The question no one is asking about Ceramic coating

[LSBasi]

Had my previous M2 Comp treated with ceramic coating and front end PPF and couldn’t have been happier with the results (Shout out to Onyx Automotive in WestBrom)

But my question is, what happens when the 3-4 years have passed by and your ceramic has worn off?

Is it simply reapplied over the old coat? (Nice and easy)

Does what remains of the ceramic need to be wet sanded off before reapplying (Not so nice and easy)

or is there another process that needs to be carried out?

As I’m looking to keep my car till the wheels fall off, this is something playing on my mind

 

[RS03_SEN]

Had my previous M2 Comp treated with ceramic coating and front end PPF and couldn’t have been happier with the results (Shout out to Onyx Automotive in WestBrom)

But my question is, what happens when the 3-4 years have passed by and your ceramic has worn off?

Is it simply reapplied over the old coat? (Nice and easy)

Does what remains of the ceramic need to be wet sanded off before reapplying (Not so nice and easy)

or is there another process that needs to be carried out?

As I’m looking to keep my car till the wheels fall off, this is somth

By that time your car will probably want polishing again anyway so I'd just polish and apply more.


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[DW81]

By that time your car will probably want polishing again anyway so I'd just polish and apply more.


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Your in the detailing game now mate, do you think ceramic coatings last as long as Manufacturers say they do, even with safe washing procedures?
Just a a bit dubious about these numbers that get thrown about.
Have coated my car in cqaurtz uk 3.0 and reckon 18months tops.

 

[RS03_SEN]

Your in the detailing game now mate, do you think ceramic coatings last as long as Manufacturers say they do, even with safe washing procedures?
Just a a bit dubious about these numbers that get thrown about.
Have coated my car in cqaurtz uk 3.0 and reckon 18months tops.

I'd imagine your estimate would be more realistic. 4 years has surely got to be optimistic.

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[RS03_SEN]

Your in the detailing game now mate, do you think ceramic coatings last as long as Manufacturers say they do, even with safe washing procedures?
Just a a bit dubious about these numbers that get thrown about.
Have coated my car in cqaurtz uk 3.0 and reckon 18months tops.

They also claim one bottle will only do one car so maybe 4 years is possible when they ceramic is an inch thick! Ha.

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[Callump01]

I had Gtechniq Serum Ultra + EXO V4 on mine, manufacturer claims up to 9 years duration. Now that's optimistic!

 

[cuke2u]

So what questions are no-one asking about ceramic coating? I am only seeing some skewed answers aside from DannyR's...

 

[LSBasi]

So what questions are no-one asking about ceramic coating? I am only seeing some skewed answers aside from DannyR's...

The question no ones is asking is regarding reapplication

When you can’t find nothing on Google, you know no ones talking about it

Plus I was keen to hear from you guys and not some sales patter

 

[LSBasi]

Ceramic like any coating eventually wears away, and can be removed with a compounding. Wet sanding certainly is not required! It’s hard but it’s far from indestructible. Coatings become less hydrophobic over time as the surface gets contaminated and worn, so proper maintenance and the occasional decontamination at least once a year with tar and iron remover is necessary to keep it performing, and using a “top” up coating of an SIO2 based spray sealant will extend the life and performance quite a lot. At the end of the coatings life though the car will need to be properly prepped again before a new coat is put down or just like the 1st coat it won’t last or perform optimally. This means a full decontamination and a compound/polish to clean the paint and remove any defects.

There’s a lot of myth surrounding ceramic, and it is very often applied incorrectly without proper prep. That goes equally for re coating after a couple of years.

I might start messaging you directly. Always get solid answers from you

Anyone know the realistic lifespan of PPF. Been quoted £3K for full coverage (that includes £300 discount as a return customer).
Sounds like I might get better “bang for my buck” with PPF

 

[Maco]

A little off topic, but the valeter I use quite often has said he can do C quarts ceramic for £175 instead of the usual £225. What’s your opinion on it? I pick my new car up tomorrow, it’s an 18 plate with 8000 mile on it so I want to keep it looking good.

 

[Maco]

I's seriously question the amount of prep work he does at that price pal. Make sure he isn't just slapping down the coating on un-prepped paint.

Machine polishing process paintwork fully clay barred and a stage 1 machine polish to remove light swirls and light defects before paintwork is cleaned with an IPA solution to remove any old waxes then the C Quartz paintwork coating is applied.
(As an extra stage to this process a final coat of carpro reload will be applied to the paintwork to protect the coating while it cures)
PLEASE ALLOW YOUR VEHICLE TO BE AVAILABLE FOR 4.5 TO 7 HOURS DEPENDING ON SIZE


So that’s his process for the C Quartz. If I’m honest I’ve used this valeter loads of times & he’s the only person I trust with my car or van. It’s also like gold dust to get a appointment with him because he’s normally booking up for months in advance. I’ve managed to get a cancellation for the 25th of this month so I’ve took the plunge and booked in it. Fingers crossed. I will make sure the car is prepped first though.

Just to add, I live in the north east County Durham. I’ve had a few people question his pricing on forums before until i mention where I’m based haha!

 

[RAF_S7]

For PPF protection (as opposed to wrapping) there was really only two brands available mainstream when I had my sepang 7 PPF’d - Suntek and Xpel. I looked at both and finally went with Suntek as it’s crystal clear when on the car. I know there are now other brands available.

I bought the car and it went straight to Auto-Protek in Ascot for a full paint prep protection detail, including machine polish etc. I had a full frontal Suntek PPF applied followed by a Gteqniq ceramic coating all over, including on top of the Suntek. Took 2.5 days all in, including curing time. Total cost was (if I remember right) £1300. I did have some initial PPF lifting around the lower wheel arch, but was fixed on a revisit and no further problems.

