Rock chips and bug splatter is a reality every vehicle owner must face. A driver can take all the necessary precautions to avoid these objects but sooner or later a nasty rock end up hitting the front-end. In the past, a leather or vinyl bra was commonly used for added protection. Unfortunately, this application is rather ghastly in terms of physical appearance.

I wanted a formidable means of protection while maintaining the natural lines of my vehicle. This is why I recently installed 3M Scotchgard Protective Film on our brand new 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara. It is a clear bra designed to shield surfaces from stone chips. Depending on the installation or color of a vehicle, it is practically invisible.

Here are some pictures of our Suzuki with the 3M Scotchgard Protective film. Protected sections on our vehicle include the hood, front bumper, fog lights, headlights, side mirrors and wheel fenders. A passerby won’t notice anything at all, unless they’re really close to the sheet metal.

The clear bra was professionally installed by 3M Certified specialists. Since I live near Vancouver, BC Canada, the kind folks at Vancouver Clear Bra utilized their services to apply the product. Their attention to detail, service and workmanship is excellent. There’s also a 5 year warranty by 3M.

It is possible to install this product by yourself or with a partner. A novice can save quite a bit of money by purchasing a pre-cut kit. But unless you’re a professional detailer, I’d highly suggest a certified specialist for a quality installation, especially on larger areas with complicated curves. In fact, I ordered a similar protective film (a few months ago) for my 17 inch laptop called the Invisible Shield. It was a real burden to install. I could have gotten into a lot of trouble if the clear bra was installed with my own hands.

How much did it cost me? Well, the total cost is less than a paint job for the front-end. It also saves me a lot of time from applying touch-up paint on a peppered bumper. If you care about the finish of a vehicle or would like to minimize stone chips, I would highly recommend 3M Scotchgard Paint Protection Film as a viable solution. The vehicle will thank you in the end!