Just wondering cause yesterday I saw white Audi S4 with a clear bra. I could definitely see the line and the difference in color. So for people with 3M clear bra, will the bumper deteriote in color after 3-5 years if the bra is taken off? If so, it will look weird, like tan line, I guess...

 

I don't think it's the bumper paint that "deteriorates". It's the film itself that may have slightly "yellowed". Keep in mind that 3M (and others) made more than one kind of film. There was (and is) a kind that is stiffer and cheaper. This kind was well known for yellowing fairly quickly. I've removed the "good" kind (thinner, more pliable, more expensive) from painted surfaces of a motorcycle after about 3 years. Once cleaned up, you couldn't really tell what part was covered except that the covered part was protected and looked new and in pristine condition. If anything, the paint that is covered in film will tend to not fade as would the uncovered part that is subjected to more direct UV radiation and environmental contamination and oxidation.

 

I was told by a reputable body shop in my area who did wonders on my last car that the clear bra prevents the paint from aging evenly with paint that is not protected. He also said that the film will eventually yellow and leaves dirt around the edges. I asked him if he would do it to his car and he said no. He suggested a good hood bra to prevent rock chips, etc.

 

But wouldn't that also contribute to uneven fading of the paint?

 

Yup. And hood bras also tend to scratch more than protect, from my experience. Don't even mention how ugly they are.

Clear bra, leather bra, whatever... you have two options. Either get rock chips, or fade unevenly. That is... unless you have white. Stupid GPW owners.

 

Is he reputed amongst Yugo owners?

I agree with him about the paint aging part (as I've already stated) but this "aging" is mostly from the paint staying newer and in good shape under the film. If you look after the rest of the car, this difference is minimal.

Not all types of film will yellow (I've explained this too).
As for dirt around the edges ........................... well, DUUUUHHHHH! This becomes an owner maintenance thing.

As stated by my esteemed colleagues, a "good bra" will need to be removed on a frequent and regular basis as dirt and debris will work its way under it and act like sandpaper. You wanna take the thing off, clean and wash it and dry it every few days? Has your body shop man seen many cars come in that has used a bra for months or years? The paint under it may not be faded, but it sure is rubbed to a haze.

As for "ugliness", well, that's in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

 

this is what i m trying to say. lol, will the bumper color (or the one that is covered by the clear bra) look different than the rest of the car? from the post, it looks like it's going to be yes. analogy probably like we spend a whole day outside this summer with a t shirt. the one covered by t shirt will be just fine, but there will be tan line between the t shirt and the skin that are not covered by the shirt

hmm, if this is the case, i guess i'll go without clear bra. I rather have rock chips then weird looking car...

 

This, of course, is ultimately your choice. For most people, rock chips are so highly undesireable that the film is the only way to go.
I think you are making far too much of this "fading" issue. Modern day paints with their clearcoats reduce fading by UV to a minimum to almost non-existent over many, many years. Most people will never remove the film for the time they own a car, even if it's a lifetime.

 

The guy who installed my clear bra said that he started out using 3M but then switched to Ventureshield because he had problems with the 3M turning yellow. He said the Ventureshield has worked better. Re. Xviper's comment, I don't know if the 3M material he was using was the good kind or not.

 

You should see some of the cars in his lot. Much more expensive than S2k's. Anyway...his point was that the hood bra can be taken off to allow the paint to breathe. You dont have to use it all the time. With the clear bra its on 24/7. You can take it off whenever you want. You are stuck with it. Obviously its a judgement call. Ill probably get a Colgan Carbon fiber bra. It looks pretty good.