[CU2] Bonnet protector

[nickxau]

Hi everyone, I'm planning on going on a road trip and wanted to get the bonnet protector to... well, protect the bonnet from stone chips/scratches. Read from these forums that the cost is approx. $79 ex. installation.

I was wondering if anyone has it installed, what the installation looks like and if it's worth it. Any pics or illustrations would be appreciated as I'm planning to do a DIY, thx. Probably CL9 pics will do as I assume they'll be similar to the CU2?

[actcueuro]

Where'd they quote you $79?? I'm sure the Honda dealer here said it was $149 + install.

There are a few at my work that have the bonnet protector installed and it actually doesn't look so bad. Mind you, I think the car looks nicer without it, but, still, should really get one!

[nickxau]

Where'd they quote you $79?? I'm sure the Honda dealer here said it was $149 + install.

Someone got it from their dealer in Brisbane here (http://www.ozhonda.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2010716&postcount=1). Mind you this was a price from end of last year so it might be different now.


There are a few at my work that have the bonnet protector installed and it actually doesn't look so bad. Mind you, I think the car looks nicer without it, but, still, should really get one!

I was just planning to use it for this road trip so I don't really mind if it looks fugly. If it costs me less than $100 to protect my car from stone chips then I reckon it's money well spent. I believe stone chip repairs would cost upwards of $100?

[Type R Positive]

It should be a good investment, I got some bad chips on the front of mine.

[albii]

I have it and even though it could have been designed better, it does a good job .

[actcueuro]

Yeah, and I drive a lot, so it'd be good for me too. Does supersheep auto stock these?

[tony1234]

Yeah, and I drive a lot, so it'd be good for me too. Does supersheep auto stock these?
I doubt supercheap would have them.Too late a model car and not enough demand.

[denot]

get a car bra mate... or better. clear car bra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq73apFrB7A :)

[nickxau]

Thanks for all the replies. Can someone tell me how it actually attaches to the bonnet? i.e. does it stick to the bonnet? clip on the bonnet? screw on the bonnet? Can it be a DIY job?

[buddah51au]

I ordered a car bra before I took delivery of the car & after 18,500km of country driving I have 1 small chip on the trailing edge of the bonnet. I do believe they are worth every dollar but in saying that if I had $1300 to spare I would get a full front wrap with Venture Shield, meaning the complete bonnet, front guards, bumper & wing mirrors are covered with a clear plastic for protection. I guess you could say it is similar to window tint, but much thicker & clear.

[Youngster]

I ordered a car bra before I took delivery of the car & after 18,500km of country driving I have 1 small chip on the trailing edge of the bonnet. I do believe they are worth every dollar but in saying that if I had $1300 to spare I would get a full front wrap with Venture Shield, meaning the complete bonnet, front guards, bumper & wing mirrors are covered with a clear plastic for protection. I guess you could say it is similar to window tint, but much thicker & clear.

How much did you get the car bra for and where abouts?
I'm thinking about getting one very soon just for highway driving.

[actcueuro]

Car bras just look so damn ugly though. Mind you chip vs. car bra.

Car Bra +1!

[HunterZero]

Bonnet protector is pretty useless, it only protects the leading edge and about a foot up the bonnet from chips. Your bumper will still get chipped/pitted.

I have a tailored Robco car bra, and it doesn't look too bad - but both the car and the carbra are black. However, it's a bit of a chore to use. I only use it if I'm travelling out of the city. They're not really practical to use all the time.

http://www.carbras.com.au/

To fit it, you open the bonnet and slip the pocket over the bonnet, then close the bonnet and stretch it over the front bar. It attaches with adhesive velcro tabs, and well padded metal bend tabs that hook into the wheel arches. You will get a sweat on the first time you fit it, since it has to stretch a little. The car bra has to be warmed up in the sun when you put it on. Ideally the car has to be spotlessly clean and waxed when you put it on. And if it rains, you have to take the car bra off, you can't let it dry on the car.

It does have flaps for the headlight washers to pop out of, but I still avoid using the washers while the car bra is on.

Another good thing about the Robco one is the bug protection for the vents, and it has wind deflectors that send bugs and debris over the top of the car. Last time I drove to Canberra with it on, I didn't get a single bug splatter on the windshield. And the car bra mesh on the radiator intake was full of small bugs that it prevented from getting into the radiator.

Clear car bra is awesome since it doesn't look dorky, and you don't have to worry about taking it off/putting it on, but if you have a dark coloured car, you can see the car bra as it makes that area of the car look a little milky. On a lighter coloured car, you don't notice it unless you look really closely.

- HZ

[buddah51au]

I ordered My Car Bra from Car Bra Australia (Campbellfield in Victoria) ..... Note that they are far better than there opposition company located in Sydney). It was 2 days from order to delivery in country Qld which was very impressive. The cost was $440.00 in Dec,08.

I totally agree with the comment about them being ugly, but they serve the purpose for which they are designed & that is to protect the front of the car from stone chips, with the added benefit of also keeping bugs out of the air intakes. As for the above comment, I never remove my Bra when it is raining (we do get a lot of heavy tropical rain here on the Central Coast of QLD) & have no problems in leaving it attatched. For those concerned about the way they look you can always spend an extra $100 and get a couloured Bra which makes them less noticeable. I believe there are around 50 colours to choose from.

