Clear Bra

[Shagits]

I'm curious if anyone has had a clear bra installed or a clear covering over the entire car installed? Good, bad, indifferent?

[dkhm3]

Use the search button. I had a thread when I did the entire front end of my m3. It is now 4.5 years old and I would do it again. Don’t do it if it is leased.

[cionide]

I had it offered by the dealer, but for the cost of it + installation I could get the bumper repainted entirely three times...

[Poiseuille]

I did the front half of the car plus the rocker panels, a-pillars, mirror caps and the CF roof with PPF, then ceramic coated the whole car (Gyeon). Ceramic coated both wheel sets.
BUT...I own the car from new and expect to keep it for several years, at least. I would never PPF a car if I was leasing, but I definitely would do ceramic.

Edit. regarding ceramic: never from the dealer, only from a carefully selected independent vendor and only after reading everything you can find. There's quite a lot on this forum in general, but you should also ask for vendor recommendations on the regional subforum that's local for you.

[damageprone]

I did the "high impact" areas which is essentially a front clear bra plus mirrors, A-pillars, extended rear quarters with Xpel Ultimate. I'd do it again. I've hit many things in which I'd normally agonize over if it wasn't protected.

I couldn't justify doing the whole car cost-wise. Depending on where you live it could range from $5-8K for full coverage.

[smithf80]

Don't have it done at the dealer, they're more than likely just paying a local PPF shop and then upcharging you.

Get it done at the most reputable shop within 50~ miles of you. I did my whole car and its great to not have to worry about anything getting messed up.

[Eric S]

Originally Posted by cionide

I had it offered by the dealer, but for the cost of it + installation I could get the bumper repainted entirely three times...

highly unlikely that it would be a quality repaint at 250 dollars each time (assuming a 750 price for the bumper alone)

not to mention al the down time without the car, the rental price, the inconvenience of pick up and drop offs, the paperwork, the failing paint from it being a shoddy repaint....whats your time worth?

[IB M]

Worth it for sure. Especially front of car and rear quarters. In front of rear wheels takes a beating on the M3 cause those sexy hips are wide. Rocker panels too with wrap all the way underneath.

[avex8]

I think it's worth it because I got factory frozen black paint, and i will never get it again lol. It's too hard to keep it clean so I got my entire car wrapped in xpel stealth and ceramic pro coating and full window tint for only 4500 which is pretty good deal. Now it's super easy to clean the car. I don't wash it, I spray it with spotless cleaner and wipe with a rug and takes 10 min max and no need to wax or worry about chip or scratches

[slowpoke247]

I was in the same boat just a few months ago. It really depends on your intended use of the car. As a DD, high impact areas are a must. If you have a special paint, will hit up the canyons or track often, then full body definitely worth it. If you're leasing, just ceramic coating and enjoy the beast.

[gatorfast]

Again people bifurcating lease vs own when it comes to ppf. Why does that matter? It is just another "mod" intended only for the enjoyment of the user. If you like having a pristine car with no rock chips then ppf is well worth the money whether you lease or own.

[slowpoke247]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Why does that matter?

I think it matters to most people that made the choice to install PPF. I mean, that's why they shared their thoughts in the first place.

Originally Posted by gatorfast

It is just another "mod"

PPF is not like most mods where you can buy/install/enjoy/remove and sell when your lease is up/sell your car. It's not likely that you can recoup the cost of PPF.

So I think this is the perspective most people on this thread considered when they made that decision. It's hard to justify the cost of full body PPF when leasing.

At the end of the day, we all agree that PPF works

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Again people bifurcating lease vs own when it comes to ppf. Why does that matter? It is just another "mod" intended only for the enjoyment of the user. If you like having a pristine car with no rock chips then ppf is well worth the money whether you lease or own.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by slowpoke247

I think it matters to most people that made the choice to install PPF. I mean, that's why they shared their thoughts in the first place.

PPF is not like most mods where you can buy/install/enjoy/remove and sell when your lease is up/sell your car. It's not likely that you can recoup the cost of PPF.

So I think this is the perspective most people on this thread considered when they made that decision. It's hard to justify the cost of full body PPF when leasing.

At the end of the day, we all agree that PPF works

Of course you can't recoup the cost that's my point. You spend $1000 to have your front end wrapped and get $0 when you sell the car. You buy an exhaust for $2000 and sell it for $1000 before you sell the car. Same concept. It's simply a cost of enjoyment. Why would ppf be viewed differently from an exhaust, suspension, tune, etc and any of the countless things people spend money on and get back pennies on the dollar?

Lease or buy it's still your car at the end of the day. 3 years is a long time and I would say that money spent on keeping the paint flawless (if that's your thing) is well spent and would add to the enjoyment of possessing the vehicle over the lease period.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Of course you can't recoup the cost that's my point. You spend $1000 to have your front end wrapped and get $0 when you sell the car. You buy an exhaust for $2000 and sell it for $1000 before you sell the car. Same concept. It's simply a cost of enjoyment. Why would ppf be viewed differently from an exhaust, suspension, tune, etc and any of the countless things people spend money on and get back pennies on the dollar?

