3M Clear Bra Install

[bairjo]

Originally Posted by tmontague

I like the idea of protecting the hood as it is prone to damage.

I figured by the time my hood is damaged enough an starts to rust (if it ever does) an '08 Yaris hood would be easy to find at a scrapyard and i'll just get it painted and install it on my car.

I guess it is a pay me now or pay me later kinda thing. I prefer to do the pay me now and always have the car looking like the day I bought it, rather than let it get increasing speckled and still end up paying for someone else's chipped up used hood which most likely won't match. But I can see your point...

[tmontague]

Originally Posted by bairjo

I guess it is a pay me now or pay me later kinda thing. I prefer to do the pay me now and always have the car looking like the day I bought it, rather than let it get increasing speckled and still end up paying for someone else's chipped up used hood which most likely won't match. But I can see your point...

I tend to go with that train of thought with almost every part on my car as I agree, being proactive is better than reactive and usually cheaper.

That being said, based on how my hood is looking after the 4 years I've had it I can honestly say that even though I want to make it a 20 year car I don't think it'll rust out on the hood. I get it Krown'd every spring and am constantly checking the paint and protecting it.

It may be a gamble and like you said could cost me more down the road, but for now I've been able to put my cash into fun filled smile parts which has me loving my car every time I get in it. And by then I may even splurge for a carbon fibre hood, we'll have to see...

btw, where'd you purchase the 3m vinyl from and was it Yaris specific?

[bairjo]

There are a number of suppliers for the 3M. I purchased the 24" bulk roll about 5 years ago for the hood from a supplier called Cleardefender at the time. And for the bumper I purchased a pre cut pattern. I did it over a year ago after my bumper was replaced from an accident and don't recall who I ended up buying from. I'm actually at work right now so I can't look it up. However, I just priced them all out on line. There is no way you could do the bumper with the bulk roll material.....even the pro installers don't do that.


Carbon fiber hood?...now that does sound sweet...