scion's paint protection film option for $395

[fiveoneoh]

can anyone comment on this option? is it similar to the opticoat everyone is talking about? what exactly is it and how does it work? I've read the description on the scion website but it doesn't really serve any purpose other being marketing propaganda.

[microbionic]

its a clear bra, assuming - pre cut to fit

http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S/acces...wAll&view=grid

[fiveoneoh]

ahh so THAT's what a clear bra is. thanks. duh.

Other than inspecting the application to make sure there are no bubbles or other imperfections, anything else i need to know/look out for? the car i'm interested in has this as an option, hence all the questions.

Originally Posted by microbionic

its a clear bra, assuming - pre cut to fit

http://www.scion.com/cars/FR-S/acces...wAll&view=grid

[abutterman]

Yea it's a clear bra. The piece for the front bumper is nice and clean. The part on the hood looks awful though. I saw one installed on a whiteout car at the dealer and it only goes up maybe a foot and you can see the line where it ends and it collects a lot of dirt which will be near impossible to clean since it's stuck to the adhesive.

[microbionic]

Originally Posted by abutterman

Yea it's a clear bra. The piece for the front bumper is nice and clean. The part on the hood looks awful though. I saw one installed on a whiteout car at the dealer and it only goes up maybe a foot and you can see the line where it ends and it collects a lot of dirt which will be near impossible to clean since it's stuck to the adhesive.

I have one on my BRZ(white), its similar where you only have ~1 foot or so on the hood,. its better than nothing, and that is where statistically most damage is likely to occur . I don't have an issue with keeping it clean..

[fiveoneoh]

microbionic, do you wash your car obsessively? i ask, b/c i don't plan on washing maybe more than 1-2x/year (i'm lazy.) do you think the edge of the clear bra could be a dirt magnet?

other than that, does it really help prevent against dings and road debris? our roads here in the bay area are known to be pretty crappy.

also, if the car color is dark, does anyone think (or preferably, KNOW) how significantly this would highlight the edge of the clear bra?

[microbionic]

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

microbionic, do you wash your car obsessively? i ask, b/c i don't plan on washing maybe more than 1-2x/year (i'm lazy.) do you think the edge of the clear bra could be a dirt magnet?

other than that, does it really help prevent against dings and road debris? our roads here in the bay area are known to be pretty crappy.

also, if the car color is dark, does anyone think (or preferably, KNOW) how significantly this would highlight the edge of the clear bra?

I like to keep it spotless, I wash 1-2 times a week.

yes, the edge will/does retain dirt if not kept clean. still I completely recommend the clear bra - 100%, I just had to replace a windshield due to road debris (high wind/rocks),,... of which the clear bra stood up to the punishment and instantly payed for itself

my buddy has a blue STI with bra,... you can still see it,... but only if you are looking and at least ~8 feet from the car

[fiveoneoh]

do they make a bra that covers the entire hood? i think i'd rather pay more for that and not worry about the line of dirt from the edge.

[flippy]

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

do they make a bra that covers the entire hood? i think i'd rather pay more for that and not worry about the line of dirt from the edge.

not sure but i recommend it. full hood 3m because i already got a chip on mine. subaru paint is notoriously thin.

[chenshuo]

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

do they make a bra that covers the entire hood? i think i'd rather pay more for that and not worry about the line of dirt from the edge.

yes most reputable places offer complete hood coverage.

I got my car Opti-coated by Kevin at GTA in Detail, and then got the complete front bumper wrapped at Auto-Links. I didn't do the hood cause complete hood will make me over my budget, and i don't want to do partial hood cause i don't want that ugly line.

o and if you get the clear bra, it is recommended to wash your car once every 2-3 WEEKS to maintain the wrap.

[Mr. Sparkle]

complete hood coverage, without a seam, can get costly as the size film for the job is pricey (referring to the roll they need to have on hand to cover the entire hood)

I agree half the hood looks like crap

either way - the dealership will not correct the paint prior to application. So any swirls or defects will always be there

many private shops doing paint protection film will offer paint correction prior to application. So you can consider that also

[switchlanez]

Anyone know what company makes this Scion accessory clear bra? Perhaps XPEL or 3M or ...?

[fiveoneoh]

sorry, so many questions!
-Does this material yellow or otherwise discolor over time and exposure to sun?
-is $395 a reasonable price for PPF?
-can water or other debris seep in from the edges of the film and cause damage to the paint underneath?
-do the edges start to fray or peel off over time?
-over time does the presence of the film affect the paint underneath at all, for example will the paint become a different color in that area, since it is being shielded from the elements somewhat, so the rest of the car could fade and that patch would stay truer to color, etc?

[LeeMaster]

Originally Posted by abutterman

I saw one installed on a whiteout car at the dealer and it only goes up maybe a foot and you can see the line where it ends and it collects a lot of dirt which will be near impossible to clean since it's stuck to the adhesive.

I never have any issues with mines, probably because I waxed my car to keep dirt from getting on the adhesive. Or maybe I just dont recognize its there because my car is not colored white.

Originally Posted by fiveoneoh

sorry, so many questions!
-Does this material yellow or otherwise discolor over time and exposure to sun?
-is $395 a reasonable price for PPF?
-can water or other debris seep in from the edges of the film and cause damage to the paint underneath?
-do the edges start to fray or peel off over time?
-over time does the presence of the film affect the paint underneath at all, for example will the paint become a different color in that area, since it is being shielded from the elements somewhat, so the rest of the car could fade and that patch would stay truer to color, etc?

It really depends on what color your car is. My color is red, and as we all know red tends to fade more than any other color out there. According to the guy who wrapped mines, he said the material is UV resistant so hopefully it will protect the paint from fading. I plan on doing opti-coat on the whole body so I wont ever have to worry about color fading and dirt sticking onto the adhesive etc.

For me, I only paid $450 including labor for the full bumper, half the fenders, half the hood, and the door seams. $395 for just the hood and fender and $600 for just the front bumper is too pricey IMO. Go find a local reputable non-dealer shop that offers clear bras, they are more friendly to negotiate price a little bit to satisfy you and them.