What parts of the S4 do I clear bra?

[Psalm40]

My 2012 is slated for production on Friday! I am expecting delivery in late September. Before I pick-up the car, I am hoping to have a few things done. 1.) Clear bra and 2.) Custom radar detctor with laser jammer install.

Where are owners putting the clear bra material? I did an Audizine search, by the way, and found nothing helpful. This is my first car that I will be doing it to, and all I know is that I want the entire hood done, not 1/2 or 1/4, I don't like the partial look. I was going to do the entire hood, front bumper, and ?...do I do the entire front quarter panels? or is there a more natural line that they could follow to avoid having to do that?

Thanks!

Oh, and for the radar/laser I am thinking a Laser Interceptor dual head, standard "strength" in combination with the new Escort 8500 ci Plus...either the Escort or the Beltronics STi-R Plus?.....Still shopping around....

[helix139]

My 2012 is slated for production on Friday! I am expecting delivery in late September. Before I pick-up the car, I am hoping to have a few things done. 1.) Clear bra and 2.) Custom radar detctor with laser jammer install.

Where are owners putting the clear bra material? I did an Audizine search, by the way, and found nothing helpful. This is my first car that I will be doing it to, and all I know is that I want the entire hood done, not 1/2 or 1/4, I don't like the partial look. I was going to do the entire hood, front bumper, and ?...do I do the entire front quarter panels? or is there a more natural line that they could follow to avoid having to do that?

Thanks!

Oh, and for the radar/laser I am thinking a Laser Interceptor dual head, standard "strength" in combination with the new Escort 8500 ci Plus...either the Escort or the Beltronics STi-R Plus?.....Still shopping around....

I have full hood covered with the new 60" Xpel clear-coated film. Additionally, my front bumper, full front fenders. A-pillars, leading edge of the roof, area behind the rear wheels, and rear bumper luggage area are all covered in Avery Dennison Nano Fusion. My headlights are covered in Clearshield but I would recommend a different film as it has scratched easily and I'll have to have those two pieces replaced after less than a year of use (under warranty, of course, but with a different film). Both the Xpel and Nano Fusion have nano-bonded clearcoats that will not separate and give a durable, scratch-resistant, and texture-free finish. I'm really quite happy with the overall result. I also maintain my film with Premiere PF1 Film Cleanse, TTR, and Crystalline.

for the radar detector and jammer, definitely go Laser Interceptor. Quad if you can afford it. I have the quad but havent gotten around to installing the rear heads yet. The front heads fit perfectly inside the front grill. Make sure they are level and properly aligned with your direction of travel and you can install them in the front grill right above the filler plate as far toward the outside as you can with the bubbles on the heads on the outside. I used 3M Mounting Tape and have jam-to-gun performance. I'll post pictures when I get home. For your detector, there is no reason to pay extra for the 9500ci when the Bel STi-R Plus uses the same antenna, offers superior performance through band segmentation, and doesn't make you pay extra for useless laser shifters that you will not use.

[nick71692]

I did the whole nose and 12" back on the side fenders and hood. I also did the mirrors. Never had any issue with rocks getting past that and scratching. The only issue I had was since my whole hood was not done and I had Ibis, as the film slightly discolored, you could see it more.

[shookatash]

I did the whole nose and 12" back on the side fenders and hood. I also did the mirrors. Never had any issue with rocks getting past that and scratching. The only issue I had was since my whole hood was not done and I had Ibis, as the film slightly discolored, you could see it more.

same with me re: the visibility of the bra on the hood. i got the entire front done, bumper, lights, fogs, 15 inches into the hood and fenders, mirrors, door edges, inside door handles, under gas door, under trunk.

very much worth it as i saved my paint twice already. last week i saw a big black mark on the lower bumper (guess i hit something greasy) and i was able to wipe it off with a little goo gone. today a truck kicked up a cardboard box that i didn't have a choice but to drive into, and there is ink transfer from the box on the clear bra. I expect this to goo gone off as well. But think about the scratches this cardboard box would have left had it hit my paint straight on!

=) best investment yet.

[helix139]

I did the whole nose and 12" back on the side fenders and hood. I also did the mirrors. Never had any issue with rocks getting past that and scratching. The only issue I had was since my whole hood was not done and I had Ibis, as the film slightly discolored, you could see it more.

You can get rid of a lot of that discoloring with some PF1 Film Cleanse and/or TTR. You'd be amazed at the dirt it can pull out of a clearbra

[Psalm40]

Thanks for the input. I stopped by to look at a buddy's A4 this afternoon. I think that all I'll have done is the full hood and the bumper up to the point where it hits the front quarter panel. That would leave the front edges of the quarter panel unprotected, but I hate the lines that come with a partial- panel coverage, and I don't want to cover the whole quarter panel with material.
As for the radar/laser...I already have an LI dual from my prior GT-R, so that is covered. I don't want a 9500ci, but the newer model, the 8500 ci, looks interesting. The 8500ci seems to be a 9500 with the m4 (vs m3 innards) and no auto learn. The STi-R plus has the "better" m3 innards, but is more expensive....
I have a little time to decide I suppose.

