2016 Clear Bra Protection

Anytime you invest $500.00(+) in something new, it is wise to do as much research as
possible. Not just on the type of film but on the vendor's reputation as well. When we
bought our 2006 Prius we had the Tallahassee dealership put the clear bra on. They got
the bubbles out by pricking them with a pin. When mold began forming under the film
the dealership would not honor the warranty claiming poor cleaning on our part when
you could clearly see the source of the problem. Most reputable film manufacturers
require installers to complete a training program for which a certificate is issued. You
can contact the distributor/manufacturer to verify its validity. If the installer is
unable/unwilling to produce such certificate, look elsewhere.

Clear Bras are GREAT investments and you will reap the rewards come trading time.
I traded A 2008 Mazda Miata for my 2012 PreRunner and got $1,000.00 over
Bluebook retail because it looked showroom new. I drove the SR5 MGM for 4 years
and got what I paid for it, minus $5,000. And, it was sold before I completed the
paperwork on my 2016 TRD Sport.

 

3M PPF is good stuff.It is thicker and more rigid than most films and that is why most
installers don't really like to work with it. Xpel is a good product, but they are primarily
sell you a kit and then refer you to a trained installer for installation. They also have a
headlight shield that is about 50MM thick and is marketed to withstand a rock impact
at 125 MPH. Think about it, if the vehicle in front of you is traveling at 65MPH and kicks
a rock at you and you too are traveling at 65MPH, how fast is that rock traveling when it
impacts your headlight, hood and/or windshield? PPF is composed of several layers of film
and as an object impacts its surface, the layers absorb the energy before it damages your
paint job. Incidentally, the film can be waxed with detail spray wax or paste wax. Most of
today's films are self healing. If you get a scratch or scrape, heat from a hair dryer or
heat gun will enable it to bounce back.

 

Only 3M's original clearbra is harder to install and was KING of it's time. We occasionally use original clearbra still for certain installations or applications. And it's harder to install not because it's thicker, it's because it is the only film on the market that has an actual hardcoat built into the top layer of the film. We loved the fact that it was harder to install, because we knew how to install it, and it kept every kid in town with a squeegee from offering it and ruining the market. Many shops started using off-brand (venture shield, clear shield, etc) and easier to install films and brought installation in house or trained a lot kid on the easier to install films. But everyone knows that the original 3M clearbra has orange peel (which was built into the film purposely to mimic orange peel in paint - but instead of looking like factory paint, it magnified the orange peel in the film once applied) and yellows faster than other films....they have started producing pro Series v1 and now an updated pro series v2 to compete with XPEL Ultimate Self-Healing film, but rushed it to market and the adhesive is absolute garbage and isn't strong enough to hold anywhere that moderate to heavy stretching is required (IE bumpers, wheel wells, etc). The new 3M pro series film also leaves stretch marks once you stretch moderately around curves in the body that do not heal...once you break the top coat on the 3M by stretching, it'll never be back to normal. It's junk. 3M pro series also only carries a 7 year warranty as opposed to Xpel Ultimate's 10 year warranty.

And Xpel doesn't primarily sell you a "kit." They, like 3M, offer templated kits for installers - or you can bulk it on the car without a template. The market that is keeping them alive isn't selling to end customers, it's selling to installers and shops. Neither Xpel, nor 3M are easy to install films - they take skill - which is why people make a living doing it. Because any idiot off the street can't slap clear bra on a vehicle, it takes years of a trained eye to install properly without stretch marks, cut marks, proper alignment, and most importantly - proper preparation of the surface.

 

Having mine done on Friday, by a professional.....

