Clear Bra

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-12-2014, 03:42 PM

I used PlastiDip Clearbra (labeled as "ArmorAll Custom Shield").
This will protect my car from Bug Guts and stone chips this summer. My plan is to peel it every fall and respray in spring. No bugs and flying stones in fall/winter to worry about... Anyway, all it is, is a 14 oz aerosol can of clear PlastiDip (PD CLEAR#19155). $10.98 on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FF0K8FM?...1&s=automotive

I like how it turned out, except for the drivers side corner, it kind of came up when I removed the masking. Otherwise it looks great and I've worked with Plastidip in the past (Roundels and Badges). It will peel off in a single sheet when the time comes.

Whadda ya think? That's just water dripping in the front grills, it just got done raining.

LI_Goalie · 05-12-2014, 03:48 PM

Looks bad, but if you don't care about the looks and just want protection I guess it did the job

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-12-2014, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LI_Goalie

Looks bad, but if you don't care about the looks and just want protection I guess it did the job

That's what I like about this forum! Honesty. LOL

3002 tii · 05-12-2014, 03:50 PM

Looks like one of those Civics who put on primed but unpainted bumpers because they couldn't afford the paint job lol. 3M sells a clearbra in spray can application but it gets mixed reviews. But if spend the time to prep and buy the proper equipment, apparently it gets the job done. Me personally, I'd spend the $400 or so to get a REAL front clear bra and replace it every 5-7 years ($66/yr is cheap insurance IMO).

PINeely · 05-12-2014, 03:51 PM

Isn't the clear stuff supposed to make your existing paint look matte? Do they have a gloss version?

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-12-2014, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PINeely

Isn't the clear stuff supposed to make your existing paint look matte? Do they have a gloss version?

Yes, I think PlastiDip has a "Glossifier". The Custom Shield is supposed to be matte.

1chanc3 · 05-12-2014, 04:12 PM

Reminds me of

The Cleaner · 05-12-2014, 04:22 PM

Is that really how it's suppose to be? That's a heavy trade off in the looks department to save a few chips.

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-12-2014, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cleaner

Is that really how it's suppose to be? That's a heavy trade off in the looks department to save a few chips.

Yeah, I suppose I didn't have to go that far up on the hood...
I'm thinking this would look a lot better if my car was SG or TiAg.

AS4EX · 05-12-2014, 06:18 PM

UMich_335i · 05-12-2014, 06:32 PM

Maybe if you only did the bumper and not the hood, but would still look like primer.

N0Chill 335i · 05-12-2014, 07:27 PM

Cool beans. I'm gonna try the Glossifier like I said in my thread. See how it turns out. I assume it's the same product. I will double check before I use it.Thanks for the thread though.

stopper · 05-12-2014, 07:29 PM

Meh, it reminds me a bit of the vintage mentality that spawned this phenomenon.

In the pursuit of protecting the beauty and integrity of your paint, you're effectively going to hide it and make it weird-looking for half of its viewable life. Doesn't that undermine the reason you're doing this in the first place? Personally, I'd live with a few rock chips in my paint here and there over driving around with a primer'd bumper for 6 months a year. I agree with the poster above; I think the cost of a real clearbra is worth it, if you're want to protect that nice paint.

Just my 2¢

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-12-2014, 07:45 PM

I'm beginning to rethink this. My main concern is bugs and secondary the rock chips... I hate cleaning/scrubbing bugs out of the nooks and crannies of the front fascia. Rock chips for the most part are avoidable because I don't follow other vehicles closely.

Maybe I'll just peel the hood and leave the front bumper coated... Then if that doesn't look good, I'll peel the rest... I sincerely do appreciate your input, and none of you are being asinine about it, which I also appreciate.

SHEEDI · 05-13-2014, 08:53 AM

OP, plz don't take my comments personal but................ plz don't be so cheap, if you can afford that car and house then you should have clear bra installed by professional and you will be good for next 5 years , my 2, 3 , 4 or 10 cents

3002 tii · 05-13-2014, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cleaner

Is that really how it's suppose to be? That's a heavy trade off in the looks department to save a few chips.

And even then there's no guarantee it'll prevent chips. Xpel and similar films are probably thicker than this coating.

Seriously spend the money for a decent film, and I'm not talking 3M neither. Look at Xpel Ultimate, Suntek, etc.

