Very expensive design of Victoria Secret for my '86 coupe
08-12-2010, 01:31 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Very expensive design of Victoria Secret for my '86 coupe
It was hard to justify the cost for the clear-bra on a car that already had quite a few rock chips....it was a very difficult decision for me. My wife and I are usually very cost-conscious (almost frugal with respect to luxury items) when it comes to most things in life. This car will be with me for the rest of my life and is my daily driver in a town that uses loose gravel to a) resurface a distressed asphalt road in the summers and b) as a substitute for salt in the winters. We all know that our hoods are a magnet for rock chips. Benjamin at Metropolitan detail in Lynwood, WA is a very skilled plastic (film) surgeon. The final shot (after the full installation) of the car is a good representation of the finished product. You can hardly notice the Ventureshield film. You can call me crazy ...but do so in a polite fashion. Yeh, for the cost I could have the car repainted once, twice or even thrice.....but the car is original only once and I am all about it's preservation.
Last edited by w00tPORSCHE; 08-12-2010 at 04:48 PM.
08-12-2010, 01:41 PM
#3
Looks great, Amar!
Can't fault you for this one. My own car's a weekend toy, so I doubt I'll go the clear bra route...although we may do it on our new DD, which my wife uses on the highway. Your guy did a really, really nice job.
Can't fault you for this one. My own car's a weekend toy, so I doubt I'll go the clear bra route...although we may do it on our new DD, which my wife uses on the highway. Your guy did a really, really nice job.
08-12-2010, 02:00 PM
#6
Drifting
Thread Starter
Ed, you do know how **** I am when it comes to keeping my cars clean. To me one of the biggest thrills in life is the challenge I face everyday/week/month in trying to keep my cars (and might I add.. non of my cars are garage queens) in showroom perfect condition for as long as possible.
Ray, I would strongly recommend it for a daily driver if your wife plans to keep her car for several years. If she is one who likes to change cars every 3 to 4 years then it does not make sense to do the wrap.
Rusnak: Thickness is 8mil. including adhesive. Optically very clear, invisible and durable. It is a clear urethane film (.015is also available). It is guaranteed for life against yellowing or cracking due to UV exposure.
Ray, I would strongly recommend it for a daily driver if your wife plans to keep her car for several years. If she is one who likes to change cars every 3 to 4 years then it does not make sense to do the wrap.
Rusnak: Thickness is 8mil. including adhesive. Optically very clear, invisible and durable. It is a clear urethane film (.015is also available). It is guaranteed for life against yellowing or cracking due to UV exposure.
08-12-2010, 02:25 PM
#7
Race Car
A real teaser thread...car looks good w00t.
How does the wrap hold up. I mean...does it start to look bad and can then be replaced? or is it permanant?
How does the wrap hold up. I mean...does it start to look bad and can then be replaced? or is it permanant?
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08-12-2010, 02:36 PM
#8
Three Wheelin'
That looks great! I admire the skill of the guys who apply this stuff, incredible job. I recently installed some Xpel headlight protection film on my H4s and I still have some moisture under the film that hasn't completely disappeared 
I can't imagine what it would be like to apply this stuff to a whole car.
I can't imagine what it would be like to apply this stuff to a whole car.
08-12-2010, 03:30 PM
#9
Drifting
Thread Starter
There are three very reputable companies that I know of who offer clear paint protection film. The thickness is the same on all these three: 3M, Ventureshield and XPEL.
The film is permanent and if maintained well (with good wash/wax technique using the right products) can be kept in pristine condition for a long time. Like paint, films can show swirls too. Not all films swirl easily. This is a function of the durometer (hardness) of the surface. If the film is soft and pliable, it will resist swirls and scratches to some extent because it "gives" when something hits it. But if you use a cheap microfiber towel to clean out all the dead bugs without proper lubrication and prep it WILL swirl the film. These films have a clear coat and it can be buffed just like paint should you ever need it.
The problem facing this industry is all the bad PR they get due to installaltions done by several inexperienced or poorly trained mobile installers. That is where you see a lot of the flaws including orange peel, stretch marks, unsightly seam marks and deep razor cuts on the paint. It is so crucial for anyone seeking clear bra installation for their new or used vehicle to not rely solely on pricing.
I had a custom install job (not a pre-cut install) to cover the full hood, lights and front fenders on my '86 coupe. As you can see, they remove parts and tuck the film for a seamless install. After every wash, I recommend the Einszett Spray Wax. It won't yellow the surface and you don't have to worry about it leaving any type of "crust" or film at the edges of the clearbra. Even though I have not even see how a track looks, I do know to remove rubber/cone marks, track smudges on the clear-bra there is a very good product called TTR.
The film is permanent and if maintained well (with good wash/wax technique using the right products) can be kept in pristine condition for a long time. Like paint, films can show swirls too. Not all films swirl easily. This is a function of the durometer (hardness) of the surface. If the film is soft and pliable, it will resist swirls and scratches to some extent because it "gives" when something hits it. But if you use a cheap microfiber towel to clean out all the dead bugs without proper lubrication and prep it WILL swirl the film. These films have a clear coat and it can be buffed just like paint should you ever need it.
