Clear bra

[Kandid]

Hopefully I'm getting my MCS this Saturday (finger crosses) and wanted to get clear bra installed. When I called my dealer (Midwestern MINI in Columbus, Oh) they quoted somewhere around 300 just for a front portion or 500-600 for a full kit. When I asked them how much is just the kit - they said that they are not using factory bra, but 3M cut to fit (this is what I gathered). Question - would it be better (cheaper) to get some aftermarket company do it?
Is anyone know good place for it in Columbus or Canton OH?
Thanks!

[MINIAC]

The FAQ on bras has links to companies who offer kits ... check out their sites to find price information and to look for installers in your area:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/thread6021_.html

One company in the SF Bay Area, who makes and installs their own kits, charges $800 for a MCS kit which provides 3M 8 mil protection for:

hood
front bumper
headlights, foglights and front turn indicators [40 mil]
mirrors
door handle cups
door edges
body underneath gas cap
top of rear bumper below hatch

[Doctor Wha?]

With due respect to the honorable FAQ Custodian, it seems there are at least two other options out there, possibly recent editions.

In the MINI 2003 Accessories Catalog, they list Invisishield clear plastic coating pieces for varying combinations of bonnet, mirros, grille, bumper, and fog lights. Curiously, the headlights were left out of all of these kits. But all have MINI product numbers and prices associated with them.

However, when I asked my dealer about adding them on to my order, I was told they don't use Invisishield, they use something called "Stonex" (unsure of the spelling, as we were on the phone). This, I was told, would be applied to the bonnet, mirrors, and headlights, but not to the bumper or fog lights. The sales rep didn't know why this was the case, but said she'd ask. Her best understanding from past conversations was that it had something to do with the adhesive not sticking too well to the plastic bumper, but this was only a guess.

This seemed odd to me, as I was under the impression that the bumper is painted plastic. So shouldn't things stick to paint just the same anywhere?

Note for my fellow cynics out there:

- Total price of MINI-Catalogged Invisishield kits for Cooper bonnet, side mirrors, bumper, and fog lights: $260 USD

- Cost of locally-peculiar Stonex kit for bonnet, side mirrors and headlights only: $595 USD

In any case, she said, "they" (the dealership) have just always used Stonex, so that's who does their work. I don't know if this is an extension of the BMW work done at the same dealership, or what.


Some one needs to come up with smiley that shows an eyebrow raised in suspicious doubt.



DW

[MINIAC]

Quote:

With due respect to the honorable FAQ Custodian, it seems there are at least two other options out there, possibly recent editions.

The FAQ only includes those kits for which diagrams were available, so users could see the number of pieces offered and get an idea of coverage provided. I'm sure there are a lot of other choices out there, and I'll be happy to include others who can provide me with JPGs of their kits.

Quote:

In the MINI 2003 Accessories Catalog, they list Invisishield clear plastic coating pieces for varying combinations of bonnet, mirros, grille, bumper, and fog lights. Curiously, the headlights were left out of all of these kits. But all have MINI product numbers and prices associated with them.

I've emailed InvisiShield for JPGs of their kits.

Quote:

However, when I asked my dealer about adding them on to my order, I was told they don't use Invisishield, they use something called "Stonex" (unsure of the spelling, as we were on the phone). This, I was told, would be applied to the bonnet, mirrors, and headlights, but not to the bumper or fog lights. The sales rep didn't know why this was the case, but said she'd ask. Her best understanding from past conversations was that it had something to do with the adhesive not sticking too well to the plastic bumper, but this was only a guess.

These kits are a "pain" to install ... most dealers outsource this work.

[obehave]

It's Invinca-Shield
Cooper s kit

$171 for the Deluxe kit

[MINIAC]

InvisiShield is a different company:

http://www.sysmatrix.net/~bum/products.htm

[obehave]

Quote:

Originally posted by MINIAC
InvisiShield is a different company:

http://www.sysmatrix.net/~bum/products.htm

Ooops, just thought it was a typo.
Still sounds like they may be more expensive. Their kit section appears to be under construction so I can't do a comparo on the kits. In fact the whole site is kind of iffy now that I try to dig out some info.

Probably the same 3M material just about everybody uses.

[NearlyNN]

I've had the full kit installed by StonGard, at their national HQ, which is located in my area. Seems like a very good product. Tough and clear. Great install. Good people.

