dhamaka127

I had an accident a little while back with a deer so I had to get the front end redone ...now there is some spots where the primer is showing so I took the car back to the place I got it done and they said that they will take care of it.

While I am there I am thinking about having a clear bra put on but I want to purchase it so I can take it down there.

They said that it should be around 50 to 100 bucks for the labor.

I think this is a good deal.

I would like to know where you guys ordered your clear bra from. I would like to cover as much of the front end as possible and the side view mirrors.

Thanks for you help in advance!

xfirechief

It is a great idea to have it installed. The installer takes around 3 hours to do it & will warranty it too. I am picking up my new RX today & having the clear bra system installed Sat. for $350 complete.

Unless u are a great DIY person have it done & done right. Plus it will be warrantied.

P7M13_user

way back (~10 years) when I decided to have the windows tinted on our two cars, I thought of doing it myself. One thing, there weren't many films to choose from and you could buy either locally or online. Second, after I put some film on house windows and watched how they installed on car windows in shops and seeing so many cars with bubbly films. I decided to have the films installed. One car I had metalic film costed about $170 (five windows), a year later, another two-door car costed about $150. After 8-9 years, I don't see a single bubble or peeling or any sign of discoloration in those films. We only have a single car garage, so one car is always outside. Here at 4000 ft., UV is pretty strong all year round.
Anyway, about month ago, I decided to put clear bra on our newly purchased used 2007 RX350. From what I got that average cost for half hood (24"), mirrors, headlights and front bumper is about $600. I know that the place (Tint Specialist) that did window tinting on my cars years ago also does clear bra (for more than 10 years). So I ended up having it done there. It's just shy of $700 after tax (I also bought one spray can of this recommended special cleaner, protectant that's about $20 thinking you can't go cheap on your own ride, right?). What I have is standard hood coverage (24", whole hood will almost double the total cost and will have to order the kit, those are computer cut kits), whole front bumper from wheel well to wheel well, mirrors, headlight lenses, driving light lenses, headlight washers. It took about 2 hours. With lifetime warranty, I think it's worth it.

Lil4X

It's very much worth it. Back in '00 I installed a rear bumper cover on my new RX (before they put that ugly black doormat back there). I learned a LOT from that experience and could probably install my own Clear Bra with what I learned.

• Follow directions. (lather rinse repeat - keep muttering this under your breath)
  
• Work on a warm day out of direct sun. (I did it at night at 55 degrees in my driveway in poor light)
  
• Use plenty of the water/alcohol/soap mix when installing and positioning. (mix plenty in advance)
  
• Check alignment of pieces - then check them again. (and again . . . they can move)
  
• Use a hair dryer or a heat gun if you are brave, to soften the clear film to stretch over compound curves. (don't get carried away here)
  
• Keep your work area flooded with the aforementioned water/alcohol/soap mix. (learn to work with and appreciate pruney fingers)
  
• Have a second person help you. Another set of hands is VERY helpful at times. (don't hog all of this fun for yourself)
  
• Carefully squeegee the water out from under the film once you have it positioned. Watch for wrinkles and smooth them out. (then do it again, and again)
  
• Any "blisters" that appear after install can be removed by lancing them with a needle and smoothing them out. (ignore the little ones, see next)
  
• Allow the completed work a couple of days to dry and pull taught. Some small wrinkles and blisters will disappear on their own. (amazing how my amateurish job looked really professional after a couple of weeks on the road)
  
• Kick yourself for undertaking this project in the first place. Having gained all of this hard-earned experience you now know enough to leave it in the hands of a professional. (I didn't offer myself any guarantees, and if I messed up a $75 panel during the installation, I'd get to buy a new one)

The result was really nice and completely undetectable unless you knew where to look for seams. It lasted three years with little apparent damage, despite some pretty tough service, moving fairly heavy and awkward loads in and out of the liftgate.

arnieosp

iTrader: (1)

Check out my thread about rock chips. I am now convinced that RX350 MUST have the clear bra unless you want to either re-paint the front every year or just live with the bunch of rock chips. Anyway, when I bought my Lexus in January I declined the dealer-option clear bra for $800. Now I did some shopping around and the cheapest one I found is $550 installed and that includes headlight covers. I scheduled it for the coming Monday.

dhamaka127

I appreciate your replies but no one answered the one question i was looking for....

where did you buy the clear film?

xfirechief

I think all the answers were for your question, no one installs their own clear film, ITS A LEXUS, HAVE IT DONE.

cliffud

iTrader: (3)

you can install your own but be prepared to purchase another film kit if you mess up. it's pretty difficult for amateurs.

to the original poster, dhamaka127, I suggest checking out local shops in your area here: www.clearbrafilms.com/newyork

call around, and let them know you're on the clearbrafilms.com site with a whole list of shops at your fingertips. this should help you get the best price possible.

good luck!

c.

KeysRx300

If you still want to do the yourself. You can try this Club Lexus Sponsor.

www.aerotect.net

They did my tail lights last month.

They do installs and sell the kits to do it yourself.

triplecore

It is a good idea, I have one on mine. The car came without it though. It might have to with it being a Lexus CPO or just the previous owner did it. Anyways the bra really works. There is like no nicks on the bumper or mirror. It also protects the rear wheel well. The bra is everywhere on the RX I find more places with it everyday. Mirror, Front and Back bumper, Well well area...

I would also shop around. I saw advertising for it at two separate Lexus dealer show rooms and both had different prices.

mls

Around Seattle the Lexus dealers charge $1300, which of course can be negotiated down w/ purchase of a car. The dealers say that the cheaper jobs are lower quality (bubbles that don't go away, rougher edges)--not sure if this is true, but I didn't take the chance--payed $900 and it looks perfect.

JasDmw

I bought a demo and it was already installed on the hood. Appears to be die cut, very nice fit. I tried to have an aftermarket guy do the mirrors and it failed miserably. The mirrors have too many different curves to allow adequate protection over the face of the housing for my liking. Installer kept making it smaller and smaller, so I just took it off (and got the money back). I then bought the Toyota chrome mirror covers. Does essentially the same thing and adds a bit of blling as well. Installed very easily.

arnieosp

iTrader: (1)

I just ordered yesterday a 3M kit from here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2007-...spagenameZWD1V
A local professional installer quoted me $220 for installation. As soon as I get it done I'll let you know how it turned out.

captstp

I bought a 2005 RX 330 and had AeroTect (www.aerotect.net (866) 388-AERO) install the clear bra on my RX two weeks ago and the clear bra works great. The people at AeroTect are great to work with and they cut out the clear bra there at there shop to your specific vehicle. I am pretty sure they will ship it to you, but after watching them install it, it would be best to have someone who regularly installs the clear bra and have them install it on your car.
Scott: cylon:

arnieosp

iTrader: (1)

How much was it?