clear bra install failed!!!

[Helios]

ordered the clear bra kit from xtremecity on ebay. the pieces were too small and required stretching to fit (off by about 1/2 inch). i tried to use a heat gun to make it easier, but the pieces shouldnt have to be stretched like that to begin with. as i was alone on this project, it ended up in failure and a waste of time and money. I DO NOT recommend buying the kit from that seller. i will be filing a dispute if he doesnt refund the money or mail me a correctly cut clear bra kit.

[KentuckySky]

Oh no! I just ordered on Monday from them! From what I have read, the 3M can be stretched up to 20% but this is NOT 3M!

[jrarant]

My hubby and I installed the same kit a couple of weeks back. It is true that it seems too small to fit at first, but if you start in the middle with the large peice and stretch outward as you go there is no problem. It takes time and is best to have a helping hand. While my husband push firm, but slowly, I kept the product slightly taught to help with the stretching. You definately need a hairdryer, a lot of water, and a good bit of time. I purchase the installation kit also, I think this might have helped as it has the installation video, a spray bottle, and a squeegie.

[Helios]

my question is why do you have to stretch it in the first place? you dont stretch window tint when you go to put it on. the product mentions nothing about stretching the item to make it fit properly nor requiring another person to help. it does mention that its not difficult to install which seems to not be the case. the seller IMO is misleading and therefore should grant a refund or have the pieces cut correctly. i would rather just have a correctly cut kit so all you have to do is spray, peel, stick, and squeegie, and maybe some heating for the contours. there should not be any need to stretch the pieces!!! i have a feeling im gonna have to file a dispute to get results.

[jrarant]

I hope not. Sent the company an email when I had questions and received a quick and curtious response. I hope that you have the same experience. Good luck, I hope everything turns out well.

BTW...I hope you can make it up to Columbia to an event sometime soon. I would love to see all your mods.

[MidniteBlues]

Theres an old saying that I will mention---"You get what you pay for". I'll leave it at that, don't want to put salt on a wound since I'm such a nice guy

I will say, that when my 3M was installed by a pro, the material did NOT need to be stretched out that much if any as apparently you guys were (From what I could see). The front bumper was the biggest piece and that did give him problems due to the size AND all the curves involved--It was a slow meticulous process and he had all the tools and liquids--Even so, it took him about 4 hours--MB

[Clear Bra Installer]

Ok,

Being that I do this professionally, I can tell you those ebay kits are worthless. Nothing more than adhesive backed lamination. They will tear and rip and not protect your vehicle very well. Also, wait a few months in the hot sun and try to peel it off. Forget it, the adhesive will stay behind on your paint and be a bitch to get off. The material will also crack and yellow over time as it has little UV resistance. As far a stretching goes, it all depends on the surface it is being applied to. So say a solstice bumper has to be stretched more than a sky bumper due to the curves. Imagine trying to take a flat substance and try and stick it to a round object. As you install over curved surfaces, you have to stretch the material to keep creases out.

We only cut and install the ventureshield product. We have sky kits available and a new pattern was just released not to long ago. It's not a $10.00 kit mind you but our kits come with an install video and squeegee.

PM me if you are interested.

Clear

[The Red Baron]

I'm wondering why anyone goes through all that trouble when Armor Auto LLC offers their spray-on Armorcoat. No sticky edges which will inevitably build up dirt, no problems with curves.

Armorcoat clear bra

Baron

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by The Red Baron

I'm wondering why anyone goes through all that trouble when Armor Auto LLC offers their spray-on Armorcoat. No sticky edges which will inevitably build up dirt, no problems with curves.

Armorcoat clear bra

Baron

My question to you is, how hard is it to remove? AND if you decide to remove it, will it screw up the paint job? Feed back to you at this point, is this, what good is it if I can't remove it AND will I have to repaint the car after removal? IF I need to take it back to the body shop to remove this stuff, it makes doubly expensive. Thats my concern with this "spray-on" stuff--Right now, I can remove my 3M easily AND the paint below would be perfect, can I get that with this spray stuff? BTW, how much did it cost to spray this stuff on the car--there has not been any numbers/costs stated so far--

[smithb]

I don't care to defend this product, I really don't care what people spend their money on, but I installed it with no problem. My instructions (I received my kit at the beginning of June) clearly stated the film was cut short so it could be (and needed to be) stretched to fit and that another person's help was recommended.

"Clear bra installer" was correct on 2 points. First, the bra has to stretch to fit a curved surface. Try to lay a piece of notebook paper (or something else flat, flexible, but not elastic) flat against your bumper, especially where it curves around the side. You will end up with huge ridges you won't be able to get rid of. To make sure the bra doesn't run over the edge after stretching around the curves and creases, it has to be a little short. Mine was not 2 inches short, maybe 1/4" on both sides when centered.

The second point he was right on about is you do get what you pay for. This clear bra may not last as long as the more expensive ones (or it might, I don't know), but im my opinion I would rather spend the hour and a half once a year to replace it and get a fresh one, because it will (and mine has) get deformations and scratches from the debris it is protecting your car from. I would rather replace it every year regardless. With that said, I would rather pay 1/10th the price 4 times (and get a new one each time) instead of paying more to have one for 4 years (I think when I checked the expensive ones had a 4 year warranty). A fresh one will look better than an old one, no matter how high quality the old one is. I am sure the venture shield one is very good and may in fact fit better and last longer than the xtreme city one, but imho I will still come out ahead in the end $$$. If you are worried about it and want the warranty, spend the money and buy one with a warranty.

To anyone who is trying to decide what to get, I remember when I was trying to decide what to buy I saw a post about someone who hated their ventureshield or 3M install, I don't remember which. My only point is someone will always have a bad experience, and this doesn't make a product bad. It seems like I mostly read about problems with the Sky here anyway, but people still own it (leaking rear diff, missing brackets and rubbing fenders, loud cams, I could go on...).

