Hey Guys, I'm CONTEMPLATING putting on a 3m clear bra package on my 09 Cyber Grey Z. Besides a bad install that would highlight the lines cosiderably, here is my biggest worry:
When I detail the car(i.e. wax, rejex, ect) will there be a substantial difference in the blending of the finish on the car and the treated clear bra? In other words, if my clear bra is going, say, halfway up the hood...will there be a sort of misblending, or even nonmatching, effect from the waxed hood to the waxed clearbra? It's hard for me to imagine that after waxing or rejexing the paint on the hood that the bra would match up appearance-wise.
Thanks for any info you guys can provide,
Cheers.
PS. Anyone whom has any pics to help me out with this...please feel free to post.
There will not be a significant difference after waxing. I would go with a good film (ClearMask AR, VentureShield) and stay away from 3M ScotchGaurd (too much orange peel). Use a good quality wax on it or a sealant. I recommend Zaino and I also have found an acrylic sealant that is normally used on aircraft windshields to work very well. In fact it shines better than Zaino.
Cyber Grey will be a great color to get an install on. Where are you located at? I may be able to help you find a good installer.
There will not be a significant difference after waxing. I would go with a good film (ClearMask AR, VentureShield) and stay away from 3M ScotchGaurd (too much orange peel). Use a good quality wax on it or a sealant. I recommend Zaino and I also have found an acrylic sealant that is normally used on aircraft windshields to work very well. In fact it shines better than Zaino.
Cyber Grey will be a great color to get an install on. Where are you located at? I may be able to help you find a good installer.
Thanks Texas Venom...So I should be ok with a good film as far as not being able to tell the difference between between just the waxed hood and the part with the film on it...right? I'm in Colorado, if ya know any good installers. The aircraft stuff you're referring to...is this Rejex?
3M Expel clear bra on the entire front bumper & headlights:
It covers the entire lower portion of the car from wheel well opening to wheel well opening...you can see a slight horizontal line in this pic...but, the paint color & appearance is the same.
Another shot:
The template is cut out to fit around the Z06 brake scoop
And goes behind the rear wheel...again, you can see a slight horizontal line where the film is right below the reflection of the bottom of the basketball net
Those are some excellent shots! they really help show now noticeable (or hidden) the film can be, depending on angles and distances, etc.
I've been considering this too for my black Z06, however I already have a fine assortment of ultra-small chips peppered across the bumper and front half of the hood. WOuld be pointless to put film over that I suppose... but if I were to repaint, it would be a lot more tempting. My only worry is that the seams could be far more visible on a black car. Is this true?
Also, how does this film hold up over time? Does it go yellow? Does it get chipped up too and start looking nasty?
3M Expel clear bra on the entire front bumper & headlights:
It covers the entire lower portion of the car from wheel well opening to wheel well opening...you can see a slight horizontal line in this pic...but, the paint color & appearance is the same.
Another shot:
The template is cut out to fit around the Z06 brake scoop
And goes behind the rear wheel...again, you can see a slight horizontal line where the film is right below the reflection of the bottom of the basketball net
Couple more views:
Thanks so much...those pics really help me with what I was concerned about.
Glad to help. I had to really try hard with different camera settings to even get it to show up. Most people can't even tell it's there...the horizontal lines along the bottom are the most noticeable...but, you have to get down low to see it.
Nicktop,
I invested a lot of time trying to find a quality installer that has done Corvettes before...I've been told that the curves on the car make it one of the most difficult installs. At various car shows & cruise nights, I checked out alot of different installs until one night there was 2 vettes parked next to mine that had the same installer...I was sold right then.
The installer I used was Wayne from Sun & Shade. They are an authorized 3M dealer & applicator. He used an Xpel Premium grade film on mine (it has a nicer backing which is less likely to leave any orange peel look in the film.). He thought it would best match my paint and he was right. There is no noticeable difference in the look of the paint.
Sun & Shade has all the equipment to cut their own Expel (also owned by 3M) templates...which is nice because if they mess up a piece...they just cut another (vs. ordering the pre-cut templates).
Here is the link to see the template coverage. I went with extended coverage on the bumper, headlights, extended rocker & wheel wells opening, and the mirrors. I did not have the hood done as many people do because it could pull up my factory stripes if it ever needed to be removed. All in, it cost me about $1,000 for the install. The product comes with a 7yr warranty. The installer told me he would extend that and cover it for the lifetime that I had the car...pretty good deal to me.
