theLeland

I'm debating whether to spend $100 on a colgan carbon fiber car bra or $750 with install for a full stonegard kit. Car bra is much cheaper, but not nearly as good looking. But then again, it can be removed, and might even out the large butt of my c230k. I have an orion blue and I think it might look good, especially since the car has a lot of black on the back of it....

Any thoughts for me? Does anyone have a picture of the coupe with a car bra on it?

sal

go with the car bra, because the clear will eventually turn yellow and nasty looking, at least the car bra you can take off for a weekly cleaning. just my .02.


Sal

Fuzzo

I would go with the bra as well... you can put it on before long distance trips and take it off when you get back... if you are going to leave it on for long.. make sure you take it off and clean is often so that there won't be any scrathes etc....

hazebenzo

The clear-bra that my dealer had installed on my car was made by 3M and has a "No-discoloration" guarantee. There was a letter from the dealership in the glovebox when I picked the car up.

The older stuff was crappy and turned yellow in a hurry, especially if the car was stored outside. (there is a Volvo in town that looks like hell because of this). I'm very confident that the new stuff from 3M can be trusted.

SoCal240/6

The 3M material has been around for years. Came stock as stoneguards on the 1983 944, for example.

Yes, it can eventually turn yellow, dry out and crack. But that would only be under the worst conditions and given no care (it should be waxed like the rest of the car), and even then only after many, many years.

And, even in that worst case scenario, you simply remove it.

Good think I am not in charge, because if I were, anyone caught putting a black (or fake CF) vinyl bra on an MB would have their car subject to confiscation!

NJPaprika230

Good thing I am not in charge, because anyone who would confiscate someone else's car because THEY did what THEY wanted to THEIR car would get a swift kick in the nuts. Elitists REALLY **** me off.

C230Komp

I have fretted over the same thing the past two weeks. I finally decided to get the Colgan bra. Relatively cheap, and even I can install it! I probably won't use it every time I drive, and I suspect that I'll probably get some chips as a result, but on long drives I'll put it on. I see people who never take them off, but I don't think I'll ever leave it on unless it's for a quick run into the store.

young

can you post a pic? w/ a detail shot, if possible? i'm curious to see what they look like.

thanks

C230Komp

I should get it in a day or two and I'll post a pic. I saw a shot on the web of a C Coupe with a Colgan, and it looked OK. I've been trying to find it again, but no luck yet. I'll keep digging.

Mike T.

I think Stonguard is great stuff for glass headlights. Get some of the thick stuff and put it on your fog lights, C owners!

The thin stuff I've seen, even professionally applied (such as 10 days ago at the Vancouver Auto Show), looks suspicious to me. There's invariably some crud trapped underneath, plus it's not as shiny as paint. Further, it's so thin, it'll probably not be suitable for protecting the nose from much gravel rash (sand yes, British Columbia gravel, no), without either tearing or even allowing serious damage underneath. Finally, if it's on a car for a LONG time, then removed, the paint underneath will not be as faded as the rest, so it'll look a little off.

Given my circumstances, I'd choose the removable bra (though I must admit the fake carbon fibre sounds gross) and only put it on when going on a ski trip or on gravel roads.

shtatc

I got the Stongard on my C240 about a week ago...sorry cannot post any pics due to no digital camera...still low tech....
But here are some issues I have after a week -
1. have some air pockets left - 3 larger ones (about the size of half a finger nail - pinky finger) one on the bumper; and other 2 over the drill holes for the license plate.
2. some edges not flush - so dirt gets under neath and now cannot flatten out - even with hot air gun or hair dryer, whichever you have available.
3. The film looks scratched up (more swirled) because of the application process.
4. The film is more noticeable on white it seems. Maybe, that is why the swirls are more noticeable.
5. The film gets somewhat discoloured after the bugs gets crushed on it - turns yellowish where the bug hits the film. Maybe the heat and AZ sun has do to with this. I washed the car a week after I got the Stongard installed - they recommend that you do not wash the car for at least 3 days.
But, overall, I do like it. I do like the headlamp/fog light covers..they are much thicker. and I do get the lifetime warranty...from yellowing,etc.
I had a profession installer do this...he does signs for vehicles/buses/vans/etc...so, he knows the business.
would I do this again..probably yes....

WebGuyNJ

ClearBra, StonGard, Expel, Invinca-Shield. All of these use 3M material all 8mils thick. Has anyone had a bad experience with any of these products?

SoCal240/6

shtatc,

1. Air pockets - are really the installer's problem - should not be there, although it can take a few weeks for all of them to eventually disappear, so don't give up hope.

2. edges not flush. Hmm, that is also an installer problem - now its starting to sound like he didn't do a very good job. This issue would bother me.

3. I'm not sure why the film would be scratched up. The normal installation process should not scratch the film.

4. Yep, its most noticeable on white, unfortunately. (on almost every other color, it is almost invisible).

5. Yellowing from bugs? Hmm, my xpel does not do that. You might want to try some cleaner wax on it, that has a good chance of getting the discoloration off (and you also may want to wax it with a polish/wax to see if you can get the swirls off, too).

shtatc

socal240/6

thanks for the feedback....I have already called the installer and distributer to have the air bubble, edges, etc get looked at...they have not called back yet.
Bugs, will try the cleaner....
thanks...

WebGuyNJ

I was talking with the owner of another company that distributes this material yesterday. He told me that they have seen regional issues with bugs leaving yellow stains on the film. He also said that they are not sure if its a specific type of bug or something that the bugs are eating, but that it was definitelely location specific across several spots in the southern US. Their solution is to wach and clean the film and leave it outside for a day or two and the sun will help remove the yellow stain. Not the best solution, but he said it works...

p010sp0rt8

hey i was wondering where you guys bought your car bra? I've been looking around for one and have yet to find a place...

WebGuyNJ

I started a poll on the auto detailing forum

Front End Protection

Can we start collecting opinions and knowledge on this as well as finding out what everyone has done?

C230Komp

p010sp0rt8,
I ordered my Colgan Bra from:

http://store.yahoo.com/sports-imports

I ordered it 7 days ago, and they said it would take abut 10 since it wasn't in stock in their warehouse. It's being drop-shipped from the Colgan factory. It's the cheapest place I could find, and it was like $89 plus shipping, total of $98.

muscle4lew

please post pic once your bra arrives!

thanks

shtatc

I talked with my installer....here is what he said about some of my concerns:

air bubbles/rough edges - he is going to fix all as best as he can.

bug remains/yellowing - it is like magic...they go away after you wash the car. I did not use anything extra other than the car wash solution...in a couple of days, the yellowing went away...he told me that Stongard/3M said the same thing.

C230Komp

Here's one:
Note that this is right after it came out of the box. A lot of the little wrinkles went away after a day or two in the Texas sun.

C230Komp

And another:

C230Komp

And finally:

muscle4lew

i ordered one today! it looks great! i hope it looks that good on the silver! thanks for posting the pic.

by the way.......the red is a hot color! i bet it turns a lot of heads

C230Komp

Thanks! I think it looks pretty good too. My wife doesn't dig it too much, but she doesn't have to clean the bugs off of the paint! Yeah, I like the red. It's pretty bright, and I've had at least one red car at a time for the last 21 years.

Post a pic of your silver Coupe w/the bra. Bet it looks great!