3m Clear Bra - need to polish first?

T

THENUTZ

New member
I'm having a 3m Clear Bra installed on my new, black 2005 350ZR this coming Tuesday and I'm not sure what the best approach is surrounding my detailing. The dealership swirled up the paint pretty good while it was on the lot and I was planning on the following method:



1) Z-7 wash (foamgun & dual bucket method)

2) Z-18 claybar

3) Z-7 wash (foamgun & dual bucket method)

4) 3Mâ„¢ Perfect-Itâ„¢ Swirlmark Remover 39009 - applied with PC (starting at speed 3) & LC white polishing pad



3m Clear Bra installation



5) Dawn wash (foamgun & dual bucket method)

6) Z-5 w/ ZFX

7) Z-6

8) Reat Z-5 until I'm happy with paint appearance... (no more than 3 coats of Z in one day)

8) Z-2 pro w/ ZFX

9) Z-6

10) Z-2 pro w/ ZFX

11) Z-6

10) Z-2 pro overnight with no ZFX

11) Z-8



Does the 3m Clear Bra hide "swirls" and if so is it ok to wait for the entire detail until after it is installed? Or do I need to try and clear up the swirls prior to installation? Any advice would be appreciated...
 
Auto Mask:

A pressed, polished thermoplastic vinyl (X-Pelâ„¢, Amour Glove, 3M) made from an optically clear 12-Mil clear film that has been treated not to â€Ëœyellowâ€â„¢, its virtually indestructible in normal use that adhererâ€â„¢s to the cars paint surface. Available in custom, laser cut templates that are available for virtually all car models, and many parts of the car. Apply to a clean wax / sealant free surface (use Dupont Prepsol or Iz Acusol. Clean / maintain with a plastic cleaner / polish (Plexus). Do not use a foam pad/ rotary buffer on the plastic surface. Tape the edges of the auto mask when polishing the vehicles paint.



Q: Does the 3m Clear Bra hide "swirls" and if so is it ok to wait for the entire detail until after it is installed? Or do I need to try and clear up the swirls prior to installation? Any advice would be appreciated...

A: Like a clear polymer it wonâ€â„¢t hide but will magnify surface imperfections.

JonM
 
I have a clear bra and it makes a few stone chips that I got bb (before bra) stand out. As Jon pointed out above it magnifies imperfections. Would suggest you do a thorough swirl removal but no sealant or wax before it's installed.

They are a great thing and I have the 3M item and only wish I'd installed it earlier.
 
3M clear bra works great on my Accord. Make sure to do your side mirrors too as I have not and I'm touching up two small spots this weekend. No film on rocker panels but nothing has ever hit there. After 14 months and 14,000+ mostly highway miles, I've seen a few places where something "hit" but only left a slight indication of roughing in a small spot on the plastic. (These areas have a tiny slightly "grey" spot where the object hit.) Great stuff.



I've been using VM with a MF applicator to "clean" the film and then I KEEP a few layers of carnauba wax on it. #16 mostly. Bug stains avoided this way. (VM alone did NOT protect from bug stains.) I have to wash the nose of the car nearly every day from all the bugs that slam against the film on the 140 mile round trip my wife makes to work. I know 3M film and bug removal well. Just tried Carnauba Moose topped wth #16 the last detailing and it seems fine too. I often re-wax just the film every two or three weeks because of the almost daily washing. Be gentle, tape edges when DAing around on the paint, and keep it waxed/protected. I have not tried a pure sealant on it. IF you do get the ugly yellow bug stains (no protection on film, I'd say...) then I have worked them "out" with a mild plastic polish and then fine glass range top cleaner. Bug cleaners and tar removers did nothing. Its hard work, but no hazing was left behind! My car is white so maybe they won't show up on other colors. Some say stains will sun bleach out. I don't know if that's true or not. I have no idea if your Z products will have any negative effects or not, but if not abrasive, why should they?



Good luck, and fix your paint problems before you install.
 
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