Fusion hood protection

[sdeeble]

Has any one had their hood protected by a 3M Clear Plastic product or Leather bra?

 

Just got myself a Ruby Red Fusion and it has a great front that I want to keep it that way for alot of years.

 

Any suggestions?

[SteveB_TX]

I bought the 3M Paint Defender System to protect my Z. One of these days I will find the time to apply it. :)

[jsolan]

Has anyone found a leather bra that fit these new fusions? My old fusion was a magnet for rocks (replaced the windshield twice and had half a dozen ding mark on the hood) on the roads I drive. It was too far gone to worry about protecting, but I want to protect this new one. I think I would prefer a bra over the 3m coating, but maybe it's my ignorance of the product.

[acdii]

The 3M product should be applied by a professional, its one of those products that if not installed correctly will look bad, but when done correctly you dont see it. It does work very well at protecting the paint, where the bra if not tight can rub the paint off the car, or leave marks in the paint from movement.

 

The 3M is precut to fit the car, and is applied very much like window tint. The surface has to be perfectly clean or you will trap the junk under the film and will have to live without or remove the film and start over with new film. I am pretty good at doing window tints, but I would not even attempt to install the clear stuff.

[cwb1183]

I self installed this product.

http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin/products_ip/browser.cgi?prevtype=Automobiles+and+light+trucks&prevyear=2013&prevmake=FORD&prevmodel=FUSION&prevsubmodel=&prevseries=&type=Automobiles+and+light+trucks&year=2013&make=FORD&model=FUSION&submodel=TITANIUM

 

 

I am very pleased.

You have to be very careful, install some of the smaller pieces of the kit to learn as you go along, clean the area with alcohol and mild soapy water.

I installed the invisible mask kits:

bumper Kit FO-11557

Hood ,fender and mirror kit FO-11560

Door handle clip kit- free w/order

Total cost with a free 10% off code which you can search for on line, About $250.00

 

It was scary at times, you need a lot of light to see what you are doing, watch the video they send you several times, go slow.

I installed my kits in the garage w/extra lighting, must be no wind. make sure all the small bubbles are out of the film, you need very good lighting to see this.

Make sure you use enough baby shampoo or dish soap in the spray mix so you can slide the film around to get it in place.

 

10% off code is : helloagain

Edited July 31, 2013 by cwb1183

[acdii]

I self installed this product.

http://www.invisiblemask.com/cgi-bin/products_ip/browser.cgi?prevtype=Automobiles+and+light+trucks&prevyear=2013&prevmake=FORD&prevmodel=FUSION&prevsubmodel=&prevseries=&type=Automobiles+and+light+trucks&year=2013&make=FORD&model=FUSION&submodel=TITANIUM

 

 

I am very pleased.

You have to be very careful, install some of the smaller pieces of the kit to learn as you go along, clean the area with alcohol and mild soapy water.

I installed the invisible mask kits:

bumper Kit FO-11557

Hood ,fender and mirror kit FO-11560

Door handle clip kit- free w/order

Total cost with a free 10% off code which you can search for on line, About $250.00

 

It was scary at times, you need a lot of light to see what you are doing, watch the video they send you several times, go slow.

I installed my kits in the garage w/extra lighting, must be no wind.

You are much braver than I am. After reading the directions for the 3M, I said, um nope, not even going to try to attempt it. I'll tear down an auto transmission, but I am not touching that stuff!

[cwb1183]

I installed the invisimask kits soon after I recieved the car in early April 200 miles, I now have over 5,000 miles with several long trips, the kit still looks great.

It is challenging but if you are handy, have patience, follow the instructions, install the small pieces first and learn as you go, It can be done.

Pictures below.

The dealer Quoted me $1,000 to install a kit like this, I was willing to risk $250 to save $750.