Finally, I don't think this company is bringing in cars and designing their own patterns. They may be, but I would bet they are using someone else's (probably ventureshield or 3M) templates and cutting their own material.

To say these bras are worthless is not true. It has already protected my wife's Sky from more than $15 damage. If you have the spare $410-$700 that I've seen on this website for a pro install, and don't want to have to deal with the install yourself, then do that. For me this worked great at a great price, and I would say if you are considering it, don't be scared away.

[MidniteBlues]

I will again repeat, (with all do respect). "you get what you pay for" to each their own, after all is said & done, it is your money and your car, plenty, lotsa threads on this subject, I suggest you study, read and get educated on this subject before you go cheap, OR overpay--there is a fine middle AND with that said quality products, not this ebay, yellowing, non-protecting-anything garbage--BUT hey, you can buy it, personally, ID-GAS--

[The Red Baron]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

My question to you is, how hard is it to remove? AND if you decide to remove it, will it screw up the paint job? Feed back to you at this point, is this, what good is it if I can't remove it AND will I have to repaint the car after removal? IF I need to take it back to the body shop to remove this stuff, it makes doubly expensive. Thats my concern with this "spray-on" stuff--Right now, I can remove my 3M easily AND the paint below would be perfect, can I get that with this spray stuff? BTW, how much did it cost to spray this stuff on the car--there has not been any numbers/costs stated so far--

Hello Midnite,

Once it's on, it's on for good. But why would you want to remove it? If the protection is actually penetrated (and the depth of the protective layer is considerably thicker than a film, so it offers more protection), it can always be spot fixed, which is easier than taking off an entire film surface and reapplying it. Cost was reasonable: $350 for the whole front end (but not the hood), the sides behind the front wheels, the sides going all the way back to the rear wheel wells (starting under the sides and coming up about 10 inches), in front of the rear wheel wells, and bumper behind the rear wheel wells.

Baron

[carlintexas]

I got the 3M installed @ $525 for the nose, bikini cut on the hood, headlights & running lights and the rear views. Had it over a year now and love it!

[Clear Bra Installer]

I have to say this. Wait a year after that cheap laminate bra has baked on the car. You will have a real tough time getting it off without it tearing or breaking. It will leave adhesive residue all over the car. We know this as we have done several cars that purchased kits on ebay and tried to replace it after a year or so. It stinks.

Check out this pdf about the venture shield product that shows you how to restore the original luster to your clear bra. (note this will not work with 3M due to the clear coat).

http://www.ventureshield.com/newpdf/...ewsletter2.pdf

[Darkwing]

After doing some research on the Ventureshield vs/ 3M material and the pros and cons of each, I took the chance and bought the 3M kit for my Redline at a cost of around $ 190.00. The kit came well packaged and included a set of written instructions and a CD with video instructions on it alongwith a small squeegee. Clear bra installer is correct in his statement that this installation is not for a novice, but I'm one of those guys that hates to pay someone else to do something I think I can do myself. Usually I only go to a pro only after I have really screwed something up myself first.

I read the instructions and watched the video twice before attempting to install. When I started the install last week the conditions were good for Michigan, but probably not the best for installing the product.

THIS STUFF IS NOT EASY TO INSTALL.
After working on my technique for several hours which includes the proper spraying of the Baby Shampoo/water mixture, stretching the film and tacking the film in the proper places at the proper time during the the stretching procedure with an alcohol/water mixture I really appreciated why the installation cost what I previously thought was too much.
I did this install on two different days and I think combined I had about 10 hours involved. I installed the hood area, mirror and bumper/lower bumper areas.

After a couple of sunny days now most of the small trapped bubbles have disappeared as stated in the instructions, but it probably would have been better to do this during a warmer and sunnier time of year. Hopefully the rest will go away with time as several tiny bubbles remain.

I am satisfied enough with the results to leave the bra in place for now, but the perfectionist in me has already decided to do a reinstall in the spring now that i have some practice in. In fact I think I can get really good after I do about 3 more so if anyone in my area wants to buy the kit I'll install for free so I can do the best job on mine the next time. Sorry no pics because I am not proud enough of the results of my labor.

Conclusion: If you're not the type that does a lot of hands on stuff like wallpapering, painting, mechanical work don't waste your money to try this! Go to a pro as I have a newfound appreciaton for their expertise.
If you do attempt this read the instructions and try an area with less curves, corners and valleys first. Above all BE PATIENT.

I hope this long-winded post helps someone who is considering a clear bra install.

Dave

[onespoiledbrat]

I am looking for someone in the So.Cal area that does the 3M installations. I would appreciate a recommendation along with price. Thanks Bill

[duck833]

I paid $350 to have ventureshield installed on the front end, rocker panels and the front part of rear wheel wells. Did not do the hood.

I could not be more pleased, I would post pictures but you would not see it.

[mbeardsley]

Just so you people know...even some certified 3M installers are bad at installing this stuff.

I had a terrible install job done on my Sky (and I am still in the process of getting my money back on the job).

I strongly suggest checking a few references before you commit to anything.

[Darkwing]

Like anything else some are better than others at doing their work. Probably a good idea to look at someone else's car with the work already done before committing.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by onespoiledbrat

I am looking for someone in the So.Cal area that does the 3M installations. I would appreciate a recommendation along with price. Thanks Bill

Here's 3m's site, with it, you can find an installer in your area by hitting the + under "for the consumer"--. HOWEVER, I do recommend what darkwing stated. Find someone in your area that has already had it done and can recommend a competent installer, MOST important!!

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...gard-PPF/Home/