new XT, first of 100 questions...

[jts99OBW]

Got a new Outback XT last week. Don't test drive one - then go home in a '99 OBW. Once I got back in my old car it was all over. Anyway, one of the zillion things the dealer wanted to add on was a clear bra package. I read enough here to know I wanted some sort of front end protection, but the dealer wanted way too much for it. I got it done at a tint shop for much less. I had them do the hood, fenders, mirrors, and body side mouldings (easily the part on my old car that most often contacted paint removing devices ). I asked the guy about doing the lights and he said he doesn't usually do lights with plastic lenses. He says the film won't adhere as well. Has anyone here gotten the lights done, and how did it work out? Has anyone gone to the expense of getting the bumper area done?

[Legacy777]

You really don't need to the lights. The plastic is pretty resiliant and shouldn't chip/crack from rocks, etc.

[JPX]

I love talking about paint protection film (Xpel, 3M Scotchcal, PPF, or whatever). I put it on my 2004 Suburban brand new - still no nicks or chips! I had the bumper cap (not at crazy to install as a Subaru bumper), hood edge, and mirrors done by a pro-installer.

Door trim and mirrors (I did the door edge myself)

 

I also used scrap pieces for my daytime running lights (the crystal clear part - I did not bother putting them on the main lenses....yet).

 

I do not recommend putting the film on foglights because the temperatures are very high. This causes the heat to buildup and either warp the lens assembly or shorten the bulb life.

 

But on the newer headlamp assemblies, the plastic covering is somewhat isolated from the actual bulb and lenses. So this is an ideal application for the film. Since that outer plastic is, well, plastic....it will scratch and pit over time. As the factory clearcoat erodes, the plastic itself will yellow and crazing will develop. I had to sand, polish and re-clear my 1996 lenses.

 

Looking back, I wish I had installed this stuff on my 1996 Legacy. It would have saved me some grief with the bumper and the

headlights. You did the right thing having this stuff installed on a new car! Do the headlights.....but more for scratch/pit protection than impact protection. Prep the surface like paint and it sticks just like does on paint.

[jts99OBW]

Thanks JPX, lots of info. I am thinking of putting the Subaru bug deflector over the top of the clear bra in the winter for added protection and to possibly help the windshield get fewer rocks. Is there a problem with the soft-plastic bumpers on the underside of the deflector rubbing against the clear bra? On my old OBW those would eventually rub through the paint. Probably because of the dirt under the deflector that doesn't get cleaned off until you remove it.