Why the hood protector clear tape is not more popular?

Im sure the tape will yellow, then the fear of removing it and the paint.

In Colorado Springs, the Mercedes Benz dealer has the front end of their cars done as soon as they come off the truck.

I had my Audi A4 done in 2001 and have been very happy with it; however, it was significantly more than $100. If memory serves, it was closer to $300.

-- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-me.akaMail.com

ICQ: 4899169

Do they actually sell them taped to the customers or is it only until the sale? Do they recommend to customers to keep the tape on?

toyota-parts.com quoted me $142.81 for a kit with pieces custom cut for a new Camry. It is supposed be the best tape made by 3M.

This is a specially-designed tape that will not yellow. That is why it costs over $100 for a few small pieces to cover front hood area. There are kits with pieces custom cut for specific car models.

Best tape made by 3M? I thought they only make one type?

For my 2002 Camry, to get the front facia, hood and side mirrors done, it costs about $300 to $400 CAD from Trimline. Not cheap. Also, a person like myself who likes to wax the car 2 to 3 times a year, the tape becomes a problem since the wax job and the paint under the tape will show 2 different shades. The tape also needs to be replaced every 3 years as well.

The point is what is the most competitive price for the same best product. If somebody pays more then it is beyond the point. I gave you real quote from real mailorder house selling Toyota parts. Installation is extra. But as far as I know, it is very easy to install, you just apply the tape.

From your own experience, is the tape effective? Did you see any paint defects underneath the tape, caused by hitting rocks or paint discoloration? Is the difference in shade between the taped hood and the untaped hood significant for a well-cared car? Did you try to replace the tape after 3 years? Was the color beneath the tape changed in any way?

We must be talking about different products....on my A4, a lifetime warranty is offered on the "front-end clear bra". This is warranted through the dealership (i.e., won't yellow, chip, etc).

The guy that installed ours would not install the products made by 3M. He said they were not up to the quality of other brands. If I get a chance, I will look at the warranty and let you know what brand (and price) I got for mine.

I got mine through the dealership for a few reasons, the primary being, it seems like a lot of the "window tint" places go out of business, so a lifetime warranty doesn't mean much. Mine is actually warranted through the Audi dealer, even though they had a window tint specialist install it.

Regarding the MB dealership, when we were looking, every car on the lot had the front-end clear bra installed. I am sure you could negotiate the price a bit, but other than that, they all had them. I am not sure if they are still doing this, but it was this way when I got my A4 in 2001.

-- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-me.akaMail.com

ICQ: 4899169

My Sister had " The Tape " on her 95 Camry , Yes it Yellowed , yes it was noticible, after it was buffed, Plastic is Plastic, it yellows or cars would be covered with it......3Ms original intent. But it cant be buffed. When its crap its Crap, its crap........ a

Bullshit. Mine was done 4 1/2 years ago and has NOT yellowed.

It is a waste of time and money to wax a car that often. I have NEVER waxed my Camry in over 4 years and the finish is still excellent.

I had the clear tape on a 95 Avalon and found out that it was protecting the hood from stone chips, but and this is a BIG but.....the stones were redirected to my windshield and breaking same... My insurance company raised my deductible after the first three windshields to $300. and after the fourth and fifth to $500 and on the sixth cancelled my comprehensive. This was in a two year period. My newer Camrys', 2000 and 2003 have no protection, a few stone chips on the hood but original windshields....Take your pick.....

Haven't experienced that with my A4......close to 30,000 miles and still on original windshield.......and I live in Colorado where we use sand vice salt......embedded in the sand are all kinds of tiny pebbles that can chip a windshield.

Question for you: Due to the sand use in Colorado, a lot of my family and co-workers (as well as our 1998 Isuzu Trooper) have had their windshields replaced (none have the clear-bra) and I have never seen one over $300. Where in the heck are you getting windshields at??

I know for a fact on the Camry/ES300, the windshield runs about $250 (including new molding) and the Trooper was $225.

-- Curtis Newton snipped-for-privacy@remove-me.akaMail.com

ICQ: 4899169

Canadian Dollars!!!!!

Bullshit. My 99 Camry front windshield was replaced for under $200 CANADIAN.

Was the windshield OEM quality or aftermarket? I know there are places that can get cheaper quality products and others that use OEM products. For insurance, they generally use predefined insurance codes for the appropriate glass.

Sounds like some glass shop has been giving excuses for jacking the price up.

Whenever I have had to replace the winshield of my automobile, I contacted the company and found the exact part number and info from the factory winshield and replaced it with the exact same thing. This is generally more then the aftermarket thinner type units that one can get if they want to save a few $$. I find the oem units offer a thicker winshield and provide a quieter interior.

Someone in the industry has been serving you up a crock. I put a micrometer on my original Toyota glass and the cheaper replacement. IDENTICAL thickness.