Clear Bra Selection & Pricing: Need Some Advice
07-13-13, 08:58 PM
#18
Lexus Test Driver
07-14-13, 05:04 AM
#20
07-14-13, 12:38 PM
#21
Lexus Test Driver
You have the advantage of contacting Xpel directly. Their headquarter is in San Antonio, TX and that's where the designers for the kits reside and you should be able to find the best installer in your area.
07-14-13, 06:51 PM
#23
Lexus Test Driver
I would first find out how much coverage the dealer option offers as I will be doubtful the option could give the same coverage you can get from a 3rd party installer. Thera are many coverage options for the hood available on the market..
07-15-13, 05:19 AM
#24
After having installed Ventureshield Ultra for nearly 10 years in California I had to switch to another film when I came to Texas. It simply does not last since it is not a true top coated film. I first went with Avery Nano Fusion which was excellent... but since they shut the production line down and restarted it the film is no where near the same. Xpel Ultimate was the first with the self healing top coat... but I have found the Suntek film is actually better at self healing. It is also smoother than Xpel Ultimate and the adhesive is much more forgiving. I test all of the films that come out and would not recommend 3M, Ventureshield, and definitely not premium Shield as it only lasted a few months before dulling.
As far as kits Suntek is right there with Xpel and Proform (if you buy their software you get the same pattern databases so no difference really). Proform has had problems over recent years staying up with the patterns for new vehicles... not sure why but they aren't reliable. Bothe Suntek and Xpel make great patterns and seem to have the new vehicle patterns very quickly.
Pricing varies so greatly its hard to give you fair prices. A local competitor in my area charges twice what I do for the same coverage yet he uses Ventureshield film. Same quality install but I use a better film... so you are kind of at the installers mercy unfortunately. Detailing Dynamics has an excellent reputation in their area so I would recommend them.
Andy Xpel does is not related to any of the top installers in the DFW area as no one, including myself, uses their film here. Two of us use Suntek and the other Ventureshield so they wont recommend the best installer... just one that carries their film.
As far as kits Suntek is right there with Xpel and Proform (if you buy their software you get the same pattern databases so no difference really). Proform has had problems over recent years staying up with the patterns for new vehicles... not sure why but they aren't reliable. Bothe Suntek and Xpel make great patterns and seem to have the new vehicle patterns very quickly.
Pricing varies so greatly its hard to give you fair prices. A local competitor in my area charges twice what I do for the same coverage yet he uses Ventureshield film. Same quality install but I use a better film... so you are kind of at the installers mercy unfortunately. Detailing Dynamics has an excellent reputation in their area so I would recommend them.
Andy Xpel does is not related to any of the top installers in the DFW area as no one, including myself, uses their film here. Two of us use Suntek and the other Ventureshield so they wont recommend the best installer... just one that carries their film.
07-15-13, 06:34 AM
#25
Lexus Test Driver
After having installed Ventureshield Ultra for nearly 10 years in California I had to switch to another film when I came to Texas. It simply does not last since it is not a true top coated film. I first went with Avery Nano Fusion which was excellent... but since they shut the production line down and restarted it the film is no where near the same. Xpel Ultimate was the first with the self healing top coat... but I have found the Suntek film is actually better at self healing. It is also smoother than Xpel Ultimate and the adhesive is much more forgiving. I test all of the films that come out and would not recommend 3M, Ventureshield, and definitely not premium Shield as it only lasted a few months before dulling.
As far as kits Suntek is right there with Xpel and Proform (if you buy their software you get the same pattern databases so no difference really). Proform has had problems over recent years staying up with the patterns for new vehicles... not sure why but they aren't reliable. Bothe Suntek and Xpel make great patterns and seem to have the new vehicle patterns very quickly.
Pricing varies so greatly its hard to give you fair prices. A local competitor in my area charges twice what I do for the same coverage yet he uses Ventureshield film. Same quality install but I use a better film... so you are kind of at the installers mercy unfortunately. Detailing Dynamics has an excellent reputation in their area so I would recommend them.