[helix139]

Thanks for the input. I stopped by to look at a buddy's A4 this afternoon. I think that all I'll have done is the full hood and the bumper up to the point where it hits the front quarter panel. That would leave the front edges of the quarter panel unprotected, but I hate the lines that come with a partial- panel coverage, and I don't want to cover the whole quarter panel with material.
As for the radar/laser...I already have an LI dual from my prior GT-R, so that is covered. I don't want a 9500ci, but the newer model, the 8500 ci, looks interesting. The 8500ci seems to be a 9500 with the m4 (vs m3 innards) and no auto learn. The STi-R plus has the "better" m3 innards, but is more expensive....
I have a little time to decide I suppose.

Curious as to why you don't want to go with full front fender coverage. You can't tell it's on there and it gives the added benefit of providing protection from anything kicked up by the front wheels.

That 8500ci does look interesting, but seems like a lot for what you actually get. Are you against window mount units? I believe any of the 9500ix, Redline, or V1 would have additional benefits over the 8500ci.

BTW, here are my LI install pics:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5163/5724691649_08158c5232_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5724693341_1f71cee148_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5724695091_2cdd264802_b.jpg

[Psalm40]

What do you mean by "full front fender coverage"? Like the full front quarter panels? I agree that would give a lot of protection, but seems a little excessive? I'll take another look at that option...the front quarter panels looked easy enough to cover.
Regarding the radar...I am a bit against a windshield mount. I have been lucky enough to use the Country Joy mount with my V1 in my past Subaru and GT-R. I now have the V1 hardwired into our 135i, and I think I'll just keep it there. Since there is no easy way to firmly mount a V1 in the Audi, I'm thinking about trying one of the installed units. My buddy deals Escort, so I get a 15% discount on Escort units, but not Beltronics. I really want the STi-R plus, but it is EXPENSIVE!
I like your LI button in the ashtray. I think I'll mount my button and control panel in there as well.

Thanks for the pics, I love how the LI heads fit so well in the grill.

[helix139]

What do you mean by "full front fender coverage"? Like the full front quarter panels? I agree that would give a lot of protection, but seems a little excessive? I'll take another look at that option...the front quarter panels looked easy enough to cover.
Regarding the radar...I am a bit against a windshield mount. I have been lucky enough to use the Country Joy mount with my V1 in my past Subaru and GT-R. I now have the V1 hardwired into our 135i, and I think I'll just keep it there. Since there is no easy way to firmly mount a V1 in the Audi, I'm thinking about trying one of the installed units. My buddy deals Escort, so I get a 15% discount on Escort units, but not Beltronics. I really want the STi-R plus, but it is EXPENSIVE!
I like your LI button in the ashtray. I think I'll mount my button and control panel in there as well.

Thanks for the pics, I love how the LI heads fit so well in the grill.

Check out the radardetector.net forums for a discount at radarbusters.com, which sells the STi-R Plus. as far as the front quarterpanels, my clearbra has already given me at least 1 save there. Personally I think it is necessary to have some protection there and full protection is certainly no more excessive than the hood. I'd strongly urge you to consider it, as putting film on that panel is cheaper than a respray

[Psalm40]

Can you tell the "colour" or texture difference from the front quater panels and the door panels? I would do the entire front quarter panel.

[helix139]

Can you tell the "colour" or texture difference from the front quater panels and the door panels? I would do the entire front quarter panel.

It varies with the type of film you use, but with the Nano Fusion on mine (I have the entire panel covered), absolutely not. It's optically clear and texture-free.

[wwhan]

I did the full front end; nose/bumper cover, full front fenders, full hood, on Ibis white, so yellowing was a concern.

The material was 3M Ventureshield, which apparently is difficult to install, but I found a good installer. The PPF still
looks invisible & car still looks new, after 1 year. One needs to be careful of the wax one uses on PPF, some are not compatible.

[shookatash]

You can get rid of a lot of that discoloring with some PF1 Film Cleanse and/or TTR. You'd be amazed at the dirt it can pull out of a clearbra

i'm going to look into this, thanks.

[Kandiru]

She also need to wear fishnets or you will cough up a nice chunk for
non-warranty wear and tear radiator replacement (shame, but they can
still do it, this while ECS sells an OEM screen, so VAG know there is a
problem):
http://pages.suddenlink.net/bobpaule/IMG_2933.JPG
http://pages.suddenlink.net/bobpaule/IMG_2934.JPG

[helix139]

She also need to wear fishnets or the nights will be lonely with car in
shop and no warranty coverage, $100 DYI job here:


Actually those pics were taken several months ago. I've since put the OEM Intercooling Radiator screen on mine.

[Psalm40]

I am picking up the car about 500 miles away....I may need to put the radiator screen in prior to driving it home....

[reggiedavid]

She also need to wear fishnets or you will cough up a nice chunk for
non-warranty wear and tear radiator replacement (shame, but they can
still do it, this while ECS sells an OEM screen, so VAG know there is a
problem):
nice fishnets. where did you get them?