Just to let you know, Expel is not owned by 3M. They are two completely different companies. The only other line 3M owns is ventureShield. Expel makes their own film and patterns. I have installed their film before and it is pretty good. Your install looks pretty good. And thats great he will extend the warrranty for you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Novat_99
09 Cyber Grey,
Glad to help. I had to really try hard with different camera settings to even get it to show up. Most people can't even tell it's there...the horizontal lines along the bottom are the most noticeable...but, you have to get down low to see it.
Nicktop,
I invested a lot of time trying to find a quality installer that has done Corvettes before...I've been told that the curves on the car make it one of the most difficult installs. At various car shows & cruise nights, I checked out alot of different installs until one night there was 2 vettes parked next to mine that had the same installer...I was sold right then.
The installer I used was Wayne from Sun & Shade. They are an authorized 3M dealer & applicator. He used an Xpel Premium grade film on mine (it has a nicer backing which is less likely to leave any orange peel look in the film.). He thought it would best match my paint and he was right. There is no noticeable difference in the look of the paint.
Sun & Shade has all the equipment to cut their own Expel (also owned by 3M) templates...which is nice because if they mess up a piece...they just cut another (vs. ordering the pre-cut templates).
Here is the link to see the template coverage. I went with extended coverage on the bumper, headlights, extended rocker & wheel wells opening, and the mirrors. I did not have the hood done as many people do because it could pull up my factory stripes if it ever needed to be removed. All in, it cost me about $1,000 for the install. The product comes with a 7yr warranty. The installer told me he would extend that and cover it for the lifetime that I had the car...pretty good deal to me.
Glad to help. I had to really try hard with different camera settings to even get it to show up. Most people can't even tell it's there...the horizontal lines along the bottom are the most noticeable...but, you have to get down low to see it.
Nicktop,
I invested a lot of time trying to find a quality installer that has done Corvettes before...I've been told that the curves on the car make it one of the most difficult installs. At various car shows & cruise nights, I checked out alot of different installs until one night there was 2 vettes parked next to mine that had the same installer...I was sold right then.
The installer I used was Wayne from Sun & Shade. They are an authorized 3M dealer & applicator. He used an Xpel Premium grade film on mine (it has a nicer backing which is less likely to leave any orange peel look in the film.). He thought it would best match my paint and he was right. There is no noticeable difference in the look of the paint.
Sun & Shade has all the equipment to cut their own Expel (also owned by 3M) templates...which is nice because if they mess up a piece...they just cut another (vs. ordering the pre-cut templates).
Here is the link to see the template coverage. I went with extended coverage on the bumper, headlights, extended rocker & wheel wells opening, and the mirrors. I did not have the hood done as many people do because it could pull up my factory stripes if it ever needed to be removed. All in, it cost me about $1,000 for the install. The product comes with a 7yr warranty. The installer told me he would extend that and cover it for the lifetime that I had the car...pretty good deal to me.
Have you had any problems with chips, ect..by not covering the hood? I'm thinking about just doing the front bumper as well. But then again I have a C6 Z...wonder how the hood vulnerability stacks up against the C5?
Thanks
I have Clear Shield and this is the third car I have had it done. Be sure you have someone who knows what they are doing put it on. There are definite techniques and strategies that most of us don't know. If done right it is great. If done half as*ed it will not satisfy. Hope this helps.
I have the 3m with the same coverage as novat. There is a little orange peel and I have a couple of chips farther up the hood. My car is a daily driver and you just can't protect everything, but there are 2 places where the 3m plastic has definitely protected the car. By the way, the body color part of my wheel wells are not covered. Installer said it would not stick.
Have you had any problems with chips, ect..by not covering the hood? I'm thinking about just doing the front bumper as well. But then again I have a C6 Z...wonder how the hood vulnerability stacks up against the C5?
Thanks
So far, the hood has been fine...but, my car isn't exactly a daily driver either. The hood piece is also where you tend to really "see" the film more since you have a horizontal line going across the hood. My installer showed me an Audi S4 that he covered the entire hood with the film. It looked nice, but doing the entire hood might be a bit overkill since the front bumper seems to take the majority of the hits.
Although, now that I said it...the next time I have the car out...I'll probably have a rock fly up and hit the hood
I have the 3M clear bra and love it. It saved my butt last month when I pulled a little too close to a concrete stop in a parking lot. I didn't do my hood, and so far there isn't any marks on it. I just had the front bumper and all lights done.
Just put a thin (1/4" or less) painters masking tape along the edge before you wax and you should have no problem.
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