Let me also add that I only ever remove the Bra when the car gets washed & then I immediately refit it when the front of the car is dry. To date I have had no problems with scuffing of the paint under the Bra, the important thing I believe is keeping the area under the Bra well waxed.

[HunterZero]

I ordered My Car Bra from Car Bra Australia (Campbellfield in Victoria) ..... Note that they are far better than there opposition company located in Sydney).

Interesting... Since I have one from the Sydney company, and the quality appears to be superb. Fits perfectly, accurate stitching, and the felt lining and materials seem to be top notch quality. I was very impressed with the quality of it actually. In what way are the Car Bra Australia ones 'far better'?


As for the above comment, I never remove my Bra when it is raining (we do get a lot of heavy tropical rain here on the Central Coast of QLD) & have no problems in leaving it attatched.

I think that for a modern car with clear coat, it doesn't matter so much. I think that the leaflet that came with my carbra had this standard disclaimer not to put it on a wet car, or leave it on a car that's wet. It didn't give any explanation - maybe so the water trapped underneath doesn't stain or mark the paint of older cars. Last time I had my car bra there was intermittent moderate rain, and underneath the car bra was bone dry when I removed it. I can't think of any other reason why they'd say not to have it on in the rain.

- HZ

[buddah51au]

Interesting... Since I have one from the Sydney company, and the quality appears to be superb. Fits perfectly, accurate stitching, and the felt lining and materials seem to be top notch quality. I was very impressed with the quality of it actually. In what way are the Car Bra Australia ones 'far better'?



I think that for a modern car with clear coat, it doesn't matter so much. I think that the leaflet that came with my carbra had this standard disclaimer not to put it on a wet car, or leave it on a car that's wet. It didn't give any explanation - maybe so the water trapped underneath doesn't stain or mark the paint of older cars. Last time I had my car bra there was intermittent moderate rain, and underneath the car bra was bone dry when I removed it. I can't think of any other reason why they'd say not to have it on in the rain.

- HZ

The Bra's from Car Bra Australia are much lighter with a tighter fit & have the advantage of not having the Bonnet Envelope with Velcro that always comes unstuck. They are much easier to fit or remove as you don't have to worry about fitting it around the Bonnet first. There is no difference in the quality of the stitching between the 2 products (I still have the Robco Bra for my old FD1 in the cupboard).

I have purchased and used Bra's from both companies extensively and base my opinion on personal experience. I also ordered a Bra from Robco for a relative's CU2 in Silver & niether of us were impressed with the fit, so when it came time for me to get 1 I had no hesitation in going to their opposition & to date am very happy I made that choice.

[buddah51au]

I was just checking out the Car Bra Australia web site & sample picture of a Black Bra on a white CU2 looks very familiar, so does the person sitting in the drivers seat.....hmmmmm

[HunterZero]

I was just checking out the Car Bra Australia web site & sample picture of a Black Bra on a white CU2 looks very familiar, so does the person sitting in the drivers seat.....hmmmmm

Ha! The black CL9 Euro on the Robco site is similar to my car, but isn't mine...

- HZ

[HunterZero]

The Bra's from Car Bra Australia are much lighter with a tighter fit & have the advantage of not having the Bonnet Envelope with Velcro that always comes unstuck.

Hmmm... I didn't find it came unstuck, but I only used a couple of tabs of velcro under the bonnet to hold the pocket, and under the front lip. Fit was tight, and it held in place perfectly at 110km/h.

The bonnet envelope does mean it's impossible to remove the bra without opening the bonnet, which has an advantage in that it can't be stolen.

- HZ

[Type R Positive]

Remember hunterzero, you have a CL9 and your comparisons are not really applicable to CU2.

[Type R Positive]

Where'd they quote you $79?? I'm sure the Honda dealer here said it was $149 + install.

There are a few at my work that have the bonnet protector installed and it actually doesn't look so bad. Mind you, I think the car looks nicer without it, but, still, should really get one!
Actually $71.92 dealer list price. ;)

[HunterZero]

Remember hunterzero, you have a CL9 and your comparisons are not really applicable to CU2.

True, I can't comment on the fit for a Robco car bra on a CU2.

- HZ

[buddah51au]

I have fitted both brands to different CU2's & personally used both brands. In my opinion there is no comparison, although if I had the money it would be a clear car bra (full front wrap).

[pitiek]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but has anyone tried the Acura TSX full nose mask on our CU2?
I found one nasty stone chip on the corner of my bonnet after I drove to Ipswich, Gold Coast Sunshine Coast in the span of three days.. The odometer hasn't reached 2000k yet and it has stone chip aleeady...!!

The part number for pre 2011 model is 08P35-TL2-200 but I'm after the one for MY12 and from my research, the 08P35-TL2-200A should fit our CU2 perfectly.
It is half the price of Robco/Carbra Victoria to get it here ao it is very tempting.
I like the TSX nose mask better since it comes in four pieces so I can just use bonnet envelope most times and then install the rest of the kit when I do long distance drive.

Here is the link http://www.acurapartssuperstore.com/product_info.php?products_id=329

Opinion please...

Thanks...

[naturaltone]

sorry to bump a old thread. looking for 96/00 clear bonnet protector shipped to New york thanks