3M clear car shield

i have noticed that cars are being completely covered now. not just the fronts. do you still wax your car then ?

 

You wouldn't wax it, you would clean it... differently. The clear shield/clear bra, whichever you want to call it, is a clear plastic film. It is similar to cut out vinyl for bumper stickers/race numbers, but not the same material.

 

I use some stuff called Plexus on my clear bra.

 

There is a special liquid wax for the clear bra made by 3M...........it's a finishing glaze called Perfect-It III, product number 09377. That is what I use on my clear bras.

 

Q. Can I use wax over Scotchgard™ Paint Protection Film?
A. Yes. When waxing the vehicle, some wax may build up along the film edges. This can easily be removed when dry with a soft cloth, such as a 3M™ High Performance Cloth. Do not use any waxes containing dyes or waxes that are not recommended for urethanes. Abrasive polishes and/or rubbing compounds are not to be used.

From: http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Scotchgard-PPF/Home/For_the/Consumer/FAQs/

There's also this (taken from a car care forum after a little googling):

" this is directly from the receipt my installer sent me via email.

A word on waxes and chemicals:
Your Transparent Bra should be waxed with the rest of the car using a liquid polymer (a synthetic) wax. I recommend Maguire’s Tech Wax or similar. There are many polymer based waxes that are liquid and much faster and easier to apply than paste wax. Carnauba waxes on the other hand typically leave an ugly white or yellow residue which is a pain to clean.
Many people are unfamiliar with the differences between waxes, and cleaner waxes / polishes. Car wax simply helps keep your car glossy and water repellant. Cleaner wax or polishes on the other hand, are compounds that contain light abrasives that actually scrub dirt particles off the paint. Many of these compounds also leave a wax behind. Do not use Cleaner waxes, polishes, or compounds on your urethane Transparent Bra. These compounds typically contain abrasives and can dull the film within a year if used regularly.

Again, these products are not really waxes, they are cleaning products. Understand the difference and look at the labels of the products you intend to use on the bra. If it says, Cleaner wax, Polish, or Compound, don’t use it on the bra. DO use straight car wax though. Again, a liquid wax is best.

Petroleum based chemicals also show up in other products like degreasers such as 409, bug / tar removers, goo gone, goof off ect. Don’t use any product that is petroleum based or contains petroleum distillates. The back label should say if it contains these.

Ammonia should also be avoided. Although most people don’t use ammonia products to clean their cars, I have to mention it just in case. If for instance you use Windex with ammonia in it to clean your car, please avoid using it on the bra.

Other reminders:
> Allow 1-2 weeks (or more if raining) for any bubbles under the film to bake out.
> After that, put an application of wax on the film. I recommend a liquid polymer wax as opposed to carnauba. A common one is Maguire’s Tech Wax. Keeping wax on the bra is important for keeping dirt from sticking to the material since it is a porous urethane.
> If there is a lifted edge on the first day or two, just press it down hard with your thumb for a full minute.
> If wax or dirt collects along the top edge of the hood / fender pieces, you can use a soft tooth brush or Q-tip or cloth dipped in Rubbing Alcohol.
> Alcohol, undiluted is a good cleaner for the film or the paint "



I've had 3m on my car for about 3 years now. I regularly wash/wax the car, but at some point over the years I have given up on trying to keep the clear bra clean. After about 25K miles, the film hasn't yellowed, but has become quite pitted from rock chips. No point trying to keep it super clean if the surface is already destroyed.
I figured I'd just replace it after another 2 years? Maybe even respray the entire car and have more areas of the car covered.

 

Henry,

To put it simply, part of maintenance for any brand of film is to wash and wax it on a regular basis. Liquid Spray wax or detailer sprays are good for the quick shine but doesn't provide you with too much protection against elements on the road. Sealants and paste wax are preferable.

 

Interesting. My clear bra never lasted long enough for maintenance to be an issue...

 

Perhaps the installer is using a lower grade film? In a market where the cost of just about everything is going up, companies may look into cheaper alternatives....just take a look at the stuff from ebay. There are kits sold on ebay for under $100, but in fact it is just a thin layered vinyl with very little protective capabilities that fade in a few months under the sun.