3M Clearbra on my IX SE.
I took the pictures like that on purpose. Believe it or not, it actually looks glossier in the sunlight and is much less noticable. The metallic paint defracts the light travelling through the film and you can't tell its there when its sunny. If its sunny tomorrow I'll try to get some pics and show you what I mean. Plus, we all know how great 
's paint is, so I'm doing my part to keep it from getting any worse!!
's paint is, so I'm doing my part to keep it from getting any worse!!
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I had it done on my E46 M3 and had it custome done. It's well worth every penny. On my IX MR I only did the headlights but my front bumper and hood already have some nicks and chips. Once I get a CF hood I'll get it install before I install the hood on my car 
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Evolving Member
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From: MA
Thread Starter
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From: الرصاص والمدافع والخنازير يا بلدي!
Black (with no metallic), quite honestly, is probably the hardest to do. The way that the film is applied means that certain things "show" only on black cars...
Thread Starter
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From: الرصاص والمدافع والخنازير يا بلدي!
I have those protected too, I'm just showing the hood and fenders as they are easiest to show in pictures!! To be honest with you, I had the same hood coverage on my '03 WW and I never had any problems with chips behind the hood vent. I did however have 2 direct hits on the hood just in front of the vent and the film protected the paint!!
Last edited by 4G63; Feb 2, 2007 at 09:13 AM.
Thread Starter
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From: الرصاص والمدافع والخنازير يا بلدي!
As far as wax is concerned, I've never had a problem because I take the wax off my car with a microfiber towel. It seems to not leave any residue.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Menasha, WI
OP: Your car looks AWESOME! Wonderful job with the Clear Bra installation and man, does that SE look good!
My input on clear bras for the community:
The downside of clear bra: you see the line where the clear bra stops and the rest of the hood/ fenders start at certain angles but not ALL angles. Besides that, it costs money, and those are the only downsides.
I got a clear bra for my EB Evo IX when I got bought the car and I will be a clear bra owner for life with ALL of the cars that I get and that I get my family (when I have one).
I had previously owned a 2004 Lancer Ralliart and 1) Mitsu's paint kinda sucks and 2) Driving in WI is TERRIBLE for your paint. The joke in WI is that there are two season: construction and winter -- both of which are horrendus for your car's paint finish. When I got rid of my Ralliart after 2 years there were a LOT of small rock chips on the front bumper and hood. They looked particularly terrible with a yellow car because the rock chips from the bumper resulted in black spots and the chips on the hood caused white specks to be everywhere. I then realized I'd rather spend $700 to get a clear bra and have a little line that is ONLY visible at certain angles than have crappy rock chips ALL over my car that are visible from 20 feet away.
My input on clear bras for the community:
The downside of clear bra: you see the line where the clear bra stops and the rest of the hood/ fenders start at certain angles but not ALL angles. Besides that, it costs money, and those are the only downsides.
I got a clear bra for my EB Evo IX when I got bought the car and I will be a clear bra owner for life with ALL of the cars that I get and that I get my family (when I have one).
I had previously owned a 2004 Lancer Ralliart and 1) Mitsu's paint kinda sucks and 2) Driving in WI is TERRIBLE for your paint. The joke in WI is that there are two season: construction and winter -- both of which are horrendus for your car's paint finish. When I got rid of my Ralliart after 2 years there were a LOT of small rock chips on the front bumper and hood. They looked particularly terrible with a yellow car because the rock chips from the bumper resulted in black spots and the chips on the hood caused white specks to be everywhere. I then realized I'd rather spend $700 to get a clear bra and have a little line that is ONLY visible at certain angles than have crappy rock chips ALL over my car that are visible from 20 feet away.
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Menasha, WI
When you wax your car, you get a bit of wax in the seam, but it easily wipes away with a microfiber towel. If the wax in the seam dries on and is a bugger to get off, the person that installed my clear bra said to take a Q-Tip and some rubbing alcohol and rub it along the seam and it'll be just like new.
