Clear bra and further shield parts | FerrariChat

Clear bra and further shield parts

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by 458steph, Jul 9, 2012.

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  1. 458steph

    458steph Karting

    Jan 17, 2012
    69
    Near Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Stephanie
    Your take on clear bra.
    Factory/aftermarket with someone you may not have dealt with before.
    What parts did you get (hood, front bumper, front sides, winglets,mirrors,doors,sills, etc.)clear vs matte on certain parts (winglets etc).
    I am thinking for the Spyder and what I'd do for this one that I did not do for the Italia.
    Any regrets on parts you did not do and wish now you had?
    VentureShield vs. others.
    How do ask to see their procedures and how do you ask for exactly/perfectly/your way (or my way I am extremely meticulous in general and even more when it comes to my F) on seams/return wraping method (for certains parts I'd like the wrap to really get behind what you see not just the edge... Of course, I don't give a rat's *ss if it takes more and money!)? I don't want to be rude , ust want to be sure the job will be done right.
    Thank you.
     
  2. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,200
    Vegas baby
    I had my F430 spider done and it was pretty much a 50/50 good vs bad deal.

    On the plus side, I was worried about the dust storms in Vegas and thought it could eat through the paint. I had a guy in Vegas do it and it was a very nice job (no seams in the hood).

    I had the entire front done and parts where the top touches the rear deck, as well as the mirrors.

    The plus side was that it did do a good job of protection. And, I worried less about it.

    The negative side was the cost ($3 grand) and it looked a little fish eyed afterwards. I've been told there are newer plastic materials that reduce it but to me, you can still see it if you look for it.

    I also found that over time, some small defects show up in the plastic. Barely noticable but if you're the anal type, it may be a bit disappointing.

    The factory job to me is probably not the way to go. You can get a lot more done by a professional installer and no one is going to care if it was factory installed or not.

    I think it depends on how you intend to drive the car and if you don't care about a few stone chips here and there. Protection good -- but it costs money and looks suffer a little.
     
  3. 458steph

    458steph Karting

    Jan 17, 2012
    69
    Near Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Stephanie
    I would be so PO if paint chips happen. Hence the bra.
    We had the whole front wrapped in Venturshield for the Italia : full hood, full bumper, not the winglets thought, mirrors, headlights.
    I believe $2k for the job.
    I am thinking the winglets too this time and the sills and bottom of doors to full doors (we do quite a bit of driving 4K maybe in less than 10 months with almost none this winter as roads were just too dirty (loose gravel for snow...).
    It is just we have that fun thing every Saturday morning when weather permits where we show our cars (exotics@RTC) and some unfortunate events made me a bit weary (kids and zipper pulls) and I want a bit more piece of mind. I'd rather spent another $1k to 2 than having to battle with someone over their resposability when scratching/chipping my car (a whole door on a 458 to repaint plus the time in the shop and not with me, tell me the cost and that poor lady and her 2 small kids would have quite a sad day) plus my peace of mind.
    So I'm thinking protection for track/driving and showing.
     
  4. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    The new Ventureshield and similar products reduce bubbles/fish eyes to near zero and have a gloss nearly identical to the paint. I did the entire front up to the doors and the windshield.

    One negative is that the new materials seem susceptible to bird dropping and other organic gook. You need to take it off right away or face a hard rubbing job.



    Don't leave home without it.
     
  5. 458steph

    458steph Karting

    Jan 17, 2012
    69
    Near Seattle, WA
    Full Name:
    Stephanie
    Bird dropping and bug guts too. If you don't clean it rather quickly there's a little opacification spot.
    Still I'd rather have the VentureShield than forgetting a bug and having the paint somewhat damaged.

    Windshield too? Nice.
    How does it look? Any glare in the sun or other inconvenience? We did not think of this and we have not had a rock chip (crossing fingers here!). To consider for the Spyder I guess.
     
  6. roadracer311

    roadracer311 Formula 3

    May 6, 2009
    2,398
    San Francisco
    Full Name:
    Paul
    I think he means up-to the windshield.

    I wish someone made nice tear-offs for the windshield!
     
  7. TheMayor

    TheMayor Ten Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 11, 2008
    106,200
    Vegas baby
    That's what I meant by small defects in the plastic.
     
  8. forgeahead

    forgeahead F1 Rookie
    Owner

    Sep 16, 2008
    4,408
    Rocky Mount, NC
    Full Name:
    Ray
    Agree that the type and location of your driving are a factor. Also the color of the paint plays a role in the decision. If I had triple layer paint-definitely. I have bianco avus, which is relatively easy to repair.
     