Possible problem though. Was parallel parked downtown and when I came back to my car, it appears someone had backed into my front bumper. Protection: good news/bad news. Good news - shield protescted my paint. Bad news - the film creased leaving a whitish mark where the car was banged.

I know this doesn't come under their warranty, but I still wonder what am I supposed to do now. Heck, I might have been better off with no film and if the paint was dinged a bit. Then I could at least touch it up. The way it is now, I have a 3 inch whitish crease in a large sheet of stuck-on plastic.

Anyone else have experience with this? Will let you know how this works out.

[obehave]

Quote:

Originally posted by NearlyNN
I've had the full kit installed by StonGard, at their national HQ, which is located in my area. Seems like a very good product. Tough and clear. Great install. Good people.

Possible problem though. Was parallel parked downtown and when I came back to my car, it appears someone had backed into my front bumper. Protection: good news/bad news. Good news - shield protescted my paint. Bad news - the film creased leaving a whitish mark where the car was banged.

I know this doesn't come under their warranty, but I still wonder what am I supposed to do now. Heck, I might have been better off with no film and if the paint was dinged a bit. Then I could at least touch it up. The way it is now, I have a 3 inch whitish crease in a large sheet of stuck-on plastic.

Anyone else have experience with this? Will let you know how this works out.

OK, is it white because the material was stretched or does it apear white brcause there is now an air gap behind the material? If it's jsut an air gap it will lay out and you won't notice it. even if it's stretched once you lay it back out it will be much less noticeable,
There are ways to remove the crease fairly well. Ask your installers.

[rocketpop]

I bought my bra from Invinca-shield. They were having a sale at the time and I did my own install. I paid $145 for the whole thing.

Check it out.

invinca-shield pictures

[scooterboy]

Picked up my car last wednesday, had the clear bra guy come on thursday. He installed it right in my garage.

Here's the interesting thing: we removed the front wheel arches, headlights, and center grill so that he could stretch the film further than is normally done in these areas, and wrap it around the edge of the metal. The result is that there's no film edge around the re-installed headlights, grill, or wheel arch. The film goes right underneath them.

Less edges = less visible.

I have some pics if anyone is interested.

[Sharkey]

scooterboy
would love to see some pics: awaiting delivery of my EB/B MCS and trying to figure out my best option for a clear bra install in the CT area. btw, how much did your install cost (removing stuff sounds like a great, but possibly pricey way to go). also, what company did your install, what did your install include (door pulls, rear bumper, gas filler, etc.)? More info pls

Cheers,
sharkey

[scooterboy]

Sent you a PM, but click the link in my sig for my install info and pics.

[Sharkey]

scooterboy,

Thanks for the prompt and *very* helpful reply. Your install looks fantastic, and I think you got a real bargain to boot. Called a local X-pel kit installer who wanted ~$700 for a standard install on my forthcoming MCS (which did not include the leading roof edge, A-pillars, rear bumper, or the lower hatch that you had done).

On the other hand, the MCS is probably a little more tricky, given the complexity of the intercooler scoop, and his price also included 40 mil film for the headlamps and fogs...and he would back up the work with a 4 yr. $1000 paint damage warranty. So I guess it's a bit of an apple/orange comparison, but in any event I'll definitely get in touch with your installer and see if we can work out a deal. I'll probably also ask my local installer what he would want to do a 'wrap' install. The extra effort to eliminate most of the seams seems worth it to me. In any event, I'll let you know how it works out.

So, did your installer use a kit, and if so, what brand? (I was a bit surprised that he was able to stretch a pre-cut kit sufficiently to get it to wrap.)

Anyway, defintitely learned a lot from your experience: you were the first post that I've seen (and I think that I've seen most of 'em now) that did a wrap install and also got the extra protection for the roof, A-pillars and lower hatch. I'm very tempted to follow suit, since my MCS will spend a lot it's life as a daily driver on a highway littered with gravel/dump trucks.

Glad to hear that you'll soon be getting your lamps covered: the xenon units in particular are tremendously expensive! While you're at it, you might also consider adding a small semi-circular ring of film to the lower rim of your gas filler area (to protect from wayward contact with a pump handle--even being careful, it could happen, exp. if you or your wife occasionally visit full service stations).

Thanks again for your help!
Cheers, Sharkey

[dinlo]

I'm going to do the full kit for my MINI too, with the club discount, it only cost me $500, same kit(same company) as the $800 one from dealer.