Edited July 20, 2013 by cwb1183

[sdeeble]

Thanks everyone! Looking forward to seeing some photos of Fusions that have had it done. :happy feet:

[Terps]

Thanks everyone! Looking forward to seeing some photos of Fusions that have had it done. :happy feet:

I had my whole front end done, about 18" up the hood/bumper/lights/fogs/mirrors. The lady who did it also threw in behind the door handles to protect from finger nails. The fog lights were done with a thicker material as they are more vulnerable being so low. You can dig through the gallery for pics of mine but it is called invisible bra for a reason. The only time I notice it is when it collects dust because the dust sticks to it way more than the paint.

 

I would avoid a leather one like the plague unless the car never gets wet because they are dirt magnets that scrub the dirt into your paint.

[djminfll]

I had my whole front end done, about 18" up the hood/bumper/lights/fogs/mirrors. The lady who did it also threw in behind the door handles to protect from finger nails. The fog lights were done with a thicker material as they are more vulnerable being so low. You can dig through the gallery for pics of mine but it is called invisible bra for a reason. The only time I notice it is when it collects dust because the dust sticks to it way more than the paint.

 

I would avoid a leather one like the plague unless the car never gets wet because they are dirt magnets that scrub the dirt into your paint.

When you use a leather bra, in addition to the dirt, the portion under the paint is not exposed to sun and it fades at a different rate than the rest of the car. I had one on a car a number of years ago, and when I took it off, I was sorry i had ever put in on - the paint under the bra was a shade darker than the rest of the body.

[cwb1183]

I had my whole front end done, about 18" up the hood/bumper/lights/fogs/mirrors. The lady who did it also threw in behind the door handles to protect from finger nails. The fog lights were done with a thicker material as they are more vulnerable being so low. You can dig through the gallery for pics of mine but it is called invisible bra for a reason. The only time I notice it is when it collects dust because the dust sticks to it way more than the paint.

 

I would avoid a leather one like the plague unless the car never gets wet because they are dirt magnets that scrub the dirt into your paint.

Terps what did it cost you?

Edited July 21, 2013 by cwb1183

[Terps]

It was about 600 total I think, had the windows tinted at the same time and I think that's about right for the total breakdown. I didn't go through a shop though so my price might be low compared to what others have paid for a full front end.

[LEM]

Maybe this sounds silly, but wouldn't it be better to have the front of the car repainted after a couple of years to get rid of any rock chips or other damage?

I really feel like having that plastic in my car doesn't make me really be enjoying it, because every time I look at it, I'll see that.

 

Somehow I felt the same with my previous car. I had it for 11 years and I was always worried to have it damaged or a little dirty. Now that I replaced it by the Fusion I realized that I didn't really enjoy it

during so many years because I was always taking too much care of it and worried that it could get damaged.

[hybridbear]

Maybe this sounds silly, but wouldn't it be better to have the front of the car repainted after a couple of years to get rid of any rock chips or other damage?

I really feel like having that plastic in my car doesn't make me really be enjoying it, because every time I look at it, I'll see that.

You're not the only one. I think the same way...

[Terps]

Maybe this sounds silly, but wouldn't it be better to have the front of the car repainted after a couple of years to get rid of any rock chips or other damage?

I really feel like having that plastic in my car doesn't make me really be enjoying it, because every time I look at it, I'll see that.

 

Somehow I felt the same with my previous car. I had it for 11 years and I was always worried to have it damaged or a little dirty. Now that I replaced it by the Fusion I realized that I didn't really enjoy it

during so many years because I was always taking too much care of it and worried that it could get damaged.

I guess my experience is the opposite. I let my last car get beat up because I didn't care much about it. You can't see the film unless you are pretty close and I'd rather protect the paint now instead of being lazy and saying I'll just get it repainted in a few years which will most likely cost way more if you want it to blend properly.

 

I also have had poor experiences with properly repainted bumpers not holding up like factory paint so I figure why risk it?

[anguyen]

I had my 85' T Bird brought new tinted with 3M and never go back with 3M. Just come back from Executive Motor sport for Black Max Tint windows 30% next to the best Blac Max ceramic tint, 6" front glass, and front invisible clear plastic covered for , 1/4 hood, bumper, two side fender 1/4, and two mirrors. I bargain and got it for $852.00 drive out