Could I have done the ceramic coating myself? Maybe, but I watched him work on the car for the first hour, and the meticulous attention to detail and the tools he had available told me that it was best left to a professional detailer. I’ll stick to my weekly Snowfoam routine and rainwater rinse! I don’t have the tools, time or workspace for a DIY ceramic application!

Fast forward 3+ years and 45k miles, and I sustained some damage to driver side front wing. Took it to my trusted local bodyshop, and he had no idea the wing had been PPF’d until l told him, and after he had examined for the repair estimate. That’s how good it is!

Replacement of the wing PPF cost £180, a week after the wing repair and repaint was completed. Replaced with Suntek obviously, and it’s again invisible and a complete match to the rest of the PPF.

Treated the car to a full (2 day) paint correction treatment including mechanical polish and ceramic coating (Gteqniq again) for its 4th birthday and the detailer didn’t identify PPF on the front of the car until l told him. It really is that good.

My only (recent) gripe is that I picked up a motorway stone “chip” on the bonnet front, that didn’t penetrate the paint, but nicked the PPF. PPF is (obviously....?) not repairable so would need a full strip and rePPF followed by ceramic coating. Quote was £500.

It can stay with a tiny nick for now

 

[Maco]

Well if you trust the guy that is priceless mate, its all that maters. He is doing what most detailers charge 3 times as much for. I'm not sure how he makes a living at that price, which is why I'm suspicious. The ceramic product alone costs £50, and polishing is labour intensive.

Its not the first time I’ve had the comment about him not been able to make a living, when he did the winter protection package on my previous A4 I posted the photos on here and everyone thought I was lying about the price. He does a full interior valet & a quick wash outside on my van for £35/40 depending how bad it is. Just to add my mam used another valeter last week on her golf which was absolutely pitted, took him 4 hours and he charged £45. It seems the common rate here in the north east

 

[RS03_SEN]

A little off topic, but the valeter I use quite often has said he can do C quarts ceramic for £175 instead of the usual £225. What’s your opinion on it? I pick my new car up tomorrow, it’s an 18 plate with 8000 mile on it so I want to keep it looking good.

You'd need it decontaminating and polishing first.
I'd do it for that.
Guy near me charges £500 for ceramic.
£50 a bottle. Takes about 10 mins to apply.

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[Evil Derboy]

Mine was done 18 months ago and I’m ready to book it in for a machine polish and to get it re-coated.

I’d say 18-24 months is decent target for longevity.

 

[Maco]

You'd need it decontaminating and polishing first.
I'd do it for that.
Guy near me charges £500 for ceramic.
£50 a bottle. Takes about 10 mins to apply.

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The price included clay barring, stage 1 polish and IPA solution to remove any old wax before the ceramic is applied

 

[RS03_SEN]

The price included clay barring, stage 1 polish and IPA solution to remove any old wax before the ceramic is applied

Cheap! Go for it if you trust them. Doubt you'll get it cheaper anywhere else.

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[sixlargebeers]

Danny RS3 - you say " proper maintenance and the occasional decontamination at least once a year with tar and iron remover is necessary to keep it performing, and using a “top” up coating of an SIO2 based spray sealant will extend the life and performance quite a lot".
I had always thought that tar/iron remover would degrade the coating - good to know that's not the case.
Would the same apply to claying (being the normal final decor stage) ?
Forgive my ignorance - what would be examples of a "SIO2 based spray sealant" ?
Cheers

SLB

 

[RS03_SEN]

Danny RS3 - you say " proper maintenance and the occasional decontamination at least once a year with tar and iron remover is necessary to keep it performing, and using a “top” up coating of an SIO2 based spray sealant will extend the life and performance quite a lot".
I had always thought that tar/iron remover would degrade the coating - good to know that's not the case.
Would the same apply to claying (being the normal final decor stage) ?
Forgive my ignorance - what would be examples of a "SIO2 based spray sealant" ?
Cheers

SLB

A heavy clay will probably be a bad idea. I have one of those carbon collective clay pad things and it warns that ceramics etc could be compromised.

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[tcardio]

am I the only one here who loves working my paint with a polisher? it's so satisfying. ceramic and PPF looks amazing but stone chips break my balls and my wallet

 

[LSBasi]

By that time your car will probably want polishing again anyway so I'd just polish and apply more.


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Wouldn’t the constant polishing every 18 months have an effect on the lacquer coat after 5-6 years ?

 

[RS03_SEN]

Wouldn’t the constant polishing every 18 months have an effect on the lacquer coat after 5-6 years ?

I doubt it. You'd probably lose 1 or 2 microns a time. You wouldn't be doing any heavy cutting I wouldn't think.

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[Jassyo06]

I'd rather be adding layers to my clear coat than polishing them off. Stone chips are always going to happen no mater they surface sadly.

am I the only one here who loves working my paint with a polisher? it's so satisfying. ceramic and PPF looks amazing but stone chips break my balls and my wallet

I polish my car 3 times a year looks ****** beautiful afterwards gloss levels are off the scale.... that no ceramic coating can match....l have ceramic coated several cars with different brands of coatings the actual first layer of product dulled the newly polished paint and it wasn't until l applied the final top coat that gloss levels returned ...each to their own as they say

Also l have used final coating products that bead on the same levels as a ceramic does dont last as long obviously.....but nowt wrong with firing up the polisher of your choice and giving the car a gentle polish with the likes of Menzerna 3500/3800= my choice of polishes and then applying your chosen lsp