Lease or buy it's still your car at the end of the day. 3 years is a long time and I would say that money spent on keeping the paint flawless (if that's your thing) is well spent and would add to the enjoyment of possessing the vehicle over the lease period.

I technically wouldn't say flawless lol.

With any performance cars, you are going to be driving fast. Anything that is big enough/hard enough to hit you car at 75+ MPH on the freeway, it will leave a mark past the clear bra.

Granted these type of damage is going to be FAR less then not having anything on the front. I know from experience and this is something detailers will not tell you because they will expect you to know that because, it's pretty much science/common sense.

I'm saying to those new to clear bras that expect paying for this at a price point, then you see damage past your clear bra, then rage about it. Then detailers end up telling you etc etc...

Trust me. If you are keeping your car, clear bra. I have had cars w/o it, cars with it and it has been much less of a headache having it on. It has saved me once already from much more damage that would have been to my M3 a few months ago. Yes, a few chips gotten past the clear bra because it was big but just think the damage it actually would do if you didn't have anything on in front. Whether it is Suntek Ultra, Xpel Ultimate or ClearGuard Nano, they are only so thick and anything that is big enough WILL leave a mark especially when you're driving that fast on the freeway.

At the end of the day, you drive you car, things will hit it. Having a clear bra would minimize as much of that as possible. It won't be 100% perfect but in the long run, it will keep your paint as factory as possible. It is absolutely worth the cost in comparison to the headache/rock chips/dents/paint damage from birds etc.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Arcades

I technically wouldn't say flawless lol.

With any performance cars, you are going to be driving fast. Anything that is big enough/hard enough to hit you car at 75+ MPH on the freeway, it will leave a mark past the clear bra.

Granted these type of damage is going to be FAR less then not having anything on the front. I know from experience and this is something detailers will not tell you because they will expect you to know that because, it's pretty much science/common sense.

I'm saying to those new to clear bras that expect paying for this at a price point, then you see damage past your clear bra, then rage about it. Then detailers end up telling you etc etc...

Trust me. If you are keeping your car, clear bra. I have had cars w/o it, cars with it and it has been much less of a headache having it on. It has saved me once already from much more damage that would have been to my M3 a few months ago. Yes, a few chips gotten past the clear bra because it was big but just think the damage it actually would do if you didn't have anything on in front. Whether it is Suntek Ultra, Xpel Ultimate or ClearGuard Nano, they are only so thick and anything that is big enough WILL leave a mark especially when you're driving that fast on the freeway.

At the end of the day, you drive you car, things will hit it. Having a clear bra would minimize as much of that as possible. It won't be 100% perfect but in the long run, it will keep your paint as factory as possible. It is absolutely worth the cost in comparison to the headache/rock chips/dents/paint damage from birds etc.

You're right I was exaggerating with the term flawless it was more just to get my point across that the ROI for adding ppf to your car is simply enhanced visual enjoyment during the ownership period.

[damageprone]

I've done some mountain drives with some friends and one buddy in particular had a rock chip to his Xpel PPF in which it actually penetrated to the paint.

No the PPF wouldn't have saved it, but it definitely reduced the amount of damage had it not been there.

I also have some damage to my roof that I'm sure wouldn't be there had I got the PPF extended up there.

In the end, it's a car, it's going to happen sometime. It just depends on your level of OCD.

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

You're right I was exaggerating with the term flawless it was more just to get my point across that the ROI for adding ppf to your car is simply enhanced visual enjoyment during the ownership period.

Of course.

The issues is, at least lately, that quite a few clear bra threads have had owners complain about very little little things regarding clear bras. If the clear bra is doing it's work then 5+ years down the line, your car is going to have very minimal damage in comparison to other cars your car's age w/o clear bra.

Yes, my friend has a clear bra and he had a rock that was hard and big enough to get through his Suntek Ultra on his hood, leaving a clear mark under the hood because it ripped it. Granted the damage is still minor but it's far better then having a dent but I'll reiterate that clear bra is absolutely worth it. The amount of damage your front bumper can get at just 500 miles is absurd in LA with the stupid trunks all over the damn place.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by Arcades

Of course.

The issues is, at least lately, that quite a few clear bra threads have had owners complain about very little little things regarding clear bras. If the clear bra is doing it's work then 5+ years down the line, your car is going to have very minimal damage in comparison to other cars your car's age w/o clear bra.

Yes, my friend has a clear bra and he had a rock that was hard and big enough to get through his Suntek Ultra on his hood, leaving a clear mark under the hood because it ripped it. Granted the damage is still minor but it's far better then having a dent but I'll reiterate that clear bra is absolutely worth it. The amount of damage your front bumper can get at just 500 miles is absurd in LA with the stupid trunks all over the damn place.

I heard ya. My front bumper has ppf and I have many spots with damage through the clear bra. But as you said, it would look wayyyyy worse without the protective film. But I drive 60mi each day almost all highway so rock chips are something that comes with the territory.