  9. Rcktrod

    Rcktrod F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2010
    3,946
    USA
    Clear bra...not factory but custom installed across the entire front end, mirrors and even windshield is a must unless it's going to be a garage queen. Spirited runs with other Fcars will throw up all sorts of sand and small stones hitting your car and nicking the paint if not protected. Not sure of the bra used but you can go to the thread in the 458 section and look at Bain Mendoza and other recommended installers.
     
  10. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    Another thing to consider, depending on location and car use, is a clear windshield film. It protects against fine pitting and that gawd awful star-cracking thrown pebble. It's cheap -- a couple of $hundred.

    I had one installed on our BMW X5M which sees lots of high speed cross country driving, much of it in the deserts of the Southwest where stones are thrown around like missiles. In a year it has saved two windshields, for sure. I have not installed it on the FCars because they don't get that kind of use, but if I were to track them I would have the films installed.

    A couple of negatives:
    -- It is not distortion-free like the windshield glass. There are minor distortions that one gets used to looking through. After awhile you don't notice it.
    -- It won't last forever because UV attacks the polymer. Longevity depends on sunlight exposure.

    Something to think about and maybe talk about with your installer.
     
  11. mhh

    mhh F1 Veteran

    Feb 16, 2004
    5,894
    Australia
    Full Name:
    Mark
    Here's a tip for the marks left by bird droppings on Ventureshield. Heat the blemished areas carefully with a hair dryer (or heat gun) and watch the marks disappear as if by magic.
     
  12. abz

    abz Formula 3

    Aug 27, 2006
    1,439
    PA
    Full Name:
    Al
    That's a great tip; will have to try it sometime.
     
  13. Noblesse Oblige

    Noblesse Oblige F1 Veteran

    Nov 7, 2011
    6,114
    Three Places
    Thanks for a great tip. I had to compound out a mark -- took 15 minutes of rubbing.
     
  14. Street&Track

    Street&Track Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    662
    Another magical tip, although it depends on what you use for clear bra as to whether it works for one and not the other.

    Anyway, I had 3M clear bra custom installed. Covering the whole front of the car, including lights and lower side doors and lower rear area.

    If you get a scratch or tire rubber or bird droppings or just about anything. You can wipe lightly and quickly with rubbing alcohol (70%) isopropol and the marks dissappear and the 3M clear bra looks new. I used this on my car after doing over 100 laps at Daytona and the car reverted back to the day it was first wrapped, I even think it looks better now than it did that first day, although it may just be the glow of doing 195MPH:)

    Again, I have heard that this works on 3M but not all clear shields so research before trying it. YMMV.
     
  15. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    plastic shield is a must here. the sand used on the roads in winter stays around all year in places that cannot always be predicted.

    dealer said their installer did a much better job at a cheaper price vs the factory.

    I have used Mcguires Plastic Cleaner and Polish on 3M and it looks new now.
     
  16. carlom001

    carlom001 Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2010
    338
    Just covered my Nero Daytona 458 front bumper, hood, fenders, mirrors and outer sill areas using XPEL. Did the same with my Cali. Now I can relax when going for a drive in the country and the car in front ventures on the side of the road and kicks up gravel or dirt. This happened with the Cali and what sounded like a boulder hit the hood - in reality probably a very small stone but when it is travelling at >70MPH, sounds and feels a lot bigger than that. The film sustained a very small amount of scuffing type damage, but no ding or scratch on the hood. That was enough to convince me to always use xpel in the future. However make sure you have a very experienced and proven installer.
     
  17. pro-tect mobile

    Jul 5, 2011
    34
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Thom
    I installed Ventureshield for 9 years until the new Suntek film came out. It was immediately clear its a much better film; smoother, more resistant to staining and etching, and has a self healing top coat.... so scratches heal themselves with a little heat. Xpel Ultimate is a similar film and both are by far better films than Ventureshield. I would recommend either of those or Avery Nano Fusion... which is the best film out there. Production starts back up this month so installers will have it again... and it comes with a true lifetime warranty.
     
  18. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    Ventureshield = 3M

    Suntek = Suntek

    Nano Fusion = Avery
     
  19. pro-tect mobile

    Jul 5, 2011
    34
    DFW, Texas
    Full Name:
    Thom
    Ventureshield is owned by 3M but it is not 3M film. Ventureshield is still manufactured the same way it was before 3M bought them so it is completely different. 3M film is called Scotchguard and there is a HUGE difference in quality.
     
  20. PhilNotHill

    PhilNotHill Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jul 3, 2006
    27,855
    Aspen CO 81611
    Full Name:
    FelipeNotMassa
    Which is better?
     
  21. Lesia44

    Lesia44 F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 5, 2009
    17,923
    Not quite an answer to your specific question, but...

    [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrVr4WQFelA&feature=related[/ame]
     

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