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Ceramic Coating - worth it?
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:25 am
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:25 am
Just bought new car last night. We keep our cars very clean all the time but debating getting coating on this one. Any of you recommend it? Can you still use car washes?
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Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:34 am to Shotgun Willie
If you're buying a new car and spending thousands of dollars to ceramic coat it to protect it, don't bring it to Benny's for the high school kid to scratch it. Wash it by hand.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:43 am to Shotgun Willie
No. I’d rather have my vehicle protected with a clear shield (clear bra essentially on the front bumper, hood, and driver and passenger mirrors) than ceramic coated. Rock chips will do far greater damage quickly.
This post was edited on 11/19/23 at 9:41 am
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:45 am to Shotgun Willie
The good coatings are decent. What you get through a stealership is probably shite. Paint protection film is a better option in my opinion
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:49 am to Shotgun Willie
Yes, but that needs to be qualified. I did my own, with a complete surface prep including decontamination wash, claying and wipe down with isopropyl alcohol or similar panel prep. I used G-techniq CSL followed by two coats of EXOv4. Took a whole weekend. Do not DIY unless you know what you are doing and don't go cheap. Plan on not having your car for a day or possibly two.
I think it is totally worth if if you care about your paint surface. I have a black car, so it is even more particularly important to me. I maintain mine with a ceramic sealant (I use the G-techniq product) wipe down every once in a while and the paint continues to look brand new at almost one year old now.
I think it is totally worth if if you care about your paint surface. I have a black car, so it is even more particularly important to me. I maintain mine with a ceramic sealant (I use the G-techniq product) wipe down every once in a while and the paint continues to look brand new at almost one year old now.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:50 am to Shotgun Willie
FWIW, I decided to try and do it myself when my car was new. I bought one of the higher rated ones. It was pretty easy to apply. End result? Water spots. It didnt do anything to protect it
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:50 am to billjamin
It all depends on how you maintain it. If you wash your car in the drive thru type places, then no it won’t hold up. I also think it depends on the color, you won’t notice it much on white or lighter colors but a paint corrected black or darker color is noticeably better.
The better option is paint protected film but it’s significantly more expensive to do the entire vehicle. I did my front cap on my latest truck and happy with the results
The better option is paint protected film but it’s significantly more expensive to do the entire vehicle. I did my front cap on my latest truck and happy with the results
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:54 am to Shotgun Willie
I’d both of my cayman S and my 911, we didn’t do the panamera not my Jeep GC.
I had it done in Baton Rouge and I’d suggest having the contractor that you chose show some pictures of their work or ask for references.
I’ve seen some extremely good ones and some that were very average and trust me you don’t want an average ceramic coating.
It wasn’t cheap
I had it done in Baton Rouge and I’d suggest having the contractor that you chose show some pictures of their work or ask for references.
I’ve seen some extremely good ones and some that were very average and trust me you don’t want an average ceramic coating.
It wasn’t cheap
Posted on 11/19/23 at 8:59 am to billjamin
quote:
Paint protection film is a better option in my opinion
Huge price investment for whole body PPF and even more important to pick not only the right installer, but the right product. If you do both of those things, its gonna be quite expensive. If you don't do whole body (ie only nose, rocker panels, etc) then you are still gonna want something to protect the finish with the rest of the car.
You can ceramic on top of PPF, but not PPF on top of ceramic, or at least should not due to bonding issues. Really two different goals between the two with a little but not much overlap.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:13 am to Shotgun Willie
quote:
Can you still use car washes?
I wouldn't. It will still scratch and swirl. Though not as bad.
I did one car myself and had a couple done by pros.
I don't think I would do it myself again. That was a lot of damn work.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:14 am to jamiegla1
quote:
FWIW, I decided to try and do it myself when my car was new. I bought one of the higher rated ones. It was pretty easy to apply. End result? Water spots. It didnt do anything to protect it
Sounds like you did something wrong
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:25 am to Shotgun Willie
I had one of my vehicles done by someone the does only that for a living. I asked tons of questions beforehand just to find out more since the ceramic coating craze has kind of died down. He explained every single step of his process to me and asked me to go by any time I wanted to during the process.
The absolute most important and critical steps are the surface prep BEFORE applying the coating.
