With only 150 miles on my 05 X, I just got my first chip on my bumper and its not small. I got a quote of $550 for a clear bra install from www.se-ex.com installed. Does that sound like a good price or should I keep looking around. I'm in the NYC area. This place looks top notch.

 

Sounds like its too late. I would just get a leather bra for <$100 and replace it when the time comes. Protects better too I think.

 

Dirt gets underneath those vinyl/leather bras and scratches up the paint. Clear bras look 1000x better also. $550 is a reasonable price for the clear bra.

 

I have had a black vinyl bra on my 04 sedan for 1 year. I take it off maybe every two months and leave it off for a few days. I keep the car waxed. There are no scratches on my brilliant silver from the bra. It is a tight fir and does not blow around on the hwy. Be sure to get a bra from Infiniti if you are going to buy a vinyl one.

 

Welcome to the Chipped Club, mine happened at less than 500 miles. I got the 2 for 1 deal however.

Paul

 

just dont drive behind larger vehicles....personally i think bras look UGLY!!!!

 

So do these bras reduce wear and tear on the front springs. Sag?

 

Go for the ClearBra.. I'm getting it installed on my 05 in a week or 2. I have just over 1k on mine and I have 1 (small though) stone chip. My recommendations (stay off the damn interstate if at all possible).

Also, I don't think Infiniti's are the only autos with paint issues. Newer cars have softer paint, due to the outlaw of using lead in paint (I think). What I do know is I have other friends with new cars and they are having the same problems.

 

You are absolutely right, my '00 Mustang GT was about the same as my G35, but mine is still okay, just a few small chips after 15k. I believe it's the use of oil base and laquer base paint, not lead, lead has been gone (with the exception of OneShot sign paint, and that may not even be available anymore) for quite some time. But you know, even my old cars (ie: '68 Mustang) would chip, about the same, maybe even worse!

 

Interesting.. Thanks for the clarification on what is missing from new car paint. I also think the reason G's seem to get more chips is the broad front bumper and front of the hood.

 

Plus it's so low in the front. But you know, like I said, my '68 Mustang had a lot of chips, under the front bumper, and not after a long time either, around the headlights, on the "scoops" behind the doors, looked like it had acne.

 

The chipping issue is across the board. Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, BMWs, and others are all having the same problems, which is why the clear bra is one solution to the problem. Mercedes came out w/ their nano-paint, which is less likely to scratch and chip, but we are still seeing the same issues w/ MB.

$550 is a decent price.........

 

Infiniti has no more of a paint issue than Beemer, Audi, Lexus and the whole genre'. The "problem" (non bullet proof paint) is a result of the type of hardener used in the clear coats. In the world of production cars "rate of completion" is everything, and when you are spraying cars in an assembly line atmosphere there is no time for the use of the slow cure (tougher) hardeners in the clear coat process. They are tougher in the sense that they are more "elastic" and not as brittle as the quick drying type used in regular production. The best way to protect your paint is by FREQUENT (bi-weekly) waxing of your car. Teflon based seem to work best for me when rotated every other week with a good carnuba, but I'm not getting into that whole debacle....(you guys could start fighting over what brand of toothpicks are best...lol) I've got over 10,000 miles of hard driving and remain chip free. Keep in mind that I live at the beach and have to deal with less than perfect road conditions...as in SAND, PEBBLES, SALT, etc...diggit? Anyway, I prefer to spend a little time/ elbow grease waxing ( it's cathardic anyway lol )as opposed to expensive magical potions and clear underwear. Don't flame me...it's just my opinion about the waxing.....The clear paint thing is a fact however. JBX has left the forum

 

I bought my car in Los Angeles and had to drive it back naked and I got a few real small chips too.. I immediately had the clear bra installed. I think I paid about 550.00 so thats a good price