I decided to start this thread in the Tundra section because the question is directed towards any Tundra owners with the plastic bumper covers; specifically those who have the Ivan Stewart bumper cover.

I have had my bumper cover on for about over two months and I rarely drive my Tundra; I'd say 500 miles a month. In less than 1000 miles I have rock chips in the paint of my bumper cover. I know this could be a warranty issue and I can go back to the place that painted it but these things happen and I have repaired it with some Toyota touch up paint

Has anyone found a 3M clear bra or similar that they installed on their bumper covers? I haven't found one for the IS bumper cover and I am assuming it will have to be custom made. What is the material like? Is it a pliable material that can be installed around the rounded parts of the bumper cover without it creasing? I am looking for something with a perfect fit.

I know I can Line-X it but I'd like to try the clear material first to see if it helps any. I have a white truck and I am afraid of the "yellowing" effects it may have down the line. I am not interested in a regular bra either because I don't want to "hide" my ride.

Please drop in any suggestions, advice, links, retailers, eBay sellers etc... that you've had good experiences with.

Thanks in advance.

Check out http://www.griotsgarage.com
They have a spray on bra that is easily removeable and may be what your looking for.

BP

I checked the web site but could not find the info on the bumper protection.

Does anyone else have the 3M bra solution on their Ivan bumpers?

Try this guy.

http://www.pro-finish.com/pages/584115/index.htm

925-200-8556 Mike

He's mobile, and comes to you (within reason, I assume). Application of these things is a royal PITA, so have a pro do it.

Try this guy.

http://www.pro-finish.com/pages/584115/index.htm

925-200-8556 Mike

He's mobile, and comes to you (within reason, I assume). Application of these things is a royal PITA, so have a pro do it.

Thanks for the info. It is kind of pricey but I'll keep it as an option to consider.

3M never chip clear bras are pretty expensive...I have my whole front end painted...fenders, hood, mirrors, and bumper.

I bought Autoban (sp) from my dealer when I bought my truck. I LOVE it. It also covers my painted mirrors. And if a rock gets through this stuff, Autoban will pay for the repaint etc. I think it is worth it to protect my paint!!

I bought Autoban (sp) from my dealer when I bought my truck. I LOVE it. It also covers my painted mirrors. And if a rock gets through this stuff, Autoban will pay for the repaint etc. I think it is worth it to protect my paint!!

Thanks for the info. I tried "googling" that brand but did not come up with any information. Do you have a dealer-specific link or some info online about that company? I sure would like to look into it before my new bumper cover starts looking more and more like the surface of the moon. :cry:

Thanks for the info. I tried "googling" that brand but did not come up with any information. Do you have a dealer-specific link or some info online about that company? I sure would like to look into it before my new bumper cover starts looking more and more like the surface of the moon. :cry:

I was looking into the same thing for my truck and I found this.

http://www.ventureshield.com/

If you do a search for dealers you can narrow it down to a local installer.

I'm waiting for a quote from these guys.

www.TransparentBra.com (http://www.transparentbra.com/)

After doing some research I'm leaning towards the Ventureshield brand as opposed to 3M's solution.

Jel

After doing some research I'm leaning towards the Ventureshield brand as opposed to 3M's solution. Jel
Hey Jel,

Mind if I ask "what" you're basing your selection on?!

Thanks,
Dave

Hey Jel,

Mind if I ask "what" you're basing your selection on?!

Thanks,
Dave

Hey Dave,

At first I had no idea what it was even called. I just remember seeing it installed on my buddies Audi A4 and thought that it was pretty darn cool and functional to boot.

I think I initially "googled" for clear bra and got a bunch of hits. Somewhere down the line I clicked on links to other car forums that were discussing clear bras. Most of them were sports car forums....one for corvette, one for Mercedes, and one for Porsche. After reading through a bunch of threads on quite a few forums, it seems to me that most everyone likes the Ventureshield brand. Keep in mind that some of independent installers will use 3M or Ventureshield but call it their own name.

I would like to get it done ASAP, but unfortunately, having a tonneau cover installed takes precedence.

I haven't heard back from transparentbra.com yet. But it looks like doing the whole front end of the truck will probably run in the $500-$800.

I wonder if any one here has it intalled and how they like it?

Jel

I haven't heard back from transparentbra.com yet. But it looks like doing the whole front end of the truck will probably run in the $500-$800.
Yep, that's about what I figured! :mad: That's EXACTLY... "why"... I purchased a Colgan bra shortly after I bought my truck. I too, wanted the "clear bra", but the friggin' cost is... simply... COST PROHIBATIVE!

The Colgan bra certainly isn't a clear bra solution, but one thing's for sure... it's damn sure better than nothing at all! Especailly when you take into consideration all the bad press out there about Toyota paint in general! :cool:

I have the 3M Clear bra and lived in Reno Nevada during the snow storms. It did a great job of protecting the paint from all the sand and rocks that were on the roads in the mountains. It is expensive because it works and looks good doing it. Just my 2 cents.

So I just heard back from transparentbra.com.

I was quoted $560 and the guy is cool enough to spread the payments out to 2-4 payments if paying by credit card or paypal.

That makes it much easier on your wallet.

I'm thinking I'm gonna have it done ASAP, cause the longer I wait the more chances it will get chipped.

Hmmm....maybe I'll take pics as he's doing it so I can post them here on TS.

