Xpel Clear Bra

[Blk2015GT]

My break line is if it's over $1,000 not worth it. If you can get the front bumper front part of the hood done with maybe mirror caps for $500-750 it may be worth it, otherwise skip it.

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[Millgeo5]

I paid $450 for the bumper, headlights, fog lights, mirrors, door handle cups, trailing edge of doors, and trunk opening, I love it, AZ is really hard on bumpers and I wish I would of done it on my 05.

 

[Blk2015GT]

^that's a good deal. Unfortunately not everyone can get it that cheap to make it worth doing

 

[foghat]

My break line is if it's over $1,000 not worth it. If you can get the front bumper front part of the hood done with maybe mirror caps for $500-750 it may be worth it, otherwise skip it.

^that's a good deal. Unfortunately not everyone can get it that cheap to make it worth doing

Worth is in the eye of the beholder.

I think it is worth up to ~1,500 to keep the entire front end look basically new for years on end. I do not think it is worth it to spend ~750-1000 to have the whole front end repainted - unless you can guarantee me that that paint will never chip and pit.

 

[Blk2015GT]

Worth is in the eye of the beholder.

I think it is worth up to ~1,500 to keep the entire front end look basically new for years on end. I do not think it is worth it to spend ~750-1000 to have the whole front end repainted - unless you can guarantee me that that paint will never chip and pit.

Clear bra isn't a forcefield either. Get tapped by another car shopping cart etc you'll get dings. Hard enough rock chip to the front end you will get a divot in the paint under the bra even if it's not chip but definitely an indention.

There are just too many people who have a bad misconception it's some shield against everything no matter what you throw at it like a Star Trek episode because of marketing

To my beholder over $1000 isn't worth it to me. Fixing the chips before selling the car would be cheaper or simply taking a hit on the trade-in for the same amount fronted on the clear bra cost- ie. if the car is worth $25k with perfect paint take $24k since you never paid the $1k for clear bra up front. Same difference. A dealer trade-in isn't going to short you $1,000 on a trade for a few small chips. It doesn't cost them anywhere near that to fix the chips or respray at their cost to re-sell the car.

 

[foghat]

Clear bra isn't a forcefield either. Get tapped by another car shopping cart etc you'll get dings. Hard enough rock chip to the front end you will get a divot in the paint under the bra even if it's not chip but definitely an indention. It will still look bad.

There are many people who have a bad misconception it's some shield against everything no matter what you throw at it like a Star Trek episode.

I know it is not a force field and acknowledged that in an earlier post. I have one of those 'divots' under the ppf. It is there if you look for it, but even when you do see it, it doesn't look nearly as bad as the chip would have.

As to your shopping cart example that is really an edge case for me. Maybe it is because of my parking habits, but I have never had a shopping cart hit the front end of my car. But let's say it does happen - depending on angle and force of impact, there is a decent chance the ppf will prevent a scratch. If you do get a ding, so what? Have it fixed at dentless repair place, ppf will likely be fine.

We get you are not fan of ppf, but the fact is it does work. The front end of my last car looked like it was sandblasted due to all the pitting - the pitting simply will not happen with ppf.

If my headlights (which I did not do) and windshield are any indication, the ppf has already (in 7 months) saved my paint. Aside from that one chip/divot it looks like knew. That is simply not going to happen without ppf after one of our winters.

I know some people could car less about chips and pitting - they are a cost of driving, obviously ppf is not for them. Personally it drives me nuts.

Like I said, different strokes for different folks.

 

[foghat]

To my beholder over $1000 isn't worth it to me. Fixing the chips before selling the car would be cheaper or simply taking a hit on the trade-in for the same amount fronted on the clear bra cost- ie. if the car is worth $25k with perfect paint take $24k since you never paid the $1k for clear bra up front. Same difference. A dealer trade-in isn't going to short you $1,000 on a trade for a few small chips. It doesn't cost them anywhere near that to fix the chips or respray at their cost to re-sell the car.

Again, you are assuming people are getting ppf because of a perceived increase in trade in-value.

 

[nsquared]

so lets say the price is right, does the xpel clear bra hopefully allows a black car to stay cleaner and easier to maintain?

 

[Blk2015GT]

so lets say the price is right, does the xpel clear bra hopefully allows a black car to stay cleaner and easier to maintain?

In theory yes. In another theory you will also see every knick or mark in the clear bra too since the background is black; and you cannot polish clear bra to get them out.

Dark colors are tough paint or clear bra to keep flawless.

 

[foghat]

so lets say the price is right, does the xpel clear bra hopefully allows a black car to stay cleaner and easier to maintain?

PPF is not going to make the car stay cleaner. It gets dirty/collects dust like the rest of the car.

Easier to maintain in that you can be a little more care free when hand washing the ppf covered areas - don't really have to worry about creating swirls with xpel. Bird droppings become less worrisome as well.

The California Duster was my best friend when I had my black 135i.

 

[nsquared]

PPF is not going to make the car stay cleaner. It gets dirty/collects dust like the rest of the car.

Easier to maintain in that you can be a little more care free when hand washing the ppf covered areas - don't really have to worry about creating swirls with xpel. Bird droppings become less worrisome as well.

The California Duster was my best friend when I had my black 135i.

Thanks for the help. What does a california duster do?

 

[Poppacapp]

The good thing about a clear bra on the front is, keep a coat of wax on it, and bugs just wipe off with a rag.

 

[foghat]

The good thing about a clear bra on the front is, keep a coat of wax on it, and bugs just wipe off with a rag.

a duster that quickly and effectively takes off the dust that just settles on your car - the dust that is very noticeable on a black paint job.

http://www.amazon.com/California-Car-Duster-62442-Standard/dp/B00008RW9U

 

[Turbo Ghost]

a duster that quickly and effectively takes off the dust that just settles on your car - the dust that is very noticeable on a black paint job.

http://www.amazon.com/California-Car-Duster-62442-Standard/dp/B00008RW9U

I second this. Don't get the cheap knock-off, it will leave little lint dingleberries all over your car and won't pick up the dust.

The California Car Duster is worth it. When I lived in Florida my black vehicle would be covered with a layer of pollen every morning. The duster made quick work of it, looked like I just washed it.

 

[GTP]

I paid $450 for the bumper, headlights, fog lights, mirrors, door handle cups, trailing edge of doors, and trunk opening,

XPEL? Or Ziebart? Or ... ?

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