You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.
Undecided on clear bra and sealant for new car..thoughts?
First post. Might start coming to some meets soon! Picking up very first car very soon, being delivered as we speak. Have some questions.
Car: 2015 mustang GT magnetic
Live in: vancouver, BC - kerrisdale/dunbar area
Questions:
1) Clear bra worth it? I hear it might be better to just file a claim after a couple years of chips to the front of the car. $300 deductible and whole new paint job/windshield if its damaged? Or if clear bra is worth it...
1a) Who do you guys recommend? I've been quoted around $750 for a clear bra. So not sure if it's worth it or not.
2) Opticoat worth it? I've been recommended to take car straight to detailer, clay it, then get a sealant for scratch/door ding protection..
2a) anyone know a good place?
3) I want to put the front plate off to the side (don't judge..i like the look).
Probably in the area between the two grilles and between the horse and headlight, or right in between the headlight and the foglights, I've already asked the dealership not to drill the front plate on.. but I think it might come pre drilled? In that case...am i screwed?
3a) Input on the look or location of front plate?
3b) Does anyone know how I can get the plate on without drilling in case I change my mind?
3c) I've read you can use a no drill custom bracket, but that might take weeks to finish. Am I even allowed to drive off the lot in BC without a front plate? Isn't that just asking for a ticket?
I am currently experimenting with a polymerized substance that's considered the stainless steel of clear bras. Way stronger than anything available on the market today.
The entire car can be done as well, and having certain areas done is way cheaper than what methods out there are offering. Also removable without paint damage
What bothers me about traditional clear bras is that only a portion of the hood is done, and the line is very noticeable
Opticoat is the only way to go. Unless you spend a lot of time on the highway during the winter months then the clear bra will not do a lot for you.
I recommend Opticoat to all my clients.
1) Clear bra worth it? I hear it might be better to just file a claim after a couple years of chips to the front of the car. $300 deductible and whole new paint job/windshield if its damaged? Or if clear bra is worth it...
1a) Who do you guys recommend? I've been quoted around $750 for a clear bra. So not sure if it's worth it or not.
i was recently at gpfx in richmond and they just finished this:
almost everything on this car was covered with paint protection film.
not a fan of unecessary repainting if it can be avoided. you end up with a recorded claim on your insurance history, non original paint that may or may not match, and all the downtime and headaches that can come with it...
Quote:
2) Opticoat worth it? I've been recommended to take car straight to detailer, clay it, then get a sealant for scratch/door ding protection..
ken did my mustang and i'm happy with it knowing i'll never have to wax it again.
it's best when done on brand new (untouched) paint. otherwise you have to pay for labor to clean/polish because if you don't it will get sealed under the opticoat.
3) I want to put the front plate off to the side (don't judge..i like the look).
Probably in the area between the two grilles and between the horse and headlight, or right in between the headlight and the foglights, I've already asked the dealership not to drill the front plate on.. but I think it might come pre drilled? In that case...am i screwed?
3a) Input on the look or location of front plate?
no comment. i would only park it on the side if there is an intercooler, otherwise... no.
Quote:
3b) Does anyone know how I can get the plate on without drilling in case I change my mind?
3c) I've read you can use a no drill custom bracket, but that might take weeks to finish. Am I even allowed to drive off the lot in BC without a front plate? Isn't that just asking for a ticket?
search online for those motorized retractable hideaway license plates and see how they mount.
__________________ "The guy in the CR-V meanwhile, he'll give you a haughty glare. He's responsibly trying to lessen his impact, but there you go lumbering past him with your loud V8, flouting the new reality. You may as well go do some donuts in a strawberry patch and slalom through a litter of kittens." Dan Frio, Automotive Editor, Edmunds
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll ask ken about it!
Oh never heard of opti gloss. Less durability? How so. So advantage is it looks nicer then?
Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on? Those hideaway plates would be at the very bottom of the lip, or just have a black flap come down on top of it. I believe they drill though, or even if not, the placement is too low.
Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on?
lol you are free to drive away with no plates front or back after you have paid for the car, I mean the police might have an issue with it but ah well..
__________________
"Whiplash is not an injury, its insurance fraud"
1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9
1-5-3-6-2-4 x4
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll ask ken about it!
Oh never heard of opti gloss. Less durability? How so. So advantage is it looks nicer then?
Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on? Those hideaway plates would be at the very bottom of the lip, or just have a black flap come down on top of it. I believe they drill though, or even if not, the placement is too low.
i am not 100% sure. the way i tried to understand how it was explained to me was that opti-seal has to be professionally applied because it's a ceramic coating. doing it wrong means corrective work to fix. opti-seal comes in a liquid form that is applied to an applicator with a syringe. i was told to use it whenever i get scratched and i need to polish it out and recover the area, otherwise i would have to go back to ken to get it done again because conventional waxes or polymer sealants won't stick to the ceramic coating and only opti-seal does.
it might fit in the top of your lower grille opening and hang out where the license plate normally mounts. maybe you will have to cut something out of the grille i don't know, but either way you won't have visible screw holes.
worst case scenario is to take your factory license plate holder and plate and leave it in your car. if the cops pull you over say someone smacked it off in the parking lot and you have all the stuff to fix it right there but haven't had the time and get a warning until you figure out what you want to do.
__________________ "The guy in the CR-V meanwhile, he'll give you a haughty glare. He's responsibly trying to lessen his impact, but there you go lumbering past him with your loud V8, flouting the new reality. You may as well go do some donuts in a strawberry patch and slalom through a litter of kittens." Dan Frio, Automotive Editor, Edmunds
btw..is there some sort of opticoat equivalent for the windows? something that'll help with minor scratches and most importantly visibility. or is that mostly down to wipers.
Last edited by clevernickname; 12-13-2014 at 01:34 PM.
btw..is there some sort of opticoat equivalent for the windows? something that'll help with minor scratches and most importantly visibility. or is that mostly down to wipers.
who gave you that quote?
ken coated mine with aquapel.
__________________ "The guy in the CR-V meanwhile, he'll give you a haughty glare. He's responsibly trying to lessen his impact, but there you go lumbering past him with your loud V8, flouting the new reality. You may as well go do some donuts in a strawberry patch and slalom through a litter of kittens." Dan Frio, Automotive Editor, Edmunds
did you ask gn02156668 (ie. he responded to you a few posts above)?
__________________ "The guy in the CR-V meanwhile, he'll give you a haughty glare. He's responsibly trying to lessen his impact, but there you go lumbering past him with your loud V8, flouting the new reality. You may as well go do some donuts in a strawberry patch and slalom through a litter of kittens." Dan Frio, Automotive Editor, Edmunds
yep better ask ken directly. cost to do a mustang is not going to be the same as a civic. i think the hood alone has more surface area than an entire honda lol
__________________ "The guy in the CR-V meanwhile, he'll give you a haughty glare. He's responsibly trying to lessen his impact, but there you go lumbering past him with your loud V8, flouting the new reality. You may as well go do some donuts in a strawberry patch and slalom through a litter of kittens." Dan Frio, Automotive Editor, Edmunds
go and see ken at autowerkes. he did opt coat pro on my brz and it still looks amazing. my only regret was not getting a clear bra on the front. ken does clear bras too. give him a call.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
