I have 3M protection on my hood, fenders, and mirrors. I'm going to polish and wax my car in a few days, using my porter cable for the first time. I'm wondering if I should take any precautions around the film while using the porter cable, such as if it could peel, scratch, get hazy, etc. Anyone have experience with this?

 

i wouldnt polish the 3m film- its o.k. to wax or synthetic it, but i would not use polish of any significant grit (it can haze).

 

I would blue tape off the edge of the film when you do the paint for swirls. You can use a plastic polish and the pc to take out the swirls/marks in the film itself and I would tape off the paint side in that case.

It doesn't haze, very similar to taking the hazing out of lexan headlights.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

 

I was told by my installer to use spray wax on the film - any spray wax - no polish.

 

i remember a place online you can buy 3m clear bra and they ship it to you. anyone have the link to the website? anyone know if it's hard to installt he 3m clear bra yourself? anyone done it? what else would you need?

 

I put mine on and the bumper and mirrors were a bitch. I would rate the job I did as a 6 out of 10 . Best to have a professional do it as I will in the future.

It does eliminate the paint hits which I am wholly grateful for.

 

I also have the 3M on my S. I would highly recommend having it professionally installed given what I've seen and heard.

I only use Zaino products and really don't hit it (3M) with any of the polishes other than the sprays. I've had it since the summer of '04 and I'm quite happy with it.

 

Using the porta cable polisher PROPERLY on the 3m paint protection film / clear bra will turn it into near mint condition. Just be sure to cover the seams with a 1/4" wide tape so that they'll will be free of wax afterward. You can use Plexus, 303, or any high quality PLASTIC protectant to maintain the shine/clarity of the film. But keep in mind that over time, with constant exposure to the sun, the film will degrade faster than if, for example, it stays in the garage most of the time. Need more help?