JohnMD

Does anyone have experience with removing a clear bra on the hood? Can you do it yourself, or is it best to leave to professionals?

Thanks

John

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

I would recommend a nice warm day and a hair dryer. Start at one corner. Warm it up and pull away. Very easy to remove as long as the surface is heated up. The risk of damaging the paint with a hair dryer is remote. Just keep it abour 10" or more away from the surface. A heat gun works very well ,however they produce more heat than required and can damage paint if not used properly.

Lee

tonydt1g3r

hmm I remove a bra usually by reaching around the girl then using one hand unclip the bra, usually by sticking a finger underneath the back of the bra to lift it up, then use my thumb to slide the bra off the clips holding it on and it usually pops off.

hahaha but yea what lee said should work fine also, if its sorta cold outside just drive around for a little while and your hood should heat right up.

LeslieRC

A question: why are you removing it? I have one on my `04 SC430, `04 GX470, and `05.5 Audi A4 2.0 T, and I am convinced (after NOT having had one on my former `02 SC430) that clear bras really do protect the front-end from chips.

Just curious.

tonydt1g3r

I think his hood got scratched and he needs to repaint it

JohnMD

Yep. Taking the bra off as I need to get my hood repainted. It looks like insurance will pay for the whole thing (see above post) after I complained.

But I think someone(s) does not like my black SC430. Must have happened yesterday in a parking lot. Someone put a nice crease in my driver's side door. Vandals got me the first time. Maybe I live in the wrong neighborhood. The car is just too pretty. People want to hurt it.

Any advise on whether I should call the insurance company about the new ding? Which is worse -- a crease or a repainted door? About 4" long so they must have given it a real wack.

John

tonydt1g3r

tell them you forgot to mention the door, ask for an adjustment. because you dont want to pay the deductable twice,

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

Very sorry to see that. It could also just be that someone is flat out jealous of your car as does occur often with many Lexus owners as well as owners of other fine brands. I once had someone run into my Porsche drivers door which was parked in an ajoining parking lot with no other cars. I also knew someone years ago that picked up sand from the ground and just threw it at a brand new NSX in a parking lot. I asked him why did it and he responded with a very juvenile response. Needless to say his life took a turn for the worse after that and we no longer communicate.

RX469

iTrader: (1)

Hey John,

Where in MD are you? I'm in Gaithersburg. If you like I can help you remove that clear bra. Also, what paint shop are you gonna use? I'm looking for a good paint shop myslelf.

ArmyofOne

the title of this thread is rediculously misleading


just thought i would throw that out there...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

in that case, why not just let them shop remove the bra before painting?

JohnMD

Sorry for the misleading title. I think we are all experts at removing the other kind of bra (one handed it need be).

After a discussion with the body shop and someone who knew something, it turns out they would never tape off the bra and paint (as the estimator indicated). So the body shop will increase the extimate, remove the bra, sand and repaint the hood, and install another bra.

I indicated that it was my understanding that the bra should not be put back on until the paint had cured 60-90 days. They said 30 was good enough. Any thoughts??

Now I need to decide whether to get the driver's side door fixed at the same time. Or just leave it.

The car was absolutely perfect with I purchased it. I have not done too well. Plus it appears that someone put their shoe on my back bumper and dragged it arcoss making numerous small scratch marks. Think they can be buffed out.

This car seems to **** people off. I have had 3 high end Mercedes (also black -- but unfortunately I'll never have another due to poor quality control) and people left them alone for the most part. This car is just too pretty. If I park in the middle of nowhere, sure enough an old rusty pickup pulls next to me and parks about 12" from the side. Brings out parking lot rage, but I have maintained so far.

On the positive side, I had my top down yesterday on 1/9/2006 in Annapolis MD and it was great.

John

plex

iTrader: (11)

Another misleading title First it was the hooters calender now this

tonydt1g3r

did u read my bra removal reply it was quite funny.


Anyways just get it all fixed at once. On the curing time as long as its in the sun quite often and gets hot it can cure quite quickly, 30 days should be plenty. Did you ask the body shop for an adjustment on the vandalism on the side door like i told you to?

JohnMD

Thanks for all the advise. Now I can remove several types of bras on several types of chassis. Sometimes one handed. Thanks for the heating the hood up advise. I'll let the body shop take care of it, but good information. I love my car, even though others may not. A work of art.