I'm thinking of having a clear bra installed on my F-Type. Since the clear bra has UV protection, will the non-covered paint look faded after several years compared with the paint covered by the bra? Also, I'm thinking on covering just half of the hood. Anybody with experience as to whether the seam likely will be noticeable? (Color is Italian Racing Red)

 

Not sure how to advise on the paint fade question. My cars spend most of their lives in the garage and not outside.

As far as the 1/2 hood though I have experience with that. Depending on the color it can be fairly noticeable. If you get wax on the very end it can be very noticeable. I now have full hoods done as well as front quarter panels, rockers and mirrors. No seams and full protection. It will cost more but in the end will protect your vehicle much better. The sooner you get it done the better.

Walt

 

Modern paints have built in UV protection. Your Jag is not gong to fade. The UV protection on the clearbra is to prevent UV discoloration of the clearbra itself - it has nothing to do with paint fading.

With italian racing red, your best bet is to use Suntek PPF-C which is a self healing clear-bra with incredible clarity. It will basically seem like its not there which is what you want.

Also a good installer should minimize seams. Wrap the panels, have them cut oversize pieces. And make sure you only do whole panels. I do whole hood, whole front fenders, rocker panels, door mirrors and rear bumper on my cars.

 

Stealth, you appear to know you PPF's. What product would you recommend on Ebony black. I've done a fair amount of research and everyone has a different answer. Xpel Ultimate, Suntek, or Nano Fusion all seem to get favorable reviews.

 

My 2008 XKR had the Clear Bra on it for 5 years and had a slight tear in it from an exploding truck tire that hit it on the Interstate. I traded the car in and the dealer removed it. I was by the dealer and they had detailed the car and the bumper looked exactly the same color as the rest of the car. You couldn't tell it had ever had a bra on it.

 

Here's a slightly older photo of my wife's Audi A5:

http://mahjik.homestead.com/files/ho...228_163551.jpg

It has a clear bra on the front that covers about 1/3 of the hood and front fenders, as well as all of the painted areas on the front bumper. There is also some on side mirrors. Unless you are right up on it, you can't really see the bra. The car is a 2008 (it was the first one delivered in our area), and the paint has not changed between the protected and non-protected areas over the years.

 

Agree the seam on partial hood coverage is a non-issue. Of course, you'll see it in the beginning while looking for it, but after a few weeks, it "disappears." No one else notices either. Any wax residue that builds on the seam can easily be removed with a cue tip.

I've always gotten estimates for whole hood vs. partial, the cost is generally more than double, and I've never been able to justify it. I did XPEL on the nose, mirrors, and about half-way up the hood of my Polaris White, and I've pretty much forgotten it's there. I also did it halfway up the hood of a LeMans Blue Z06, Silverstone M3, and red Lotus Elise, and had the same experience.

 

Thanks for the info. I assume from your photos that your cars are garaged most of the time?

 

Hi there, you really should consider contacting Dave from Innovative Detailing, a resident expert on this site and in your area.

He's a legend, read and if you have further questions, it may be an idea to contact him to discuss

See a few of his posts on the subject below....

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/d...on-film-48138/

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ight=clear+bra

 

Yes, they are, but they are daily drivers (so they are basically garaged during the non sunlight hours ).

 

On a dark color I would recommend Suntek. Suntek has a much better adhesive which enables you to have a more pristine application. It's clarity is critical on Black where the color has a lot of depth.

On white and silver cars I would go with Xpel Ultimate. The Xpel can't match the Suntek on clarity but it resists discoloration slightly better than the Suntek which on white is useful if you wash your car in public car washes (discoloration is a non issue if you avoid products that contain kerosene or naphtha). Also on white the clarity is less important so Xpel is fine.

 

I used to have this perspective until I got a chip on the upper part of the hood on a 2 week old car. Ever since I have always done whole hood. Also on these low sports cars there is a case for doing the roof too.

 

Oh sure, an upper hood chip is possible, as on many other places. However, I've always been lucky playing the odds on many cars and never had that happen. It's all about probability, and those are very low probability events, which don't work in my cost-benefit equation. By contrast, chips on the nose, lower hood, and mirrors are a virtually certainty.

 

To each his own. My cost-benefit analysis yields a different result! I can't fathom how anyone could tolerate a completely unnecessary seam, right across the middle of one of the most prominent body components - the Hood, when this seam is generated from a cost savings of only a few hundred dollars. In the realm of $100K luxury automobiles, I call this: taking a short-cut.

I see dozens of different high-end autos every day. I have yet to see a half-hood clear bra that is not painfully obvious.

 

Perhaps "painfully obvious" to you and your particularly personality, but as you said, to each his own.

 

Please remember, we ALL have our own perspectives and opinions, they may match up with others but sometimes do not, that life.

No one should be berated for having different opinions, lets just leave it at that.

Personally I've never installed a clear bra on any of my vehicles, however, if I were to install one I believe I would do the whole bonnet / hood, but again, that's just my personal opinion.

 

The guy I'm talking to has suggested the following and his order of preference (his initial thoughts). Would appreciate any input from the fine participants here.

1) Suntek
2) 3M
3) Bekhert
4) Xpel

I have Stratus Gray Coupe for what that's worth.

Thanks so much (and, yes, I realize who is doing the installation is probably the most important factor).

Lastly, I do intend - assuming the price is right - doing: full hood, full bumper, front fenders, side view mirrors, and front headlights. What about behind rear wheels?

 

I agree on Suntek as the best option. I would rate Xpel Ultimate second. I would steer clear of 3M (since it is prone to discoloration and also is not self healing). Never heard of Bekhert.

I have Suntek on my current and previous M5. I am using Xpel Ultimate on the Jag because the installer prefers it for light colors. However both are very good, self healing films.

I think you are covering the right places. I would also suggest doing either the whole rear bumper or the extended rocker panel kit which includes the area behind the rear wheels. Those areas can get damaged by stones kicked up by the wheels.

 

Agreed on SunTek - the film has a smoother top coat in my opinion than Xpel and looks better on the car.

My installer rates SunTek as the easier to apply and thus less prone to stretch marks and such issues.

However, both are good and do their jobs well.

 

My impression is if the installation is professionally - properly - applied that the film is barely noticeable? I'm about to book my car for, i believe, Suntek film and am wondering how much to cover?

Bumper only? Or full hood, bumper, fenders, rear rocker panels, etc.

Where to start and more importantly where to stop?

Thanks!