Interior Exterior
Q:
I'm having all of the clearbra in front of the rear wheels on the Exige replaced under warantee already, after only 1k miles. One drive down a salted road after snow and the bra was completely impacted with grit, even though I washed the car less than an hour after returning home. The salt washed right off the paint, of course...
A:
Funny to read this now. I was full of sh*t then.
I am so happy that I had the film applied to my car. It's not just the front end that needs protecting. Without the film on the hood and the sides, I can see many places that would now have significant dings.
I don't know when the film plans on discoloring, but no hint after 15 months.
Waxing is not a problem in the least.
As far as painting goes, I don't believe that it's so simple. Matching the color is likely to be a problem. And the cost is not going to be as cheap as the initiator of the thread suggests given the multiple areas that would need attention, at least not in these parts.
Yep JML,
I remember well you went toe to toe with me on not needing starshield!!
Chris
A:
Yep JML,
I remember well you went toe to toe with me on not needing starshield!!
Chris
Funny what a little real-world experience will do for you. You and the others were quite correct in the need for protection.
I would prefer coverage that extended further up the hood, but the seam isn't as big a deal as I thought it would be.
So, prices are dropping. Shouldn't you be picking up a used Elise and rejoining the group, Z?
A:
jml,
Never really left, just don't have a whole lot useful to add at present. But yes, fully my intention to get another elise in the next year or so. My motorcycles will be my chief transport as they have for years. It'll be my grocery gettin car!!
Chris
A:
Lets run a competition...
How long after they receive their cars will these 'no bra' people start crying like little schoolgirls all over the forum... again.
3 weeks? 4 Weeks? 1 trackday?
A:
3 weeks? 4 Weeks? 1 trackday?
I'd say any of the above sound reasonable. I suggest those not interested in the clear bra call Specialty Car Craft (see sponsors.) Speak to Steve and see if he'll begin an installment plan now for a paint job (at a discount rate, of course, due to the prepayment) so that by the time you bring it in for a front clam repaint, you're already paid up.
Paul, where in Maryland? I'm originally from Owings Mills...
A:
Can any1 tell me what makes the Elise so suseptible to damage from rocks. I've got a friend who's driven his Pantera around for over 25 years and no dings yet. I drove a black Fiero (which was way lower than the elise, I cut the springs...) and never got but a few, small, hardly noticable, chips. I live in MOntreal and drove my cars as early as March.
So why is it that if I do the same with my Elise, the thing will get totally destroyed by rocks???
A:
Ha!
I work in Owings Mills!!! Live in Woodstock about 10 miles south.
Owings Mills is an ever growing monster it seems...
As for what makes an Elise susceptible - no clue - but it must be a function of road surface debris, ride height, paint system durability and maybe angle of front surfaces, (oh and how close you follow the vehicle in front). The fact is (as amply demonstrated by pics earlier in this thread) the things sand-blast worse than a Saharan Camels' butt.
A:
To remove the film, just Heat the film up with a hair dryer and pull off in an angle. Should take all of about 30 minutes to take everything off.
Also just wanted to let everyone know that Xpel came out with an upper Hood Kit. It's 3 pieces. Piece is right up the middle and then the 2 sides.
Believe it retails for $130.00
If you need more info, let me know.
Thanks
Ryan
A:
I'm having all of the clearbra in front of the rear wheels on the Exige replaced under warantee already, after only 1k miles. One drive down a salted road after snow and the bra was completely impacted with grit, even though I washed the car less than an hour after returning home. The salt washed right off the paint, of course...
they will replace it under waranty? was the bra all screwed up? they cover normal driving and stuff?
*edit* is it necessary to put a clear bra on the front splitter?
A:
Funny to read this now. I was full of sh*t then.
It wasn't a matter of being full of crap. it was dealers not explaining to us that the damage would come from our own cars.
I was told the same thing as the original poster almost a year and a half ago. I figured I'd never have the car on the highway and would just follow other cars at a safe distance. Little did I know that the front tires would pick up rocks and toss them down the sides of the car. That was the only place my car ever had any damage, but it was extreme.
I'm still pissed off that this issue was never fully disclosed. I repainted my entire car at a cost of almost $3,000.
A:
I repainted my entire car at a cost of almost $3,000.
So you no longer have that rediculous rubber looking blue paint on the bottom that didn't match one bit and made the car look silly? I remember when you did that and posted it on here telling everyone how great it was and we should think about doing it as well.
A:
I wish more women would wear clear bras.
A:
I wish more women would wear clear bras.
Yup, as long as it doesn't take 30 minutes and a heat gun to remove
A:
It wasn't a matter of being full of crap. it was dealers not explaining to us that the damage would come from our own cars.
I was told the same thing as the original poster almost a year and a half ago. I figured I'd never have the car on the highway and would just follow other cars at a safe distance. Little did I know that the front tires would pick up rocks and toss them down the sides of the car. That was the only place my car ever had any damage, but it was extreme.
I'm still pissed off that this issue was never fully disclosed. I repainted my entire car at a cost of almost $3,000.
FWIW, Ryan (autoclearguard) said that you have one of the nicest paintjobs he's ever seen.
A:
FWIW, Ryan (autoclearguard) said that you have one of the nicest paintjobs he's ever seen.
Well, lets be honest. Lotus sucks at painting the car. I've had Corvettes with less orange peel than my Elise. When I had the car repainted, that was all removed.
Ryan did an awsome job with the clear bra, I have no air bubbles whatsoever.
A:
So you no longer have that rediculous rubber looking blue paint on the bottom that didn't match one bit and made the car look silly? I remember when you did that and posted it on here telling everyone how great it was and we should think about doing it as well.
It did solve the problem. I would have had to repaint the car anyway from the rock damage so it only cost me $600 to try out the Line X.
That being said, if I were to do it all over again, I would buy a Black Elise and then Line X the exact same places I did. The ONLY issue I had with the Line X was the installer did a ****ty job matching the color. It entirely eliminated any more rock damage.
A:
After looking at the clear bra on a (yellow) demo, I have mixed feelings about getting it. It's more visible than I expected, the seams are very obvious if you look at the car closely. They said that the car has never been waxed yet, and they expect the seams to be less apparent once the car was washed and waxed. The car was somewhat dirty after a bunch of test drives, and the dirt really accumulated at the seams.
On the other hands, the panels in front of the rear wheels were filthy, you can tell that they get hit by dirt flying off the front tires. With sticky tires that pick up rocks, it's going to get ugly.
I'm probably still going to get the full install. But I might check in at the dealer later, and see how the demo looks after a few rounds of washing and waxing. Covering the area behind the front wheels looks like a must.
What most people don't seem to realize is that the clear bra is only as good as good as the installer you have installing it. I've talked to many who has seen the ones installed by Starshield, and many of them like the protection, but the bra itself doesn't look as good. But after they saw the one I have on my elise, 360, and others, all of them have become a true believer like me. IF you find the right installer, they will be able to hide the seams of the bra so that it is virtually invisible. For anyone who wants to see what the clear bra should really look like, check out their site: www.premiermobilegroup.com. I have yet to see more raved reviews by those in the exotic car circle of enthusiasts.
A:
The Starshield on my Exige looked great when I picked the car up. In fact, I didn't even notice that it was on the car for over a week. It just just got ruined in under 1000 miles by driving down one salted road, even though I washed the car almost immediately after returning home from the drive. You can see the Starshield now because of the grit impacted in it, but when it was new it was invisible.
A:
note to self: stay away from salted roads with clear bra
salted road (2) , clear bra (0)