clear bra, 3m

Mix 4parts water, 1part alcohol, a couple of drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the mask and car, apply the mask, move it around so it's where you want it, squeege out the water with a plastic scraper, let dry overnight

 

Take a deep breath. Here is what I learned from installing my clear bra...

* Make two solutions. One is the slip solution with a few drops of baby shampoo in distilled water in a GOOD spray bottle. The other is the stick solution with one part alcohol and three parts distilled water, in a separate bottle. Use the slip solution to keep the big piece movable. Use the stick solution to wash away the soap and make the film lock down.

* Do not hurry. There is no reason to be rushed. Mix up plenty of slip solution and make more if you run out. Spray it liberally. Always keep the film, the car, and your hands wet with the solution. It will not stick as long as it is wet.

* Keep things clean. I spread out a new plastic tarp under the front of my Prius before starting and I'm glad I did. The film touched down several times as I was applying it, but I was able to clean it off of the small debris by spraying it (above).

* Wear clothes that don't shed fibers. I wore jogging clothes which shed fibers and I was constantly fighting them, rinsing them off.

* Line up the critical points first. For the bumper, the most critical points are (1) the circular cutout for the plug in the bumper, and (2) the little "fingers" which go up from the bumper to the body by the headlights. Liine up (1) and lock it down by rinsing it with the stick solution (alcohol + water) and squeegeeing it down. Then stretch the film toward the other side of the car, locking it at the fingers as you go.

* You HAVE to stretch the film. It won't fit properly around the bumper corners unless you do. The ideal is to stretch it only 20% max at any point, so you want to distribute the stretch as well as you can. I wound up with a couple of wrinkles at the bumper corners (excess material) because I couldn't stretch it enough. I locked the film at the middle of the bumper, but I didn't get the middle exactly right. THe circular cutout made me stretch the film to reach it, and I couldn't stretch the film enough to round the corner on the driver's side. My passenger side came out much better.

* Google all the makers of kits. They have install videos you can download and watch. Watch them all.

* Call the kit provider for advice. Explain the situation and they can offer good advice. I called my kit maker several times during the install. Remember -- you don't have to hurry. Just keep wetting down the film, car, and your hands.

Don't be afraid. The worst thing that can happen is you totally muff it up. If that happens, the seller of the kit will probably give you a discount on a replacement piece. In my case, I bought my kit for something like $185, so I figured out I could screw it up twice and still be money ahead for a "professional" install.

 

Excellent post, thanks...

 

I'm gonna first practice with my $35 Ebay kit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(darelldd @ Apr 22 2006, 08:25 AM) [snapback]243632[/snapback]</div>

I got my $35 ebay bra. It was good practice. I think I'll leave the bumper one on and get a Clear Bra for the hood. The film is not shiny, kinda dull looking.
I have installed this type of product before but never such a large piece on compound curves, the intall was ALOT harder than I thought it was going to be.
I think the thicker film will be easer to intall. If I could do it over I would just buy the hood piece (for practice only, then buy a Clear Bra or a 3M one..

 

I installed 2 clear bra's on 2 different pri . I didn't know at first that you have to stretch the film around the curves so you don't get wrinkles on the edges.

Also, it helps to drive the car up on car ramps that is used when doing a oil change.
This will raise the car up a little and it will be easier on your back.

When you do the bumper, the area under the head lights get wrinkles.
you have to stretch the film alot around the curve to get rid of the wrinkles under the head lights.
I had to position the side of the bumper (under fender area ) a little lower than the cut out form indicates.
I will try to post pictures below.

[attachmentid=3198]

 

Looks good syncmaster.

I did my hood finders and head lights last week and let me tell you it was HARD. I have some experience installing vinyl lettering on gokarts and race cars but nothing like the big piece that goes on the hood. On a scale of 1-10 and 1 being the worst and 10 being the best at installing vinyl I give myself an 9. On my hood job I would give myself a 7. I had some water bubbles trapped but after a week out in the sun they have almost disappeared. There are some stretch marks but nothing thats going to stand out to me. The worst thing on my hood right now is a some what large piece of lint trapped under the clear bra. I plan to try to cut it out somehow sometime soon. I'm going to see how well the hood looks for a month and if everything smooths out i'm going after the bumper next.

My headlights were a little easier to do but you have to have a heat gun for them. It helps a lot! I have some moisture trapped under the right light but I hope that evaporates soon. If not I think I will remove them from the lights.

In all I would recommend getting a professional to install it. To me its not worth my time but its still well worth the money to invest in one.

If you do it yourself make sure to use plenty of stick solution to wash out the soap solution. If you have a bubbles you don't want any soap in them because they might dry with and unwanted "water mark" effect.

 

Hey guys...I just bought me a Prius...can anybody tell me where I can find these? What all areas of the car does it protect? and How much are they?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeffrey99 @ May 1 2006, 10:27 PM) [snapback]248325[/snapback]</div>

Go to ebay.com search "prius clear bra"
look for one made by 3M so you know what quality you are getting.
It will cost you $170 to $200.00 with the shipping.

You will also need the tools to apply it , solution , spray bottles and squeege (another approx $30.00)

This install is hard to do. your first one won't be real pretty but it will protect it from rock chips.

before you buy all this stuff you should call around window tint shops and see if they do this install and how much it will cost. I have heard of estimates between $450 to $1000.00 using their clear bra material.

If you find a shop that does it for $450, before you give them your car to do, I suggest you check out their work. There are alot of wanna-be installers and horror stories .

I have this 3m bra installed for almost a year and I can tell you it really protects against rock chips.

good luck

link to ebay prius clear bra

 

I thought I'd throw this into the mix.
Click through the info input to see what the pieces look like for your application.
My little chili pepper is only 4 months old and has a few chips on her already.
Thinking...

http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin/products/browser.cgi

 

k..thanks for the links and info...what happens if I try to do it myself and really screw it up...can I get it off the car? And will it come off without damaging the paint?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jeffrey99 @ May 2 2006, 12:44 PM) [snapback]248597[/snapback]</div>

While installing my first one I removed it and reinstalled it with no problem, It is basicly a very large piece of scotch tape. The instruction DVD video that comes with the Bra set explains alot. Your worst case is that you will have to cut the bra to get rid of excess material so you don't have wrinkles.
So you cut a small pie shape out and you will have a small extra seam in some places (probly under the headlights).

If you want to remove a bra that has been on for a while park it in the sun for a hour or 2 and then peel it off just like scotch tape. You might have some adhesive on your paint and 3M makes a adhesive remover called GENERAL PURPOSE ADHESIVE CLEANER part no. 051135-08987 .
I have never removed a bra yet.

when doing the install you have to be very careful that you don't get any dirt or hair under the bra because it is impossible to get it out from under the bra. I have what looks like a pubic hair under my bra and it really bothers me because I don't think it is mine!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(syncmaster @ May 2 2006, 09:09 PM) [snapback]248823[/snapback]</div>

Sounds like your car might be cheating on you with one of those SUVs! :lol:

 

i got my clear bra from invinca-shield. http://www.invinca-shield.com/n_genkit.asp?kit=4482&ft=1 ....i got the winter special......so the total was about $300......its more expensive, but the pieces were smaller & seemed like it would be a lot easier to work with.......the only fault was that the installation video was on vhs........(& mine is packed away somewhere) with the deluxe kit it comes with all the installation products & the entire kit (but not the rear bumper). there is also a kit with a 20inch expanded hood option. i did wait for the installation and had a few rock nicks.. (which i used a red salsa pen- available at the dealer).overall, the installation was done in a few days........i took my time.....& the sun does cure some of the problems
cocoa!