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-   -   Undecided on clear bra and sealant for new car..thoughts? (https://www.revscene.net/forums/700121-undecided-clear-bra-sealant-new-car-thoughts.html)

clevernickname 12-09-2014 06:25 PM

Undecided on clear bra and sealant for new car..thoughts?
 
First post. Might start coming to some meets soon! Picking up very first car very soon, being delivered as we speak. Have some questions.

Car: 2015 mustang GT magnetic
Live in: vancouver, BC - kerrisdale/dunbar area

Questions:

1) Clear bra worth it? I hear it might be better to just file a claim after a couple years of chips to the front of the car. $300 deductible and whole new paint job/windshield if its damaged? Or if clear bra is worth it...

1a) Who do you guys recommend? I've been quoted around $750 for a clear bra. So not sure if it's worth it or not.

2) Opticoat worth it? I've been recommended to take car straight to detailer, clay it, then get a sealant for scratch/door ding protection..

2a) anyone know a good place?

3) I want to put the front plate off to the side (don't judge..i like the look).

http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/wp-con...stang-live.jpg

Probably in the area between the two grilles and between the horse and headlight, or right in between the headlight and the foglights, I've already asked the dealership not to drill the front plate on.. but I think it might come pre drilled? In that case...am i screwed?

3a) Input on the look or location of front plate?

3b) Does anyone know how I can get the plate on without drilling in case I change my mind?

3c) I've read you can use a no drill custom bracket, but that might take weeks to finish. Am I even allowed to drive off the lot in BC without a front plate? Isn't that just asking for a ticket?

snails 12-09-2014 06:31 PM

dealership *protection packages* asides undercoat are a rip off.. its sold at like 4x the value of the product.

mind you, if those waxes also cover rock chip repair it will pay itself back pretty quickly if you do use it

clear bras work well but can leave an unever line in the hood/bumper when you remove

supafamous 12-09-2014 06:59 PM

I'd go see Ken and have your car Opticoated. Only $600 for it and it'll last for years.

Depending on how much you drive and where you should also do a hood clear bra to protect from nicks.

donjalapeno 12-09-2014 08:55 PM

kudos on choice of new vehicle btw...the new mustangs are badass.

PandaDog 12-09-2014 09:01 PM

I am currently experimenting with a polymerized substance that's considered the stainless steel of clear bras. Way stronger than anything available on the market today.

The entire car can be done as well, and having certain areas done is way cheaper than what methods out there are offering. Also removable without paint damage

What bothers me about traditional clear bras is that only a portion of the hood is done, and the line is very noticeable :heckno:

clevernickname 12-10-2014 12:52 AM

Who is ken? Is that a good price for an opticoat?

MarkyMark 12-10-2014 05:38 AM

Ken owns Autowerkes exclusive in Maple Ridge and he does great work if you're looking for opti coat or a clear bra.

immorality 12-10-2014 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafamous (Post 8567237)
I'd go see Ken and have your car Opticoated. Only $600 for it and it'll last for years.

I did this after my repaint and holy hell is it awesome! It's almost like a permanent wax.


BoostedBB6 12-10-2014 06:25 AM

Opticoat is the only way to go. Unless you spend a lot of time on the highway during the winter months then the clear bra will not do a lot for you.
I recommend Opticoat to all my clients.

thumper 12-10-2014 07:37 AM

Quote:

1) Clear bra worth it? I hear it might be better to just file a claim after a couple years of chips to the front of the car. $300 deductible and whole new paint job/windshield if its damaged? Or if clear bra is worth it...

1a) Who do you guys recommend? I've been quoted around $750 for a clear bra. So not sure if it's worth it or not.

i was recently at gpfx in richmond and they just finished this:

https://scontent-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/...a6&oe=554271E2

almost everything on this car was covered with paint protection film.

not a fan of unecessary repainting if it can be avoided. you end up with a recorded claim on your insurance history, non original paint that may or may not match, and all the downtime and headaches that can come with it...

Quote:

2) Opticoat worth it? I've been recommended to take car straight to detailer, clay it, then get a sealant for scratch/door ding protection..
ken did my mustang and i'm happy with it knowing i'll never have to wax it again.

it's best when done on brand new (untouched) paint. otherwise you have to pay for labor to clean/polish because if you don't it will get sealed under the opticoat.

Quote:

2a) anyone know a good place?


ken's revscene screename is 911fanatic. http://www.revscene.net/forums/membe...fanatic-52959/

his shop is http://www.autowerkesexclusive.com

gpfx graphics moved to a new address and they did not update their page. the contact number is still current though:

http://www.gpfx.com


Quote:

3) I want to put the front plate off to the side (don't judge..i like the look).

Probably in the area between the two grilles and between the horse and headlight, or right in between the headlight and the foglights, I've already asked the dealership not to drill the front plate on.. but I think it might come pre drilled? In that case...am i screwed?

