Meguiar's products and the Clear Bra

[MediaMan]

First post.

I really like the Meguiar's 'model', product choice, availability, quality, dedication, expertise and support. I've bought in completely! I'm about to step into a new car, so I am looking forward to many years of ease-of-use and pride!

I have a few questions about some of the products (which I'm sure I'll find answers to on this forum), but I do have an initial overriding question.

How compatible and how 'friendly' are Meguiars products with cars that have a clear bra ? ( ie the 3M or Ventureshield type films to protect paint against rock chips).

I have not yet purchased a clear bra ( still debating the merits given they literally are hit and miss -no pun intended - as the film only covers part of the car, and a rock chip can just as easily hit an unprotected area - so why bother !! ), but that aside:

a) doesn't the clear bra completely get in the way of maintaining the car?? ; I cannot imagine treating them just like a paint surface when washing, claying, polishing, waxing, buffing, boosting etc. Are they not a pain in that regard??

b) what real guarantee is there that current or future Meguiars
products wont adverssely react with the film ( re yellowing, penetration, etc)


Would like to hear some thoughs on this dilema ! I do want to protect the paint, but am really torn whether a clear bra are a good thing or a nusiance.

Many thanks

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Meguiar's products and the Clear Bra

Hi MediaMan,

For the most part you wash the car as normal and only use our paint care products on the paint portion, not the clear bra portion. We have a couple of plastic polishes you can apply to the clear bra and lots of people apply wax to these as well. We don't ever hear of any horror stories or adverse effects to clear bras as long as a quality product is used on it.

You can't of course use rubbing compounds and things that are abrasive on thin, soft, flexible plastic films as common sense tells you this will scratch the plastic.

Here's the skinny...

A clear bra will protect the front of your car from rock chips and thus protect the paint

A clear bra will get fine swirls and scratches just like your paint only unlike your paint you cannot really polish these out.

Danged if you do, danged if you don't.

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Meguiar's products and the Clear Bra

It is our understanding that you do not want to use any product that would fall under the "cleaner", "cleaner/polish", or "Cleaner/Wax" catagory.

Most of the "Mfg's" of these products recommend a "pure polish" or "pure wax" ??

This may not help, but....



Mike

[SpeedFM]

Re: Meguiar's products and the Clear Bra

There are patterns for full front ends for most high end cars now.



Paint protection film has pores that will get filled with road grime if not protected after each wash with a plastic cleaner or polish. Wax will work for most colors, but I wouldn't advise waxing film on a white car as this can lead to discoloring as well. I've found that a white wall tire bleach/cleaner is safe to use on occasion for stubborn stains.