Does anyone know who does the "ClearBra" work at Ferrari of Washington? Am curious what product is used and what the care and feeding routine is for it? I've gotten pretty well versed in the art of caring for paint and clearcoat, but this is the first car I've had with a "ClearBra" on it.

Thanks.

 

Well that would depend 1.) on how well they've been paying their bills lately and 2.) how big a pain in the a-s the perpetually lying little snit service writer has been lately.... answers as of late are 1.) not so well and 2.) MUCHO GRANDE.

Auto Armour Films & Finishes has done the majority of them over past few years using predominantly 3M Ventureshield film.

Recently, as in past several mo.s, they seem to have remedied this particular alienate-your-valued-vendor problem by hiring a guy who not only replaced their previous totally excellent detailer (didn't want to pay him what he was worth anymore... go figure) but supposedly also now does their clear-bra's in house. Don't know what kind of film he uses nor his proficiency.

When did you get car? Was it one installed for you on a new car? Was it already on pre-owned car?

I can tell you anything and everything you might want to know about how to care for the film regardless of what type of film it is. You can PM me. I also just gave a kinda long answer on getting rubber off / detailing clear bra on the "detailer review" thread from couple days ago.

 

The ClearBra was put on when the car was delivered new in November, 2010. Full frontal coverage. There are what seem to be "defects" in the hood (right in the middle, almost!) that may have been caused by some piece of road debris smacking it. I'm hoping that it did its job and protected the paint underneath, but I haven't taken that close of a look at it yet. Too busy with other projects. Hoping to take a closer look at it before next weekend. But wanted to know what kind of products should be used to wipe it down. I just wanted to make sure that quick-detailer stuff (I think I've got Meguiers on the shelf now) is OK to use on it for quickie duster-picker-upper. I assume Microfiber is OK to use on it. I will check out your post in the Detailing forum.

Thanks.

 

Weisachwilli installed my clear bra. He has told me I can use regular cleaning products, and also recommends Plexus plastic cleaner spray which you can buy at a local hardware store.

Im sure he'll chime in.

So far I've used clay bars, detailer spray, water, Plexus, and microfiber towels. No issues since my install in July of 2010.

 

I was actually going to ask about the use of Plexus on PPF and was hoping Cliff would post his recommendations on proper care and protection of the film in this thread.

Plexus contains propane, isobutane, and petroleum distillates. Overtime the white nozzle on the can will turn yellow. I also know Premier Films specifically recommends NOT using Plexus as well as many other installers.

 

we've been using Plexus on clear-bras for like forever = aprx. 12 yr.s and it used to be specifically recommended by 3M and VentureTape (the co. that VentureShield belonged to orig. and that was acquired by 3M).... until 3M started making their own product(s) for film then they started saying "don't use it" which could well be the same thing with Premier = they prob want you to buy the products they private label. For many years I have dealt with / purchased from as wholesaler a company based in Mass that is owned by two brothers whose uncle founded VentureTape.... these guys know everything about everything regarding adhesives from those used on heart stents to every kind of tape you can imagine to urethane car films etc. (they also own a VERY large clear-bra company in that greater mass. area) and they are pretty much the encyclopedic knowledge when it comes to clear-bra IMO and they say Plexus ok. Here is another antecdote..... Air Force, Navy etc. they use Plexus on fighter jet jet canopies, granted they aren't a plastic film but they are clear, and prob. a wee bit expensive and whoever made that call orig. prob. did a little research.

I hear you on the ingredients and how turns spray nozzle yellow. I just know that it is specifically formulated for plastics, gel coats.... non paint finishes, which is why they sell it for > $30 per stupid little can at boat stores all day long. I've never had a problem with it and leaves top super slick so things won't stick to it. BUT... all that said I have heard some people who should have a qualified opinion say not to use it. Quik detailer works too, just doesn't leave as slick as Plexus. I actually think - this is my own thought and very unscientific analysis - Plexus is similar to something like Pledge furniture polish. It smells similar and leaves very similar feel. I've never tried Pledge on clear-bra but this might inspire me to.... it's a lot cheaper. LOL

What I've found is best for general care.... basically wash as regularly as possible, keeping dirt from sitting on top is a very good thing b/c dirt will embed itself in plastic/urethane easier than paint/clear coat, and keep a good coat of wax, sealant, etc. on it. I like high grade synthetic polymer like Zaino or a Meguires or whatever on the film and paint, holds up better. Polishing with hi grade mid-abrasive polishing (not rubbing) compound with high quality mid-to-fine coarseness foam pad on rotary or Dual action / random orbital is ok and can remove fine scratches. Also using a hand applied scratch product like Meguire's "Scratch-X" ?sp can work on isolated scratches or scuffs, put in but of palm and rub in hard and fast to generate some heat.

Biggest don't are don't ever use a wool pad or high abrasive compound, don't put a pressure washer on any exposed edge and don't use pigmented waxes.

 

Thanks for the info Cliff. Does Plexus provide any UV protection? I did not see any mention of it on their site. Also, how long does it really last?

What do you think about using products with dyes and or yellow waxes? I've read, again from credible sources, that products like these can cause plastics to yellow including PPF and headlights?

I've always recommended the use of a high quality paint sealant that contains no dyes or coloring.

 

Whatever you do don't go to Skip at:

Protective Film Technologies, LLC
Paint Protection and Window Film Specialists)

His work totally sucks and it took him four trips just to get the job finished (He never arrived on time and no showed another appointment). I finally accepted his work even though it looks like a$$. I plan on having all his work removed and redone by a professional.

