I have a white 2005 MT, it just passed 1000 miles last weekend Anyway, figured I'll introduce myself here and ask some stupid questions. (I'm in Round Rock, TX, I see a few 8s in my neighborhood, wonder if their owners are on this board as well?)

When I was cleaning my car the other day, I noticed this thing... not sure how to decribe it, but I'll try... in front of the rear tires on the body right behind the lower corner of the rear doors, there is this large piece of plastic cover thing. It's the same color as the body, it looks almost like a giant piece of thick transparent tape being taped over there. I'm wondering if it's supposed to be there, or is it some kinda of protective covering they stick onto new cars that the dealer forgot to remove? I'm not sure if I should even attempt to remove it (It tends to collect dirt around the edge of this thing)

Thanks

 

its a paint protector.. DO NOT REMOVE IT.... unless of course you don't care about rocks kicking up and hitting it there.... thats the highest probability location.. thats why they put it there...

 

yeah, the paint protector. The damn thing catches my eye all the time, even with my astigmatism. Sucks, but useful.

 

Thanks. I knew someone would know what that is on this board

 

Some people have something similar installed on their car's snout -- another high damage area from gravel and what-not. It's called a clear bra. And you'll see a lot of cars (but not many 8's) with the regular black bra, but those things are gross in my opinion.

 

See this thread for my experience with the clear-bra.

https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-discussion-3/no-clearbra-bumper-58675/

It's GREAT!!!

Zoom, Zoom!

 

Doesn't bother me unless I wax the car. Gotta be carefull to get all the wax off or it leaves a white square.

 

I peeled mine off. Probably not smart, but it always bothered me seeing them there. Pretty easy to remove with a fingernail and careful pulling. Part of the reason I removed it was that wax had accumulated around the outline, making it stand out further. The paint is so thin on this car, I wouldn't be surprised if rocks could do damage through the plastic cover

 

Like everyone said it is suppose to be there for the protection. Just an fyi if you use Meguiars NXT tech wax it goes on clear and you dont get the build up around it. But since you have a white 8 you wont see it anyway.

 

Hey mrjunkfood, I sent you a PM.

 

Yep...same stuff as the clear bra, which I highly recommend. I've maintained the car both with and without a clear bra and I'm here to tell ya, it protects the car a lot more than you think. The front end of the 8 is a ding-magnet.