3m paint protection film, xpel, clearbra, etc?

[smeister]

Do not buy the cheap ebay option from Xtremecity. It does not FIT! I know, I bought it.

[anomancer]

Thanks for the tip about Xtremecity. I'll be sure to not purchase that one.

What about installation? Has anybody had experience with the 3M clear bra?

My main concern is that with the apartment I'm living in, I won't have access to an outdoor outlet for using a hair dryer. I saw on the thread that it's not too hard to take the bumpers off (Front? Rear?). Is the heat gun needed for the other parts?

Thanks again in advance for your advice.

[RubyQQ1211]

eBay Motors: Honda Fit 2007-2008 Clear Bra for Hood and Bumper (item 140256021698 end time Aug-13-08 20:09:04 PDT)

do you guys know will this work good?

[BMX RACR]

There is a reason why that kit cost $41.00 shipped, what most people don`t know is those ebay kits are not good quality, most of that film is stuff that was made years ago or has imperfections in it and is not the quality you would get from a professional shop. I sell and install ADVANTAGE clear bra kits and I have one on my FiT, I`ve seen and installed some of these ebay kits and most are crap. Just be cautious, sometimes you get what you pay for.

[08fithappy]

Any body know a good price to get a clear bra and installed be a shop is??? I hear arond $400 thanks for any help

[sohel02]

the USA that sells clear bra kits for the Fit/ Jazz? I want to use this protection as soon as I get my Fit; however, a kit probably won't be available here in the US

[jimrb66]

Hi I had clear shield installed on my Fit at vegg design in freehold NJ.Included the hood,bumper + sport bumper, mirrors,front fenders +front of front fenders (were mud flaps would go ) sport has no mud flaps.got this installed for $485 and he did a AAA+++= install.
Jimrb66

[TCMIV]

This may seem weird, but I really want to put some of this plastic shield on my car roof.
Like the clear bra, but I want it in a reflective color to deflect the sun light to help my black Fit stay a bit cooler when under the sun!!

Basically I want to retrofit a light color roof to my black Fit without doing anything permanent like spraying. Black wasn't my first choice (maybe second or third), but back in October this was the only one in my area, and it was going to be a long wait for anything else.

Any suggestions or comments?

[fitsandstarts]

I did some inquiries around Culver City, CA with people who do those car wrap ads. I had this notion that I could coat my entire car in the shrinkwrap they use for the ad, minus the ad, and extend my paint for a few years. The quote they gave me was near a grand as I recall. Not in my ballpark. I'm not sure how much protection you are buying with that either, as I didn't find out what the protective qualities might be (thickness, permiability, uv blocking properties, etc.)

[TCMIV]

That is interesting!
Maybe I can just use that technique to get a white roof!!

[Filithell]

I was just quoted $500 to 3M the front bumper alone, and another $250 for the hood and quarterpanels by a local graphics place.

My Honda dealer wanted almost 1,0000.

But a local 3M certified installer quoted $575 for the front bumper, hood, fender, mirrors and doorguards.

Is that price too good to be true? Should I be worried?

[IBJanky]

I just got quoted $575 (tax included) which included:

full bumper
partial hood
partial front fenders
sidemirrors
headlamps
foglamps

And for $875 (tax included) he can do this:

full bumper
full hood
full front fenders
sidemirrors
headlamps
foglamps

The guy uses Venture Shield which has a lifetime warranty against fading, cracking, yellowing, etc.

I'm even thinking of getting the little area underneath the doorhandles done too. I hate it when that area gets all scratched up, especially when you have girls as passengers with their long nails, jewelry, etc. The guy says he can do it for $15/ea door.

What do you guys think of these prices? What do you guys think I should go for?

myke

[dankstang]

Originally Posted by IBJanky

I just got quoted $575 (tax included) which included:

full bumper
partial hood
partial front fenders
sidemirrors
headlamps
foglamps

And for $875 (tax included) he can do this:

full bumper
full hood
full front fenders
sidemirrors
headlamps
foglamps

The guy uses Venture Shield which has a lifetime warranty against fading, cracking, yellowing, etc.