 

If you're into the matte look check out this TRD Pro we did a FULL body wrap on. We are a 15 year company with over 45,000+ completed installs.
Link -> https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-trd-pro-full-body-wrap.429078/

As mentioned using vinyl to change your trucks color will not give you any paint protection. Paint Protection Film (PPF) and vinyl are two very different products. Vinyl will chip and tear through very easy. We have installed PPF over vinyl so it is possible but not often done. Soon colored PPF will be available and will compete with vinyl. We have used a satin black PPF made by XPEL. XPEL IMO has the best film products currently on the market.
We used a satin black PPF recently on BMW X6M. We covered and the entire SUV in a matte PPF and used the the black PPF to accent certain areas. The black PPF holds up great along side the traditional clear PPF. We're excited to see what PPF colors they come out with next.

 

I'm sure there is a previous thread regarding this already and some member will gladly let us "newbies" know we are wasting their valuable time asking repeat questions. But this is my first Tacoma (3 previous Tundras) and I haven't read many older threads. When I got my truck (dealer transfer) it had "clear paint protection: front of hood, fenders, and mirror backs" @$389 listed in the installed options list. This was a SET installed option. At first I started to remove it but have left it. The truck is white and only if it is dirty (very rare) is the line on the hood visible. It is not installed on the bumper panel which appears to be a composite material. Is this wrap just a cheap version of the 3M product? Will it "yellow" eventually? I remember when I bought my last Tundra, it came from SET with the "spray-in" bed liner. Some on "Tundra Solutions" said this was a cheap version of Line X but I had the truck for 4 years and held up well and still looked good when I sold it. I'm just assuming the distributors don't use top line accessories (although my Trundra did have BBS rims which I was told is a top brand).

 

Paint Protection Film12
Like an invisible coat of armor, Genuine Toyota paint protection film helps protect against sand, stones and other road debris.

• Urethane material is designed to provide long-term protection and resists discoloration
• Film constructed of multiple layers for strength and durability
• Genuine Toyota paint protection film is available for select areas of the hood and fenders, or for the front bumper (each sold separately)

The Toyota Genuine Accessory Warranty will only apply when the installation is performed by a trained Toyota-approved installer. Please see dealer for details.
$395.00


fwiw, i would go back and get the dealer to do it at this price (if possible) because its covered by Toyota. even if its not as good as 3M, it'll have a better warranty and more locaitons to help if there's a problem down the road.

 

After installing 3m on my S2000 and expel on my taco, my personal opinion is xpel is junk. Poor adhesion x3. I'm not an expert, but used the rig tools and got a farrrrrr better result with 3m.

I ripped the xpel of the taco a month after install and ate the price. And sure someone could do it better, but not paying $500 for a days worth of work.

 

Jesus, thats expensive. I got a 7yr/100k warranty, the two front windows tinted to match the rears and the clear bra on the front, hood, rear view mirrors and door cups for around that much.

 

This is great example of where some variables can come into play and things can get confusing. When you have paint protection film (PPF) applied at a dealer you need to know whether it's from the factory or a vendor. For example we are a vendor that services 80+ dealerships in our area. We only use quality products like high grade level 3M and Xpel Ultimate paint protection films. One common misconception is that "film is film" and it is all created equal, it's not. @docsg you are correct in your suspicion that 3M does have several quality grades of film. I do not know which brand Toyota affiliates with but from what I have seen it is always a lower quality grade film. The PPF you can add as an option on the Toyota website tends to be this low quality film and does not offer the same coverage an aftermarket installer can. When ordering the film direct from Toyota as @unsername: (Member#189827) has posted the lower quality film and reduced coverage is what you'll receive. To have the option of having a high quality film with a superior installation your specific dealer will have to be doing business with a paint protection film company. You will be offered the "aftermarket film" with all the other extras your dealer sells i.e. Wheel & Tire package, extended warranty, ResistAll/Simoniz Glass Coat etc. I will try to summarize the big differences between the PPF options you have and use our company as an vendor example.

