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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics Cosmetic Maintenance (Wash/Wax/Detailing/Exterior Restoration & Repairs) Clear Bra Paint Protection Film?

View Poll Results: Clear Bra Paint Protection Film?
Xpel Ultimate 30 35.29%
3M Pro 14 16.47%
Suntek 9 10.59%
Other 3 3.53%
Full Car 1 1.18%
Full Front 15 17.65%
Partial Front 13 15.29%
Other Coverage 2 2.35%
Soon, awaiting my car, or to be done 14 16.47%
Don't want Clear Bra installed 15 17.65%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 85. You may not vote on this poll

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      04-17-2016, 02:23 PM   #1
Mclrbra
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Clear Bra Paint Protection Film?

Looking to do a poll on how many have clear bra paint protection film, what type Xpel, 3M, Suntek, etc... and what coverage as it seems many M235i owners have gone with a clear bra.

Adding to this, wondering how it has held up and preformed for you on your BMW M235i; looks and protection wise?
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      04-17-2016, 03:27 PM   #2
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I'm still waiting. ETA May 2nd at the dealership. I selected the 3M pro for now but I'm still undecided between Xpel and 3M (I have the option for either). I'm going full frontal including whole hood. Very interested to see this poll come together before our ETA.
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      04-17-2016, 03:30 PM   #3
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Worth doing, in my opinion, but shockingly expensive.
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      04-17-2016, 03:46 PM   #4
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I had it thrown in on the deal. Well worth it. Full front and hood.
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      04-17-2016, 05:08 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M235iguy
I had it thrown in on the deal. Well worth it. Full front and hood.
Good call. I didn't know that my dealer did it until after the fact. Oh well. Instead I got a partial with Xpel ultimate. I drove it 15 mins straight to the shop after picking up the car at the performance center.
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      04-17-2016, 06:48 PM   #6
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i'd recommend xpel full front, nearly impossible to tell from anything more than a foot or two away. go with the highest rated installer in your area. full front for me including taxes & two free washes and sealant applications was ~$1600 CAD iirc.
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      04-17-2016, 08:30 PM   #7
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Oh, I would add that if I could do it again I would definitely consider going full instead of partial. On my partial I can see where the material ends which is kind of annoying. However, I'd still debate it due to the difference in price. :/ While I do notice the line it's mostly when I'm washing the car. Other than that I don't really notice it.
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      04-18-2016, 12:30 AM   #8
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I forgot to add my choice in film and coverage, so add one to Xpel Ultimate, and one to full car coverage, all painted areas plus will do the windshield with a windshield film as going to be doing a wee little 6000 mile or 10,000 km drive in the first few weeks of owning my M235i and would prefer to have zero chips or any sandblasting going on. I'll put some videos and pictures up in time of the journey and the protection.
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      04-18-2016, 05:41 AM   #9
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Had 3M on my 335. It was good, but you could see where it was from a distance after 6 months.

Have Xpel on my M235. You can see the line if I let it get dusty, but that's it.
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      04-18-2016, 02:19 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BentZero View Post
Good call. I didn't know that my dealer did it until after the fact. Oh well. Instead I got a partial with Xpel ultimate. I drove it 15 mins straight to the shop after picking up the car at the performance center.
I too am doing a PCD pickup. If you don't mind, could you tell me or PM me the details of the shop you used? I may want to have the same thing done when i pick up my car in June.

Thank you!

Matt
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      04-18-2016, 04:01 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Madmatt
Quote:
Originally Posted by BentZero View Post
Good call. I didn't know that my dealer did it until after the fact. Oh well. Instead I got a partial with Xpel ultimate. I drove it 15 mins straight to the shop after picking up the car at the performance center.
I too am doing a PCD pickup. If you don't mind, could you tell me or PM me the details of the shop you used? I may want to have the same thing done when i pick up my car in June.

Thank you!

Matt
No problem. Shoot me a PM whenever.
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      04-18-2016, 04:10 PM   #12
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I have Xpel on both my cars and am pleased

Put it on my wife's silver MB E350 about 1.5 years ago and it still looks great. It was a partial front and yeah you can see the seam on the hood in certain light/angles but that is a minor annoyance. Cost was about $750.