 

Ok. Thanks for all of the information so far. I'm sure that more is forthcoming.

I'm having to read in between the lines here a little bit, but please let me know if I am on the right track.

WeisachWilli posts that Auto Armour has done much of the work for new car deliveries at Ferrari of Washington, with the caveat of how much a PITA the service manager is and how up to date they are in paying them. Looking at other posts, it appears that Auto Armour is run by a gentleman named Cliff. Lots of glowing reports about Auto Armour and Cliff (save for one recently).

Auto Armour apparently recommends and installs Venture Shield.

WiesachWilli posts many informative pearls but appears coy in many of his posts because he is apparently not a sponsor of some forum. Posts by WeisachWilli are generally not signed with a name. Not a lot of information about WeisachWilli in his user profile.

However, a few reply posts seem to imply that WeisachWilli is indeed Cliff.

So if the reasoning is correct so far, I can assume that WeisachWilli was the individual who installed the ClearBra on a 458 delivered at Ferrari of Washington in November of 2010 and that the brand of the ClearBras is Venture Shield?

So now, hopefully, I can go forward knowing what is on the car and following the recommended care and feeding instructions related to Venture Shield!

But if I'm wrong, my apologies to all the innocent bystanders that were singled out and named by name. I guess in this case the identities of the innocent were not protected.

Thanks.

 

^^^^ You got it right.

I'd like to become a sponsor here. I tried looking into it a couple times before but didn't readily get the info I needed straight away and then impetus drifted off. I'm going to look into again - or maybe my new moderator can hook me up (hint hint) - so I can do posts on special projects etc. and not be on the wrong side of the 6Speed law.

My co. almost for sure did that car in that time frame. We make our own designs with CAD software so I could look at your car and tell you in 1 sec. if we did it from a few tell-tale features of our design.

If you have any issues with it, like if it was pierced on the hood as you indicated it may be, I can help you out doing whatever it takes to get it back to correct. If you have any specific care questions you can PM me too. There is really nothing magical about caring for it, just wash as regularly as possible to keep dirt from sitting on it long time (if possible but not nec.... plenty cars with this film on it live outside and get washed infrequently and it is fine but just won't stay looking gleaming new just like the uncovered paint won't), keep some good wax, sealant etc. on it (maybe 3-4 times a year, I like synthetic polymers generally, and I'd say do same for uncovered paint), use quick detailer (or IMO Plexus plastic polish) if you want in b/w washes/waxes/or while on the rd. during trips, polish with med-low abrasiveness polish and finer coarseness foam pad on a dual action / or random orbital polisher if/when you ever want / need to. Or call Dan1 to give you a full royal treatment detail!!

Any scuffs try a hand applied "Scratch X" type product and rub in hard and fast to make some heat..... any more significant scuffs I can prob. get out with a heat gun but that is kind o a more advanced technique.

Did you say it is a Rossa Corsa? Nov. 2010 that must have been one of the earlier 458s to get here?

I was just kind of being a little flip about how it is dealing with that dealership sometimes..... you earn your money there in anguish and frustration trust me. And when you don't get paid for forever they say "ohh.. we don't have anything to do with that here, gotta call California", CA will say "we don't have any paperwork on that".... and round and round until your sitting upside down on your money for a few mo.s. They kinda seem to think that since they're cool cars they are doing you some sort of favor to work on them, but from what I've read and heard apparently they give some buyers similar types of impressions on the purchasing side.... so what r you gonna do?

 

That is certainly how I read the posts, and many others as well. I would have to agree that all things considered, the maintenance recommendation you've received will be completely accurate for the product on your car.

We've used products like Adam's Car Care quick detail spray and waterless wash with micro fiber clothes for basic wipe downs with success. In cases where the film has "swirl marks" and such, careful light polishing with an orbital has been successful.

It's tricky as heat is needed to take the marks out but too much heat disturbs the adhesive.

 

I'm sure it was one of the earlier ones as the PO is apparently a serial Ferrari offender. Other than that little blemish on the hood clear bra, it looks like a new car! I guess that's what you get with an 18 month old car with 1000 miles on it.

Thanks for the tips. From what it sounds like, you treat these clear bras pretty much just like you would treat your clearcoated paint. I've had pretty good luck with the Menzerna polishes on mild and moderate (yellow and orange) Lake Country pads and have used a bit of Klasse AIO and SG on previous bra-less chariots. I also have some fancy schmancy canuba was (forget the exact name) that is supposed to be great on red and black cars. I think I'll try some of that stuff since it is supposed to really enhance the depth of the shine. And on a garage-kept car driven low mileage, it should last for quite a while.

Josh: If you recall we had lunch last year while I was looking for a 430 spider. I ended up with this instead. Thanks for your time and advise.

 

David! As soon as you said that the handle made sense! Congrats man, excellent choice. The 458 is an amazing car, certainly a generation beyond the 430 which is still a great car. I can imagine the smile on your face.

If I can ever be of any assistance again give me a ring, I do have the diagnostic equipment necessary to maintain even the newest models. Hope to see you and the car around at some of the local functions.

 

If the stars align, I'm thinking of bringing it out on Saturday AM to the Great Falls gathering.

 

Cool, I haven't been to Katie's yet this year. I'll try to stop by before heading up to Radcliffe Motorcars for their small vintage show.