piece there as well if none is available from a kit-vendor.
I hate it when this happens, but eventually it does, With some well applied touch-up paint and elbow grease, however, this blemish can be made to fade away.
Invinca-Shield is going to install their product on my Cayman on Monday. They are located in my hometown and used my car as the model for their kit. Will let you know whatI think when it's done.
I had a clear bra installed on my Audi S4 several years ago and got them to put a custom piece above the windshield. I had the car for 4 years and never had any issues with it.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
