I think a clear bra is a good (but expensive) solution to the problem of paint chips. To reduce the cost, I decided to try installing a clear bra myself and wanted to share my experience.
Although it's difficult and a bit intimidating, I think it's worth a try if you're patient and can follow directions. The worst thing that can happen is ruining 250 bucks worth of plastic film, right?
As far as the process is concerned, if you've ever built a plastic model kit, just imagine applying the biggest, nastiest decal you've ever seen. YouTube is a great source of info for installation tips - study the various videos carefully before you start. I would add that
lots of the soap solution is your best friend during the install - keep the film wet and you can reposition it until you get it right. I didn't use the alcohol setting solution much; simply squeegeeing the soap solution out from under the film got it to stick.
The hardest part of the whole process is getting the film off the paper and onto the car WITHOUT MESSING UP THE FILM. A big piece of film is like a huge piece of duct tape - it really wants to stick to itself and you're miserable if it does. In addition to being awkward and very sticky, any dust/etc on the adhesive will ruin the smooth finish. Clean draft-free surroundings are a must for a good install. Once you get the film on the car cleanly, you're almost home-free. Although it's a rather long process to work it into position and squeegee out the soapy water, at least you're not worried about grit/crap messing up the film adhesive.
My advice, if you want to try installing a clear bra, is to start with a small piece on a relatively flat surface. I installed the little pieces behind the headlights at the front of the fenders. Not as scary, and you get an idea of how the material reacts to handling as well as the solutions. Installing the fender pieces also gives you reference points for lining-up the hood piece.
In hindsight, I'll bet the Forte is probably one of the easier cars on which to install a clear bra. There aren't many compound curves on the Forte, so getting the film to lay flat is relatively easy. Conversely, I'll bet something like the nose of a Boxster with all of its curves would be a real pain!
I'll admit that I did wind up with a few small bubbles from the soap solution, but nothing really major. Otherwise, I think I was able to achieve pro-quality results. This picture is probably the most brutal depiction of the edge; it's actually not that noticeable in the sunlight.
Here's a more flattering picture. I've pointed out where the seam is in this shot. The whole front end (including the bumper) is covered with paint film in this picture:
Just sharing what I've learned...
Clear bra/protection film install experience
Forte Koup EX
