Unfortunately I've waited too long to put a clear bra on my car. The whole front end is now chipped pretty badly. I bought a paint pen, but I think there are too many chips on the front for that. What would be my best options? Should I have just the front end repainted before I put a clear bra on or would that probably not be a perfect match? Also, I wax the car and wash it at least once every 2 weeks. Will these chips start to rust if I don't do something soon?
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Most of thoes types of chips don't go thru the primer below. So, rust shouldn't be a problem. When you wax though, every stone chip will come out like a sore thumb, trust me, my front end is highy chiped from road stones. I would get it repainted, then put the clear bra on. Just my opinion, I took some touchup from work and tried to get all my stone chips... and after about 20 mins I just gave up. Ill end up getting my front end shot again at work at some point or another. -
Wow, nice response time. I suppose I'll just live with the chips for awhile if there's no danger of rust. That's been worrying me for some time. From what I've read getting paint done is pretty expensive, but if it looks good I think it's worth it.Comment
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Yep, at our shop, front bumper repaint is about $450 - 500 depending on how much repair is needed to the cover. The front body panals will runn prob about 150 - 200 for paint/repair. Right around $550 - 700 for the hood, again depending on repair amounts.
Oh, dont' for get about flex addtive to the paint, removing the headlamps and cornering lamps, and detrimming the hood, bumper and front body panal....Comment
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holy balls batman!!! that's some serious $$$Comment
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...sammy...can you say STEALERSHIP?....and there you have it dude!Comment
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holy balls batman!!! that's some serious $$$
As I'm sure Dark will tell you, you get what you pay for with paint. Yes, the dealer is expense and yes, you probably can find a compitent shop to do it for a little less.
However, when someone tells you they'll respray the front of your car for $500, run...far, far away. It WILL look like crap. From the sounds of it, you want your car to look nice, so I would save your pennies and pony up for the good respray.
Dark, I'll probably be in touch sometime towards the end of the year to have my hood resprayed...the stone chips are killing me!!! :cry: What is this "clear bra" you mentioned?
FLiComment
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The clear bra is that 'invisa-bra' thats produced by 3M. Supposedly they make one for E36's now, I have seen it thrown out on the fourms a couple times.Comment
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...sammy...can you say STEALERSHIP?....and there you have it dude!
Heh. Actually. Thats going at only $2 > higher than the going insurance company rate in this area, which is at $38 right now, our walkin rate is $40.Comment
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From my experience, the reason why touch up paint doesn't look as good is because you cannot get exactly smooth with the rest of the paint. If you are going to put a clear bra on, this becomes a lot less noticeable.
I would go to the dealership and buy the matching touchup paint for you car and then go with a clear bra. It seems to me that going this route would be much cheaper and you can always have a respray done later if you're not happy with it.
There is some technique involved in using touchup paint and I'd be happy to share it with you if decide to go this route.
FLi GLi: Here is info on the Clear Bra: http://www.motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/
They are quite popular in Colorado due to the large amount of sand and gravel on our roads during the winter.Comment
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From my experience, the reason why touch up paint doesn't look as good is because you cannot get exactly smooth with the rest of the paint. If you are going to put a clear bra on, this becomes a lot less noticeable.
I would go to the dealership and buy the matching touchup paint for you car and then go with a clear bra. It seems to me that going this route would be much cheaper and you can always have a respray done later if you're not happy with it.
There is some technique involved in using touchup paint and I'd be happy to share it with you if decide to go this route.
FLi GLi: Here is info on the Clear Bra: http://www.motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/
They are quite popular in Colorado due to the large amount of sand and gravel on our roads during the winter.
I dunno about other dealerships, but mine stoped selling the touchup kits BMW make because they can't get them thru customs anymore...Comment
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I dunno about other dealerships, but mine stoped selling the touchup kits BMW make because they can't get them thru customs anymore...
I just called my local dealership and they said that they can order it no problem.
http://www.murraymotors.com/murraymotors/stat-frame-bmw.htmlComment
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FLi GLi: Here is info on the Clear Bra: http://www.motortrend.com/features/care/112_0401_cc/
They are quite popular in Colorado due to the large amount of sand and gravel on our roads during the winter.
Kupolo,
Thanks a lot for the info! :thumbsup: I'm going to read up and see if this is something I want to do on my M, as well as my freshly painted GLi before it gets all chipped to hell.
FLiComment
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Hmm, is this another case where I follow KUpolo's lead?? :bow:
As Trev knows, I now have a totally virgin spoiler and hood, and would love to keep them that way. KUpolo, does the bra affect the look much? For example, after your just completed waxing?Comment
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Edgy:
I'll shoot a picture for you when I have a second.Comment
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