Bra, Deflector or Film? Front end protection?

No bra. They do more harm than good.

Giggidy!

 

Find a 3M Clear Bra installer in your area, may be less than the dealership. Still like $700. though.

This is something I'm considering since my Prius is black and will show rock chips probably really easily. I'm just not sure I want to spend that much but it seems that's the going rate.

 

Expensive, but well worth it in the end. You'll probably recoup that cost when you sell it with pristine paint.

 

I'm sorta worried about seeing a line 3/4 of the way up the hood. Is that much of an issue?

 

I have 22K on my car and there is not a chip on the hood. The bumper cover picked up a few. If you want to do a clear bra, I would just do the front bumper cover. The hood does not get chipped due to its slope.

 

i remember xpel is one of the top stuff. is it computer cut or hand cut? are they going to wrap the edges so you won't see them? full hood vs 3/4s vs 1/2... there a bunch of stuff to consider.

and if you want to save money, then there is 3m paint defender. its like plastidip except its clear. and if you don't like it, then you just peel it off. it will save you several hundred.

 

i gave this a lot of thought. then one day i was waiting for my car wondering around the parking lot and came across the dent repair guy. he was touching up a preowned car for the dealer. so i asked him how much to touch up a front end? he said $2-300 would cover even a pretty badly chipped up front end. So i ask him why don't people just get front ends touched up every 3 years? he said he didn't know but it as far more practical that spending $7-800 on the plastic.

 

Some, not all, plastic turn yellow too after baking in the sun.

 

I wrapped my entire 2013 Prius III in black with XPEL Ultimate. The installer laughed at me and told me only people with Ferrarii? (or Ferraris?) do a full wrap like that... I looked him square and the eye and said I don't give two shits, lets wrap my baby up!

I live in Southern California the land of construction trucks with small rocks and pebbles coming out in all directions.

 

Touch up is not the same as factory paint You can always tell when a car has its paint touched up... the continuous smoothness is not there. I wrapped mine to protect it from bird dropping, squirrel droppings and from myself when I wash the car (now there is little chance of swirl marks or marring).

 

I have decided not to clear bra my Prius, and just take my chances. Apparently the removal process after a few to several years (after it yellows) is invasive and requires not just peeling it off, but also removing the adhesive with something like Goo Gone, then wet sanding and polishing.

Given that I could probably have the entire front bumper refinished and repainted by a body shop several years from now, for around the same cost as a good clear bra installation, it doesn't seem worth it.

 

im not talking about touch up paint. these guys use an air brush. when they are done its like new. Im telling you im very, very fussy, it looks new. i also agree, there is no way to make touch up paint look like new. Ive used tooth picks, pins, brush, you name it. but this is not the case with the air brushing, it looks like factory. Its why dealers are using them.

 

After experiencing white polkadots plastered all over my hood and front bumper on both my previous cars (black and silver), I promised myself never again. With the 3M product, yellow discoloration shouldn't be an issue. I'll have 5-7 years of pristine paint before I trade her in for another. Peeling the product off won't be my problem.

 

How much did that cost?

 

Good film doesn't yellow. Chips & scratches will find whatever panel isn't covered with film. The film has saved a mirror cover as well as chips & scratches to the hood & front bumper cover. Cover the cups on the doors to prevent fingernail scratches.

 

4,000 USD lol.... I know insane. But I just turned 30, and this is my first new car. Ive owned two cars prior to this, one was a 89 camry (bought it in high school and it was cheap) for 6 years, a hand me down 4runner another 6 years. Both of these cars did not have any options i liked, or color or interior colors. This new Prius is exactly how I want it, color and interior, options and of course fuel efficiency hehe.

I plan to drive this Prius for another 10-12 years so I want the paint to be perfect for the life of my ownership.

 

I agree with you... if you care for the film just like paint it will not yellow. If you have to wash it regularly and use a sealant to help protect against the elements.

The great thing about XPEL Ultimate (if you wrap your entire car) is that you can wash/dry your car with out having to do it meticulously. For example, wiping in a S motion, or make sure the soap has lifted all the dirt off so that you don't scratch or mar the paint.