You can’t imagine the acid rain particles that are on a brand new vehicle until you see them being removed. The whole vehicle was prepped from top to bottom, including the lights. He applies a marine gel coating and then a ceramic coating. It’s a threes day process at minimum if it’s done properly.
With all of that being said I would have him ceramic coat another vehicle in a heartbeat! Worth every penny and in my opinion it works! Water beads off like crazy and washing the vehicle is almost effortless.
ETA: If you do get your vehicle done NEVER EVER go through a drive through carwash under any circumstances! You should never do that regardless. Drive through carwashes absolutely destroy a vehicles paint job!
Either wash by hand or find a brushless (touch less) carwash.
The absolute most important and critical steps are the surface prep BEFORE applying the coating.
You can’t imagine the acid rain particles that are on a brand new vehicle until you see them being removed. The whole vehicle was prepped from top to bottom, including the lights. He applies a marine gel coating and then a ceramic coating. It’s a threes day process at minimum if it’s done properly.
With all of that being said I would have him ceramic coat another vehicle in a heartbeat! Worth every penny and in my opinion it works! Water beads off like crazy and washing the vehicle is almost effortless.
ETA: If you do get your vehicle done NEVER EVER go through a drive through carwash under any circumstances! You should never do that regardless. Drive through carwashes absolutely destroy a vehicles paint job!
Either wash by hand or find a brushless (touch less) carwash.
This post was edited on 11/19/23 at 9:31 am
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:32 am to SG_Geaux
quote:
Sounds like you did something wrong
highly likely. I have enough to try it again. Im not sure if I can get the water spots off with just a clay bar, though.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:36 am to jamiegla1
quote:
Im not sure if I can get the water spots off with just a clay bar, though.
You sure that is water spots and not high spots in the coating? I don't think you will get high spots of with elbow grease.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:37 am to jamiegla1
I would stop by and watch the guy working on my vehicle and there’s no way in heck that I would ever attempt that myself.
Maybe he’s overly meticulous (and I appreciate that a lot!) but this dude clay barred and surface prepped for at least a day and a half to make sure there was nothing to chance! He’s a perfectionist and one of those that knows his work is a reflection of him and his reputation.
It really is some extremely tedious work if you’re doing it properly and have pride in what you’re doing. Surface prep is the key!
Maybe he’s overly meticulous (and I appreciate that a lot!) but this dude clay barred and surface prepped for at least a day and a half to make sure there was nothing to chance! He’s a perfectionist and one of those that knows his work is a reflection of him and his reputation.
It really is some extremely tedious work if you’re doing it properly and have pride in what you’re doing. Surface prep is the key!
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:46 am to SG_Geaux
quote:
You sure that is water spots and not high spots in the coating?
pretty sure. they weren't there when I first got the vehicle. In fact they seemed to show up AFTER I applied the ceramic.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:48 am to 31TIGERS
quote:
I would stop by and watch the guy working on my vehicle and there’s no way in heck that I would ever attempt that myself.
thats probably why his look great and mine doesnt haha.
One thing id never do is use a compound to buff anything out. Theres a 100% chance of me destroying the clear coat
Posted on 11/19/23 at 9:50 am to Shotgun Willie
Posted on 11/19/23 at 10:07 am to SG_Geaux
quote:
Sounds like you did something wrong
Not necessarily...If you don't have a softer sacrificial ceramic topcoat, this is the kryptonite to ceramic coatings - water spots. If you live in an area that has hard water, and or if you typically are washing your car in higher temperatures, particularly in the sun, this I would highly, highly recommend a "sacrificial" silica based layer, preferably two coats.
Posted on 11/19/23 at 10:13 am to jamiegla1
quote:
You sure that is water spots and not high spots in the coating?
High spots are typically gonna look like smudges that won't wipe off with finer beading and less dramatic white color, whereas of course waterspots are gonna have a teardrops of salt appearance.
High spots aren't typically difficult to deal with if you catch them right away may be as simple as another light material application over and hand buffing, if not, I've never had a high spot I couldn't resolve with an orbital and less aggressive polish (ie Sonax perfect finish). You really, really have to have a good detailing light to inspect as you go as well.
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