Here is the deal.

Bra's are good for trips and once in a while use. If you use it daily it will get dirt under it and damage the paint. Also it will get wet and it can cloud the clear. They were invented to be put on drive 5 hours or more and then take it off.

If you have to buy one get a Colgan as they are the best and only one to fool with.

Note darker the paint the more you will see the dirt scratches and possible clouding in the paint.

Today clears bra's are the way to go. I have seen them on everything from Smart cars to Veryrons. They work well. I have one on the leading edge of my hood and it is great. If any wax build up happens on the edge all I have to do is use a little detailer and a microfiber towel to remove it.

If you see people with bra's on all the time many have to leave them on because it covers the damaged paint.

We sell most brands where I work including some clear now. I would recomend if you have not worked with the 3M clear material to seek out a pro. It is not really hard to do but you have to know a few little tricks to make it go on well. Heat guns also help a lot.

Also apply the clear covers for the head lamps. they will save you pits. I have them on everything I own now. Some of these are very easy to put on and others will take more work. My HHR was easy the Terrain took some work to get it heated around the bends.

 

I have Colgan bras on three of my vehicles. For my 2007 HHR, its been on for years. I have removed it and find no damage to the paint. My 97 Dodge truck has had it on for over two years. No damage to the paint and it stays on all the time, except when I remove it to inspect for damage to the paint. No damage at all. Clear coat is fine and no clouding. Best fitting bra on the market. Eighty miles an hour and it stays in place!

 

Works great @ +140mph also.

 

Youi are the exception. We sell Colgan and I only recomend them but We still get many calls on paint damage and even Colgan recomends not running them all the time or leaving them on wet on a hot sunny day.

In Ohio you may not see the clouding as much but it still happens as I have seen it and spoken to customers on warranties issues on Colgan.

I use a Colgan on my show car as I do not trailer and I have had scratches happen just driving from Akron to Norwalk.

One thing that is key is to make sure it it very tight. Any part that is lose will cause damage. Some will losen with age and should be replaced.

I don't doubt you have not had issue as not everyone does but the MFG warns of how to use and what could happen and I have seen it time and time again on many not all.

The bottom line is these are made for short term travel and not for use all winter. If you use it as such you may get away with it and often you may not.

Note too Silver, white and lighter colors are muc easier to use these on as they will hide the small scratches better vs black.

My paint on my show car is black and I have it to the point there are no scratches what so ever. When I use my Colgan to be extra careful i put micro fiber towels under the rear edge of the bra and make it as tight as possible. It works pretty well that way. Years ago I tried to use it daily and often would find dirt and dust under it and scratches where the trailing edge wrapped over the fenders.

All I am saying is follow the MFG recomendations and use it as intended and you should get great service out of them.

Do avoid cheap ones like the LeBra etc.

Trust me I am a Colgan fan and own three of them myself though I passed on the HHR and went clear bra. The Clears are great but many will not want to pay the price or the labor to put it on. the HHR is not an easy install.

 

I like my Colgan, I have had to re-polish the paint once in a while, but that is much easier than filling the chips first.

 

Where did you get the clear bra?

 

would it be a smart choice to use this during the winter months? or would that cause a problem since it will always be wet and maybe scratch paint when it freezes

 

Many larger body shops, sign shops and internet parts houses have them.

I note many sign shops do these as they wrap cars too and they have added this to their lines.

Just don't get shocked at the price as it is not cheap but it is cheaper than a repaint.

 

i bought mine online. came as a kit, including 2 spray bottles - 1 you fill w/ 50-50 mix of water & alcohol - to activate the adhesive, & the other bottle mixed w/ soapy water to be able to slide the plastic clear bar on the body panel for adjustments. also came w/ the squeege. my wife & i did it ourselves in the garage.

 

The key is to keep it wet. the mix they give just keeps it so you can move it and push all the air out from under it. To install them is just the same way I install the birds on Trans Am hoods and other graphics.

Some bends and corners on some cars need a heat gun. You do not want to use too much heat but the gun will let you bend around sharp corners.

You may have some clouding for a few days but over the next 5 days or less it will clear up as the moisture removes itself. If you use too much spray it may take longer in colder weather but it will still clear up. You only really need to worry about air bubbles as they will remain and watch to make sure the surface is clear as what ever you cover will remain. Any chips should be repairs and buffed out as they can create air pockests on older paints.