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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Wash, Wax, Detailing and Cosmetic protection/repairs > Clear Bra DIY (E92)



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      07-24-2013, 03:58 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
Nicely done. I think the only differences I can tell between yours and mine are:
You paid a lot less than I (good for you, sucks for me ).
I had only the hood and trunk done, but then I did it because of my cat, not because I care if little stones and whatnot pit the car's paint. I'm not going to sell the car until at least 2017.

It's good to know, nonetheless, that it can be done as a DIY. It's been a while since I looked at this thread, but if I recall correctly, someone else above successfully installed the clear bra as a DIY project.

TY for sharing and all the best.
oh, massive reading comprehension fail on my end here...you already did it! lol.

well, given my quote for a full install vs DIY, I estimated a 63% savings. Good job.
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      07-24-2013, 04:00 PM   #24
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also with this video, it's funny that it's time elapsed, b/c for about every 1 minute of the video, it equates to about 1 hour of real time...lol!

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      07-24-2013, 04:04 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by C.D.335xi View Post
You may want to check out the following thread from the DIY section:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=854372
this is a very difficult way of doing it, b/c the material is very sticky and the surface is large. The preferred way is to get precut pieces.
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      07-25-2013, 11:22 AM   #26
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everything comes with experience and with time. The only advantage a pro has over someone is he knows more as he has done more. Mike, here did it himself and this man did more than i did when i went to training for a week to learn to install. Even now sometimes i mess up. it's jsut being patient and having hands to help out.
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      07-25-2013, 01:27 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield View Post
everything comes with experience and with time. The only advantage a pro has over someone is he knows more as he has done more. Mike, here did it himself and this man did more than i did when i went to training for a week to learn to install. Even now sometimes i mess up. it's jsut being patient and having hands to help out.
+1

Installing a clear bar is certainly not rocket science. Patience and a little common sense and care will quite likely make it a very doable for most folks.
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      07-25-2013, 02:55 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SHEEDI View Post
Tony....one thing i would like to make clear.....clear bra wont save car from dings, clear bra only save your car from scratches.
Speaking of which, what do you do if you get a ding over a clear bra? Would it need to be removed to fix dents then reapplied?
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      07-26-2013, 06:50 AM   #29
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Originally Posted by nitehawk View Post
Speaking of which, what do you do if you get a ding over a clear bra? Would it need to be removed to fix dents then reapplied?
I never had any ding after i installed clear bra, but what i think that you can get the ding out by PDR and you dont have to remove clear bra untill unless it has been scratched, the only time you remove clear bra when it has been scratched.
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      07-26-2013, 09:11 AM   #30
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Originally Posted by SHEEDI View Post
I never had any ding after i installed clear bra, but what i think that you can get the ding out by PDR and you dont have to remove clear bra untill unless it has been scratched, the only time you remove clear bra when it has been scratched.
Yeah, just wasn't sure because PDR could 'pull' clear bra out, unless it can be done from the inside
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      07-26-2013, 09:14 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SHEEDI View Post
I never had any ding after i installed clear bra, but what i think that you can get the ding out by PDR and you dont have to remove clear bra untill unless it has been scratched, the only time you remove clear bra when it has been scratched.
So long as the cat scratches the bra and not my car's paint, I"m good.
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      07-26-2013, 09:16 AM   #32
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Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
So long as the cat scratches the bra and not my car's paint, I"m good.
Strange...... you wear bra and your car wear paints
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      07-26-2013, 09:30 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SHEEDI View Post
Strange...... you wear bra and your car wear paints
LOL
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      09-05-2013, 12:18 AM   #34
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What about using bulk film? Is it that much harder?
OP if you have a stock bumper then I would just get the pre cut and go for it
I want to do the same but apparently there isn't pre cut ones for m tech
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      09-05-2013, 07:05 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuisC48 View Post
What about using bulk film? Is it that much harder?
OP if you have a stock bumper then I would just get the pre cut and go for it
I want to do the same but apparently there isn't pre cut ones for m tech
Bulk film is hard to cut and design accordingly, i wouldnt suggest bulk film for first time users. it would be hard. try pre cuts first and learn how to and then you can start using bulk film rolls.
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      09-05-2013, 01:24 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LuisC48 View Post
What about using bulk film? Is it that much harder?
OP if you have a stock bumper then I would just get the pre cut and go for it
I want to do the same but apparently there isn't pre cut ones for m tech
Bra already applied. I had a custom installation done.
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      09-07-2013, 02:08 PM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tony20009 View Post
+1

Installing a clear bar is certainly not rocket science. Patience and a little common sense and care will quite likely make it a very doable for most folks.
Maybe some can get by installing an easy piece.

I don't care who you are, if you do not have experience, a complicated bumper or even mirror will eat you alive. It's not just about patience or common sense. Some of it is outright counterintuitive. Nothing is impossible but it is very unlikely you will end up with an install as good as an experienced professional.
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      09-08-2013, 09:36 PM   #38
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I did this on my E39. Pretty straightforward, but you must insure the surface is clean and stays clean. The smallest airborne particles will trap themselves under the film and create imperfections.
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      09-08-2013, 11:51 PM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ddas View Post
Maybe some can get by installing an easy piece.

I don't care who you are, if you do not have experience, a complicated bumper or even mirror will eat you alive. It's not just about patience or common sense. Some of it is outright counterintuitive. Nothing is impossible but it is very unlikely you will end up with an install as good as an experienced professional.
I get your point. I didn't want to take on a bumper or mirror either, but then I had it done by a professional. I also, however, only had the roof, hood and trunk done. I suspect anyone could probably handle two of those three, although I had the installer wrap the hood piece under the hood so I would have no visible sign of the bra's being there. Ditto the trunk and hood.

My bumper is plastic and though I doubt that'll stop stones and whatnot from marring the paint, in all the time I've had my E92, I haven't had any stones damage it. So I wouldn't do the bumper anyway for that reason as well as bumpers are, well, bumpers. Their purpose is to bump into things. I can live with a few scratches and marks on them.
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