Clear bra

[marc77777]

I've read some posts on here where people are getting the clear bra installed for $200. I checked a couple of places in my area and it ranges from $350 - $600!! Now either we're not talking the same coverage and/or quality or I am being totally ripped off? For the record, no way in hell am I paying anywhere near $500 for this.

 

[~Jb]

I paid about $600

I got:

Front bumper
Lower valance
Head lights
Fog lights
36" up hood
Fender corners
Side mirrors
Door Cups
Door Edges
Upper and Lower ledge area each door way
Rear door ledge
Top of rear bumper cargo area

3m Lifetime warranty.

I'd take pictures, but you cant see it...

 

[mo_focus]

i paid 250 and got hood and corners done. Toronto

 

[torrimac]

I ordered a kit from Invisiblemask.com Took them a long time and some nasty emails to get it to me but their free kit is nice to have. Im doing the sticking on Thursday after I get the recall done. Truthfully I would not use Invisiblemask. I would pay the extra and either pay someone to do it or get a kit from xpel or something. Very not impressed with the service from them though their product seems good.

 

[pipes p]

for full front 3m kit incl, mirrors, all lights, rear bumper under trunk lid & 7 window tint. $850. could have got cheaper elsewhere but went with a reputable place, very happy with the results! on some things you get what you pay for

 

[GD]

I ordered a kit from Invisiblemask.com Took them a long time and some nasty emails to get it to me but their free kit is nice to have. Im doing the sticking on Thursday after I get the recall done. Truthfully I would not use Invisiblemask. I would pay the extra and either pay someone to do it or get a kit from xpel or something. Very not impressed with the service from them though their product seems good.

Please can you post your results after the install?

Thx

 

[stonyplainclint]

Was quoted $595 from 2 dealers here in Edmonton. Both using the quality 3M product. Still wafflin on to do it or not...

 

[torrimac]

Please can you post your results after the install?

Thx

Will do.. maybe even some pictures.

 

[torrimac]

Here is what I got from Invisiblemask.com


You have ordered the following:
===========================================================

1.
Product code : DEG-FREE
Product name : Door Edge Guard (free with each order over $75)
Price : 0.00
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 0.00
2.
Product code : IK2005-FREE
Product name : Installation Kit (free with each order over $75)
Price : 0.00
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 0.00
3.
Product code : VWW00511B
Product name : 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEDAN SE: Bumper Kit
Price : 143.55
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 143.55
4.
Product code : VWW00511G
Product name : 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEDAN SE: Grille
Price : 41.57
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 41.57
5.
Product code : VWW00511HFM
Product name : 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEDAN SE: Hood Fender Mirrors
Price : 123.75
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 123.75
6.
Product code : VWW00511X
Product name : 2011 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEDAN SE: Roof A-pillars
Price : 64.35
Quantity ordered : 1
Amount : 64.35
===========================================================
Subtotal: $373.22
Coupon discount (10%): $37.32
Tax (0%): $0.00
Shipping (USPS Priority Mail): $0.00
TOTAL: $335.90



Discount came from here.. http://www.retailmenot.com/view/invisiblemask.com

 

[rtking]

$650 for VentureShield (now owned by 3M) which covered:

36" of hood
Bumper
Lower valence
fender corners
headlights
foglights
mirrors

As a repeat customer, I also got the following at the same price:
rear bumper lip (by trunk opening)
door cups

 

[mwayner69]

I was also quoted $650 for everything. I'm still debating on whether or not I'm going to pay that to have it done.

 

[J.G.R.]

You guys that have paid to have it doen, what do you think? Was it worth it?

 

[J.G.R.]

Heres one on ebay for cheap

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-J...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item230d18e134

 

[mwayner69]

That's for a JSW, so it won't fit. I did see several others for the Jetta sedan though, all around $200. I don't have the patience to put one on myself, but if you do you could save a lot of money it seems.

 

[J.G.R.]

That's for a JSW, so it won't fit. I did see several others for the Jetta sedan though, all around $200. I don't have the patience to put one on myself, but if you do you could save a lot of money it seems.

I used to, the whole point of this car though was that I dont have to work on it myself anymore, I'll pay to get it done if the guys that have gotten it doen think its def worth it.

Reviews guys??...

 

[rtking]

You guys that have paid to have it doen, what do you think? Was it worth it?

Worth every penny.

First, it's not an easy job and I simply don't have the patience. Plus the installer has the technique and the right mixture of fluids (soap, alcohol mixtures) to make sure that the film applies cleanly, without finger prints, stretch marks (also known as "silvering"), and to get it to fit around incredible angles (like on our lower valence/spoiler.)

In terms of protection - my previous car was a 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid that I didn't apply the clear bra to. When I traded the car in, the front bumper was so sand blasted, the paint finish wasn't even remotely smooth and the headlights were significantly pitted.

