Clear Bra for 2004 Accord

I just purchased a 2004 Accord and I am wondering if anyone knows where in
the Durham Region (East of Toronto Ont.) I can have a "clear bra" installed?
I want to protect the paint on the hood area from chips etc. Can anyone
share their experience with such a product. Would a normal bra be any
better? I am concerned about the traditional bra causing rub marks on the
paint. Advice is welcome.

Thanks

Larry B.

 

Hi Larry,

I'm just on the other side of the city (Mississauga), so we face the
same climate.

I can't comment about the 'clear bra' of which you describe, although
I can tell you that I've used a conventional "leather" LeBra on my 96
Integra for over 5 years now with minimal "wear". The horror stories
you may have heard about rusting and scraping off paint go back to
when cars either didn't have clearcoat or they were simply neglected.

If you do choose to use a bra, there definitely is a certain amount of
work required...

1. Do NOT leave it on in the winter (salt is a killer; as soon as the
salt trucks are out the bra comes off)
2. Apply a healthy coat of wax to your bumper (and the rest of the
car) before putting it on
3. Take the bra off *at least* once a month (every 2 weeks even
better) for cleaning and wash & wax the bumper before putting it back
on.

Follow those three rules and you'll be hard-pressed to find any damage
from the bra (and mine is red, which would theoretically show the
most). Here are a pics from last summer...

http://members.rogers.com/kevin.sargent/Integra/Integra_0190b.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/kevin.sargent/Integra/Integra_0191b.jpg

And to be honest, there were a few times where I was too busy to take
it off for cleaning as often as I should (left it for 3 months) nor do
I remove it every time it rains. And you'd have to look pretty close
to notice anything at all, and for what there is, it's no worse than
the alternative of rock chips. Also note that there is virtually no
discoloration from being "protected" from the sun.

A little wax goes a long way. I recommend Meguiars. ;-)


Kevin
96 Integra @ 233K KM

 

Hi Larry,

I'm just on the other side of the city (Mississauga), so we face the
same climate.

I can't comment about the 'clear bra' of which you describe, although
I can tell you that I've used a conventional "leather" LeBra on my 96
Integra for over 5 years now with minimal "wear". The horror stories
you may have heard about rusting and scraping off paint go back to
when cars either didn't have clearcoat or they were simply neglected.

If you do choose to use a bra, there definitely is a certain amount of
work required...

1. Do NOT leave it on in the winter (salt is a killer; as soon as the
salt trucks are out the bra comes off)
2. Apply a healthy coat of wax to your bumper (and the rest of the
car) before putting it on
3. Take the bra off *at least* once a month (every 2 weeks even
better) for cleaning and wash & wax the bumper before putting it back
on.

Follow those three rules and you'll be hard-pressed to find any damage
from the bra (and mine is red, which would theoretically show the
most). Here are a pics from last summer...

http://members.rogers.com/kevin.sargent/Integra/Integra_0190b.jpg
http://members.rogers.com/kevin.sargent/Integra/Integra_0191b.jpg

And to be honest, there were a few times where I was too busy to take
it off for cleaning as often as I should (left it for 3 months) nor do
I remove it every time it rains. And you'd have to look pretty close
to notice anything at all, and for what there is, it's no worse than
the alternative of rock chips. Also note that there is virtually no
discoloration from being "protected" from the sun.

A little wax goes a long way. I recommend Meguiars. ;-)


Kevin
96 Integra @ 233K KM

 

The dealer in Mississauga has an adhesive product from Scotch which
takes the place of the bra. It covers roughly the same area and sells
for around $150. I'll be putting it on my new Accord since the old
Accord seemed to attract the flying debris. Paint fade will be the
same under the Scotch product as the rest of the vehicle.

 

I wanted to get a clear bra, but when I found out the cost I changed my mind
(quoted about 700 to 1000). There are some drawbacks to the clear bar, like
the guy said you can't take it off once its been put on for you. Personally,
I think its a waste. I can see it being really useful on those classic cars
you want to keep new.

Dmitry

 

I wanted to get a clear bra, but when I found out the cost I changed my mind
(quoted about 700 to 1000). There are some drawbacks to the clear bar, like
the guy said you can't take it off once its been put on for you. Personally,
I think its a waste. I can see it being really useful on those classic cars
you want to keep new.

Dmitry

 

They can't taken off, but they can be replaced with a new one should
the film become damaged.

However, that cost is increbibly high. I had my Audi A4 done (about
same size as Accord) for $299. Well worth it, in fact, we had our
RX330 done also when we recently purchased it. The RX330 was $375.

I think the clear mask is a great investment to help save the front
end from chips, nicks, stratches, etc.


-
--
Curtis Newton

http://surf.to/cnewton
ICQ: 4899169
Anti-Spam filter in place--
<delete remove-this. to respond to email>

 

They can't taken off, but they can be replaced with a new one should
the film become damaged.

However, that cost is increbibly high. I had my Audi A4 done (about
same size as Accord) for $299. Well worth it, in fact, we had our
RX330 done also when we recently purchased it. The RX330 was $375.

I think the clear mask is a great investment to help save the front
end from chips, nicks, stratches, etc.


-
--
Curtis Newton

http://surf.to/cnewton
ICQ: 4899169
Anti-Spam filter in place--
<delete remove-this. to respond to email>

 

mine doesn't need a bra- it's a newie and it has really perky ones ;-)

 

mine doesn't need a bra- it's a newie and it has really perky ones ;-)

 

What dealer are you talking about? Honda dealer? I'm looking for exactly
the same for my 01 Prelude...

Cosmin

 

I've never understood why someone would want to make a car ugly to
protect it's beauty. I buy a car to enjoy it, not to keep it nice for
the next buyer. Do these same people install car seat covers?

 

I've never understood why someone would want to make a car ugly to
protect it's beauty. I buy a car to enjoy it, not to keep it nice for
the next buyer. Do these same people install car seat covers?

 

Traveler wrote:
[snip]

It's up to you, but driving on the 401 here in Ontario pretty much
guarantees some pretty nasty paint chips from all the flying rocks. Add
to that a healthy dose of salt in the winter, and before you know it,
you'll need to repaint the hood.

For me that's reason enough to use a bug deflector or a bra. Some of
them don't even look bad actually, especially not the clear bra.

Cosmin

 

Traveler wrote:
[snip]

It's up to you, but driving on the 401 here in Ontario pretty much
guarantees some pretty nasty paint chips from all the flying rocks. Add
to that a healthy dose of salt in the winter, and before you know it,
you'll need to repaint the hood.

For me that's reason enough to use a bug deflector or a bra. Some of
them don't even look bad actually, especially not the clear bra.

Cosmin

 

It is good to use a bug deflector but NOT a bra! The bra just collect dirt/salt/moisture which will make the problem worst!

--

 

It is good to use a bug deflector but NOT a bra! The bra just collect dirt/salt/moisture which will make the problem worst!

--

 

Hey Larry, here is some information on the 3m product.

 

Hey Larry, here is some information on the 3m product.

 

oops, here

http://cms.3m.com/cms/CA/en/0-240/ckuciFO/view.jhtml