*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

What are your guy's thoughts on clearbra / paint film after paint correction and then followed up with ceramic coating? I'm about to have the truck ceramic coated, but wondering if I should invest in the clear bra as well, of course professionally installed. My detail guy uses SUNTEK which he says has a glossier look that XPEL but same warranty and better self healing properties. Package includes front bumper, 12-24'' up the hood, mirrors and fenders for $900. Thoughts? Part of me is saying I'm getting way to invested in a f-ing truck and to just leave it with the ceramic coating and deal with chips as they come, its a vehicle/depreciating asset. Just looking for input.

 

Clear bra isn’t an investment. It costs you money and makes no money. Money spent on a vehicle is money lost.


I do not like clear bra films. They look butt ugly (I can see them a mile away, unless the vehicle is 100% covered I can see the line).
The seam is hell for a detailer because it will collect products.
It will fade and dull over time
They cost nearly as much as a repaint so they cant even be manipulated to be considered an investment.
If you ever get into a fender bender they worsen the look of the damage and then cost another $900 to reapply.
I peeled a clear bra film off my truck at one point and it required me to repaint it because it just peeled up a layer of paint.


I don’t like them and would not consider it.

If you feel you are spending too much money on your truck... you probably are LOL.

Skip it and honestly if you feel you are spending too much money I would skip the ceramic coat and just do your own paint protection.

 

Nah, I got a good deal on the ceramic coat and have used my guy before, his work is amazing, he does all the teslas, high end cars in the area, so I'll let him do the initial paint correction and coating install, I'll handle the regular washes, etc. As you mentioned the coating is worth it to me just from a UV / contaminant exposure / ease of washing / care aspect.

As far as the film protection, all the points you make were things I was thinking and I agree, never have had them or liked them, was just wondering if it is worth it but like anything with a vehicle, its never worth it from a true financial standpoint. Thanks for the advice / perspective, you always give solid input here and other threads.

 

What brand/ color vehicle was the one with clear film? What brand clear film?

 

White F250

I’m not sure brand. Truck was used

 

Thinking about it, you can't even see the line.

 

Year? Ford’s and other domestics have been known to peel. Not to mention the old ppf should have been steamed off.

 

‘02

The paint was fine everywhere else. We started steaming the film and it started cracking the paint so I was screwed anyways.

Newer products should be better now and the adhesive shouldn’t harden and bond like that. I’m not sure what was used 17 years ago.


Oh my god. I’m getting old enough where I can say that about my cars...

 

Buddy of mine has a silver Ford that has strips of paint coming off. Don’t remember what year exactly but it’s early 2000

 

Believe it or not, due to the abuse I gave it, my Ford had no paint issues that were not self inflicted.

The clear bra also did not come up in a single sheet. It came up in chunks because it was damaged so bad by UV (truck lived outside in CO most of its life). It had hardened.

Probably a miserable product.

 

That's rediculous. I usually apply 2 coats to cover my ass if i missed it on first coat and it feels slicker after second. I finally have car i can test on to see how long it will hold up since i did my friends 4 runner with 2 coats. I sure u can do coating unselfish, its not hard

 

What do you guys think. I’m definitely wanting to have the truck ceramic coated and paint corrected. In your opinion which is the better product. Ceramic Pro 9H or Gtechniq crystal light serum, both claim 3-5 year warranty, which I know is just a number/marketing. I’ve had ceramic pro done to two trucks but feel like the price and marketing are where it’s at not so much the product. I’ve heard great things about gtechniq as you can polish it off unlike ceramic pro which is a bit more intensive to remove. Both detailers want $900 for full paint correction / decontamination/ etc. ceramic pro guy wants another $700 for 2 layers of 9H and one light. Gtechniq guy wants $500 for the crystal serum light coating and a layer of exo. Both include wheels / trim / glass but Gtechniq guy also offered to coat my bed as well (I mentioned it for uv protection). Thoughts?

 

I am having a hard time thinking you need paint correction on a 2019

 

Swirls in the light for days dude. Even new cars leave the factory in less than ideal condition, not to mention whatever the dealer prep idiots do to it. Teslas', Mercedes', Porsches' seen them all new and needing correction, not extensive, but just light stuff. Regardless you still want and need to correct before any type of ceramic coating.

 

Guess I got lucky with mine. Brought mine home washed, clayed, glazed, sealed and waxed....

 

Guess you did. Here's a new 17, you can see the light swirls/marks from pre delivery wash and dry. Take a pic of your truck, is it truly flawless? lol...

https://www.authenticdetails.com/authentic-blog/2017/10/16/should-i-ceramic-coat-my-new-car

 

If you are doing a ceramic then the reason you do paint correction is because any imperfections in the paint will be sealed under the coating. From what I have read, most ceramics don't have much filling properties.

 

Big difference between a pro coating and consumer coating. Longevity being the biggest difference.

I have seen new cars swirled up on dealer lot. I watched a manager go over a new Camry with a feather duster in the showroom. Car had swirls for days.

 

Ceramic coatings require paint correction beforehand so the coating can bond properly.

Plus you don't really want to be preserving any paint imperfections. They'll be locked in for 5+ years and all you can do is sit there and stare at them. You can't fix them without removing the coating you just spent thousands on.

 

Pros I need some help! After watching several YouTube videos I decided to try .0000" steel wool on my windshield. It rained the next day and the results were disastrous. I could hardly see out of the windshield. Rather than buff the glass it appears to have scratched it.

Is there anyway to correct the damage I have done?

Yesterday I did clean the glass, applied RainX and replaced the wipers. Waiting for a rainy day is see if it helped.