I had it installed on my wife's 2011 Touareg. We took that car on a 1300 mile road trip and, at the end of the trip, we saw evidence of several rock strikes to the clear bra. The clear bra took the abuse and protected the paint underneath. As a bonus, the bugs that were stuck to the front of the car washed off easily.

 

[J.G.R.]

OK I'm sold, any big places do it? Pep boys? Napa?

Edit: Prob the dealership huh?

 

[mwayner69]

I went here: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard_Paint_Protection/Film/

and did the "where to buy" to find a dealer near me.

 

[J.G.R.]

Whats the difference between the Scotchgard and the VentureShield?

 

[rtking]

Whats the difference between the Scotchgard and the VentureShield?

Look on various car forums to find recommended installers. A good installer is worth the money.

In terms of the difference in products: VentureShield was purchased by 3M, but was their own separate company before. I believe both are 8 mil thick, but the Sotchgard has more of an orangepeel effect in the plastic film, while the VentureShield is both smoother and optically clearer.

There's a product made by Avery called NanoShield. It's 6 mil thick and offer even more clarity. People have used it with success, but since it's new, there's no long term feedback on how it'll hold up to the elements. That's why I decided to stick with the VentureShield material.

 

[Rgarza06]

i want to do this to mine also since mines black

 

[J.G.R.]

Got a quote yesterday for $725, I told him I had to run it by my fiance, he called me back about 1 min later and told me he has some special going on and would do it for $675.

My fiance wont go for it tho

 

[J.G.R.]

I suppose I could just do it and she would never SEE it.... hmmm

 

[marc77777]

I suppose I could just do it and she would never SEE it.... hmmm

She might not see it but she'll see the bank account take a hit.

I was thinking that is the single most expensive un-noticeable thing I could do to my car. I decided to take my money and buy a new set of wheels instead.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid=8939731824951992494

Besides this trying to trade my car for a new one isn't over yet and in the unliekly event that I could get a new car, it would be very difficult to remove the clear bra and put it on the new one.

 

[torrimac]

Well the install is done for now. I was not 100% impressed. The hood and fender pieces fit great. The roof and A pillars had to be trimmed quite a bit. The front fender was a PITA and is not totally done yet. I still have to figure out how the lower piece goes on.. if it ever does. I havent done the grill/mirrors yet as Im thinking about getting some chrome for them.

To do the hood, fenders, roof, bumper it took about 2.5 hours. Not as long as I thought. If the pieces are cut to the right size/shape they go on VERY VERY easy Even when you have to stretch them around corners or what ever.

Over all Im happy with the kit.. but next time I will pay to have it done. LOL.

 

[J.G.R.]

She might not see it but she'll see the bank account take a hit.

I was thinking that is the single most expensive un-noticeable thing I could do to my car. I decided to take my money and buy a new set of wheels instead.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid=8939731824951992494

Besides this trying to trade my car for a new one isn't over yet and in the unliekly event that I could get a new car, it would be very difficult to remove the clear bra and put it on the new one.

Those are nice! My fathers car is black with about 60k miles on it now and it looks great. I'm sure at 200k miles it would have been nice to get the clear bra, but those rims are nice.

I think I am leaning toward the wheels as well.

 

[rtking]

Got a quote yesterday for $725, I told him I had to run it by my fiance, he called me back about 1 min later and told me he has some special going on and would do it for $675.

My fiance wont go for it tho

The benefits may not be immediately apparent, but it is indeed money will spent. Especially if you have a black car (like my wife's Touareg.) I wish I had taken pictures of our former Nissan Murano (midnight blue) with the horrific front end chips. It was ugly and no amount of touch-up paint was ever going to make it look nice.

What I would recommend is to take your fiance to a parking lot (like a mall parking lot) and look for all the black cars. If you find an older one, I guarantee that you'll find pitting and paint chips in the hood and front bumper. Show those to her. It should illustrate what damage can (and will) occur to the front end of the car.

I have a friend who bought a brand new Porsche 911 a year back. He figured that he'd drive it carefully and sparingly and would deal with a repaint of the bumper in 10 years. Fast forward to today and he's wishing he'd installed the clear bra as the front of his brand new Porsche is pitted.

Now, if you don't plan on keeping your call for the long haul, or if you're leasing the car, forget about the clear bra. Most clear bra users tend to be pretty meticulous about their cars and keep them for a long while.

 

[rtking]

Well the install is done for now. I was not 100% impressed. The hood and fender pieces fit great. The roof and A pillars had to be trimmed quite a bit. The front fender was a PITA and is not totally done yet. I still have to figure out how the lower piece goes on.. if it ever does. I havent done the grill/mirrors yet as Im thinking about getting some chrome for them.

A steamer will help to loosen the material enough to go around the sharper edges of the lower valence/spoiler. Try changing your lubricant to include a bit more alcohol as well. That will help to make the material "tack" a bit better on one end, and allow you to steam and/or stretch the film.

(and no - I don't install clear bra material. I just watched it done a bunch of times! Or... I could have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...)