Car Bras

I hate car bras. Utterly loathe how they look. However, I feel they have one solitary purpose: protecting your beloved auto during long road trips. I'm taking my car on vacation in June, and I'd like to get a decent bra to protect the front from bugs, rocks, etc. I would put the bra on immediately before leaving and remove it once I got there, repeating the process before I leave for home.

Does anyone know a place to find decent, custom-fit car bras? I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, but I also don't want something that will fall apart.

I'm also open to other solutions that do not involve multiple rolls of painter's tape.

Clear Bra?

unevolved wrote: Clear Bra?

+1

Last bra I bought I got from the dealer. I wanted quality and a great fit, figured the dealer was the safest bet to get both.

Clear bra is usually the go-to now as "regular" bras usually harm your car more than they help. I can't even count the number of bra-equipped cars I've seen with major paint damage from rubbing/chafing. In fact, I've never seen one not have damage under the bra.

I loathe clear bras though as I can see the cut-off and color distortion a mile away, and to me that looks E36 M3tier than a few rock chips.

Personally, when I took the P71 on long trips I blue painter-taped the nose up and it worked great. Easy, cheap, and no damage. Get the good, wide stuff and double it up. It gets messy if it gets wet, but it won't hurt the paint.

Nowadays I just collect the rock chips as proof that I drive the cars.

I've used the thicker cling wrap for food several times when I wanted to escape New England winters in a car I wouldn't normally take out when there's sand on the highways. Also used it once during love bug season in central FL. Takes up very little space to store a box when you don't need protection. It works great, is cheap, no tape required, and takes less than 5 minutes to apply without the potential risk of paint damage from a vibrating bra on a long trip. OK, have fun with the thought of a vibrating bra guys.

Javelin wrote: I *loathe* clear bras though as I can see the cut-off and color distortion a mile away, and to me that looks E36 M3tier than a few rock chips.

I've learned there's a huge variety in the quality of clear bras. Some cheap ones are pretty terrible, but some of the professionally-applied ones look really nice. This car has had the clear bra on it for years, and I've only ever been able to notice the line when I look really close.

Clear plasti-dip would theoretically work too. I've not done it myself but the things I read says it works well. It's a hell of a lot of work to mask it all off and spray it on though. Given the options I'd just go with the painters tape.

I'm looking into getting a clear bra on my new Mustang and like unevolved said, there can be some major differences between clear bra brands and installers. When looking for a clear bra or an installer, make sure to Google the name and look for reviews. Once you've picked one or two places, take the time to inspect their work.

I have a clear bra on one of my cars, but only because it was already on there when I bought it. I actually think stone chips look better. Some day, I'll peel it all off.

nicksta43 wrote:

unevolved wrote: Clear Bra?

+1

I don't feel like spending $1,000.

Javelin wrote: I can't even count the number of bra-equipped cars I've seen with major paint damage from rubbing/chafing. In fact, I've never seen one *not* have damage under the bra.

You really think using a regular bra for about a day and having a good coat of wax underneath it would still damage the paint?

Sky_Render wrote:

Javelin wrote: I can't even count the number of bra-equipped cars I've seen with major paint damage from rubbing/chafing. In fact, I've never seen one *not* have damage under the bra.

You really think using a regular bra for about a day and having a good coat of wax underneath it would still damage the paint?

I don't just think it, I've personally seen it, and on fairly new (~2-3 years old) cars when I worked at a dealership (used). They'd buy the fully detailed car, immediately go buy a bra (nice ones, this was FL in lovebug season) and come back in a week for papers and the paint under the bra would already look like total crap. The wind buffeting causes the rubbing.

I'd go for the saran wrap, personally. That's a wicked good idea.

Just don't tailgate, and clean the bugs off when you get home.

Keith wrote: Just don't tailgate, and clean the bugs off when you get home.

Just go out there right now and hit it with a ball peen hammer one good time right on the nose. Then hop in it and drive it on your trip and don't worry about the small rock chips

Spray the nose with Pam cooking spray. Bugs wash right off. As far as rock chips go, doncha know chicks dig scars?

Javelin wrote: I don't just think it, I've personally seen it, and on fairly new (~2-3 years old) cars when I worked at a dealership (used). They'd buy the fully detailed car, immediately go buy a bra (nice ones, this was FL in lovebug season) and come back in a week for papers and the paint under the bra would already look like total crap. The wind buffeting causes the rubbing. I'd go for the saran wrap, personally. That's a wicked good idea.

Wow, I didn't know they caused damage that fast. Scratch the vinyl bra idea. I might do the cellophane thing, though.

Ah, those glorious days of car bras. I had one once. Remarkable how much paint it wore through vibrating in the wind.

Then there was the time I rained and I didn't take it off. Gave my black car a permanent white nose.

how about clear vinyl wrap for the nose?

At this point, I'm thinking "screw it, there are already a few paint chips up there."

Oh yes, those vinyl bras beat the E36 M3 out of a lot of paint over the years. Won't use one, myself.

Helicopter blade leading edge tape is good for panel edges and that's where most rock chip/sand damage occurs. Pegasus stocks it. Warning: it ain't cheap. https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/productselection.asp?Product=3437-001

I always thought the only application for car bras was when you replaced your front bumper cover with a mismatched piece and wanted it to look a little less like a hood ride.

Pam and cling wrap.

Works to get the car to the car show. Pull the film, wipe down with detail spray and you're good to go.

Shawn

I've noticed new cars on transport trucks usually have some sort of white vinyl sheet on the nose and along the sides to protect them before they're delivered. I assume that when they get to the dealer that stuff is peeled off and thrown away; is there a chance it can be re-used? May be worth a conversation with your local dealer to see if you can get some and try it out.

I do clear bras for a living. People who hate them can't afford a quality install or don't have a car worth putting one on. On top of that, there's probably less than 50 good installers in the entire country. Most have taken the cheapest way into the business and their quality shows. They either bulk install or use bad quality patterns and use the cheapest film they can buy...because it's cheap.

Do you know why you never see a good install? Because it's done right. This car is entirely wrapped.

Bababooey wrote: I do clear bras for a living. People who hate them can't afford a quality install or don't have a car worth putting one on. On top of that, there's probably less than 50 good installers in the entire country. Most have taken the cheapest way into the business and their quality shows. They either bulk install or use bad quality patterns and use the cheapest film they can buy...because it's cheap. Do you know why you never see a good install? Because it's done right. This car is entirely wrapped.

No offense, bro, but there is a quality installer near me. He quoted me $2,200 to put a clear bra on the front of my Mustang. I can repaint the entire hood and front bumper for significantly less than that.