Hood Protection - Magnet Bra

[Kyrana]

Magnet Bra

Does anyone have any experience with this product? They just released a CX-5 model, and I am really tempted to get it. I like that it is removable, and has edge trim - should reduce grit/dirt sneaking in the front edge, right? I don't really want to pay for a clear bra (and based on my woeful ability to apply bumper stickers and phone protectors, I would EPIC fail at DIY). I saw that Mazda released a full bra as well, but I don't think I need that level of protection and hassle. Opinions appreciated - I didn't see a thread on this already.

 

[Geoff]

They only seem to have black or white for the CX5!?!?

 

[MATR6]

I might buy one & try it out. Just found 2-3 small chips towards the front of the hood already. Good thing my car is white. It only comes in black & white bc it'll be too hard to match paint colors.
Says on their site you can paint it to match.

 

[Kyrana]

Mat I have a Soul Red and I was thinking about the black - the idea of painting it makes me shudder a little, as I believe it would either be a mess, or have some horrible side effect. I am usually an in-town driver (I traded in a 2003 Protege with 67k miles on it), but I will be taking a 1600 mi road trip soon. I figured if nothing else, it would probably be good for the trip - if I don't like the looks in the long term, I can always take it off when I get home. Sorry to hear about your chips!
Have you installed anything like this before? It doesn

 

[MATR6]

Just ordered a white one for $61.94 shipped. I'll take pics & post when I get it.

 

[MATR6]

Got it today & took me a while to install as I tried to get the bulges out w/o installing the strip.
It was only 60 deg here today & car had not been driven.
Instructions were to install after cars been driven for the hot hood. So I spent a lot of time with the hair dryer.

It's been raining all week here so sorry for the iPhone pics with overcast sky. The white doesn't stick out that much from the Crystal White Pearl.
I'll take pics in the sun tomorrow or this weekend.

 

[Kyrana]

I think it looks pretty good, even in the cloudy conditions. How do you feel about the level of protection? And did you see any potential for debris getting under it?

 

[MATR6]

I think it looks pretty good, even in the cloudy conditions. How do you feel about the level of protection? And did you see any potential for debris getting under it?

It gets a little dusty underneath. Instructions are to wipe underneath with a damp cloth once a month or so.
I don't see the dust scratching the hood unless you are dragging the magnet back & forth.
It's definitely thick enough to protect a pebble but flexible enough to bend to the curves of the hood.
The owner, Bob, is very helpful too as I stretched the magnetbra a bit to much so it kept coming up after a drive. He gave clear instructions to undo the edges & let the magnet sit in the sun or heat so it can lay against the curve.

I'm going to keep this on as long as I don't get sick of the look. It's hardly noticeable so I prob won't take it off.
If anything it's worth it to just use on long hwy trips or in the winter when they dump loads of salt on the ground.

 

[MATR6]

Took some pics in the sun today. The off white of the magnetbra doesn't stand out as much.
The magnet bra did come up by the part of the hood crevice that dips down.
I would heat & smooth out so it'd stick but after a drive it would come up.
After emailing Bob at Magnetbra, he instructed to not pull the bra on the edge when rolling the edges to install.
I think what was happening was I'd heat the bra to where it would lay flat in my garage which is ~50 deg F. The outside temps have been below 40 at night so in the mornings the bra would shrink from the cold causing it to come up near the dip in the hood.

I made sure the bra is not stretched this afternoon & after we went out, the bra did not come up again.

Here are more pics in the sun.

 

[Gio26NJ]

Wow thanks for these pics might have to buy one for my pearl white 6. I emailed Bob he got back right away saying he will measure the new 6 in a couple if weeks and have this available.

 

[MATR6]

Wow thanks for these pics might have to buy one for my pearl white 6. I emailed Bob he got back right away saying he will measure the new 6 in a couple if weeks and have this available.

Yes Bob is quick in his responses. I'd like to see one in the new 6 although there is quite a bit of bumper in front of the hood that won't get protected. That's the leading edge, so it'll take more of the rocks/debris.
Are you on 6Crew or 6Club?

