New guy with a new MCS & a question

[Aonach]

Hello all. Just joined tarhillminis.org. Getting my feet wet familiarizing myself with the posts, events, etc.

Quick ?: Does anyone have a clear bra installed? If so (or if not), recommended? Any good installers in the Triangle area anyone would recommend?

I have sport stripes installed on the bonnet so I am a little reluctant to get that bra'd but was thinking headlights and lower bumper.

Thoughts & recs appreciated! Thanks!

[BlimeyCabrio]

I'm a huge clearbra fan. A guy named Bruce has the Triad 3M clearbra service - he does the "dealer" installs for Flow - they can hook you up with him. I have the full monty - bumper, bonnet, lights, mirror caps, scoop, stone guards, door edges. Has kept Blimey looking new and chip-free for 16,000 miles now. The are 3-4 good bumps in the bonnet bra that would have been monster paint chips if I hadn't had it.

Yeah, you do NOT want to put it on atop your stripes. Honestly, what you REALLY want (though you may not know it yet) is to remove the stripes, install clearbra, and install new stripes over the clearbra. Stripes are a WHOLE lot cheaper than the clearbra. And you'll typically replace them 2-3 times while you still have your original clearbra installed...

I know folks who only have the bumper and lights - and that DOES work well - but just be prepared for chips on the bonnet that will need to be touched up frequently if you don't get the front of it covered, also...

[Aonach]

Thanks for the info. I take it Bruce is in Winston since he "dealer" installs? PM contact details?

As for the stripes, I thought about this after I took order. Since I worked them in for free + free installation I went ahead and put them on first thing instead of losing the deal, having to drive back etc. I will either do a HL & bumper install or see if Bruce can modify the installation to take it up to the edge of the stripes. We'll see.

Thanks for your help! I promise to post pics as soon as I get her into her Easter dress (i.e. mod her up a bit)!

[MidnightDave]

Welcome to the club! I'm going the other direction, no bra, lettin' it all hang out--oops, sorry, I digress, I mean, I have the chips and I cherish them b/c most are from track days--well okay, most are from that one day on I-85 behind that truck, but you get the idea.

That's one of the great things about the MINI community, we're all defining them our own way, and even all the same lines/themes/approaches, no two I have yet to see look alike.

Come out and play sometime, you don't need mods--my wife drove MINICHI for the first six months and she was bone stock and well accepted! ;-)

[09mcs]

if you want i can get yout intouch with bruce. like blimey said he does all out work at flow. i have it on my mini and love it. however i would put the clear bra under the stripe. few reasons.

1. the stripes are a flat color. not glossy. the clear bra has a shine like clear coat. so the part of the stripe will be more glossy under the clear bra than the rest of the bonnet.

2. if your like a few of us and want to change stripe color cant do that when its under the clear bra.

3. same as 2. if the stripe gets damaged you would have to take the clear bra off to fif the whole stripe.

if you want more info i can get you intouch with bruce

thanks
frank

[Aonach]

Thanks for all the info. I see your points. I think I will hold on the clear bra on the bonnet for now. Still debating about the bumper though. I have some more stripes on the way (extending the sport stripes down over the front & rear bumpers since we dont (fortunately) have front tags). I will definitely get the bra installed before I do that.

PM me his details so I have them. Hitting the road soon for a month so I dont think I will get things taken care of before then but would like to have it for the records.

Hope to see ya motoring soon!