Hood BRA Clear OR not ?
- Thread starter Bmrrman
- Start date
I actually have and use both. The clear bra is good for zipping around town without having to worry about getting rock chips. However on really long trips I still use the regular bra on top of the clear in order to add an extra layer of protection against larger debris that may cause dings on the car.
When I was driving to school and back every weekend last fall, I borrowed a colgan car bra from a member of an e30 forum. EVERY TIME before I installed the bra, I took the car to a car wash and at LEAST washed down the hood real good and put a coat of wax on it. Maybe I was a little too picky, but it was 17 year old paint and was still in immaculate condition. I never let it on when it rained, and took it off when I got done with the highway driving. I know for a fact it helped a ton. The previous owner of my e34 gave me a hood bra (colgan) but I sold it on ebay....paint on my car isn't worth trying to save ![[:(]](/images/smilies/frown.png "Frown [:(]")
![[idea]](/images/smilies/icon_smile_idea.gif "Idea! [idea]"){kind=icon}
...what is a good one? I think you might have forgotten to mention that! LOL
I have VentureShield on my car. Here are the pros and cons of 3M vs. VentureShield
VentureShield
Pros
1) Thin, harder to see
2) Easy to apply
3) Lifetime Warranty
4) Guaranteed not to turn yellow for at least 10 years
Cons
1) Does not have a clear coat, easily scratchable and attracts more dust.
3M
Pros
1) Nice shine and does not attract dust because of clear coat.
2) Thicker material, able to withstand larger impacts.
3) More scratch resistant.
Cons
1) Thicker, easier to see
2) Hard to apply
3) 7 year warranty
4) Turns yellow quicker
VentureShield
Pros
1) Thin, harder to see
2) Easy to apply
3) Lifetime Warranty
4) Guaranteed not to turn yellow for at least 10 years
Cons
1) Does not have a clear coat, easily scratchable and attracts more dust.
3M
Pros
1) Nice shine and does not attract dust because of clear coat.
2) Thicker material, able to withstand larger impacts.
3) More scratch resistant.
Cons
1) Thicker, easier to see
2) Hard to apply
3) 7 year warranty
4) Turns yellow quicker
Nice Tom! i too got the VentureShield, but i've been doing a poor job maintaining it so far... but Tom, mine only came w/ a 5 year warranty, not a lifetime one.. hmm... oh and, what liquid wax do you use on it?
i like how the ventureshiled looked over the 3m. i regret not getting it sooner, having the car for 2 years before putting it on, i got some nicks and chips, and even w/ it painted over, you can still tell... ah well, better than not putting it on i suppose.
one issue i have w/ the car bras, besides what was mentioned above, is the installation. because if you really want to take care of the paint, you have to remove it when you don't need it, constant install/ uninstall may lead to unnecessary scratches during one of those unattentive moments. (that's what actually turned me away from the Colgan Bra.)
but Tom, mine only came w/ a 5 year warranty, not a lifetime one.. hmm... oh and, what liquid wax do you use on it? i like how the ventureshiled looked over the 3m. i regret not getting it sooner, having the car for 2 years before putting it on, i got some nicks and chips, and even w/ it painted over, you can still tell...
ah well, better than not putting it on i suppose. one issue i have w/ the car bras, besides what was mentioned above, is the installation. because if you really want to take care of the paint, you have to remove it when you don't need it, constant install/ uninstall may lead to unnecessary scratches during one of those unattentive moments. (that's what actually turned me away from the Colgan Bra.)