GB-335xiCoupe · 05-13-2014, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHEEDI

OP, plz don't take my comments personal but................ plz don't be so cheap, if you can afford that car and house then you should have clear bra installed by professional and you will be good for next 5 years , my 2, 3 , 4 or 10 cents

Actually I got the car for a steal, and the big house on the left side is my neighbor LOL. But I get your meaning. I stripped the plastidip off the hood and it looks lots better now.

SLOWER · 05-13-2014, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopper

Wish I saw this thread before I attempted this same thing and peeled it off immediately. Complete waste of time. Looks terrible.

alexg212 · 05-19-2014, 01:37 AM

Glossifier plastidip.

tmdals0213 · 05-26-2014, 08:37 PM

frozen black~

Eat.Sleep.Race · 05-29-2014, 09:06 PM

do the whole car if you want protection. not digging it, but nice car otherwise : )

IK6SPEED · 06-20-2014, 05:53 PM

glossifier is crap, doesnt look glossy at all, maybe 10% more glossier but still is crap, i still have laying around at home with no use to it.

05-12-2014, 03:42 PM	#1
GB-335xiCoupe Libertarian 132 Rep 1,577 Posts Drives: 29k mi per year. Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Green Bay area iTrader: (0)	Clear Bra - by PlastiDip I used PlastiDip Clearbra (labeled as "ArmorAll Custom Shield"). This will protect my car from Bug Guts and stone chips this summer. My plan is to peel it every fall and respray in spring. No bugs and flying stones in fall/winter to worry about... Anyway, all it is, is a 14 oz aerosol can of clear PlastiDip (PD CLEAR#19155). $10.98 on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FF0K8FM?...1&s=automotive I like how it turned out, except for the drivers side corner, it kind of came up when I removed the masking. Otherwise it looks great and I've worked with Plastidip in the past (Roundels and Badges). It will peel off in a single sheet when the time comes. Whadda ya think? That's just water dripping in the front grills, it just got done raining. __________________ 2011 335xi Coupe BSM (e92/N55/ZPP/ZCW, Alpina B3 Flash) Bought 08/09/2013@53,340mi Current 3/13/2019@206,283mi Fail(s): tstat hous/water pump 89k, Chargepipe 106k, coolant tank 114k, FRM3 114k Maint: Walnut blast 101k, Trans/T-case Fluid 103k, OFHG 195k
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05-12-2014, 03:48 PM	#2
LI_Goalie Private First Class 7 Rep 110 Posts Drives: 2009 335xi E92 6MT Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	Looks bad, but if you don't care about the looks and just want protection I guess it did the job
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05-12-2014, 03:50 PM	#4
3002 tii Lieutenant General 2285 Rep 12,565 Posts Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (99) Garage List F15 X5 xDrive35i [8.75] E86 Z4 M [10.00] F10 550i (Retired) [9.17] F25 X3 xDrive35i (R ... [9.43] E82 135is (Retired) [9.50] E85 Z4 M (Retired) [9.41] E90 328i xDrive (Re ... [9.25] E86 Z4 3.0si (Retired) [9.24]	Looks like one of those Civics who put on primed but unpainted bumpers because they couldn't afford the paint job lol. 3M sells a clearbra in spray can application but it gets mixed reviews. But if spend the time to prep and buy the proper equipment, apparently it gets the job done. Me personally, I'd spend the $400 or so to get a REAL front clear bra and replace it every 5-7 years ($66/yr is cheap insurance IMO). __________________ Follow for latest mods
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05-12-2014, 03:51 PM	#5
PINeely Lieutenant Colonel 1086 Rep 1,912 Posts Drives: 2013 535i, 2015 Tundra 1794 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jackson, MS iTrader: (2)	Isn't the clear stuff supposed to make your existing paint look matte? Do they have a gloss version? Last edited by PINeely; 05-12-2014 at 06:51 PM..
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05-12-2014, 04:12 PM	#7
1chanc3 Major 148 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: 2010 e92 335i Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Reminds me of __________________ 2010 335i Coupe- Monaco Blue Metallic
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05-12-2014, 04:22 PM	#8
The Cleaner Thats all you need to know. 43 Rep 1,188 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 , 2016 X5 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (2)	Is that really how it's suppose to be? That's a heavy trade off in the looks department to save a few chips. __________________ - M2 2018 LBB / Black - X5 F15 2016 Mineral White / Black 1981 Delorean number 6489
