I just recently got a clearbra(CPfilm) installed on the front bumper and was wondering if small imperfections such as wrinkles and stretch marks are normal. They use a plotter to cut the material. The wrinkles occur right below the grill and there are a couple of circular (1/8" in diameter) stretch marks near the top corner of the bumper. I tried to take pictures but the imperfections did not come out on the camera. If you rub your finger over it noticeable(not smooth).

I asked the installer and he said that no clearbra will come out smooth and that all their installs have a few wrinkles or stretch marks. I spoke to the owner of the shop and he said to let it dry for about a week and see if the imperfections go away after that. The shop is a big well known tint shop so I decided to wait and see. Anyone have any opinions on this? Thanks in advance.

 

Hey,

Yes its normal, I have 3M clear bra on my hood, fender, bumper, Pillars, Door Cups, Headlights, and Side Mirrors. Installed 3 months ago. As it dries it gets better! but You still have marks, and some places may peel a tiny tiny amount. It won't be 100% perfect. Infact if your car is silver or a light color you won't even notice it!

 

I just had a Llumar clear bra installed on my TB, and I must say, I am absolutely disappointed by the install. There are stretch marks, wrinkles, and it seems they didn't use a machine to cut the pieces, because it looks like they used a razor to trim the film to make the pieces fit. The cut isn't seamless.

Also, in some places, there is a gap between 1/4" to 1/2" from the edge of the bumper to the film itself leaving too much exposed in my opinion. And, the corner of the bumper piece overlaps the piece on the fender!!

On top of that, the shop said they couldn't do a custom job for the front spoiler, so I'm taking it to their other shop on Monday, which is actually their "headquarters" to have that piece done, and hopefully the whole clear bra reinstalled.

I understand perfection may be asking for too much on a clear bra install, but geezus, the quality of this install is absolutely horrible. Btw, my friend had a Xpel bra installed and there are no imperfections whatsoever.

js.

P.S. I'll try to take pics tomorrow to get opinions on the install.

 

Well my install was 3M material, precut. the razor was only used in certain spots to give a better fit as the material was laid....I DO NOT have 1/4" gaps anywhere...in fact it may be 1/8" TOPS in certain spots where there was difficult curving the material...Yes there are stretch marks in someplaces...and the Headlights were razored at the end so its not a perfect curve..but over all i'm happy/okay with the install..i thought the material was gona look like "glass" when done, and didn't realize how complex the pieces were.....

I mainly don't like the Side Mirror covers, but then again its hard to cover them, because of their shape...and I DO NOT like the fact that the trim for the lower bumper doesn't CURVE into the air dams to give more protection.

Yes there are spots...very few, we are talking 2-3 spots...on the front were there is a gap less than or equal to 1/8".

 

It really comes down to the installer's experience w/ a certain vehicle and ability to work w/ compound curves. Similar to window tint, you will get varying results..........it's best to get referrals.

 

Yes very true..But in some cases stretching is stretching..you can not avoid it in certain places especially complex curves...like the hood of a E-class benz (the double bumps of the headlights)

 

For hoods such as the S2000, just about anyone w/ a little bit of experience could get the film installed w/ decent results. However, when it comes to the more difficult vehicles such as the new E class, C class, or S-class, Volvo XC90, this is where technique comes in to create a near flawless result. Stretching is necessary to get these areas down, but there are special techniques that is used that will separate the average installers and the pros. Here are some pics of the more difficult vehicles:

 

This is a cropped pic of the front right side of the bumper near the right light (right side if standing directly infront of the car). You can clearly see the clearbra line. Is the film supposed to be put on this low or is the gap supposed to be this wide? The gap is about 1/4". From Wil's pics of various cars and G35s I am unable to see any clearbra lines.

 

Right now my lines are very visible. Here are more pics around the side amber blinkers. The driver side blinker film slightly overlaps the blinker itself and compared to the passenger side it seems that they installed the film lower on the driver side than on the passenger side. Right now I am leaning towards asking them to reinstall the clearbra.

 

Yeah, its suppose to be like that..you will have up to 1/8" gap...in SOME FEW SPOTS...i mean 1/16" is okay...it won't be perfect edge to edge fit!!!!!!!