Have a full front on my 128. IMO cars with a lower hood and/or dark paint color need full front protection. Partial has worked fine for the MB but would not be enough on the 128. Had it done a few months ago after a full front end re-spray due to so many chips it looked like my front end was hit by several shotgun blasts. Cost for the Xpel was $1100, about the same as the re-spray at a BMW certified shop..
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      04-22-2016, 01:33 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mclrbra View Post
Looking to do a poll on how many have clear bra paint protection film, what type Xpel, 3M, Suntek, etc... and what coverage as it seems many M235i owners have gone with a clear bra.

Adding to this, wondering how it has held up and preformed for you on your BMW M235i; looks and protection wise?
McIrbra, you're good at setting this up. Can you do one for tinting. ie. Percentage by window and brand.
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      05-10-2016, 08:15 PM   #14
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Did my wife's 2016 X5 with 3M pro - Hood, Fenders, Bumpers, Mirrors, lights and fogs. Very clear. Because it's a partial you could see the line if you get close enough.

My son's 2016 M235 just came in and it's off to get the "Full" Hood, Fenders, Bumper, Lights, A Pillars, Mirrors, Luggage Area (top part of rear bumper) as well 35% Formula tint.

Brooks De Geer @ Top Geer Wraps has both Xpel Ultimate and 3M Pro. We opted for 3M Pro.
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Last edited by X54TH; 05-13-2016 at 02:52 PM..
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      05-10-2016, 08:35 PM   #15
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For the price a clear bra didn't make sense to me. Chips in the front don't bother me really and price to fix those that do doesn't add up to having to redo the clear bra every couple years when it starts yellowing.
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      05-14-2016, 10:10 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beartato
For the price a clear bra didn't make sense to me. Chips in the front don't bother me really and price to fix those that do doesn't add up to having to redo the clear bra every couple years when it starts yellowing.
Old school bras yellow. Xpel ultimate comes with like a 7 or 10 year warranty. Idr exactly, but it's something ridiculous. I have a mineral white car which is very hard to match. I'd rather pay the ppf price than have to hope that a body shop can repair the entire front bumper and front 20% of the hood and match the paint.

Just the other day some chunk of plastic hit my front bumper while I was going 65mph. No damage. I'm glad that I got it. To each his own though.
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      05-18-2016, 08:43 AM   #17
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My car was 2 years old when i brought, the previous owner spent nearly £1000 having whole front end done, roof, mirrors wings bonnet, bumper, pillars, side sills. Cant see it. only thing is on white u can get grime under edge..in one corner near headlight i can see it, but called paintshield.co.uk and they said bring it in and they would replace whole section, so good customer service.
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      03-07-2017, 09:35 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beartato View Post
For the price a clear bra didn't make sense to me. Chips in the front don't bother me really and price to fix those that do doesn't add up to having to redo the clear bra every couple years when it starts yellowing.
Xpel Ultimate is 10 year warranty 3M pro is 7 years and neither should be yellowing. Whoever had that installation done had an old series of film installed or simply where taken advantage of by someone who bait and switched them with an inferior film. Even if the film did yellow it is warrantied and will be replaced if done through a certified installer.
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      03-07-2017, 11:12 PM   #19
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I was quoted $1400 for the ultimate coverage package of the newest suntek film with 10yr warranty. Socal. I was told that price was a special, too
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      03-07-2017, 11:56 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leeadam View Post
My car was 2 years old when i brought, the previous owner spent nearly £1000 having whole front end done, roof, mirrors wings bonnet, bumper, pillars, side sills. Cant see it. only thing is on white u can get grime under edge..in one corner near headlight i can see it, but called paintshield.co.uk and they said bring it in and they would replace whole section, so good customer service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wntrsnowg View Post
I was quoted $1400 for the ultimate coverage package of the newest suntek film with 10yr warranty. Socal. I was told that price was a special, too
That's Very good, almost too good as most quality installers are 2000 and up for full fronts using quality film. Is that for the full hood, fenders, mirrors, lights and bumper with wrapped edges or?
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      03-09-2017, 05:55 AM   #21
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Someone mentioned yellowing?? must be nasty cheap film...as ive had mine on 3 years now no yellowing at all and much better than a bumper full of stone chips. mine looks like factory new still.
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      03-09-2017, 05:59 AM   #22
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no yellowing or peeling on my full wrap..its 3 years old next month
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