Any opinions on StonGuard/ClearBra/polymer films for paint and light protection? I'm particularly interested in the light protection film for the fog lights on the E as they seem pretty vulnerable. Has anyone had this on one of their other cars? Thanks.

Clear bra etc. will not stick to the cladding texture. But plan to put it on just the 2 inches of the leading edge of the hood. Don't like the hood deflector thing.

Did you find the 2" clear guard for the hood, I hate those wind deflectors as well...

Oh that reminds me to get it. Autotrim places install that 3M stuff. Last time I talked to them is was going to be 50 bucks for the hood edge.

So much to do so much to buy.

I'm not sure we have those here in the USA, is the film part of a kit, do you know if you can mail order it?

just get a clear shower curtain and throw it over the hood. be sure you get the kind with the magnets sewn in. :twisted:

I've got one of these:
http://www.magnetbra.com/img/Element.jpg

A magnetbra, and I'm happy with it. They're cheap, (34.99 on Ebay) effective, and I haven't seen any moisture underneath like the vinyl bras get.

Buy the hood deflector and paint it body colour, blends right in. I wanted a GG but was told six months so I took the black one, the hood deflector is black anyway so you can't hardly see it on my E. Only problem is I got a black E and man it looks great when it's clean but that's like never!

If you look in your local yellow pages for places that do tinting and graphics for cars one of those guys will be doing the stoneguard/clearguard thing. There is a kit available but its about 100 bucks and covers like 6 inches of hood. I just want 2 inches. Professional installation is recommended. Its a bit tricky: need 2 people, wet it, align it, get bubbles out etc. I saw it done on speedvision one time.

That must be the Xpel kit I saw on the web, www.xpel.com, $109 for the hood kit, looks like it is 6"+, they must think you will get dings that far up, they also sell uncut film, I think I'll try to kit, I have installed vinyl signs before, not too bad if you are careful.

FYI, these things pay for themselves if you lease your Element.

At least end, most leasing companies will "allow" you only a small number of "dings", after which you get dinged. I did note that Honda Finance allows up to $1200 worth of such "damage", but other leasing companies won't be quite so generous.

Hey Slowhand,
I looked at an Ebay auction for the Magnetbra, and it said something about it being theft-proof.

I was thinking if it just stuck to the top of the hood, it'd be pretty easy to remove. Does their's wrap around or something, so that it cannot be removed without opening the hood?

Thanks,
eKennedy

The hood and headlight kits showed up today. I'll post how they went on... directions look pretty complete, they give a 4 year warranty on the film and claim you can wax right over it.

[quote:2b983f083b="eKennedy"]Hey Slowhand,
I looked at an Ebay auction for the Magnetbra, and it said something about it being theft-proof.

I was thinking if it just stuck to the top of the hood, it'd be pretty easy to remove. Does their's wrap around or something, so that it cannot be removed without opening the hood?

Thanks,
eKennedy[/quote:2b983f083b]

Theft proof? I don't think so. But it would only work for another Element owner and we don't have any dishonest Element owners. :D Anyway's probably not a market for it since it can be had for like 34.95 on Ebay and the Element is for now a rare beast.

There's a u-shaped retainer that goes along the whole edge of the front of the hood to hold the Magnetbra on. It's rubber covered aluminum. A thief wouldn't be able to get that whole retainer piece off a closed hood without breaking it, but that wouldn't do the owner any good.

The fact that it looks real secure probably is the best thing going for it. I live right in the heart of the inner city and nobody has touched it, YMMV.

Just installed the light shields I purchased... the directions call for using a spray bottle with a 25% alcohol 75% water solution on the adhesive to facilitate final placement. Went on easily, not hard to align with edges of light, you then use the plastic squeegee supplied to squeeze out the liquid working from the center to the edges...

Fingers crossed that the little dots that are still there are NOT air and only fluid, apparently in two weeks that should disappear unless my spray bottle atomized the mixture too much (I hope not).

I cut two circles out of the 12"x12" stock I purchased for the fog lights and "dry applied" them. No bubbles, look great... really forms to the light countour by heating them up by turning on and using a hair dryer to warm up the shield.

I did notice that in just the 3 months I've owned my E there were quite a few pits from road grit, I suspect that after a winter or two it would be pretty much pock marked like a windshield tends to get.

Will update once the two week "dry" time expires and comment on bubbles or no bubbles.

[quote:6e937855ed=" "]I've got one of these:
http://www.magnetbra.com/img/Element.jpg

A magnetbra, and I'm happy with it. They're cheap, (34.99 on Ebay) effective, and I haven't seen any moisture underneath like the vinyl bras get.[/quote:6e937855ed]http://www.magnetbra.com/

For those who have purchased the magnetbra and used it for a while - what is your opinion?

bluesman77

I was looking at Invinca-Shield (http://www.invinca-shield.com/asp/genkit.asp?kit=1839). It's the 3M film. At $98 for the kit - and you install it yourself - it must be gold-plated.

:roll:

I'll talk to the trim shop around the corner.

[quote:b474b38733=" "][quote:b474b38733=" "]I've got one of these:
A magnetbra, and I'm happy with it. They're cheap, (34.99 on Ebay) effective, and I haven't seen any moisture underneath like the vinyl bras get.[/quote:b474b38733]

For those who have purchased the magnetbra and used it for a while - what is your opinion?

bluesman77[/quote:b474b38733]

I'm interested too. Slowhand, I hope you can give us an update...

Bill

If all a magnetbra is is just a sheet of magnet... I wouldn't do it. I have raced and auto-x'd for years and always used sheet magnet for numbers and sponsor logos and such. Anytime in the rain the water would always get a little under the magnet. The edges of the magnets also would begin to rust a little. After only 6-10 hours in the rain or a long weekend the rust would actually run down the sides of the car.

I can't imagine what it would do long term. Also allowing water to remain underneath the magnet could eventually cloud the paint.

Now if the magnetbra has been treated on the edges then the rust running wouldn't apply... still can't see how water isn't going to run underneath the magnet...

Here we are in the middle of the 'stone' season, light guards appear to be working great, no dings, pits or nicks yet...

I turn on my headlights and I am noticing little marks where stones hit the protectant instead of the headlights. Some are large. I am glad I have this, and when I installed my fogs last week I put the film on before installation. Cut out circles 3.5" in diameter--was perfect. sspiller, I think you did the same thing.

(Daily I drive through construction cattlechutes in an area with lots of truck traffic)

I have a couple extra almost full 12"x12" sheets 3M material, too small for our CRV headlight assemblies. Anybody know of any good uses for this stuff other than just headlights? Maybe protect my wristwatch bezel?

My friendly neiborhood Xtreme Auto Acc told me that at the end of January he will have software and plotter to cut the clear protectant for leading edge hood, headlights foq lights or what ever for all makes and models. (Element included). Don't have his prices yet, He says this clear protectant is superior to 3m and guaranteed for life of Auto.