The problem facing this industry is all the bad PR they get due to installaltions done by several inexperienced or poorly trained mobile installers. That is where you see a lot of the flaws including orange peel, stretch marks, unsightly seam marks and deep razor cuts on the paint. It is so crucial for anyone seeking clear bra installation for their new or used vehicle to not rely solely on pricing.
I had a custom install job (not a pre-cut install) to cover the full hood, lights and front fenders on my '86 coupe. As you can see, they remove parts and tuck the film for a seamless install. After every wash, I recommend the Einszett Spray Wax. It won't yellow the surface and you don't have to worry about it leaving any type of "crust" or film at the edges of the clearbra. Even though I have not even see how a track looks, I do know to remove rubber/cone marks, track smudges on the clear-bra there is a very good product called TTR.
08-12-2010, 03:30 PM
#10
We do it here at my dealership. The product will definetly yellow over time, and if it does not it gets filthy with dirt that gets imbedded into the film. I would say every year or so you will want to replace it if its a DD. I have clients whos cars are used as weekend toys and they still need to replace the film every 2 years as it does get pitted. It does work for making the paint pristine underneath as when you take it off its basically perfect.
08-12-2010, 03:51 PM
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
Ricster, with all due respect to your comment on the "definitely" yellows, this is my response. I take pride in keeping my clear-bras looking good. One of my cars has had it's clear-bra for four years and there is no yellowing. Again it all depends on how well one takes care of the film. It is all the accumulation of dust and dirt at a microscopic level (even though the film may look clean to the naked eye) that over the years contributes to the yellowing or that dull appearance. This can be minimized or averted by regular cleaning. I wipe down all the light dust/pollen on the surface my car every day with a california duster and then give it the customary weekly wash all-year round. Now how many of your clients are as crazy as me and follow that routine ? Not very many I presume. It does cost money to remove the clear film once installed and I do not have that much money lying around to be spent on bras (oops clear bras) every year for removal and re-installation. Ventureshield has foot the entire bill on my friends car which needed a new film (they do stand behind there product) as it did yellow after a couple of years. What they do not know if that he washes his DD car once in three months in a touchless auto carwash.
Last edited by w00tPORSCHE; 08-12-2010 at 04:29 PM.
08-12-2010, 05:00 PM
#12
Race Car
08-12-2010, 06:04 PM
#14
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
There are three very reputable companies that I know of who offer clear paint protection film. The thickness is the same on all these three: 3M, Ventureshield and XPEL.
The film is permanent and if maintained well (with good wash/wax technique using the right products) can be kept in pristine condition for a long time. Like paint, films can show swirls too. Not all films swirl easily. This is a function of the durometer (hardness) of the surface. If the film is soft and pliable, it will resist swirls and scratches to some extent because it "gives" when something hits it. But if you use a cheap microfiber towel to clean out all the dead bugs without proper lubrication and prep it WILL swirl the film. These films have a clear coat and it can be buffed just like paint should you ever need it.
The problem facing this industry is all the bad PR they get due to installaltions done by several inexperienced or poorly trained mobile installers. That is where you see a lot of the flaws including orange peel, stretch marks, unsightly seam marks and deep razor cuts on the paint. It is so crucial for anyone seeking clear bra installation for their new or used vehicle to not rely solely on pricing.
I had a custom install job (not a pre-cut install) to cover the full hood, lights and front fenders on my '86 coupe. As you can see, they remove parts and tuck the film for a seamless install. After every wash, I recommend the Einszett Spray Wax. It won't yellow the surface and you don't have to worry about it leaving any type of "crust" or film at the edges of the clearbra. Even though I have not even see how a track looks, I do know to remove rubber/cone marks, track smudges on the clear-bra there is a very good product called TTR.
The film is permanent and if maintained well (with good wash/wax technique using the right products) can be kept in pristine condition for a long time. Like paint, films can show swirls too. Not all films swirl easily. This is a function of the durometer (hardness) of the surface. If the film is soft and pliable, it will resist swirls and scratches to some extent because it "gives" when something hits it. But if you use a cheap microfiber towel to clean out all the dead bugs without proper lubrication and prep it WILL swirl the film. These films have a clear coat and it can be buffed just like paint should you ever need it.
The problem facing this industry is all the bad PR they get due to installaltions done by several inexperienced or poorly trained mobile installers. That is where you see a lot of the flaws including orange peel, stretch marks, unsightly seam marks and deep razor cuts on the paint. It is so crucial for anyone seeking clear bra installation for their new or used vehicle to not rely solely on pricing.
I had a custom install job (not a pre-cut install) to cover the full hood, lights and front fenders on my '86 coupe. As you can see, they remove parts and tuck the film for a seamless install. After every wash, I recommend the Einszett Spray Wax. It won't yellow the surface and you don't have to worry about it leaving any type of "crust" or film at the edges of the clearbra. Even though I have not even see how a track looks, I do know to remove rubber/cone marks, track smudges on the clear-bra there is a very good product called TTR.
08-12-2010, 07:04 PM
#15
Drifting
Thread Starter
Well said S carver. Whalebird, your keynote address is now overdue for my icon series parts 9 and 10 
. I am honored (and humbled) by the fact that you are actually learning something from me. Carlo, is WD-40 safe for the clear-bra care ?
. I am honored (and humbled) by the fact that you are actually learning something from me. Carlo, is WD-40 safe for the clear-bra care ?