Of course you won't see the stretch marks on silver cars...and taking photo graphs from that distance makes it look perfect....you park that silver car in sunlight and u go up close and YOU WILL SEE the stretch marks....THIS will be 10x worse with a black car.....POSTING pics like that is not justifying the install in anywhich way because its a photo graph taken from a distance, go up close and you will see the imperfections no mater who the installer is....its acceptable because it has to be done to get the material on the car...

 

Slight gappage will be there because of the software designers are not shooting for 100% full coverage. To obtain maximum coverage as it seems you want will require a custom one piece application or for the company to be carrying the software that wraps completely around the edges....not many companies have access to such designs.

As for stretch marks, it is created by having a certain area "locked down" and then stretching the material from there.........this will cause some slight stretchage of the adhesive and create a disturbance, which is how these things will show. Overstretching of certain areas when the film is already in place could also create such disturbances. As long as the installer is familiar w/ what causes stretch marks, these imperfections could be greatly reduced ......in many cases down to 0 if careful.

 

Here's a close-up pic of a GT3's front bumper to give you an idea of how close the edge gets. If you look for it, you will see very slight gappage. Either way, the film you have on the car will protect it from rock chips and minor scuffs...........that's really the most important. There really is no such thing as a "perfect" install in the industry.

 

As most have said nothing is perfect, it isn't paint afterall... Then again some of the factory paint jobs seem lacking too, depending on how close you get. Standing a few feet away the clear bra should be very hard to spot depending on the lighting angle. If you look at xpel's website they say you should have a 1/8" gap, which doesn't sound like much till you look at a ruler.. Both my car (dealer done) and my wifes car (diy) the gaps are closer to 1/32" with varying degrees of tolerance depending on where you look. In the end as long as it is on it will do its job! Just don't expect to examine it with a magnifying glass and not find a 'problem'. Everything in life is a compromise. Don't sweat the small stuff!

 

ARE THERE ANY QUALITY INSTALLERS IN THE SOFLA AREA? I had a ClearBra (Llumar) installed on my G back in April. The install is TERRIBLE! It was supposed to be a custom install. Before having the film installed on my car, I asked the "master installer" if he would be able to accomplish certain things with the film. Everything I asked, he said he could do, wrap the air dams, edges, etc. Basically I was yes'ed to death inorder to get the job. During the install, when I questioned the "master installer" why he was not doing what he promised, he told me, "not to worry I will take care of it/make it look good" (BS!). I was a victim of the old bait and switch. As stated previously, all of the things I requested to be done for the "custom install", I was later told could not be accomplished, but only after the install was complete. It was also only after the install was done that I was told about the imperfections (ripples/strecth marks) that can occour, not prior to, when I was being "sold" on the product and his services. Last but not least, the hand cuts are sloppy, the film is peeling up and turning yellow, I can count at least 3 dozen areas where there are imperfections (ripples, air, dirt & bugs). On top of that, there is extensive damage to the paint (cut marks) and weather stripping (more cuts). The installer/owner of the company I used was supposedly a "master installer", yeah right! The "master installer" was only a master of excuses and misrepresentations! I have even shown the car to other installers in the area and they were shocked at the install once I told them who did it. I understand having an off day or getting in over your head, but at least admit it when you have screwed up and correct it, NOT GIVE EXCUSES or try and charge more money for your screw ups! If I ran my business the way this gentleman does, I would be out of business.

2004 OBSIDIAN BLACK/GRAPHITE * PREMIUM * 4-PIECE AERO * NAV * JDM BADGING * JDM BATTERY COVER * CLEAR CORNERS * 5% & 30% TINT * Z-TUBE * POP CHARGER * PIAA WHITE/WHITE LEDS: CLEAR CORNERS, CLEARANCE & LICENSE * PIAA SUPER PLASMA GT-X: FOGS * A F@#$KED UP CUSTOM CLEARBRA *

 

[QUOTE=CR8IV]ARE THERE ANY QUALITY INSTALLERS IN THE SOFLA AREA? there are imperfections (ripples, air, dirt & bugs). On top of that, there is extensive damage to the paint (cut marks) and weather stripping (more cuts). QUOTE]

NOT THAT sucks! my guy when he did it..has few stretch marks...i can count 2 spots where its not sticking and that's not bad....yes, i do believe there are 2-3 spots where the cut marks are not straight....but NOTHING like that!...i was happy...and i realized it won't be perfect as i saw the install...but it sure does work against the stones!!!