Clear Bra! The best thing you can do for your 86

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sparkle

As someone who installs both Opti-Coat and Xpel film, I think you are grossly misinformed regarding Opti-Coat claiming it washes off. It does not protect against rock chips like film does but it certainly is not washing off.


With that said, I think PPF is great and thats why I offer it (and I agree Xpel or Suntek). But to say products like Opti-Coat are junk is nonsense.

I just don't believe in opti coat. I'll do it for customers who want it. Bub personally I believe in just waxing the car regularly.

Here's a prime example. I've got a customer with a 2014 jeep Cherokee that's all jacked off about opti coat. We let him do his opticoat before we did the install. I used my water based degreaser and the paint no longer felt slick, opti coat was gone. Alcohol will definitely take opti coat right off aswell.

He just last week brought the jeep back so we could finish wrapping the whole jeep. I washed the car, dried it off, paint felt as if it had no wax on it at all. Wasn't slick at all. Film had no issues sticking.

I just don't think it's as permanent as people think.

[ProjectGT86]

Originally Posted by BolognaWalrus

hunting camo; how to ruin your car in one easy step.

Agreed, Leave the camo on your cummins diesel

[GhostShield]

I personally would just wax the car on the regular. It's like lotion for your skin. Hope that clears the air. I don't mean to piss people off, but I deal with paint, clear bra and details every day and this is just what I've expieriance dans learned through 7 years of doing this stuff every day.

[GhostShield]

Experienced and learned **

[ProjectGT86]

Originally Posted by GhostShield

We'll put! And 100% true.

Touching on XPEL and Suntek again, they stand behind their products! That goes far with us!

I ask every Tinter I see if they've tried clear bra and they all say what a bitch it is haha

Takes a lot of patience to turn out perfect work. And a lot of dudes now adays can't. It's an art for those of us that can.

Id be interested in the clear bra though, if it really does protect against rock chips, theres lots of gravel on the roads and highways where i live my front bumper already got a chip after being repainted so this seems like a way to prevent it, just have to see the cost. Any links to dealers?

[Boxer486]

So I've been having the ongoing Suntek PPF-C versus Xpel HD debate for awhile now. For chemical and physical protection it seems Xpel HD is the way to go and is more resilient with perhaps slightly better self healing from what I gather. However, I've been told that Xpel HD still has a slight bit of orange peel and maybe less transparent than the Suntek even though they claim to not have those issues. What is your guy's experience with this? Do you notice the same?

I hear the Suntek has the smoothest and best clearcoat shine too but is easier to apply so it seems it is thinner and maybe less protective. Let me know if this is accurate or if you have other thoughts to share on the comparison.

[MysteryMachine]

Full wrapped BRZ in Xpel Stealth... love it! (see build thread for pics). Done by Xpel Austin who were a GREAT group to work with! If you do use them let them know the white BRZ in Austin sent you I told them I was so pleased I would love to send them more business.

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by Boxer486

So I've been having the ongoing Suntek PPF-C versus Xpel HD debate for awhile now. For chemical and physical protection it seems Xpel HD is the way to go and is more resilient with perhaps slightly better self healing from what I gather. However, I've been told that Xpel HD still has a slight bit of orange peel and maybe less transparent than the Suntek even though they claim to not have those issues. What is your guy's experience with this? Do you notice the same?

I hear the Suntek has the smoothest and best clearcoat shine too but is easier to apply so it seems it is thinner and maybe less protective. Let me know if this is accurate or if you have other thoughts to share on the comparison.

All your information is pretty accurate. I feel Suntek PPF-C is better all the way around then XPEL. As far as chemical resistance they are the same. Where Suntek is better is healing. A good example of this is actually on cell phone screens. My co worker had XPEL on his screen and I've always had Suntek. His screen after the same amount of time began to not heal anymore. It had permanent scratches and dimples in the film from his keys. My Suntek screen is always touching my knife in my pocket and it's perfectly clear with no dimples or scratches. So in conclusion, through my own testing Suntek heals better and the self healing property lasts longer.

As far ass Suntek being thinner, this is true to. But XPEL rips way easier. XPEL will literally rip like paper with little effort. Suntek will not. I hate trimming XPEL on paint because if you don't push on the knife hard enough the film will rip and ruin the peice your installing. This is also an issue because if you push to hard trying to compensate you can cut the paint. I don't have this issues with Suntek.
Sunteks puncture resistance is very high. Holding a piece of film and trying to push through it with a key takes a lot of effort. So although it's thinner, it doesn't mean it's less protective.

Yes Suntek is very clear. I've removed pieces off cars and you can see straight through it with almost zero distortion. It looks sweet on paint. No orange peel at all. XPEL has a texture, to me it's grainy.

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by ProjectGT86

Id be interested in the clear bra though, if it really does protect against rock chips, theres lots of gravel on the roads and highways where i live my front bumper already got a chip after being repainted so this seems like a way to prevent it, just have to see the cost. Any links to dealers?

Yes it would totally protect against the debris on your local roads! That's the whole point of clear bra! Check out XPEL and Sunteks websites. Use xpels dealer locater feature to find an installer near you. If you want to go with Suntek (what I'd recommend) call a number on there website and ask for an installer close to you. Both great companies more then willing to help out.

[GhostShield]

Again guys. My whole point of this thread is to answer any questions you have about clear bra and get you guys off the fence and protected. I'm also here to share my expieriances, having my hands on multiple cars every day, sharing with you what works and doesn't work. Just trying to help out my fellow 86 drivers. Again sorry for typos-iPhone :/

[jskurucz]

Where is Thousand Oaks? I see that you're a fan of both Suntek and XPel, but with cons for both.

If you had a choice, what would you rather have on your car? Suntek or XPel? Also, which is more cost effective without getting into large details?

Awesome information/thread by the way!

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by jskurucz

Where is Thousand Oaks? I see that you're a fan of both Suntek and XPel, but with cons for both.

If you had a choice, what would you rather have on your car? Suntek or XPel? Also, which is more cost effective without getting into large details?

Awesome information/thread by the way!

My 86 is 100% wrapped in Suntek. Suntek is all we use at our shop. We feel it's better and WAY MORE CONDUSIVE when doing big installs like full car wraps.
Thousand Oaks is in Ventura county California

[jskurucz]

Originally Posted by GhostShield

My 86 is 100% wrapped in Suntek. Suntek is all we use at our shop. We feel it's better and WAY MORE CONDUSIVE when doing big installs like full car wraps.
Thousand Oaks is in Ventura county California

Thanks! I live near Pittsburgh and there is only one place I found that uses Suntek and the majority uses XPel. I was set on getting Xpel, but I think you convinced me otherwise.

Thank you, sir.

And why does everything I want exist in California?

[olorin]

I have clear bra on full hood/front, 1/4 roof, and fenders. If I was willing to spend 5k I would do the whole car. IMO it looks great and it can be polished and waxed. As long as you take care of it you can't really tell its there.

To each their own, camo is not doing it for me.