[WScottCross]

Anyone get pricing on getting a clear bra installed? I got a quote for $999 and that's more than I want to pay. I'm thinking about ordering bulk film and doing it myself. Anyone have any cheaper alternatives or experience with the DIY?

 

[D1JL]

Anyone get pricing on getting a clear bra installed? I got a quote for $999 and that's more than I want to pay. I'm thinking about ordering bulk film and doing it myself. Anyone have any cheaper alternatives or experience with the DIY?

The price you were quoted is about right.
I have doing vinyl for years and I still won't do a clear bra myself.

Dave

 

[mrtn]

I've been getting my clear bras done at the same place for years. $240 for a 24" bra. No issues ever. $999 seems very steep. Even the dealer charges $499. Unless you are talking about more than a clear bra. Clear bras are typically just on the hood and front fenders.

If you are looking for the hood and entire bumper then yea it's going to be a lot more as the bumpers are a giant pain to get done right. Especially with all the curves of the FiST front end. So yea $800-$1000 seems right for the whole front end, depending on the quality of the film.

 

[D1JL]

Mine was with X-PEL (10 year warranty)

I did
Front Bumper
complete Hood
partial Fenders
Mirrors
Headlights
Fog Lights
A-Pillers
Rear Wheel Arches
Rear Bumper Top
All 4 door trailing edges

So the price wasn't too bad.

Dave

 

[Stevelach]

For $900 I did:
Complete hood
Both headlights
Complete front bumper
L and R mirrors
All 4 door trailing edges
Top of rear bumper

 

[WScottCross]

Thanks guys. The quote was for 18" on the hood, front bumper, mirrors and the front portion of the fenders. That's less than what you guys had done and that's why it seems high to me. I guess I'll check around and get more quotes.

 

[Bdud]

I went with the 3M spray on clear bra on my wifes black FiST. Did one door mirror, front bumper and complete hood.
It was not easy to get the consistency right, it stayed wet for a long time and is is designed to go on looking very orange peely.
The bumper I sprayed too thin so that did not come out very smooth. The hood I overdid on the top outer edges so I have runs there.
Overall I like it and I doubt anyone would notice my mistakes except if you were very close to the car. The door mirror came out best and that looks no different in color to the rest of the car.
My FoST has a "traditional" clear bra on the front and it looks bad from 10,000 miles of driving but I am not about to spend out another ~$800 to have it redone. I am not sure if spray-on is as strong as the plastic film but it is designed to be replaced each year.

 

[WScottCross]

Ok, I did some research and I think I'll give the spray a shot. For 1/10 the cost, I can redo it a few times and still come out way ahead.

 

[WScottCross]

I did the 3M spray and I'm pretty happy with it. I already have a few small chips and wanted to prevent more. There is a little orange peel texture and I think I didnt apply it slow enough. I did the entire hood and bumper. I also plan to do the A pillars and the side mirrors. Definitely worth the cost. It was a pain to tape off the grille and fog lights. I also sprayed the headlights but it's not even enough and I'll probably peel that off.

 

[wash]

For the price I want to try the 3M as soon as I get my car professionally polished.

I saw a lot of really great products at SEMA but the films are just too expensive and I think areas like the side mirrors with the strakes to eliminate wind noise will have too many contours to work with a film product.