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

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by jskurucz

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?

XPEL is good don't get me wrong. Just not as good as Suntek IMO.
My best recommendation is just get film on the car. You won't regret it when you have no rock chips.

I'd also recommend doing some digging into that one guy that uses Suntek. Make sure he is reputable. You can also probably get one of those XPEL installers to order Suntek just for you and install it.

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by 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.

Camo is just temporary. Was just playing with it cuz I had it. I like installing vynil films it's a fun change from my everyday PPF installing.

[jskurucz]

Originally Posted by GhostShield

XPEL is good don't get me wrong. Just not as good as Suntek IMO.

My best recommendation is just get film on the car. You won't regret it when you have no rock chips.



I'd also recommend doing some digging into that one guy that uses Suntek. Make sure he is reputable. You can also probably get one of those XPEL installers to order Suntek just for you and install it.

This is the only one I found using google. I get weary about companies like these but here's the link:

http://www.tintworld.com/penn-hills-...otection-film/



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by 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.

You can also clay bar it if need be

[billwot]

Question about paint protection film/clear bra?:

I just bought a '13 FR-S...9K miles, asphalt. During the test drive (the salesman let me take it by myself) I parked it and inspected it very carefully. I noticed there were maybe 10 places on the hood with small irregular blemishes in the "paint"...looked like acid rain, or maybe salt damage. I pointed it out to the salesguy (you had to look pretty close to see them). He said he would have their detail shop try to correct it, and call me. I'm a fairly car-savvy guy, and I really thought they would just buff out. (I didn't know about paint film/clear bras)

When he called and I went back, the blemishes were much smoother, and less noticeable, but still there. He said the detail guy had ordered some "special touchup" from Toyota, and that would complete the "repair". He gave me a "we-owe" to finish the work. I negotiated a $1000 price reduction, and bought the car.

I have since learned that the car has dealer/port installed paint film, and suspect that the blemishes are actually "bubbles" that were left when the film was installed.

Comments, thoughts, recommendations???

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by billwot

Question about paint protection film/clear bra?:

I just bought a '13 FR-S...9K miles, asphalt. During the test drive (the salesman let me take it by myself) I parked it and inspected it very carefully. I noticed there were maybe 10 places on the hood with small irregular blemishes in the "paint"...looked like acid rain, or maybe salt damage. I pointed it out to the salesguy (you had to look pretty close to see them). He said he would have their detail shop try to correct it, and call me. I'm a fairly car-savvy guy, and I really thought they would just buff out. (I didn't know about paint film/clear bras)

When he called and I went back, the blemishes were much smoother, and less noticeable, but still there. He said the detail guy had ordered some "special touchup" from Toyota, and that would complete the "repair". He gave me a "we-owe" to finish the work. I negotiated a $1000 price reduction, and bought the car.

I have since learned that the car has dealer/port installed paint film, and suspect that the blemishes are actually "bubbles" that were left when the film was installed.

Comments, thoughts, recommendations???

If your car for sure has clear bra on it, there will be a line running across your hood because I doubt they port installed a full hood kit, then yes there's a high chance they could be bubbles left behind by the installer.

They could also be pieces of dust, or sand, debris as I call it. Could you post me some pictures so I can asses the situation better for you.

A bubble will typically stand out pretty obvious and you won't have to look hard to see them. A piece of debris under the film is a little less noticeable in which case you'd have to look hard to see it like your describing.

If the car doesn't have film on it, I wouldn't be surprised if the dealer re painted the hood and what your seeing are imperfections in the paint called burs or fish eyes.

Of your 100% sure it's a bubble, get yourself an insulin needle, poke the bubble with the tapered side of the needle towards the paint, draw the syringe plunger out to suck the air, put slight pressure on the needle that is still in the film and them remove the needle while your still pressing on it lightly.

Post me some pics and I'll tell you exactly what it is. You might have to get creative with lighting and camera angles to capture what you want me to see but please give it a shot!!

I'm here to help

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by jskurucz

This is the only one I found using google. I get weary about companies like these but here's the link:

http://www.tintworld.com/penn-hills-...otection-film/



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looked over that website just now for you. Website is nice, they look legit. Sunteks pretty easy to install for someone whose been installing for a good amount of time so it should come out pretty nice for ya.