I'm even thinking of getting the little area underneath the doorhandles done too. I hate it when that area gets all scratched up, especially when you have girls as passengers with their long nails, jewelry, etc. The guy says he can do it for $15/ea door.

What do you guys think of these prices? What do you guys think I should go for?

myke

I just got quoted for my fit sport from a 3m clearbra dealer here in Tempe, AZ. $650 for everything...24" up the hood, fenders, backs of mirrors, door edges and door handles.

Dam this stuff is expensive!

[clicq]

I attempted a DIY install of a clearbra kit (just hood, fenders, and lights) this afternoon... and I did a reasonable job, but I can see why it costs so much to install. And there's no way I'd have been able to do the bumper.

I paid $115 for the kit made of 3M film.

Things I did wrong (in case anybody wants to DIY):
1. I started too early in the afternoon -- it was still hot out, and I couldn't move fast enough to keep the stuff from drying out and tacking.
2. I was initially too afraid to stretch the material, so I didn't pull it enough, so it doesn't go all the way to the edge.
3. I didn't spend enough time positioning the hood piece before starting to squeegee it down, so there's a spot on the leading edge of the hood that looks like crap.

Anyway, here's some pics:

You can barely see the film line unless the lighting and your angle is just right.



Here you can see the film lines better, and also my alignment problem.


Another shot, this time on the right side. Again you can see I didn't stretch it far enough .


Here's the (really tiny!) fender piece. You can see the film line along the wheel flare. And again, probably didn't stretch it enough .

I also got the headlight film but... I horribly messed up on the driver's side, so bad I just took it off and trashed the film. I didn't even try the passenger side. I did do the fog lights, but forgot to take a pic.

Aside from the alignment problems, I did get a few small bubbles. I think they may go away in a few days.

Anyway, for $115 and two hours work, I'm pretty happy.

[jimrb66]

Hi
I really think it was worth the $485 to let a pro do it,less stress and at 62 that means a lot.I had mine done last June and the fit still looks brand new, no nicks nothing.
Jimrb66

[martirw]

Originally Posted by clicq

I attempted a DIY install of a clearbra kit (just hood, fenders, and lights) this afternoon... and I did a reasonable job, but I can see why it costs so much to install. And there's no way I'd have been able to do the bumper.

I paid $115 for the kit made of 3M film.

Things I did wrong (in case anybody wants to DIY):
1. I started too early in the afternoon -- it was still hot out, and I couldn't move fast enough to keep the stuff from drying out and tacking.
2. I was initially too afraid to stretch the material, so I didn't pull it enough, so it doesn't go all the way to the edge.
3. I didn't spend enough time positioning the hood piece before starting to squeegee it down, so there's a spot on the leading edge of the hood that looks like crap.

Anyway, here's some pics:

You can barely see the film line unless the lighting and your angle is just right.



Here you can see the film lines better, and also my alignment problem.


Another shot, this time on the right side. Again you can see I didn't stretch it far enough .


Here's the (really tiny!) fender piece. You can see the film line along the wheel flare. And again, probably didn't stretch it enough .

I also got the headlight film but... I horribly messed up on the driver's side, so bad I just took it off and trashed the film. I didn't even try the passenger side. I did do the fog lights, but forgot to take a pic.

Aside from the alignment problems, I did get a few small bubbles. I think they may go away in a few days.

Anyway, for $115 and two hours work, I'm pretty happy.

where did u buy it @

[clicq]

Originally Posted by martirw

where did u buy it @

I bought it off a seller on ebay actually (chipgardman)... I figured 3M film is going to be the same wherever I get it, and the patterns looked pretty similar so I just went for the cheapest... don't know if that was a bad decision or not .

[Jzone99]

?????????, Haa? what? I just read this entire thread, I'm tired now. I just picked up a base model this weekend and wanted to protrect it for resell value maybe in a year or two but it does not seem cost effecitve unless you plan on holding onto the car.
If I could g.et the hood and bumper done for under 250 that be cool but not likely?