Baggerdude

I had the clear bar deal installed when I picked up my '09 Turbo. I now have around 14,000 miles on the car and there are 'bug spots' on the bra that don't appear to go away when washing the car ... or using Plexus.

I tried to use some alcohol on a small area. BIG mistake ... just made the bug guts stain larger and more blurred.

I've noticed that the bug stains do not go away.

How often should these clear shields be replaced? How much of a pain is it to replace them? And ... what's the best clear bra to have installed?

Thanx in advance.

Bob in NY

I used a high speed buffer on mine with polishing compound it it cleaned up nicely. I have 20k on mine and after 4 years it looks like an 8 out of 10.

Basal Skull

Try the 'arm and hammer - magic eraser' - not kidding, it works. Bugs/tire tread debris from the track etc.

bonehead

While that may work, I wouldn't do it. Magic Eraser is essentially very fine sandpaper. That will scuff up your clear bra and will likely be very noticeable under sunlight.

Premier sells a clear bra cleaner that supposedly safely removes bug, tar, etc. Not cheap, but may save you the expense of getting a new bra.

Terry Adams

My dead bugs and bird crap get the Speedshine treatment.
I have Venture Shield from bumper to windshield.
High velocity out-of-state bugs take a little more work.

function12

Jesus Christ??!!??! Did you drive through a swarm of locust??

TT Surgeon

At 4 yrs and 70k miles mine looked terrible and started peeling. Always looked like crap while polishing, etc with the very noticeable seams.
on my current car I only did the front bumper.

E55AMG

^ hmm, at 4 years and 52,000 mine looks as good as new.

prg

I haven't had a clear bra on my last two p cars just because of the bugs and degradation of the stuff. If need be, a respray of the nose isn't that costly. I like being able to use a pressure washer without fear of cutting into the plastic. (I am fairly sure a detailing maven is about to chastize me for my criminal use of a pressure washer.)

Baggerdude

I had a black '08 (?) Boxster for a few months for my SO. Front needed a respray up to the windscreen due to some sand chipping.

4 quotes in CT-land were all within a few hundred of each other.

Cost for the "nose respray" was $4500sih.

Not so cheap here, m'friend.

Eric - Plug Guy

Bagger - $4500???? Was it just the bumper? Was there damage? Were parts involved? That just can't be.

Not a film guy here, can't comment on OP.

Baggerdude

Naw, Eric .... it was the entire front end. Half the fenders and nearly to the windscreen. "Blended", I was told. And, just plain ol' BLACK, too. No other damage, just some paint nicks from the PO driving on the Slab in Virgina. No parts involved either. Just German paint.

I figured it'd be less than a grand. But, after talking with this shop ... and that one ... some "high end", some just local ... the cost was nearly the same.

I was surprised as well. Sold the car.

Terry Adams

I paid $2500 on the 993 front respray, bumper to windshield, prob about 2004.

I would still rather have the wrap from new, because the touch up looks terrible and you have to live with it till you repsray anyway.

Premier

Hopefully we can help out here.

1. Film used - some films come with a low grade top coat that allows for bug gut etching to take place in short amount of time. Film we use is by Prestige Film Technologies. Much clearer than anything we've seen
2. Film maintenance - it is needed. Like paint, if you never wash or wax, the paint will oxidize and the clearcoat on your paint will eventually break down. This is where most installers fall short. Not to blame them, most on the market are not experienced as there is a high turnover rate in paint protection film installers. By the time, many realize that film needs to be maintained, they are ready to get out of the business. This is why most customers around the globe do not realize the need for film maintenance. PF1 products are designed specifically for this purpose - here it is:

http://premiermobilegroup.com/pf1_products.shtml

3. Excellent body paint shops will charge $8k-$15k to repaint an entire car. For just the front end, expect it to cost north of $3k for a repaint.

prg

I paid $1500 for front bumper respray on my Stradale. Granted this isn't fenders and hood.
If I tracked the car I'd probably do it. I prefer to look at my paint and enjoy it. I don't really desire to save it for the next owner. I may lose a couple grand at trade in, but I doubt it really pays unless you track the car. Paint is easy to wash. Clear bra is a bit of a pain.
Just MHO.