Give um a call and see if you can check out their work. We have customers come into our shop often to see what our work looks like and what we're working on that day.

Just tell them your super picky haha let me know what they quote you too.

[billwot]

Ghost-

here are my pics. I took them with my Nikon D50 hoping to get the best resolution.

After careful inspection, I really don't see any evidence of the paint film on the hood. There is no line, and I can't see any "edges" anywhere.

The original window sticker says "YPPF3 Paint Protection Film $ 199.00"

Originally Posted by GhostShield

If your car for sure has clear bra on it, there will be a line running across your hood because I doubt they port installed a full hood kit, then yes there's a high chance they could be bubbles left behind by the installer.

They could also be pieces of dust, or sand, debris as I call it. Could you post me some pictures so I can asses the situation better for you.

A bubble will typically stand out pretty obvious and you won't have to look hard to see them. A piece of debris under the film is a little less noticeable in which case you'd have to look hard to see it like your describing.

If the car doesn't have film on it, I wouldn't be surprised if the dealer re painted the hood and what your seeing are imperfections in the paint called burs or fish eyes.

Of your 100% sure it's a bubble, get yourself an insulin needle, poke the bubble with the tapered side of the needle towards the paint, draw the syringe plunger out to suck the air, put slight pressure on the needle that is still in the film and them remove the needle while your still pressing on it lightly.

Post me some pics and I'll tell you exactly what it is. You might have to get creative with lighting and camera angles to capture what you want me to see but please give it a shot!!

I'm here to help

[billwot]

One more for scale: (that's a dime)

UPDATE: YPPF3 Option does NOT include the hood... only door edges, door handle cups, and rear bumper under the deck lid

[GhostShield]

Originally Posted by billwot

One more for scale: (that's a dime)

UPDATE: YPPF3 Option does NOT include the hood... only door edges, door handle cups, and rear bumper under the deck lid

Attachment 73018

Gotcha. Glad you figured out where the film is covering. Those are all good a areas to cover for a little protection.

Yeah that almost looks like the clear coats flaking a little bit in that spot or it's a serious hard water spot or like chemical burn.

Take your finger nail and ligntly scratch over it, if you feel a bump or your nail hang up on an edge then the clear is flaked.

If not flaking, rub on it by hand with a rubbing compound then a polish then wax.

Hope that helps man.

[jeepmor]

@GhostShield - nice post, convinced me about the clear bra products and which to use. Thanks.

Not a fan of that camo on that car, and I love camo, just not on my rigs. Very informative thread, thanks for fielding all the haters and keep on keepin on answering the questions.

[Turbo95eg6]

@GhostShield

A few questions:

Interested in only getting bumper/partial of the hood/fenders. I heard people using a toothpick to remove dirt from the line, but I don't want drag a pointy wooden object across my clear coat. Are there other options?

My friend only installs 3M so I can get a discount. If I do get a partial protection, will I see a fade after taking it off after a few years? Is 3M UV resistant enough to not cause a line?

My paint is getting corrected before instal, but would also like it waxed. Would the wax affect the clear bra, or will it be removed anyway during install? Should I not wax the front end? They just wash to prep the car, correct? What kind of solution do they spray on the car to adhere the film?

I'm also getting some chips repaired before the bra. Is there anything I should know, as far as how long to wait after getting them touched up? Will the bra take out the touch up paint if I ever take it off?

[Boxer486]

Originally Posted by Turbo95eg6

A few questions:

Interested in only getting bumper/partial of the hood/fenders. I heard people using a toothpick to remove dirt from the line, but I don't want drag a pointy wooden object across my clear coat. Are there other options?

Yes, nice coat of sealant to fill in the gap before the dirt does.

[Ec1990]

Originally Posted by billwot

Ghost-

here are my pics. I took them with my Nikon D50 hoping to get the best resolution.

After careful inspection, I really don't see any evidence of the paint film on the hood. There is no line, and I can't see any "edges" anywhere.

The original window sticker says "YPPF3 Paint Protection Film $ 199.00"



Attachment 73014

Attachment 73015

Attachment 73016

That's simple water etching and possible bird bomb etching. The clear coat is slightly degraded but not compromised by any stretch of the imagination. A simple polish will level the clear coat appropriately and make those disappear. Coat it with a sealant or wax of your choosing.