bclark, as a ventureshield owner for a year, i am very satisfied. touch up paint looks like touch up paint. i never have to spray anything on it every 2 weeks (what's up with that?) except wash, wax and wax spray over it. pm me if you wish to discuss further.
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Jeff, Retired US ARMY Master Sergeant
2009 SLK 55 AMG Black/Black
Premium 1, Multimedia, Lighting packages
Clearshield Protective Film
OEM MB Plexiglass Windscreen
Eurolight Clear Side Markers
Smarttop version 3.22
Kleyman 3rd Brake Light Flashing/Strobing Module V1.5 (Noregrets Custom Works)
I'm getting my clear bra this coming week. The guy is charging me $500-$600 for either 3M or Ventureshield, same price he said. I already have a few rock chips!! Need it ASAP. He's been too busy with other appointments. Company is called Advance Auto Engineering in San Gabriel, CA.
I'm just gonna check it out in person and decide which one to go with. Will let you guys know!
He also said he'll do a 3M ceramic tint for me for about $130. Good deal??
Quote:
Originally Posted by bclark
Spoke today over the phone with an "exotic" automotive
guy who retails various products. States that, in his opinion, VentureShield is by far superior and that 3M, try as they might,
haven't been able to perfect the technology. He said he finds
it difficult to avoid stretch marks with 3M. Both, I was sorry
to learn, are high maintenance, requiring spray coats to be
applied by customer every 2 weeks or more. For a bit less
maintenance, he suggested Avery film, although he reports that
it often leaves an orange peel finish. Said he charges the same for
all three; ie, $600 or $1000 for an SLK, depending on which of
two coverages are requested. He does it at his shop where he claims
to meticulously remove all dust prior to application.
Love my Ventureshield paint protection film. I think the application is the key to satisfaction. I was present the entire time. No heat gun was used to stretch the material. That is what leads to premature film failure, peeling, etc. Generally, experienced appliers never use a heat gun. It took about four hours for two guys to apply the film to my SLK. I paid $995. I think anything less would have to be heat-gunned and would be much more likely to peel. It would also be cheaper but you get what you pay for in this case. In my case, no peeling or fading after eight months. No extra sprays or anything to maintain it. I just wash it like I always would have, with Zaino car wash solution. I Zainoed right over the film a week after it was applied. Still looks pristine despite driving it all winter here in northern Illinois.
I spoke to Armourfend in the UK and they have quoted my £900 for the following (Tax and Fitting included):
Bonnet
Front Bumper (Upper & Lower)
Lights (Front and Fogs)
Side skirts
Side sills
Inside of wheel arches
Front Grill slats
These guys are the peeps who have the Porsche Hatfield contract (largest Porsche dealership in UK).
Having said that they did mention they could give me a discount, without stating just how much. All comes with usual warranty etc. If I decide to go for it I would defo get the following:
Bonnet
Wing Mirrors
Front Bumper (Upper & Lower)
Front Lights
The above should come for about £550 fitted I feel.
Got the clearbra installed over the weekend. Took about 5-6 hours! The installer took his time and did it right! He did a superb job. No heatguns used. Just a bunch of water/soap/alcohol and a squegee. Everything was cut out by a plotter.
As I stated earlier, I had a choice between 3M and Ventureshield. The installer, Scott, broke it down for me. He suggested that I use 3M for the hood/mirrors and Ventureshield for the bumper.
I'll try to regurgitate what he told me:
3M is great, a lot better than the previous generations. It has a clearcoat on top, which works better on your hood because of the bird crap and everything else that lands there which your hood is more vulnerable to. Though, 3M has an orange peel effect when you look at it at a certain angle. Since my car is silver, it's not as noticeable.
If I had a choice, I really think that I would have went with 3M everywhere, but to prevent stretch marks on the bumper with the clearbra, Ventureshield had to be used because it was more pliable than 3M. Ventureshield goes on a lot more transparently than 3M and can be easily contoured to the shape of your bumper. Well, at least from what I saw on his X5. He had 3M all around and I saw some stretch marks on his bumpers because 3M wasn't as easy to work with because it had a clearcoat on it.
To sum it all up, my car looks great! I don't have to worry about rock chips or whatnot. Am very happy with it. If any of you are in the Los Angeles area, I'd recommend you guys go with Scott. PM me or something and I'll pass his contact info to you. I'll be glad to show you his work if you want too!
I also got a thick clearbra for my headlights and foglights. Not sure if it'll work as stated, but Scott gave me a great package deal on everything. Also did the door edges and inside door handle oval, used to prevent women from scratching the paint off with their rings and nails. Too bad he couldn't do my tint. Tried twice and just couldn't get my back window done right. He's not really good at tinting, so just my luck. I have to go elsewhere to get my car tinted. Anyone know of any good places around Los Angeles?
I've chosen Ventureshield, costed about $550. It really depends on the installer. Mine did a great job; he spent about 5 hours, using water and soap. I washed and waxed the car the day before but he said it's not really needed since he would wash it with soap anyway. But I just want to make sure. The result is great, no peeling, no stretching. It has been half a year.
The only thing is you should use synthetic wax on the clearbra instead of natural wax.
I had that 3M stuff on my 911 and it turned yellow in a few months,,, when I traded that in for my baby CLK350,,,ClearBra was offered in the financing department,,so I got it....
Its been about 9 months now and It still looks great ....
I say ClearBra wins by a longshot ,,,, Heres the company that installed mine,,, I also had them ClearBra my husbands Harley.....I am in La Jolla,,,,, but I am pretty sure that they are in several states.
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