I had the kit from XPEL Technologies Corp.: Clear Bra Paint Protection and Headlamp Protection - 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film and Pre-cut Window Tint Patterns (http://www.xpel.com/) installed and have had no problems.

do they make a clear line-x? that would be cool.... or try to paint match. if you're spending that kind of change anyway....

do they make a clear line-x? that would be cool.... or try to paint match. if you're spending that kind of change anyway....

I think someone is doing it now, matching the truck color, I mean. I could have sworn I saw a picture of a truck with a red spray in liner.

The rock chips in your bumper will not be warrantied. That is a road hazard and that is not a warranty repair. I definately would recommend the 3M Clearshield. Especially if you have a brand new vehicle without any chips in it, it will look a lot better. To many chips in the paint can make it look like bubbles in the film and their is nothing to do about that.

I've got the X-Pel 3m Kit installed on my A6, and it's awesome! I've had it for a few months now. It covers my front lights/bumper/mirrors and cost about $350 if I remember right. I think it's about the same for the Tundra. I looked at Invincashield, at the Audi dealer, but it cost about twice as much, and didn't seem to be much different. I like that it is almost completely invisible, until you get up close to it. You can't even tell it's on the lights/mirrors.

-Garth

I had the kit from XPEL Technologies Corp.: Clear Bra Paint Protection and Headlamp Protection - 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film and Pre-cut Window Tint Patterns (http://www.xpel.com/) installed and have had no problems.
thats what im looking for - my dad had this put on his lexus gx470 and cant even tell its there, yet really protetcts everything. I think im gonna order the kit for the front end and put it on. I like the fact that its all precut so i dont have to worry about cutting with a razor and nicking the paint or something. Woohoo!

thats what im looking for - my dad had this put on his lexus gx470 and cant even tell its there, yet really protetcts everything. I think im gonna order the kit for the front end and put it on. I like the fact that its all precut so i dont have to worry about cutting with a razor and nicking the paint or something. Woohoo!

Does the kit come with everything you need to do an install or is it just the plastic?

I'm wondering what you would use as a squeegee, perhaps the same thing they use for window tinting?

Does the kit come with everything you need to do an install or is it just the plastic?

I'm wondering what you would use as a squeegee, perhaps the same thing they use for window tinting?
I bought the 3m film in bulk and applied it myself to the Tundra ---cutting took some time and patience---but then, it saved me several hundred dollars (the film cost me $75 for a 12 ft roll).
Application involved a small hard plastic 'squeegee' ---about the size of a note card, made of plasitc with just a touch of flex to it. I also used a rubber window squeegee for some parts --- smaller is better in this case. Most of it was easy to apply --- the mirrors were a B!tch and I'm not enitrely happy with my work on that. The rest turned out quite good --I even put some pieces on the headlights, although 3M specifically says you shouldn't --it's a DOT thing, not a functional thing.

Do it SOONER than later --- I waited too long on my car and it would have looked horrid to put the film over a chipped/marred front end. I put it on the Tundra within a week of purchasing.
jm

anyone have a picture of what it looks like on a dark car (preferrably black)

I've seen it on silver and you barely notice but i wonder if its different for darker cars

AudiWorld Forums: A4 (B6 Chassis) (http://forums.audiworld.com/a4gen2/threads/110376.phtml#928609)

I used Rockblocker which is basically the same as all the other kits. Kind of a pain to install, but does protect well...

Where did you purchase the 12ft. roll of the film? What is used as an activator for the adhesive. Is it just a soap and water mix like window tinting?


I bought the 3m film in bulk and applied it myself to the Tundra ---cutting took some time and patience---but then, it saved me several hundred dollars (the film cost me $75 for a 12 ft roll).

Where did you purchase the 12ft. roll of the film? What is used as an activator for the adhesive. Is it just a soap and water mix like window tinting?

Not sure if the same applies to 3M but for the Ventureshield stuff, my installer used the soap/water mix for placement and then went back with a mixture of 8oz of 70% isopropyl alcohol to 24oz of water.

He highly recommends that you use distilled water for both mixtures. The alcohol/water mix helps set/activate the adhesive.

I bought the 3m film in bulk and applied it myself to the Tundra ---cutting took some time and patience---but then, it saved me several hundred dollars (the film cost me $75 for a 12 ft roll).
Application involved a small hard plastic 'squeegee' ---about the size of a note card, made of plasitc with just a touch of flex to it. I also used a rubber window squeegee for some parts --- smaller is better in this case. Most of it was easy to apply --- the mirrors were a B!tch and I'm not enitrely happy with my work on that. The rest turned out quite good --I even put some pieces on the headlights, although 3M specifically says you shouldn't --it's a DOT thing, not a functional thing.

Do it SOONER than later --- I waited too long on my car and it would have looked horrid to put the film over a chipped/marred front end. I put it on the Tundra within a week of purchasing.
jm
Hey JM,

Now "THAT" sounds a little more feasable! :D:tu: $75 is real-world livable!

You've gotta' offer us a little more "in-depth" instruction on how you installed this stuff on your Tundra! Meaning... how you kept all the "kinks" out in the curves on the bumper. And how you made the cuts; how you made the cuts straight where needed; etc., etc. PLEASE! :o Matter of fact... PLEASE (if you have the time)... upload a couple of photos of your work if you can! If you'd rather... send them to my e-mail address! bluemaxxx61@yahoo.com (bluemaxxx61@nc.rr.com)

Mine is guarenteed that if rocks get through, the Autoban will pay for the damage. I got mine form my dealer Hyannis Toyota.