Paint Protection Film direct from Toyota:

• In most cases will be low quality film. I have yet to see a factory kit with high quality film
• Only partial hood, partial front fender and side view mirror coverage is available
• Partial front fender coverage is often much smaller than aftermarket vendors partial coverage
• Hood and front fender film will not be wrapped over panel edges into engine compartment or wheel well area

Paint Protection Film from aftermarket vendor:

• Use of high quality film only
• FULL hood, FULL fender, rear bumper and headlight options available in addition to partial hood, partial fenders, front bumper and side view mirrors.
• Partial hood and fender coverage in most cases greater than factory alternative
• Partial and FULL hood edges wrapped into engine compartment to conceal film
• Partial and FULL fender edes wrapped into engine compartment, wheel well, and door opening when applicable

Our preferred film Xpel Ultimate offers a 10 year warranty which covers the cost of materials and labor.

Not all dealerships do business with such a reputable paint protection film vendors such as ourselves. If going through your local dealership for paint protection film I would ask a few questions. Some dealerships train one of their own to preform the service "in house". So ask about this, find out who applies ppf for them and then do some research on that company. If you are not satisfied with your findings do more research and find a company with good reviews in your area that will install a clear bra to your satisfaction.
I hope this information is helpful and will guide to a decision. If you any other questions or concerns please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you

 

I just spent a lot of time and money on getting my clear bra ripped off one of my other trucks. After I did it I had to sand and repaint the hood and fenders.

My Tacoma has some rock chips in the front but I'm going to learn to paint and wet sand. I don't think I'll ever elect to put a clear bra on a car ever again. They look really bad and over time they oxidize.

I personally would only get one professionally installed, I would not do it myself for cheap. I would be really worried the quality is poor and it would look bad even faster.

 

Im sorry to hear about your unfavorable experience with a clear bra. Older films or even new lower grade films can "fade" or have an oxidized look over time. Technology in newer high grade films have addressed this issue. They will not loose their shine and keep their gorgeous clear coat matching luster. A clear bra will not harm your vehicles factory paint underneath AT ALL. You are a prime example of why we refuse to use inferior films and elect to only use the best films available. We will not cut corners and use poor quality products to save or make an extra buck. We wish our customers to be happy and return for a clear bra on their next vehicle.

Our choice film Xpel Ultimate will not fade or discolor over time. It has a self-healing layer that cures itself of fine scratches and swirl without you having to do a thing. In the rare event the film does indeed fail it is backed by a 10 year warranty covering both materials and labor.
Goodluck in your desire to learn how to wet sand and paint. If you can master the techniques it is a wonderful skill to posses.

 

Never understood the allure of vehicle bra's. Leather or Clear. I figure run it until the pock marks are more than you can stand then repaint the hood. Trucks aren't IMO meant to look pristine forever.

 

My film was installed in 2002. So I'm not sure if it was inferior product or the fact that it was old technology but it started cracking the paint upon removal. Now, I will say that I removed it myself, I did not pay a professional to do it. Me and some buddies of my uncle who own a body shop just hit it with a heat gun and stripped it then we sanded and painted it. It's a second truck now, I had the means to fix the worst case scenario, I accepted that worst case scenario, so we ripped the band-aid off so to speak.

 

This is absolutely false. Xpel carries a superior 10 year manufacturer's warranty. Toyota will not honor their film for 10 years.

 

This is why professional installation is preferred when installing paint protection film. There has NEVER been adhesion issues with Xpel. You either got a knockoff film, old film, or just did not install it properly.

 

Possibly, but i cleaned the paint thouroughly with alcohol, applied in the garage with 44 tools application fluid and install tools, and ran into a number of the edges not staying adhered a few weeks after. Can support having a pro install it, but from my search on the web this looks to be an issue with pro installers as well. I'm happy with the stuff OFF my truck... and was surprised how easy it came off as well.

 

Xpel has NEVER been known to have adhesion issues.

 

By the time you get the real paint problems on the bumper, hood etc. you'll be able to purchase that parts online for 200-400 painted, new. Sometimes even cheaper if you know where to get parts. Because when that time comes there is going to be a lot of parts floating around. I was thinking to do same thing with my other truck but I didn't. For example I can get used bumper shell in good shape for 100-150. That is matching my paint.
That's just my opinion.