Is clearbra worth it?

[rixter145]

Originally Posted by stugray

I am pretty sure that my clearbra is more like $200.
You are getting raped.

I can vinyl wrap an entire car for less than $500

They mustve thought you had a maserati gran turismo

500 for vinyl on the entire car? I paid like 800 for plasti dip wtf :o

[stugray]

Just an example for partial front bra:
Xpel Stealth 24" X 50 feet = $652
http://www.ikonwraps.com/Xpel-Stealt.../xpf24us50.htm
That should be enough for 5 cars for 130 ea.

Xpel Extreme 24" X 100 feet = $950
That should be enough for 10 cars for $95 ea.

If you want a whole hood:
Xpel Extreme 60" X 50 feet = $1200
or ~10 hoods for $120 ea.

And on that site, I just priced my whole car for $315 worth of matte vinyl.

[RobertPaulson]

and then you have to deal with cutting, prepping, applying, molding, and removing any air bubble.

my time was worth paying someone else to take care of that.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

and then you have to deal with cutting, prepping, applying, molding, and removing any air bubble.

my time was worth paying someone else to take care of that.

OP stated that "Full frontal clearbra - $1725"

And I show that the materials are about $200.
Total install time for clear bra only is about 2 hours (and that is generous).

1725 - 200 = 1525 for 2 hours work = $762/hour.
I am clearly in the wrong business.....

[RobertPaulson]

Originally Posted by stugray

OP stated that "Full frontal clearbra - $1725"

And I show that the materials are about $200.
Total install time for clear bra only is about 2 hours (and that is generous).

1725 - 200 = 1525 for 2 hours work = $762/hour.
I am clearly in the wrong business.....

your expectations that it'll only take 2 hours to prep the car, cut the vinyl and apply it, is very ambitious.

but if you can do it in 2 hours, then yes, you are absolutely in the wrong line of work.

[tigermack]

My bro got his WRX front end clear bra by a mobile guy. Pretty good stuff. Was under $600. Including behind the wheel well and door cups.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

your expectations that it'll only take 2 hours to prep the car, cut the vinyl and apply it, is very ambitious.

but if you can do it in 2 hours, then yes, you are absolutely in the wrong line of work.

Ok Ok, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt:
8 hours to put a sheet of plastic on a bumper:

1725 - 200 = 1525 for 8 hours work = $190/hour.

Get the picture???
Certified Automotive technicians dont make that (district attorneys dont make that), and most of the "tint & Vinyl guys" I see doing the work, look like HS drop outs....

Point - $1725 for a clear bra is MORE THAN A NEW BUMPER!

[RobertPaulson]

Originally Posted by stugray

Ok Ok, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt:
8 hours to put a sheet of plastic on a bumper:

1725 - 200 = 1525 for 8 hours work = $190/hour.

Get the picture???
Certified Automotive technicians dont make that (district attorneys dont make that), and most of the "tint & Vinyl guys" I see doing the work, look like HS drop outs....

Point - $1725 for a clear bra is MORE THAN A NEW BUMPER!

you're painting the wrong picture, the 1700$ quote is more than just the bumper, you're talking bumper, lights, both front quarter panels and the hood, mirros, end of the door and inside of the door handles.

and your 200$ in material is not cut, if you order a pre-cut version from 3m (which is what most of these places use to ensure a perfect fit)

you're looking at a lot more than 200$

http://www.clearbra-kits.com/store/p...null&maincat=3

150$ for the front bumper.

450$ for the hood, quarter panels and mirrors

40$ for the lights.

that's 640$ for material, so really 1060 for labor and tax (which is 10% here).

I also already let the OP know that he should shop around because i got what he wants done for 1000$ (excluding the full quarter panels). i think paying 360$ for their 4-6 hours of time is well worth it for me (and you're paying for 2-3 guys)

so as i was saying, if you can prep-cut-apply the clear bra in 2 hours by yourself (or hell with a partner) you are in the wrong line of work and should consider opening up a business, i personally could not.

[tigermack]

Like I said, it shouldn't be anywhere more than $6-800 for the labor and material. The guy my bro used was a 3m certified as well.

