What have you guys paid for a clear bra install for your Q5, and describe

[JimR_ATL]

the extent of coverage.

TIA

[arm1tage]

the extent of coverage.

TIA

paid $250 for the 3M clear bra precut kit from ebay. Includes partial hood and fenders, full bumper and foglight coverage, mirrors, plus 2 pcs behind the front fenders. They also included piece to protect the tailgate opening which was nice. You can email [email protected] for the same deal.



Install was pretty straightforward, took me about 4 hours to do it all. Hardest part was the hood since the piece is 3" smaller and you really have to stretch it. The mirrors are tough too since it's so curved, heat gun helps here. And the license plate area being gloss black shows a lot of imperfections.

Does it look perfect, no. But am I glad I saved $750? Hell yes, that's money better spent on a tune. Plus in another few years when I have to replace it it will be much easier.

[LINDW4LL]

I don't have a Q5- but I suggest doing full bumper, fenders, hood, and mirrors.

[Rudymon]

I don't have a Q5- but I suggest doing full bumper, fenders, hood, and mirrors.

Why do you suggest the greater coverage? I hear Audi paint is "soft". Any issues from your experience?

[VroomVroom]

Audi paint is far from soft - the clear is notoriously hard. However, that speaks more to corrective polishing effort than any chance of being impervious to stone chips and other road debris.

[VZWalex]

I had my front end done with 3m/venture shield ... never again ... Use LLumar or Xpel ... may cost more but you will not regret it. You can order pre cut kits from ExtremeAutowerks.net and have it shipped to you. I just had my front bumper redone due to a small fender bender and it looks great!

[LINDW4LL]

Why do you suggest the greater coverage? I hear Audi paint is "soft". Any issues from your experience?

I wouldn't say Audi paint is soft. However I do have some friends with older black Audis (both 110k+ miles), and the black on the hood looks horrible from little rock chips. The allroad especially. Of course black paint looks the worst when not properly cared for, too.

Anyway, my reasoning is that the lines on the hood and fender bother me. And then one day you'll get a chip on the un-covered portion of the hood and you'll wonder why you didn't just do the whole thing.

[Idgreig]

I wouldn't say Audi paint is soft. However I do have some friends with older black Audis (both 110k+ miles), and the black on the hood looks horrible from little rock chips. The allroad especially. Of course black paint looks the worst when not properly cared for, too.

Anyway, my reasoning is that the lines on the hood and fender bother me. And then one day you'll get a chip on the un-covered portion of the hood and you'll wonder why you didn't just do the whole thing.

I agree, I had the whole front end done, bumper to mirrors, it makes me forget it is even there. Up here one run in with a salt truck and you'd regret the decision to skimp. We'll see over time if it wears differently than the rest of the paint however.

[dfost24]

I just bought my 2014 Q7 and Premium Shield was offered by the dealer. Full front bumper, sides around wheels and front hood, not full hood. $595 plus tax installed and I don't have to worry about it being driven off the lot without the film protection already there.

[Dennis C]

I had the dealer install mine. It's a 3M clear bra. They did the front bumper, the hood up about 18", wrapping around the fenders. It looks great. You can't even see it unless you are really looking for it. It was $700 installed.

[JaXeN]

I agree, I had the whole front end done, bumper to mirrors, it makes me forget it is even there. Up here one run in with a salt truck and you'd regret the decision to skimp. We'll see over time if it wears differently than the rest of the paint however.

+1

I too set my shields for maximum forward.
Not so much for the protection (since the first inches up the hood should be more than enough), but for the look.

My car is (Panther) Black and I think that the edges are too obvious on the fenders/hoods of black cars.

[palewhitemale]

I had my front end done with 3m/venture shield ... never again ... Use LLumar or Xpel ... may cost more but you will not regret it. You can order pre cut kits from ExtremeAutowerks.net and have it shipped to you. I just had my front bumper redone due to a small fender bender and it looks great!

care to elaborate on the problems you had that make you say you don't like 3M?

Just wondering as I've had pretty good luck with them, DEFINITELY better luck with 3M than with the Avery counterpart.

-bill

[DFDIII]

the extent of coverage.

TIA

Xpel Ultimate, full hood, front, side mirrors, door cups, rear bumper top. $750. Work was done in October 2013 and seems to be holding up fine so far.

Mine's Estoril blue - wouldn't dream of driving it without some type of film.

[jbdintx]

Xpel Ultimate, full hood, front, side mirrors, door cups, rear bumper top. $750. Work was done in October 2013 and seems to be holding up fine so far.

Mine's Estoril blue - wouldn't dream of driving it without some type of film.

Full front bumber, 24 inch up the hood, full rockers, full rear bumber, door sills, door handle cups, a pillars, above windshield, headlights, fogs, and tinted the front two windows. All with llumar $2000

[RickFLS4]

On my wife's 2012 Phantom Black Q5 (Sept. 2011) we did 3M partial hood / fenders, full bumper, mirrors, door edges and cups and luggage strip + window tint for $1,100.

I have Xpel Ultimate on my S4 and aside from these two cars we had 3M in previous cars. Both 3M and Xpel are quality products IMO.

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[RickFLS4]

Audi paint is far from soft - the clear is notoriously hard. However, that speaks more to corrective polishing effort than any chance of being impervious to stone chips and other road debris.

I had a brilliant black C6 A6 and thought the paint was soft - much more so than Phantom on my wife's Q5.

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