I just had a conversation with Thomas from Secondary Exposure and he very nicely explained to me that getting a clear bra on an Ivory Pearl coupe will result in yellowing quicker than any other color. Due to the pearl part of the paint, the clear bra accelerates the yellowing process.
Now the dilema I have is, should I clear bra it anyway or should I just wait for the rocks chips to happen and then just repaint the hood and bumper?
Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated it.

Thanks!

2004.5 Ivory Pearl/Graphite 5AT
Fully Loaded w/front lip

 

Personally, I've had my coupe for 2 months and have very minor rock chips, if any at all...There not noticeable unless I'm washing the car and I feel them while I'm drying with a microfiber towel...I've decided I'm just going to wait until its terribly bad and then repaint it, or get a new front bumper something a lil more aggressive and paint that...Either way I think the clear bra is a great investment for people with darker color cars, rock chips are easy to see on dark colors, and the clear bra doesnt change the shade of the paint...I've heard some owner complain about yellowing with IP and some have not...Anyways I don't know why I'm carry on...I'd just repaint it

 

Thanks G35Tuning. I might be leaning towards that as well. I just got my car 4 days ago and I'm just dreading that first rock chip, that is going to make me go crazy. Maybe I'll just put a lot of wax and rocks will slip right off.....yeah right.

2004.5 Ivory Pearl/Graphite 5AT
Fully Loaded w/front lip

 

I don't think the paint has anything to due with yellowing... Who makes the film, 3M or non 3M has a much bigger impact if you ask me. One person I work with has had it on his pearl white Audi since he bought it in 99 and still looks great! His car was one of the reasons I went with it on mine and did my wifes sedan!

Sure the metallic flaks might do something, I just don't know. Personally I will just remove the clear bra's from our cars when we get rid of them in a few years and have factory clean - and unchipped paint - and thus it will be worth more. More than I paid for the stuff, and way more than if it has a ton of chips or if it has been repainted. The car we traded in had a ton of chips and took a beating on it....

I say go for it!

2004 Sedan -- 3M Clear Bra - Bought on eBay and DIY -- Rocky Mounts bike racks!

 

Actually, yellowing & fading over time will depend on the film. The 1st gen 3M film had a tendency to fade over time especially in hotter regions of the U.S.

On white cars, the "yellowing" effect will actually come from any film going on any white car once it is applied. This is similar to what paint professionals call the "clearcoat" effect......the more clearcoat applied to white paint, the yellower it will look.

This is something that is universal on all (Llumar, 3M, BSF, Avery, Venture, Madico, etc.) films and is not the result of film degradation.

If you plan on repainting the bumper after it gets chipped up, do keep in mind that right after paint is applied, this is when the surface is the softest & weakest. This means that any newly repainted part of the car will chip up even more easily for the next 1-2 months before the paint fully cures.



Certified Window Tint & Detailing Specialist
3M / VentureShield Paint Protection Film Dealer
Madico Window Film Dealer
syu@machiii.net
2003 AT Sedan / 2004 6MT Coupe

 

Wil, what do you think I should do? Get the clear bra, and worry about the yellowing effect 2 years down the road, or don't get the clear bra and just repaint the hood when it's all chipped up?
What would you do if you had an IP coupe? (which you might)
Thanks!

2004.5 Ivory Pearl/Graphite 5AT
Fully Loaded w/front lip

 

Actually there's two types of yellowing effect..........sorry for not clearing that up before. The first type is film degradation due to extreme heat. This has happened to many people w/ the old 3M film and Avery film. What happens is the film starts to fade and lose its glossy clear look and begin to haze up. The 2nd type of yellowing is the result of having any type of film over a white car...........this is not the result of the quality of the film, but rather the nature of film over the color white.

I have it on both of my cars..............I just posted pics in the northern cal forum.....here's the link - https://g35driver.com/forums/showfla...sed&sb=5&part=

I have Venture Tape Paint Protection Film on my cars, which was recently put on. We were previously using BSF & 3M.........decided to switch over to Venture for its excellent clarity and non-fading film. Plus, the film doesn't have that "orange peel" effect that 3M has and absorbs impact much better than 3M.

Certified Window Tint & Detailing Specialist
3M / VentureShield Paint Protection Film Dealer
Madico Window Film Dealer
syu@machiii.net
2003 AT Sedan / 2004 6MT Coupe

 

The second yellowing effect is the one that was explained to me by Tom at Secondary Exposure. He said he would use Llumar clear bra, and said any brand he would use would cause yellowing on a white pearl car.
So, you've installed the clear bra on your cars - do you feel like the clear bra has yellowed since you've had it on?
Since you're an expert in this field, would you advise someone not to clear bra their white car?
Thanks again for all your help.




2004.5 Ivory Pearl/Graphite 5AT
Fully Loaded w/front lip