Newbie Coating Question / Advice..

Welcome!
I'll preface with the statement that there are regulars with much more knowledge and experience with the coating you refer to before putting my 2p out!
I was in same situation last year when I picked up my rs3, a want to keep it looking good and protected but little idea where to start.
I suppose you have to decide firstly what you want and expect out of a ceramic coating. It will be glossy, hydrophobic and have some resistance to swirling and make maintwnce washes easier. It won't save you from stone chips, car park scrapes or be able to shake off auto car washes or the value drive thru hand washes without scratching/swirling. In my experience ceramics (on a dark colour - mythos for me) also water spot pretty spectacularly. To get the best longevity you will still have to use a lsp (layer of sacrificial protection) topper (c2v3/reload/take your pick!)
That said, as I alluded to, I had mine coated and wouldn't go back to waxing now. After a year my coating isn't performing as well as it was, but still holding up.
If you want stone chip protection have a look into xpel paint protection film. They have got a few new films and products out including a hydrophobic coated film that looks interesting. These are expensive (about 1200-1500 for a good front end cover and about 3k or so for whole car) and will give a very slight orange peel look up close, but for a long term investment will keep the paint work looking good. I've machined polished mine then had ppf, topped off with ceramic and am very happy. It also means my kids (my 3y old especially) can 'help' with the wash and I don't get a hernia seeing the wheel woolies used over the doors and sills. Although I still wouldn't run it through an auto wash.
Pictures after a year of having the car.
It's a long term car for me as I really can't think what I could replace it with for sensible(ish) money.
Most importantly, enjoy the car!

RS03REX said:

Hi All,

I have been lurking around these parts for some years but have never posted anything! (please be gentle with me!)

I'm after some advice / reassurance really I suppose, if I may.... I brought a new RS3 some months ago (had an S3 before that) & I'm keen to keep the paint work looking as good as possible, so after much deliberation I decided to ask a known detailer to come & apply a 'protective coating' - he uses 'Max Protect UNC-R'.... Has anybody else had this applied to there RS3 (or other) and is there anything that I should be worried about or aware of? Am I doing the 'right thing' by my paint work getting this coating added...?

Any comments / advice / reassurance would be greatly received!

Many thanks,
Rex (RS03REX)

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Hi mate, are you talking about Fran as the known detailer? If so, he does cracking work, has coated both my past Q5 and wife’s JCW (coating still ok 14 months in). He also does @terminator x ‘s cars, and was how I originally found out about Fran.

X3man said:

Hi mate, are you talking about Fran as the known detailer? If so, he does cracking work, has coated both my past Q5 and wife’s JCW (coating still ok 14 months in). He also does @terminator x ‘s cars, and was how I originally found out about Fran.

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Yep looked after my RS3 then RS4 and now current car. No stone chips to speak of on any of the cars so it does offer "some" protection from that albeit not really its specific purpose. As above the film etc would cost perhaps £2-3k which is a serious investment.

TX.

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Bristle Hound said:

@FranA3

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Thanks Col, didn’t list Fran’s tag, as wasn’t sure OP was referring to him

Rex is indeed talking about me, after discussions we’ve booked the RS in for UNC-R,


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FranA3 said:

Rex is indeed talking about me, after discussions we’ve booked the RS in for UNC-R,


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I thought he might be, but @Bristle Hound removed the anonymity of this thread.

Look forward to the before/during/after pics

Bristle Hound said:

Didn't know there were any anonymity issues @X3man going on TBH

+1 on this ^

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There wasn't really, but was a big assumption by me that the words "known detailer" and "Max Protect UNC-R" equalled @FranA3

RS03REX said:

Thanks very much for all your replies & information - its much appreciated.

I didn't mention Fran as I'm certainty not questioning his professionalism in any way! Just interested to know peoples experiences etc with the coating.

Many thanks
Rex

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Didn't think you were. A word of advice...listen to Fran i.r.t what products you can and should use after coating, as you don't want to "clog" up the coating.