[Ammunition]

I think he was getting quoted for the Xpel Ultimate ("self healing") shield, which can get pretty expensive. It cost me $500 to get my front bumper done with Xpel Ultimate, and that was $100 off of what the place I went to normally charges. I was quoted $900 for the full hood (which I thought was ridiculous), so I can see a full frontal (assuming that includes the fender) being close to that, although it still seems a bit high especially for getting a package (full front, etc) done like that.

Just an anecdote from earlier this evening though - I was driving along a normal, 25 mph road, and I was in the left lane while a bus was pulling over in the right lane up ahead of me to let off a few passengers. I had a car jerk out in front of me to avoid stopping for the bus, and then they sped off as if to try to make up for being an ass. There were several thick sticks (sort of drift wood looking) on the road right in front of them and they kicked one up at me as they sped off.

Normally I am driving far enough back that I can avoid something like that hitting my car, but since the guy cut me off and was right in front of me the stick hit the lower portion of my bumper. It looks like it just left a small chip that is (thankfully) only in the clear bra, but had I not had the clear bra that would have caused decent damage to the paint on my front bumper.

I'll admit I hated that I felt like I couldn't start doing the "fun" mods on my far right away first because I spent a good chunk of money on the "protection" stuff such as the opti-coat and the clear bra, but times like this I'm so thankful I got them despite how skeptical I Was about them.

Honestly I think if it is something you think you want, you won't be disappointed with as long as you get a good quality shield that is installed well. Again, there are some minor nuances about the installation of mien that I wish were different, but I don't think anyone noticed them but myself, and it sure is a lot better than seeing my bumper chewed up with all sorts of chips, and such.

[DoomsdayJesus]

Hanson Subaru did the 1/2 hood/bumper/mirror/doorhandles/headlights and edge install for less than $800, financed when I got my first BRZ. It was an excellent job done by a local shop, and I took it back to have some peeling edges on the bumper trimmed without any fuss.

I'm getting it done again, just got quoted $900. Thankfully I know that's a rip. Older 3M and some others will yellow and fade, there are plenty of others that age better if you take care of them and avoid automatic car washes. After I get my CQuartz installed this week I'm taking it back to Hanson to have just the hood and fenders fully wrapped. Plastic is much easier to fix and correct, protecting your metal is much more cost effective and important.

I've noticed at least in the NW that the rear front fenders between the well and the door are also rock magnets, I got some spray-on 3M for those. It can be removed and replaced annually for about $24.

[stugray]

Originally Posted by RobertPaulson

you're painting the wrong picture, the 1700$ quote is more than just the bumper, you're talking bumper, lights, both front quarter panels and the hood, mirros, end of the door and inside of the door handles.

and your 200$ in material is not cut, if you order a pre-cut version from 3m (which is what most of these places use to ensure a perfect fit)

you're looking at a lot more than 200$

http://www.clearbra-kits.com/store/p...null&maincat=3

150$ for the front bumper.

450$ for the hood, quarter panels and mirrors

40$ for the lights.

that's 640$ for material, so really 1060 for labor and tax (which is 10% here).

I also already let the OP know that he should shop around because i got what he wants done for 1000$ (excluding the full quarter panels). i think paying 360$ for their 4-6 hours of time is well worth it for me (and you're paying for 2-3 guys)

so as i was saying, if you can prep-cut-apply the clear bra in 2 hours by yourself (or hell with a partner) you are in the wrong line of work and should consider opening up a business, i personally could not.

Did my entire car for $220 and it took me all of ~8 hours.
So I guess I'm just FOS.

[Kaily]

It's worth it!! I got mine done by the dealer before I took it home, I paid $300 for the 1/3 hood, fenders, side mirrors, and the inside of the door handles. It's really great!

[RobertPaulson]

[QUOTE=stugray;2184979]Did my entire car for $220 and it took me all of ~8 hours.
So I guess I'm just FOS.

nicely done, maybe you should do this professionally. think about it 220 in material, charge 1220 for a full car. that's over 100$/hr and cheaper than the competition.