Getting 35% and 3M clear bra
09-20-06, 01:26 PM
#16
the one i got is 3m. Someone on this board commented that it's like putting on a tint. All you need is the solution to wiggle it around.
I think most of the labor is in cutting the material .. not applying it. The hard part is cutting.. i dind't want to deal with cutting.. i'm going it this weekend..
I think most of the labor is in cutting the material .. not applying it. The hard part is cutting.. i dind't want to deal with cutting.. i'm going it this weekend..
09-20-06, 01:50 PM
#17
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the one i got is 3m. Someone on this board commented that it's like putting on a tint. All you need is the solution to wiggle it around.
I think most of the labor is in cutting the material .. not applying it. The hard part is cutting.. i dind't want to deal with cutting.. i'm going it this weekend..
I think most of the labor is in cutting the material .. not applying it. The hard part is cutting.. i dind't want to deal with cutting.. i'm going it this weekend..
09-20-06, 05:42 PM
#19
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09-20-06, 07:45 PM
#20
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I wish you success installing the clear bra yourself.
I'm a DYI guy myself and installed my tint all around
myself. The clear bra is a totaly different material
and requires differnt techniques. I watched my installer
spend 5 hours installing just my bumper alone. He had
to trash the first film because a hair was stuck underneath.
When he tried to remove it, the film tore because it already
adheard too much.
The film has to be stretched unlike tint. It took all his mite
with two fists to draw it over the bumper from one end to the
other. The IS bumper has too many contours to get a fit
otherwise. He used a bulk roll even though he had a 3 foot
wide laser cutting machine and 3M's patterns on his computer
for the IS. The bulk material also allowed him to wrap the
edges so that you will not have a seam at the edge of the
panel to collect wax. With a precut pattern you will not be
able to grab it and stretch it much. You do not want to
disturb or handle the glue on the back side much. Too much
squeegeing will also cause the glue to not hold. It's
very tricky.
I wish you the best of luck. I ceratinly would not attempt it myself.
I'd be out the cost of the ebay film after I'd have to conceed
and eventualy go to a professional. Besides, 3M gives you a 5 year
warranty if professionaly installed.
I'm a DYI guy myself and installed my tint all around
myself. The clear bra is a totaly different material
and requires differnt techniques. I watched my installer
spend 5 hours installing just my bumper alone. He had
to trash the first film because a hair was stuck underneath.
When he tried to remove it, the film tore because it already
adheard too much.
The film has to be stretched unlike tint. It took all his mite
with two fists to draw it over the bumper from one end to the
other. The IS bumper has too many contours to get a fit
otherwise. He used a bulk roll even though he had a 3 foot
wide laser cutting machine and 3M's patterns on his computer
for the IS. The bulk material also allowed him to wrap the
edges so that you will not have a seam at the edge of the
panel to collect wax. With a precut pattern you will not be
able to grab it and stretch it much. You do not want to
disturb or handle the glue on the back side much. Too much
squeegeing will also cause the glue to not hold. It's
very tricky.
I wish you the best of luck. I ceratinly would not attempt it myself.
I'd be out the cost of the ebay film after I'd have to conceed
and eventualy go to a professional. Besides, 3M gives you a 5 year
warranty if professionaly installed.
Last edited by Tuxlex; 09-20-06 at 08:00 PM.
09-20-06, 08:15 PM
#22
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Here are some installation videos that will be helpful to you.
http://www.xpel.com/support/installation/videos.asp
They make it look so easy. Perhaps the precut will be
easier for you than what I saw with the bulk installation.
Xpel by the way is the 3M product.
http://www.xpel.com/support/installation/videos.asp
They make it look so easy. Perhaps the precut will be
easier for you than what I saw with the bulk installation.
Xpel by the way is the 3M product.
09-20-06, 08:18 PM
#23
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I wish you success installing the clear bra yourself.
I'm a DYI guy myself and installed my tint all around
myself. The clear bra is a totaly different material
and requires differnt techniques. I watched my installer
spend 5 hours installing just my bumper alone. He had
to trash the first film because a hair was stuck underneath.
When he tried to remove it, the film tore because it already
adheard too much.
