[YasF80_SLO]

Hey E90opst,

Working on my paint and decided to remove the factory installed clear bra, the car is a late 2013, so a little over 3 years old. As I removed it it went fine until I got to the bumper, on the bumper as it was removed it took paint off with it, all the way down to primer...

Not only that but in the areas where it didnt take paint off with it, it left behind a TON of residue that they use to stick it on the paint, and to remove the residue ended up having to have those areas wet sanded...

anyone else have to go through this to get clearbra off??

See attached photo

[AM330i]

How did you remove it, did you just peel it off or did you heat it up first and then peel. Heating it up first helps to release the adhesive and then whatever residue is left after, you would use a solvent to remove it.

[S4NoMore]

What was your technique? I've seen best results are with plenty of heat applied with a heat gun, or even better with steam.

I didn't know BMW offered any clear bra applied at the factory... I wonder what kind of film it is.

[YasF80_SLO]

Originally Posted by S4NoMore

What was your technique? I've seen best results are with plenty of heat applied with a heat gun, or even better with steam.

I didn't know BMW offered any clear bra applied at the factory... I wonder what kind of film it is.

I think its just installed by BMW, but its an option you can get something like paint protection package at your dealer.

Used a heat gun, and moved slowly while lifting.

[YasF80_SLO]

Originally Posted by AM330i

How did you remove it, did you just peel it off or did you heat it up first and then peel. Heating it up first helps to release the adhesive and then whatever residue is left after, you would use a solvent to remove it.

The residue wouldnt come off with a solevant, I think after the years of sitting in the sun more of the plastic got baked on, tried using every bug and tar remover out there, then went to 3m Adhesive remover, and then Goo Off, and nothing would get it off.

[DJtoad]

Originally Posted by 2013_E92

The residue wouldnt come off with a solevant, I think after the years of sitting in the sun more of the plastic got baked on, tried using every bug and tar remover out there, then went to 3m Adhesive remover, and then Goo Off, and nothing would get it off.

What brand film? I just removed mine from the bumper after being on there for 8 years. Mine was also installed at the dealership by Proform Auto. It was pretty easy to remove with a heat gun (medium temp) but there were a few places that had some residual adhesive remaining. But 3M General Purpose Adhesive remover, a microfiber towel, and a little elbow grease removed it. I'm surprised it didn't work for you.

[Slammed3]

Damn, I'm sorry that happened! I've had mine on for 8 years (bumper and halfway up hood/fenders) and want it redone soon. I just hope the shop fixes it if they screw it up.

[roadkillrob]

It is also a good indication that the bumper has been painted as the factory paint is very difficult to get to detach from the primer, are you the first owner? Some cars are painted even before delivery in NJ from shipping damage that is not required to be divulged to the owner.

[BSM n54iS]

I used a heat gun along with spraying gasoline and a little plastic scraper, was a huge pia with many soar fingers but got it done successfully

[YasF80_SLO]

After digging with the body shop im having do the respray they think it was painted over, im the second owner, it was a lease before I purchased it last year.

What looks like happened, was the front bumper was resprayed paint on paint without prep work (no sanding and no adhesion promoter) and the clear bra was applied at the same time as the paint, no time to cure. So when we removed the clearbra from the front bumper it ended up pulling up both the coat of non factory paint, and the factory paint in areas where the second coat did stick.

Im having the bumper fully sanded down, prepped and primed, adhesion promoter will be used this time around, and theyre doing a full color match, tint match, and orange peel match.

Should get the car back next week, and ill post some pics up when its all complete. Should be done and ready for bimmerfest 2017!

[rick100]

like some other have said the bumper had to be repainted that's why the paint came off

having said that , I really dislike clear bra overall , even worst on white cars. They all yellow over time and it looks bad , when you take the bra off the colour underneath ages differently and is very noticeable , so you still have to repaint.

Its very expensive to do , almost as much as just repainting the damn car. On darker colours is not bad but on light colour it does not look good after a while.

[shadow191]

It likely was painted over. As others have said, it's pretty hard to rip off factory paint even on the bumper and even with the clear bra which has more aggressive adhesive when compared to a vinyl wrap. Sometimes the material on the clear bra can degrade as well and so when you peel, it just separates and leave some on the car. When that happens, solvent won't remove it as it's basically protecting the adhesive from getting touched by solvent.

Friend of mine recently bought a 911 Turbo with less than 2k on it and took it in for a clear bra. They used a paint meter on it and saw that the bumper and hood had been repainted so they refused to install as they won't install clear bras on repainted cars for the reasons you're describing. Car had no reported accidents so it was a surprise as the car was maybe 5 months old. At least dealer took care of him and let him turn car in for another Turbo they had just gotten.