[shoptb]

I'm looking at getting a clear bra for my F33, and I wanted to know if anyone had experience with 3M, Llumar, or Avery-Dennison's products? If so, is one superior to the other?

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by shoptb

I'm looking at getting a clear bra for my F33, and I wanted to know if anyone had experience with 3M, Llumar, or Avery-Dennison's products? If so, is one superior to the other?

Havent tried any. I hate seeing that line and i love the idea of waxing my car , not plastic. Like plastic on your couch IMO. I think I'm pretty much alone here though.............

[Aaaaaaaaa]

You can wax the good clear bras and if you get the whole hood there's no line. Plus better than seeing rock chips. My car is only 2 months old and I have a ton already. If it weren't a lease id totally get it.

[alex2364]

I had 3M on my previous E90 and XPEL on my F30 now. My E90 was Alpine White and the 3M film yellowed over time and you can tell where the film ended. XPEL film is suppose be be thinner and not yellow over time, but it's thinner so won't offer as much protection.

[ZilberGrau ZHP]

XPEL XPEL XPEL no need to look elsewhere (and I dont work for them but have 4 cars wrapped and it works fantastic- clean and wax like it was on the paint can tell its even there

[Blubaron79]

3M clear bra is wonderful. My last car I had it on for 5 years with no yellowing. Have it on my 435, and I'm having it installed on my 335 tomorrow. The F3x series is good because you just put it below the hood line. You never know it is there.

[tboooe]

I had Expel and Venture Shield on my previous cars. Both worked well, without any yellowing. I was able to apply G Techniq sealants on it. That being said, I decided to not do it on my current car. My reasoning aside from laziness is that for the money spent on installing a clear bra I could just get any chips fixed or components re-painted. I think either approach is sound. Also, even though I did have protection, a large enough rock did penetrate the clear bra and chip the paint so in the end I would have had to repaint anyway.

[snowghost]

Originally Posted by 335BOY

Havent tried any. I hate seeing that line and i love the idea of waxing my car , not plastic. Like plastic on your couch IMO. I think I'm pretty much alone here though.............

I had Xpel on my last 4 BMWs and decided with this one to forgo it.

[st3v]

Honestly I wouldn't get it at all. I was browsing used Mercedes the other day, and the cars with clear bras are visible. When they age a little, it looks bad, plus the longer it stays on, the harder it is to take off. Some of them yellowed. Plus what if your paint is uneven over time if you take the clear bra off?

[ska///235i]

it all comes down to cost...if the install is more than $1000, I'll rather repaint/repair the front if needed down the road

[AstonKarim]

Additionally each brand has different variants and lines, for example 3m with ventureshield and scotchguard, xpel with xtreme and ultimate.

I have 3m (not sure which line), no issues yet. Installed xpel headlight film myself on the headlights, and they fell off, I think I'm to blame on that part lol.

[bily]

I have Xpel on whole front. Got it done at the same place the PDC in SC uses. The shuttle driver at the Marriott in Spartanburg who drives 3 diff BMWs had no clue it was on there until I showed him and neither did my SA until I mentioned it. I would be more concerned about warranty. I'm sure 3M has a great product as well.

[Thumper333]

Had it done on the '14 Q5 as dealer basically through it in with the "paint protection" for free. Since it covered dings and the like and it was a lease I figured go for it.

Have not opted for it on the S4 or 328 Touring, there are good ones that are fairly invisible but just don't see it as a "requirement". If you get the short version, a rock will hit an inch farther back, if you get the full 18" front, it will hit just past THAT. If you get the whole hood edge to edge.....it costs tons of money....and you're bumper cover will get chipped up anyway. LOL

[F32Fleet]

In my limited experience you'll notice the demarcation at about 3 yrs. The paint underneath film shows less wear and the color looks much better vs the paint that is exposed.

[shoptb]

Thanks everyone for your input! Sounds like the XPEL and 3M are good products.

[Livfast335]

I found this since you guys gave me the idea of XPEL....

http://blog.xpel.com/2014-bmw-335i-m...a-san-antonio/

[Livfast335]

I had the 3M on my Acura, its thicker and gets yellowish... on a white car.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by F32Fleet

In my limited experience you'll notice the demarcation at about 3 yrs. The paint underneath film shows less wear and the color looks much better vs the paint that is exposed.

I didn't have that issue 5 years in. Car and bra still looked great. If you get if OP, just make sure you quick wax the bra on occasion. I will never own another car without one.

[ft1330]

Installers are asking crazy prices, which I thought was absurd for a piece of plastic. $1,200 for a front hood is just not making sense to me. Do I have chip rocks, hell yeah. Do I want to spend $1,200 just for a bumper.......... I don't think so. For $500 I would say yes. But XPEL ain't that cheap. Also they cut into your paint when installing, trust me. I don't care what they say. I was looking over the XPEL guy shoulder at the Porsche of the Main Line dealership, and they go right over the paint with an Exacto knife. He said he was careful... Yeah right.

[Slowplay]

Had Avery-denison done for my whole hood - no lines, silky smooth and you can't even tell it's there. Can't recommend this enough - my old e90 had terrible rock chips

[dbhajek]

That's my car.

Originally Posted by Livfast335

I found this since you guys gave me the idea of XPEL....

http://blog.xpel.com/2014-bmw-335i-m...a-san-antonio/

[335BOY]

Originally Posted by Thumper333

Had it done on the '14 Q5 as dealer basically through it in with the "paint protection" for free. Since it covered dings and the like and it was a lease I figured go for it.

Have not opted for it on the S4 or 328 Touring, there are good ones that are fairly invisible but just don't see it as a "requirement". If you get the short version, a rock will hit an inch farther back, if you get the full 18" front, it will hit just past THAT. If you get the whole hood edge to edge.....it costs tons of money....and you're bumper cover will get chipped up anyway. LOL

Exactly. I drive 30,000 kms/year with bulk of that being on the highway and country roads. I think I have 2 tiny chips on my hood in the last 2 years. Can you really wax& polish a clear bra and get same results as waxing/polishing clear bra?