3M Paint Protection Film - aka Clear Bra

snowjay · Aug 28, 2009

Has anyone use this or one of the other products (ClearMask AR, Aerogard, xpel, Ventureshield, etc..) on their Tahoe?

I'm considering it and on the photos I've seen depending on product and color it's anywhere from near invisible, to having a distinct line, to even distorting the color (making it darker) where it's been applied.

I saw some photos on a 2010 Camaro in dark metallic blue and IMHO the line was pretty visible. It looked good otherwise but that would bother me. Especially on the Tahoe where it would be right close to the leading end of the hood and down the sides of the fenders.

Clearmask AR and Aerogard I can get precut and DIY, the others need to be professionally installed I believe.

I'd like to see photos of your truck with it on (preferably 2007+ models) and if you have it on dark metallic blue you get bonus points.

OKLAGMCRUISER · Aug 28, 2009

i have never used it before, but my wife and i were on a nissan lot looking at cars and came across a red/maroon maxima with a clear bra on it and the line on the hood was noticable from 10' away...for what it's worth.

snowjay · Aug 28, 2009

OKLAGMCRUISER said:
i have never used it before, but my wife and i were on a nissan lot looking at cars and came across a red/maroon maxima with a clear bra on it and the line on the hood was noticable from 10' away...for what it's worth.

Yeah from what I've seen lighter colors are better than darker ones for hiding it. Plus if you let wax build up at the edge and not clean it then it makes it stand out even more.

I did see one black car with one of the products on it (I think it was Aerogard) and it was near invisible but it certainly wasn't a daily driver either. So I think on a dark car that isn't pampered every day it's going to stand out too much. But I'm trying to research it as much as possible.

Effeckt · Aug 28, 2009

I had the 3m clear bra on my old Mazda 6. The difference was that when I had it installed I had them custom cut it to wrap the entire hood with it and the entire front bumper with it because I didn't want to see the lines as it would have been pretty visible on mine since it was black. It worked out great. There were a couple places you could see the application marks where the stretched the film while applying it but other than that it came out perfect. While I didn't like the stretch marks all that much I figured it was better than a bunch of paint chips.

Modded · Aug 28, 2009

It would be worth it but if you think about how much it cost to paint a bumper $300-$400 locally for me, then how much a good clear bra install will run which is def. up to $600.
I would just hold the money and repaint the bumper when I dont like the way it looks anymore but thats just my $0.02.
Just get a bugflector so the hood does not get messed up to avoid repainting that too.

Effeckt · Aug 28, 2009

PLEASE don't get a bug guard :barf: I have always hated the looks of those personally. While I don't care for a film line if you don't cover the whole hood it sure is a hell of a lot better than the bug reflector IMO. I agree that the repaint is the cheaper route but if you have to get it repainted enough it will no longer be the case whereas the film will hold up for a much longer period of time. I think it's well worth the investment.

Modded · Aug 28, 2009

LoL Effekt, most people dont even know mine is there....

snowjay · Aug 28, 2009

Well repainting the bumper may be cheaper but even after you do that it will still get chips. Plus that's just the bumper. You also have the hood and fenders (sorry no bug deflectors here, I don't like how they look). And then you need to decide if you want to repaint the whole thing or have them blend it and hope the color matches. And again how long does that last before you need to do it again.

I'm on the fence. I'd likely do a DIY kit as well so the cost is about $300. I've done window tint and others have said this is basically the same process. My last vehicle had some chipping up front after 102k but not too bad, nothing that touch up couldn't cover and from 5' away you couldn't tell. So I may just go that route with this car as well and I've already ordered touch up paint.

brndns_hoe · Aug 28, 2009

i believe the 3M type is temporary, it comes off after i don't know how long, just read about it on their website recently, but it's kinda like useful for a road trip or something, that kind of temporary. i'm thinking about checking it out

Eagle · Sep 16, 2009

correct, if you leave it on long term it will craze and yellow, and become permanently bonded to the paint. Then it will start to flake off and look like your car has eczema or leprosy.

it's ok for a year or two... after that take it off, wash wax etc and then apply a new one.

brndns_hoe · Sep 16, 2009

oh shit, I didn't realize it was that long lasting though...I was imagining a couple weeks, and it wears off or something...so is it hard to remove?

Eagle · Sep 16, 2009

I dunno honestly. my brother bought a car once that had that stuff put on it sometime in the past, and we never did get it off. heatguns, mineral spirits, etc... no dice.
I'm scared to use the stuff, personally.

yOGi420 · Jul 11, 2013

I have it on my hoe, not sure how long it has been on there. I'm wondering about what the life expectancy of it is though. It doesn't look bad but I don't want to have it become a PITA to get off and have to reprint because of it. This thread is kinda old now, but I'm wondering if anyone has gone this route, long have you had it on, and if you have ever removed it?

donmateo · Jul 15, 2013

^I'm going to bump this as well. Looking into a white Tahoe and I do a lot of highway traveling, but also quite a bit city. I wanted to get a clear bra so that the bumper doesn't get all chipped up like my Impala.

Gzes · Jul 15, 2013

I saw a thread on here bout it. The guy ended up having to get it repaired the crap wouldn't come off. I'd stay clear of it and remove ASAP if possible at all

scottg918514 · Jul 15, 2013

snowjay said:
Has anyone use this or one of the other products (ClearMask AR, Aerogard, xpel, Ventureshield, etc..) on their Tahoe?

I'm considering it and on the photos I've seen depending on product and color it's anywhere from near invisible, to having a distinct line, to even distorting the color (making it darker) where it's been applied.

I saw some photos on a 2010 Camaro in dark metallic blue and IMHO the line was pretty visible. It looked good otherwise but that would bother me. Especially on the Tahoe where it would be right close to the leading end of the hood and down the sides of the fenders.

Clearmask AR and Aerogard I can get precut and DIY, the others need to be professionally installed I believe.

I'd like to see photos of your truck with it on (preferably 2007+ models) and if you have it on dark metallic blue you get bonus points.

Bought the kit, but returned it. I got the professional version done last week. Third vehicle Ive had done. Since my Yuk is used and 6 years old, I had Auto Refresh respray front bumper and rear drivers side bumper first.

I also had David, my installer for ProShield, add pieces over both rear bumper corners, since they are prone to scuffs. Also, he couldn't do my headlight lens, the film wouldn't stick due to minor oxidation. I've already cleaned that up and WeatherTech headlight film is on the way. I'll let you know how that works out.

yOGi420 · Jul 21, 2013

Peeled a small section of it off of one of my fender flares just to check it out. Looks like it had been installed when my tahoe was brand new because the paint was flawless underneath. Waiting till after this road trip to peel the rest off.

3M Paint Protection Film - aka Clear Bra

snowjay

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OKLAGMCRUISER

Need drop...send $

snowjay

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Effeckt

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Modded

That Guy

Effeckt

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Modded

That Guy

snowjay

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brndns_hoe

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Eagle

Thansk for all the help -STAFF!

brndns_hoe

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Eagle

Thansk for all the help -STAFF!

yOGi420

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donmateo

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Gzes

the drifting 2dr

scottg918514

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yOGi420

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