Clear bra...who has it?

[Dereleek]

Just purchased a 2013 X5 SAV and I want to get clear bra on the truck ASAP. I live in Denver and rock chips are a guarantee.

What areas did you add clear bra? I'm debating whether I need the entire front bumper ($300 extra)

What did you spend?

Thanks
Derek

[Draper]

Personally I wouldn't bother.

I had the whole front end on my M3 done with Ventureshield (bumper, entire hood and both fenders) and even though the install was perfect, it bothered me as I could always tell where it was, and felt that it didn't age very well.

If it were me, I'd save my money and just touch up paint as needed.

[theaudir8fan]

not sure how bad the roads are in denver but up here in canada it is a must unless i want my car to look like trash after 1 winter. having only had my car for the past 5 month, it has already gotten many chips and pits on the windshield.

i can recommend xpel ultimate being the best film to use. i have the entire front end covered including the headlights and 24 inch of the hood and fender, than mirror, A piller and the part of the roof that's between the windshield and sun roof. I also have everything below the door molding trim covered and the rear wheel arch along with the section of bumper behind the rear wheel

[Sylvan Lake V35]

I have suntek film on mine I have my lights, full fender, front bumper, half of my hood, mirrors, fender flares, pillars and roof up to the sun roof and everything below the mouldings done. You can't tell it's there my only regret is not getting the entire hood done in 1pc. The bumper and fenders you would never know they were done at all but in certain line you can see the line where it ends on the hood.

[denaliman]

I did front bumper including vorstiener lip, 1/4 hood, rockers and about 8" up on the doors including in behind front fender, in front of rear fender, rear bumper and sill. Pretty much all the lower areas. front windshield pillars. IMO some protection is a must especially the hood and in front of the rear bumpers.

[kskpsu]

I have Xpel on my 1M, Suntek on my S6, and getting Suntek on the X5M. I recommend both. Having lived in Denver for 3 years, it's a no brainer. My B5 S4 got hammered there (drove on I-25 and I-76 daily), and it was silver..probably the most forgiving color.

[Sylvan Lake V35]

Originally Posted by kskpsu

I have Xpel on my 1M, Suntek on my S6, and getting Suntek on the X5M. I recommend both. Having lived in Denver for 3 years, it's a no brainer. My B5 S4 got hammered there (drove on I-25 and I-76 daily), and it was silver..probably the most forgiving color.

I was just coming to mention this, I would stick with Suntek or Expel. My sister just stopped today with her white FX35 that has 3M on it, the 3M film has turned a slight yellow it's not horrendous but it is much much more noticeable than the Suntek on my white X5M.

[P1]

Curious: what's everyone paying to get this done?

[Dereleek]

Yeah..that was one of my questions.

I was just quoted $650 for....

18" hood
Fenders
Mirrors
Headlights
Entire Front bumper
Door handles

[P1]

Originally Posted by Dereleek

Yeah..that was one of my questions.

I was just quoted $650 for....

18" hood
Fenders
Mirrors
Headlights
Entire Front bumper
Door handles

I always wondered what the motivation was for doing the mirrors and door handles?

[denaliman]

Originally Posted by P1et

I always wondered what the motivation was for doing the mirrors and door handles?

Mirrors get hammered with all kinds of debris when driving. Door handle protection from rings, keys etc.

[JVX6M]

Originally Posted by P1et

I always wondered what the motivation was for doing the mirrors and door handles?

Wonder if any company has pre cut specific pieces for an X5M or 6M? I was just quoted over $200 for custom cut pieces of expel on just the rear fender flares on my X5M. That's nuts!

[windtendo]

Awhile back I was quoted ~$1800 to remove the existing clear bra that came with the car, and replaced with XPEL Ultimate covering the entire hood, front end, front fenders, mirrors, door handles, rear fenders, and rocker panels...

It's a little steep but it's incredible film. I'm still in a waiting period after getting the front bumper repainted (the clear bra dealers put on is crap and doesn't always do its job btw), so I haven't taken it in for the film yet.

[Draper]

I'm curious, has anyone in here had their film on for 1-2 years, or more?

[lknbimmers]

I'm curious, has anyone in here had their film on for 1-2 years, or more?

Full 3M film done in 2009, no issues at all!

[JVX6M]

Can any of the above people comment on the areas that do get hit bad like rocker panels or fender flares and how they look with the protection film on. I'm wondering how bad the film in these areas gets beat up & wether it shows and if so how bad...

[windtendo]

Originally Posted by JX5M

Can any of the above people comment on the areas that do get hit bad like rocker panels or fender flares and how they look with the protection film on. I'm wondering how bad the film in these areas gets beat up & wether it shows and if so how bad...

If you spring for the XPEL ultimate, it shouldn't be much of an issue as it's self-healing for the most part. Guy that showed it to me keyed the crap out of the film, took a blow dryer to it to speed the healing up (simulating a hot day outside I guess) and it returned to like it never even happened.

[theaudir8fan]

Originally Posted by JX5M

Can any of the above people comment on the areas that do get hit bad like rocker panels or fender flares and how they look with the protection film on. I'm wondering how bad the film in these areas gets beat up & wether it shows and if so how bad...

Oh it is terrible, all you need to do is run your hands along the section of rear fender flares that's infront of the rear wheel to tell how much chip the area gets, it's all bumpy

[JVX6M]

Originally Posted by theaudir8fan

Oh it is terrible, all you need to do is run your hands along the section of rear fender flares that's infront of the rear wheel to tell how much chip the area gets, it's all bumpy

What protection film do you have on those areas Xpel Ultimate like the previous poster or a different brand?

[theaudir8fan]

Originally Posted by JX5M

What protection film do you have on those areas Xpel Ultimate like the previous poster or a different brand?

yes i think so

[mrmomo313]

Originally Posted by jzbm3

I'm curious, has anyone in here had their film on for 1-2 years, or more?

2 years and counting with my 3m shield that was installed by the dealer. Had half my hood, fender flares, rockers, lower portions of the doors, mirrors and door handle recesses done. Holding up perfectly in all areas, the flares are a little marked from rocks and what not hitting them but not noticeable until you get up close and personal (plus they were designed poorly from the factory so I expected this area to get marked up). And for the OP I think it was ~2000 installed, its been a while and I completely forgot how much I paid

[mrmomo313]

Originally Posted by JX5M

Can any of the above people comment on the areas that do get hit bad like rocker panels or fender flares and how they look with the protection film on. I'm wondering how bad the film in these areas gets beat up & wether it shows and if so how bad...

I'll take some pics of it this weekend and show you how mine held up. It'll be a good representation since you live in the same type of climate