3a) Input on the look or location of front plate?

no comment. i would only park it on the side if there is an intercooler, otherwise... no.
Quote:

3b) Does anyone know how I can get the plate on without drilling in case I change my mind?

3c) I've read you can use a no drill custom bracket, but that might take weeks to finish. Am I even allowed to drive off the lot in BC without a front plate? Isn't that just asking for a ticket?


search online for those motorized retractable hideaway license plates and see how they mount.

gn02156668 12-10-2014 10:44 AM

Did a opti gloss on a brand new 2014 M4 . The coating is more gloss/ wet than OC but has less durability.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...8e118b335197d1

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...86458726_o.jpg

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hpho...52439711_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...15396446_o.jpg


Did an OC 2.0 on this 2012 Impreza , less gloss but more durability

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3...psbe5c1a15.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...91655087_o.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...57145892_o.jpg

clevernickname 12-10-2014 12:10 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll ask ken about it!

Oh never heard of opti gloss. Less durability? How so. So advantage is it looks nicer then?

Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on? Those hideaway plates would be at the very bottom of the lip, or just have a black flap come down on top of it. I believe they drill though, or even if not, the placement is too low.

rriggi 12-10-2014 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevernickname (Post 8567549)
Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on?

lol you are free to drive away with no plates front or back after you have paid for the car, I mean the police might have an issue with it but ah well..

thumper 12-10-2014 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevernickname (Post 8567549)
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll ask ken about it!

Oh never heard of opti gloss. Less durability? How so. So advantage is it looks nicer then?

Does anyone know how to drive off the lot without a front plate on? Those hideaway plates would be at the very bottom of the lip, or just have a black flap come down on top of it. I believe they drill though, or even if not, the placement is too low.

i am not 100% sure. the way i tried to understand how it was explained to me was that opti-seal has to be professionally applied because it's a ceramic coating. doing it wrong means corrective work to fix. opti-seal comes in a liquid form that is applied to an applicator with a syringe. i was told to use it whenever i get scratched and i need to polish it out and recover the area, otherwise i would have to go back to ken to get it done again because conventional waxes or polymer sealants won't stick to the ceramic coating and only opti-seal does.

there is a website: Opti-Coat Pro / Optimum Gloss Coat

as for the license plate, there is this version that dosen't fold and has a manual release:


it might fit in the top of your lower grille opening and hang out where the license plate normally mounts. maybe you will have to cut something out of the grille i don't know, but either way you won't have visible screw holes.

worst case scenario is to take your factory license plate holder and plate and leave it in your car. if the cops pull you over say someone smacked it off in the parking lot and you have all the stuff to fix it right there but haven't had the time and get a warning until you figure out what you want to do.

clevernickname 12-13-2014 12:10 PM

Hmm might have to do that then. Thanks.

is $600 a good price for the opticoat?

btw..is there some sort of opticoat equivalent for the windows? something that'll help with minor scratches and most importantly visibility. or is that mostly down to wipers.

gn02156668 12-13-2014 02:27 PM

CarPro flyby or hydro 2 will repel water , however they are not made to enhance the strength of windows.

Manufacturer generally dont recommend coating windows due to safety / liability issue ......

thumper 12-13-2014 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevernickname (Post 8568865)
Hmm might have to do that then. Thanks.

is $600 a good price for the opticoat?

btw..is there some sort of opticoat equivalent for the windows? something that'll help with minor scratches and most importantly visibility. or is that mostly down to wipers.


who gave you that quote?


ken coated mine with aquapel.

clevernickname 12-14-2014 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supafamous (Post 8567237)
I'd go see Ken and have your car Opticoated. Only $600 for it and it'll last for years.

Depending on how much you drive and where you should also do a hood clear bra to protect from nicks.

him

thumper 12-14-2014 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clevernickname (Post 8569072)
him

did you ask gn02156668 (ie. he responded to you a few posts above)?

clevernickname 12-15-2014 02:10 PM

Well the other guy got one from Ken so I assumed he knew the price. But I'll msg ken and gn as well for a more accurate price.

thumper 12-15-2014 02:12 PM

yep better ask ken directly. cost to do a mustang is not going to be the same as a civic. i think the hood alone has more surface area than an entire honda lol

supafamous 12-15-2014 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumper (Post 8568900)
who gave you that quote?


ken coated mine with aquapel.

Ken's prices are on his website. For Opticoat it's:

Small vehicles ( Subaru BRZ etc ) $550
Medium vehicles ( BMW 3,5 series, most SUVs ) $595
Large SUVs $650

My brother paid $595 for his brand new CX-5 to be done up, I'd expect the Mustang to be considered medium sized too.

clevernickname 12-15-2014 02:49 PM

Ahhh gotcha. Ty!

jbsali 12-16-2014 12:55 AM

go and see ken at autowerkes. he did opt coat pro on my brz and it still looks amazing. my only regret was not getting a clear bra on the front. ken does clear bras too. give him a call.


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