I hope the paint isn't mismatch after a few years from the sun compared to the area that the magnetbra covers the hood.

 

[Gio26NJ]

Yeah, I might need to apply some film to that leading edge which is plastic anyways. I'm on 6Club as ForzaEsEs26.

I hope so too, I was going to go with another ClearBra installation but I can't get anyone to sell me just the hood, fenders and mirrors kit. I tried putting an order at invisiblemask.com, they took my credit card info over the phone but never sent confirmation or took the money out. Tried calling them twice and never picked up so I had to close down that card and order a replacement card. The only reason I called it in is that I need them to add in a passenger mirror kit for the CX-5. Anyone ordering from that place should be real careful.

I'm sort of glad that didn't work out cause I kind of like this magnet idea better, wish there was a way to get the paint matched perfectly.

 

[MATR6]

Magnetbra's site says its paintable but I don't know how good the finish will last. Body shop will probably need to add a lot if flexer into the paint for it to flex.

 

[MATR6]

It's been on for a week, after I relayed the magnet with some slack, it stays flat to the hood at the areas that dip down & come up. By far the best $62 spent on the CX-5. Already have a small scratch on the magnetbra from debri so I know it's doing its job. I like how the white on white is stealth.

 

[MikeM.]

Already have a small scratch on the magnetbra from debri so I know it's doing its job.

The Mazda paint is much harder and more durable than the plastic bra so a scratch on the plastic bra does not necessarily mean it saved a scratch in the paint.

Besides, I've always preferred the "braless" look. (wink)

 

[MATR6]

The Mazda paint is much harder and more durable than the plastic bra so a scratch on the plastic bra does not necessarily mean it saved a scratch in the paint.

Besides, I've always preferred the "braless" look. (wink)

I can't even see it from far away. Looking at it parked in a parking lot, the white on white is hardly noticeable.
Yeah the material on the magnetbra isn't as durable as paint but better the magnetbra take the hit than the hood.

I never liked the black bras bc it made cars look like Hannibal so I only used them on road trips. This, I'm keeping on all year bc it's stealth. Plus it's my wife's car, she doesn't even notice it.

BTW, my name is Mike M. also.

 

[Gio26NJ]

I don't know about the paint being durable! my 6 already has a tiny little chip in the paint that made it through the thin little clearcoat.

Mike how is this thing holding up so far?

 

[MATR6]

I don't know about the paint being durable! my 6 already has a tiny little chip in the paint that made it through the thin little clearcoat.

Mike how is this thing holding up so far?

It's been great. It's much better than a regular vinyl bra that gets wet in the rain.
Other than the area by the crease of the hood lifting off when the weather gets cold near freezing temps, it's held up.
It'll need to relay it when it gets hot out per instructions from Magnetbra.
Bob at Magnetbra has always answered my questions promptly.
I didn't want to spend +$500 on a clear bra, so this is a great alternative at $62.

 

[MikeM.]

I don't know about the paint being durable! my 6 already has a tiny little chip in the paint that made it through the thin little clearcoat.

Paint can be little soft when the car is new. After a couple of months curing in the hot sun it will become a lot harder. I wouldn't sweat the details.

 

[MATR6]

I took the magnet bra off to wipe underneath it per the instructions. Noticed the the rubber trim used to keep the bra in place at the front edge of the hood has caused small scratches to the clearcoat due to the pressure from it.
Not sure how to explain it & I don't think it'll show up in pics as the scratches in the clearcoat can only be seen from light reflected on the paint. The trim is grooved on the inside to keep pressure to stay in place, so the scratches look like uniform wavy lines.
I've taken off the magnet bra & going to get some Scratch-X or something similar to buff out the scratches.
I'll probably only use this on road trips or if I know I'll be driving on the highway.
The scratches aren't a big deal, but I'll leave it off for now until I find more chips in the hood & will prob put it back on.