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Here's an email I got from a reader recently regarding the 3M Invisishield MINI Clear Bra that is a dealer installed option:
I picked up my new liquid yellow MINI on October 7th. I am having a problem with stone chips on the bonnet. I contacted the dealer about the problem wondering if there is any protection system to prevent this. The dealer told me there is a film they will install on the bonnet, headlights and mirrors to help prevent stone chips and bug marks. It is made by 3M. Has anyone had this installed or heard about this product? Any information would be helpful.
Does anyone have any experience with this product or others like it?
<p>I had a “clear bra” on my first MINI (compulsory dealer installed option).</p>
<p>I guess it might have prevented stone chips, but I found its edge to be ugly; particularly it collected any wax I used on the car.</p>
<p>On the picture here you can see a line across the hood, about half way up the light pods: <a href="http://gbmini.minisontop.com/images/MC/FrontView3.jpg">GBMINI with clear bra</a></p>
<p>Also, the plastic of the bra is not as nice a finish as the metal.</p>
<p>My current MINI does not have this “protection”.
I do not have any significant stone chips in the area that would be protected – although I do have some marks on other areas of the car (especially my painted rear wheel arches).</p>
<p>My recommendation is to stay further back from the car in front!
My first windshield chip in 8 months was recently, when closely following other MINIs on a drive – it never happened on normal highway driving with a sensible gap between me and the car in front.</p>
<p>Hey Gabe,</p>
<p>I do have some pretty good experience with this product. I have yet to put it on one of my MINIs yet but I've had it on my daily driver ('99 Ford Lightning) for over four years now with GREAT results. </p>
<p>I believe that is probably not as noticable on colors other than black…mine is on red and you literally cannot see it unless you get right up on it. Plus after 4 years and 61k miles of tough pickup use it is in very good shape with no rock chips or bug guts marks to speak of at all.</p>
<p>Lastly, I would highly recommend this product if you are planning on keeping the car especially since you'll get some cost benefit out of it as well…it can expensive to do the whole front end and hood!</p>
<p>Sorry so long…hope this helps!</p>
<p>Collin</p>
<p>I have the 3M Invisi-shield on my Indi-blue MCS. I got it installed one week after I bought my car and accumulated one rock chip. I did not get the dealer version, but got it as an aftermarket add-on (along with my window tinting); the dealer contracted out with a detailer to have them put the Invisi-shield on. For less than what the dealer was going to charge me, I was able to get the entire hood wrapped, along with protection for all my front lights (fog lights included), mirror caps, and a strip on the rear bumper where it meets the bonnet door. There is NO ugly line with the full hood wrap. The down side to either the full hood or half hood protection is that up close, there is what the installer calls “orange peels” on the hood, meaning it's not perfectly smooth looking (although it is smooth to the touch) like a coat of paint. From a distance, you really cannot tell there is a protectant on it. It's easy to care for and you can wax it if you like.</p>
<p>I highly recommend it, but only as an aftermarket add-on since you can get a better deal. And yes it's the same 3M product – it is a polyurethane film. Beware of vinyl film as it will yellow after prolonged exposure to sunlight.</p>
<p>Feel free to email me with any other questions.</p>
<p>John</p>
<p>Sorry about the typo, that should say boot door instead of bonnet door.</p>
<p>John</p>
<p>I have the invinca-shield on my Dark Silver MCS.
I installed it myself (with help from my brother). You can follow the below link and see some pictures of it. You really can't see it unless you're standing right next to the car…and even then, only if you're looking for it.
I can give 2 suggestions if you have a non-black MINI:
1. Get the invisi-shield
2. Have someone install it. It's just not worth the work and hassle of doing it yourself, when you can pay $150 or so and have someone who does it all day put it on for you.
But, if you are crazy like me and want to do it yourself, the best prices I found were at <a href="http://www.invinca-shield.com" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.invinca-shield.com</a></p>
<p>Here's my car:
<a href="http://www.urdaddy.com/2003" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.urdaddy.com/2003</a><em>mini</em>cooper_s.htm</p>
<p>I see a few comments that from what I gather you should NOT put the invisi-shield on a black Mini. Why? I just ordered a MCSc and am considering putting this on it. </p>
<p>Jason</p>
<p>I did not think it would look bad on a dark color; I remember seeing a deep plum Lexus with the installation and it looked great.</p>
<p>However:
I have a black MCS. Just took delivery last week; ordered Invisishield, which the dealer installed. Overall, I am dissatisfied with the results because:
1) On black, you can see an obvious line running across the front of the bonnet.
2) The slight imperferctions (small creases & extremely small air bubbles) are extremely noticable on the black paint).
3) I have an orange-peel appearance; funny, though it’s only in certain areas on the installation.
4) When waxing you will be sure to catch the corners of the film on around the headlights.</p>
<p>I am returning the car to the dealer to at least get some of the air bubbles taken out.</p>
I am about to buy a black MC CV. How’s the invisishield without the bonnet?
thanks
I am a 3M certified Clear bra Paint protection film installer and retailer from Pittsburgh. I noticed on my jcw cooper s, that the paint was thin on the car, and incurred a lot of stone chips. I did put the clear bra on my car, and subsequently on all my other vehicles, and it works very well. If any one in pittsburgh is interested in seeing it, please contact me. 412 519 5053
Thanks