Andy Xpel does is not related to any of the top installers in the DFW area as no one, including myself, uses their film here. Two of us use Suntek and the other Ventureshield so they wont recommend the best installer... just one that carries their film.
As far as kits Suntek is right there with Xpel and Proform (if you buy their software you get the same pattern databases so no difference really). Proform has had problems over recent years staying up with the patterns for new vehicles... not sure why but they aren't reliable. Bothe Suntek and Xpel make great patterns and seem to have the new vehicle patterns very quickly.
Pricing varies so greatly its hard to give you fair prices. A local competitor in my area charges twice what I do for the same coverage yet he uses Ventureshield film. Same quality install but I use a better film... so you are kind of at the installers mercy unfortunately. Detailing Dynamics has an excellent reputation in their area so I would recommend them.
Andy Xpel does is not related to any of the top installers in the DFW area as no one, including myself, uses their film here. Two of us use Suntek and the other Ventureshield so they wont recommend the best installer... just one that carries their film.
Thanks for the tips.
I didn't know that. I thought the dealer search in Xpel is working properly...
07-15-13, 08:42 AM
#26
Driver School Candidate
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The cost in California to have Xpel installed is a lot more than any states, at least from after reading this thread. I'm from California and currently looking for an installer to install clear bra on my car as well. The pricing I've been getting is upward of $1400 for just the full bumper and full hood. It would cost me around $1800 to get full bumper, full hood, fenders, side mirrors and head lights done. Ouch! That's tough on the wallet.
All the installers I've talked to will be do a custom cut on the clear bra. The hardest part for the 3IS is the bumper and headlights. The bumper has a lot of curves and you would want them to do the bumper with one whole piece of wrap. The front grille basically takes up the whole middle area and there's only a small area at the bottom of the bumper that needs to be wrapped. One installer told me that it would be better to wrap that area altogether as one piece instead of doing the bumper with 3 pieces (left side, right side, middle). The headlights are different too now with curves too. It'll be hard, probably not impossible, to wrap the headlights without any seams.
As of right now, I'm still searching around and haven't really decided what to do for my car.
All the installers I've talked to will be do a custom cut on the clear bra. The hardest part for the 3IS is the bumper and headlights. The bumper has a lot of curves and you would want them to do the bumper with one whole piece of wrap. The front grille basically takes up the whole middle area and there's only a small area at the bottom of the bumper that needs to be wrapped. One installer told me that it would be better to wrap that area altogether as one piece instead of doing the bumper with 3 pieces (left side, right side, middle). The headlights are different too now with curves too. It'll be hard, probably not impossible, to wrap the headlights without any seams.
As of right now, I'm still searching around and haven't really decided what to do for my car.
Last edited by wildtigg3r; 07-15-13 at 08:52 AM.
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07-18-13, 08:31 PM
#29
Driver
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: CA
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Ok, thanks. I'm assuming its the same on the other side? Are there other spots which have seams too? Also, was yours a custom cut or from a kit? Sorry for all the questions: I'm strongly considering doing this to my new black car, but I just really am hesitant unless Im confident that it will turn really really good, and won't stand out. I know a big part if the equation is the quality of the workmanship.
07-18-13, 08:54 PM
#30
Liquid Bra Champion
A seam with a hole in it? That doesn't look like a kit cut, appears to be installer created. There should not be a cut in the middle of a flat surface. Any worthy installer should be capable of using steam or heat to get the film to conform to virtually any surface contour.
The place that did my 12C were very good. No kits, just one sheet per surface (nose, hood, fenders, headlights, splitter). Wrapped edges and no "adjustment" cuts. You can't even tell it's got film.
The place that did my 12C were very good. No kits, just one sheet per surface (nose, hood, fenders, headlights, splitter). Wrapped edges and no "adjustment" cuts. You can't even tell it's got film.