The film has to be stretched unlike tint. It took all his mite
with two fists to draw it over the bumper from one end to the
other. The IS bumper has too many contours to get a fit
otherwise. He used a bulk roll even though he had a 3 foot
wide laser cutting machine and 3M's patterns on his computer
for the IS. The bulk material also allowed him to wrap the
edges so that you will not have a seam at the edge of the
panel to collect wax. With a precut pattern you will not be
able to grab it and stretch it much. You do not want to
disturb or handle the glue on the back side much. Too much
squeegeing will also cause the glue to not hold. It's
very tricky.
I wish you the best of luck. I ceratinly would not attempt it myself.
I'd be out the cost of the ebay film after I'd have to conceed
and eventualy go to a professional. Besides, 3M gives you a 5 year
warranty if professionaly installed.
I'm a DYI guy myself and installed my tint all around
myself. The clear bra is a totaly different material
and requires differnt techniques. I watched my installer
spend 5 hours installing just my bumper alone. He had
to trash the first film because a hair was stuck underneath.
When he tried to remove it, the film tore because it already
adheard too much.
The film has to be stretched unlike tint. It took all his mite
with two fists to draw it over the bumper from one end to the
other. The IS bumper has too many contours to get a fit
otherwise. He used a bulk roll even though he had a 3 foot
wide laser cutting machine and 3M's patterns on his computer
for the IS. The bulk material also allowed him to wrap the
edges so that you will not have a seam at the edge of the
panel to collect wax. With a precut pattern you will not be
able to grab it and stretch it much. You do not want to
disturb or handle the glue on the back side much. Too much
squeegeing will also cause the glue to not hold. It's
very tricky.
I wish you the best of luck. I ceratinly would not attempt it myself.
I'd be out the cost of the ebay film after I'd have to conceed
and eventualy go to a professional. Besides, 3M gives you a 5 year
warranty if professionaly installed.
My installer told me there wasn't a kit out for the IS 350 yet by 3M.
09-20-06, 08:24 PM
#24
yes .. that's true... 3m doesnt' cut it... usually people either have a template or they have a computer program which allows you got get the precise dimension of the parts... then they slide the 3m through a printer like machine (machine that actually cuts it) and sell it on ebay~
09-20-06, 08:27 PM
#25
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I was told that some installers do not have the patterns
because they have to pay a startup fee and purchase
the CAD software to be able to down load the patterns
and that it was an expensive investment. Even though
my installer used bulk material last May, he cut the
pieces for the ground effects part of the front bumper
from the 3M IS pattern because it was easier. These are
two long narrow strips. He also cut the tow hook plug
pieces and headlamp washer pieces from 3M's pattern.
BTW, with the bulk material he removed the headlamp
washers before stretching the material across the bumper.
This was so that the glue would not get disturbed while
moving over the headlamp washer area. He actualy
removed the covers and pushed the units completely
inside the bumper during the install.
because they have to pay a startup fee and purchase
the CAD software to be able to down load the patterns
and that it was an expensive investment. Even though
my installer used bulk material last May, he cut the
pieces for the ground effects part of the front bumper
from the 3M IS pattern because it was easier. These are
two long narrow strips. He also cut the tow hook plug
pieces and headlamp washer pieces from 3M's pattern.
BTW, with the bulk material he removed the headlamp
washers before stretching the material across the bumper.
This was so that the glue would not get disturbed while
moving over the headlamp washer area. He actualy
removed the covers and pushed the units completely
inside the bumper during the install.
Last edited by Tuxlex; 09-20-06 at 08:38 PM.
09-20-06, 08:53 PM
#26
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i found this site: http://www.epdwindowfilm.com/ppf.htm
In the "Pre-cut Kit" section, do a search for Lexus. You can see the various templates that they have.
hth
In the "Pre-cut Kit" section, do a search for Lexus. You can see the various templates that they have.
hth
09-21-06, 09:08 AM
#27
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My professional installer took 5 hours. Look like a pain. I asked if he used a pre-cut, he said sometimes they come too small, and customers want the edges rolled so they are not exposed, something a pre-cut can't offer.
Let us know how it turns out. Good luck.
09-21-06, 09:51 AM
#28
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The mirrors are not easy either as they are round. Small, yes.
My professional installer took 5 hours. Look like a pain. I asked if he used a pre-cut, he said sometimes they come too small, and customers want the edges rolled so they are not exposed, something a pre-cut can't offer.
Let us know how it turns out. Good luck.
My professional installer took 5 hours. Look like a pain. I asked if he used a pre-cut, he said sometimes they come too small, and customers want the edges rolled so they are not exposed, something a pre-cut can't offer.
Let us know how it turns out. Good luck.
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