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05-12-2014, 06:18 PM	#10
AS4EX N 31 Rep 631 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Ohio iTrader: (5)
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05-12-2014, 06:32 PM	#11
UMich_335i Lieutenant 25 Rep 414 Posts Drives: 2009 e90 335i Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [0.00]	Maybe if you only did the bumper and not the hood, but would still look like primer. __________________ 2009 e90 335i \| AT \| AG M590 \| Conti DW \| KW V1 \| Lux \| Akebono e50 PTF Protune \| Cobb FMIC \| aFe DCI \| VRSF DPs \| ER CP \| Tial BOV \| Alpina Flash \| Fuel-It Stg1 \| RB PCV \| Cobb Exhaust
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05-12-2014, 07:27 PM	#12
N0Chill 335i Colonel 850 Rep 2,771 Posts Drives: 13' F30 335i M Sport AW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (2)	Cool beans. I'm gonna try the Glossifier like I said in my thread. See how it turns out. I assume it's the same product. I will double check before I use it.Thanks for the thread though.
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05-12-2014, 07:29 PM	#13
stopper Person of Interest 20 Rep 290 Posts Drives: A petrol-engine motorcar Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: CT iTrader: (3)	Meh, it reminds me a bit of the vintage mentality that spawned this phenomenon. In the pursuit of protecting the beauty and integrity of your paint, you're effectively going to hide it and make it weird-looking for half of its viewable life. Doesn't that undermine the reason you're doing this in the first place? Personally, I'd live with a few rock chips in my paint here and there over driving around with a primer'd bumper for 6 months a year. I agree with the poster above; I think the cost of a real clearbra is worth it, if you're want to protect that nice paint. Just my 2¢
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05-12-2014, 07:45 PM	#14
GB-335xiCoupe Libertarian 132 Rep 1,577 Posts Drives: 29k mi per year. Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Green Bay area iTrader: (0)	I'm beginning to rethink this. My main concern is bugs and secondary the rock chips... I hate cleaning/scrubbing bugs out of the nooks and crannies of the front fascia. Rock chips for the most part are avoidable because I don't follow other vehicles closely. Maybe I'll just peel the hood and leave the front bumper coated... Then if that doesn't look good, I'll peel the rest... I sincerely do appreciate your input, and none of you are being asinine about it, which I also appreciate. __________________ 2011 335xi Coupe BSM (e92/N55/ZPP/ZCW, Alpina B3 Flash) Bought 08/09/2013@53,340mi Current 3/13/2019@206,283mi Fail(s): tstat hous/water pump 89k, Chargepipe 106k, coolant tank 114k, FRM3 114k Maint: Walnut blast 101k, Trans/T-case Fluid 103k, OFHG 195k
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05-13-2014, 08:53 AM	#15
SHEEDI Banned 601 Rep 2,703 Posts Drives: 2009 335i - Sport PKG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 335i [8.50]	OP, plz don't take my comments personal but................ plz don't be so cheap, if you can afford that car and house then you should have clear bra installed by professional and you will be good for next 5 years , my 2, 3 , 4 or 10 cents Last edited by SHEEDI; 05-13-2014 at 09:23 AM..
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05-19-2014, 01:37 AM	#19
alexg212 Second Lieutenant 52 Rep 278 Posts Drives: 335is Coupe/Mustang Gt Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	Glossifier plastidip.
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05-26-2014, 08:37 PM	#20
tmdals0213 Major 211 Rep 1,407 Posts Drives: 2016 340i M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: amazon.com/prime iTrader: (2)	frozen black~
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05-29-2014, 09:06 PM	#21
Eat.Sleep.Race Out Boosting... 242 Rep 3,987 Posts Drives: F30 335i M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (7)	do the whole car if you want protection. not digging it, but nice car otherwise : )
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06-20-2014, 05:53 PM	#22
IK6SPEED Banned 4488 Rep 10,473 Posts Drives: BMW M3 / AH3 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cali iTrader: (23)	glossifier is crap, doesnt look glossy at all, maybe 10% more glossier but still is crap, i still have laying around at home with no use to it.
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