I HATE BLACK PAINT. BUT THE WIFE HAD TO HAVE IT.

PPF.

 

See... That's my dillemma.... Coating that needs reboost possibly providing superior protection. Or a Sealant costing $12 that I can do twice a year and get good protection.

 

Ive had great results with Chemical Guys Jet seal... you apply it after washing and leave it on for like 20 mins so it bakes on and then wipe it off and its like it forms a clear shell around the car for quite a while

 

Well for one you don't have to reboost monthly. I never did that with Glosscoat on my truck. The whole "booster" I applied was when using a drying aid to dry my truck and I did not use the specific branded one. I didn't even use one that had SIO2. I am guessing based upon your comments you have never used a ceramic. I am not aware of any coating that says no scratches.

From Insane Paint Auto Detailing general basics for those who aren't familiar with coatings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fcB5TqBxCE

 

Sure you can get good protection from a sealant but would you rather have better protection? This is like comparing 303 vs GTechniq C4 or Dlux for trim.

 

Coatings aren't gonna stop scratches and swirls. They're not indestructible. Think about it. Clear coat is about the thickness of a piece of paper. Sealants and coatings are about 1/500th of that thickness? Or even thinner??

You can have a vehicle with no protection and if you don't wash it you don't have swirls. Or you can have a coated vehicle and if you use a low quality drying towel and rub too hard, you're gonna have some swirls. Would a coating help reduce wash/dry induced swirls? Yeah probably. But they're not impenetrable.

Coatings also aren't impermeable to bird shit. What they WILL do is buy you some time (on the order of hours maybe?) before it etches the clear coat. I'm generalizing here. Obviously some bird shit is worse than others and there are other variables at play.

Do coatings protect better than sealants? YES. A lot better. Would I pay $1000 for one? Nope. But I would pay $50-100 and do it myself. I'm also just fine using a sealant.

Another thing to keep in mind... most of the cost of a professionally applied coating is in the prep work. Because coatings would essentially "lock" in swirls and scratches, a polishing step is involved and that takes time/equipment/knowledge (in addition to initial decontamination/claying). That's why some aren't interested in doing coatings themselves.

So when you get a professional coating applied, they're probably using a $100 product. Often no different than what you can purchase yourself (but yes some aren't available to the general public).

So, don't think you're getting a $1000 product applied. You're not. 90% of what you're paying for is labor and shop time.

Long story short-- coatings protect better than sealants. But there is much else to consider per the individual.

 

If you have the money let a pro do your coating. If you have not applied a coating you may find yourself chasing high spots after. Or even worse not using the right microfiber towels and having the coating pull the lint out of it which will then be locked into the hardened coating. Ask me how I know this. Stick with the suede microfiber towels that come with Cquartz for wiping off and leveling if you do it yourself. I keep a coating on the top horizontal surfaces and use what ever I feel like on the side panels. Changing it up cause I enjoy trying different products.

 

You're completely correct on there is so much else to consider per the individual.
I know 90% of the cost is prep and paint correction on a Pro Coating and I am considering doing a coating myself. In times past I have painted custom motorcycles from raw tins all the way to wet sanding and buffing them out. So paint work would not be a problem plus her car is new and mostly would need very little if any. I'm just unfamiliar with coatings and unsure about applying something untried (by me) on something new and expensive.
I guess that's my skeleton in the closet. Do I go out on a limb and try something I'm unfamiliar with for possibly better protection? Or stick with what I know that will provide good but "as" protection.

 

How long has Jet Seal lasted for you? Is washing easier after and how's the shine?

 

I would of kept my black Tacoma had I known about McKee's Hydro Blue. This stuff is so freaking easy to use.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWtiRQDUUxc

 

What is your experience with Hydro Blue?

 

Just started using it 2 weeks ago. You can read the reviews on it. I love it myself. Don't get any easier than this stuff.

 

Made my paint look like it is glass coated. Shines better than it did when I bought it.

 

You can shell out the money for that SUV but not the 1-2k to have it professionally coated?

 

Please see my reply to a similar question below.

 

OP you can't screw up McKee's Paint Coating. It's soooo easy. Worst case scenario, you might have a couple high spots. To fix it you simply polish the panel or area and reapply the coating.

 

If you want protection that will prevent swirling you need to go ceramic. No other temporary products like waxes or sealers will provide you with swirl resistance.


BTW- I think you are going to regret buying a Mercedes before you regret buying it in black LOL.

 

When you say “bake on” it gives the illusion that its a PITA like a wax. XD
It doesn’t bake on just has a bond time of 20 minutes and a cure time of 12 hours.

I love my Jet Seal.

 

What makes you say I'll regret buying a Mercedes?

 

In my experience they break down quite frequently and cost small fortunes to repair and a lot of independent shops will either not touch them or charge premium shop hours to work on.

The lawyers I work with that buy them typically only own one and then never buy them again.

But all luxury cars are vast money pits. Some are just worse than others.