Hey folks, just posted this in response to someone in the "western regional" section, but since there is more traffic here, thought I would post here too.
Been looking at some places to do a "clear bra," also looking at a ceramic coating too. Potentially looking at a clear coat wrap too, but that is kind of extreme, anywhere from $6-8K. Would like to give you my experience so far and wondering what your thoughts are on this.

I have spoken with three places so far, they were amazingly consistent on price, all were about $1900 for bumper, headlights, hood & mirrors. All are peninsula/south bay.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/autoprofilms-clear-bra-belmont
He seems really knowledgeable. He uses Suntek products. I haven't made it up there yet (Belmont) to see in person.
Pro: I think he is one man shop (?) so the guy you talk to is the guy that does the work. He's been doing it a long time & has the experience.
Con:
Three weeks for an appointment
He doesn't do detailing or coatings, so would have to take it somewhere else first (he recommended a guy near his shop.)

https://www.yelp.com/biz/68-auto-detail-milpitas-3
He also seems very knowledgeable. In Milpitas. He uses Suntek too. He is one of only two installers in the state that does CSII Titanium coatings (don't know anything about this one.) Also does Opticoat.
Pro: One stop shop that can do "paint correction" too.
Con: (Maybe?) He said he only does a couple clear bras a month so maybe not as experienced?

https://www.yelp.com/biz/ss-customs-redwood-city
I actually went up there & looks like a good shop. Tesla central, there was like five of them there. But they also had a McLaren 570, an R8 and a couple others things in there too.
They use Xpel and can do "paint correction" too. The guy I spoke with wasn't so keen on ceramic coatings, said they use a Meguiar's sealant (included in price so that is nice.) It needs reapplication every six months for $150. Which would be about the same as a ceramic coating for $800 that claims a five year life.
Pro: I think they could do a good job.
Rave reviews
Con: Bigger shop so the guy you talk too is not the guy installing, could be a crapshoot.
$ add up fast (but this could be said with all of them.)
add in rocker panels, bumper & $325 for a "paint correction" and you are up to $3,000 just for front/back ($105/hr labor.) He said a full clear bra wrap would be about $7,000.

Haven't done anything yet, does $3K seem excessive for just front/back?
Thanks!

 

Not in SF/Peninsula but not far, look into OCDetailing - Bay Area Coating & Clear Bra Specialist in Fremont. Joseph has done a couple of my cars when he was in Walnut Creek and I will be going back to him again in Fremont for some repairs in a month or so. He does a great job and a fair price. He has worked on both my Tesla and Jag. Tell him Wayne B sent you, maybe he'll give me a break next time I go in :-) Actually he already does as a repeat customer so I'm happy.

 

My lone shop guy tried to do the hood by himself. No easy feat on our cars and he screwed it up twice. Go with shop that has done an f type and see the work and talk to his customers. The hood has many subtle curves.

 

A second vote for OCD...

They fixed the dealer induced swirls, hard coated everything and wrapped the front of mine.

Pretty sure I heard about your car while there Wayne. Joe was worried about how much work my firesand would be based on a previous one he did. Lol..

 

Great, thanks folks! I'll call OCD (love the name, lol...) in the morning. Fremont is right across the bay. The OP on the other thread I responded to said he is taking his car to East Bay Auto Spa ? The East Bay's Best in Window Tinting and Clear Bra applications. Here is the other thread if you want to follow along:
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/u...7/#post1624258

 

Wayne & DirtyAir, could tell me what your respective costs were? PM is OK too

 

Ian at Carbonite Detailing is the only person I let touch my car. Carbonite Detailing
Paint Correction and Ceramic Coat. He is second to none. He also will recammend a great film provider. Spectacular work. His shop is in Burlingame.

 

I don't think you can use me as a baseline because of all the work he had to do.

My paint was THRASHED from dealer hand rags and lot scratches, so there was a lot of paint work before he even put the hard coat and clear on. Regardless, it was just north of $2k somewhere.

 

My work was about 3k. That included paint correction, Opti-coat of the car and wheels, xpel wrap on the full hood/front end and rocker panels. You can get an idea of the cost of the film kits alone on the xpel website Paint Protection Kits - XPEL

 

Cost is really car dependent based on what you want done and how bad your paint is. It's like getting an auto body estimate done on a car forum based on a picture, you can't do it. Go in and talk to Joseph. Let him look at your paint and see what it NEEDS done and go from there. You can't do it over the phone or on a forum or based on price. Go to several places. I can give you the name a paint restoration specialist if you like that specializes in very high end cars but he doesn't do any ceramic coatings or wraps. He'll put your car on a lift and polish and wax the under side of your car too if you want, but he's also very expensive but very good.

 

My paint shouldn't be that bad, as I just got the car a couple weeks ago. But I took it back to the dealer for a "free" waxing, and now it's gonna cost me to fix it... Definitely will contact those folks, thanks guys!

 

Just got the car back from East Bay Auto Spa East Bay Auto Spa ? The East Bay's Best in Window Tinting and Clear Bra applications Ron did a fantastic job no bubbles the SunTek looks fantastic. I parked the car in the sun all day yesterday and it really popped with Suntek. You can see pictures of the installation here

Photos

I plan to have all my future cars wrapped by Ron...it was worth the extra $$ to do the doors and rocker covers.

 

Looks nice, thanks! Good point, it would make sense to do the doors too if you are going to the effort of it all...