Any Downside of ceramic coating?

been reading into this and I think I might have it done on my truck when I talk delivery in November.

I know it can still scratch off-roading. But when washing the mit and towels won’t leave any swirls is my understanding?

What’s the downside besides cost?

Wanting to do it when I get it so it’s cheaper. New paint should have less prep time I would guess.

Edit.
If I want to add decals to the truck should I do it before or after? Just a WV logo and American flag. Nothing big

 

Be sure you get it done at a reputable shop that uses a reputable product. It will still take as long for paint correction. I had a brand new car done and it wasn't much difference in effort.

There are no downsides. I love the stuff. Washing is easy and the car will look like you spent all day on it. I've gotten done on every vehicle since the first time I tried it.

I don't know about the decals. I would say do it after, but that's just me.

 

Me and the wife got our hellcat done when we bought it. There really is no downside. Think of it as an additional clear coat on your vehicle except for the fact that it keeps a shine even when dirty. The ceramic will still swirl from improper washing just like a clear coat, it is just that it ISNT your clear coat that is swirling, it is the non permanent coating that is swirling. As far as off road scratches, i couldn’t tell you, my Tacoma is not coated unfortunately.....

 

@crashdb
Where did you get yours done? I’m in Martinsburg. I’m in your area decent amount because Cabelas steals my money all the time.

What kind of price?

 

I used a place called AQS in Sterling, VA. Nice guys and they do good work. They use Opti-coat coating. I want to say it was $1400 last time. Sometimes they'll throw in stuff like wheels, trim and glass. It's expensive, but the time saved for me was well worth it.

 

I’ll give them a call. I’ve also used extreme auto detailing in dulles. I’m getting th truck from Autonation in Leesburg maybe I can just get it financed if it’s around the same cost and I can use the shop you mention

 

Extreme is a good joint, too. I don't know if they do coatings. AQS may do work for AutoNation. I know they work with Lindsay VW quite a bit. They may have branched out to other dealerships nearby.

 

There is a downside, it does not last forever and if it is done wrong the vehicle will need to visit a body shop.

OP
Do some serious research, just cause it looks cool or everyone raves about it, does not mean it is good.

 

If it's done wrong it just needs to be polished off. I've had this done four times and never had a single issue. You might be thinking of coatings like CilaJet.

No it doesn't last forever. I believe Opti-Coat has a seven year warranty. It lasts much longer than this.

 

think you might wanna look that up, ceramic coating done wrong on the new thin paint will indeed lead to body shop time.

I have messed with this stuff way back when it first came out, went back to to washing , cleaning, polishing, waxing and glazing. No buffers, all by hand and all going with the grain of the paint.

 

I don't need to look it up. A good friend of mine is the US distributor for Polish Angel and a former professional detailer. Maybe when you used it way back when it was the case, but I can promise you that now it's the furthest from the truth. All it takes is a repolish.

 

https://www.detailingwiki.org/protection/remove-ceramic-coating/

 

Ok,

just cause you buddy is a distributor means jack bro.

there are plenty of vids and insurance claims from people doing it the wrong way and ending up burning through the paint or clear, swirling it so bad it has to be cut and buffed professionally to se how bad the damage is.

you have a personal tie to this stuff so no matter what you are gonna talk about how good this stuff is.

funny, how did we ever get out of the dark ages, guess waxing is kin to the Spanish Inquisition.... guess all the guys at Pebble Beach and Barrett Jackson that still do the old classic wax and shine are uneducated inbred morons.

the wiki link you posted is about removal for new applications AFTER a coating has been done RIGHT the first time...this is the issue. Seen many a polish job look like ass due to improper application, seen a guy burn right through the paint right to the metal with a low speed finish buffer.

the stuff still does not last more than a year, a good wax job CAN last longer.

but, I digress... this is another thread akin to oil, HID lights, biggest tyres on a stock truck, and 3rd gen fenders.

Out

 

You're talking about all these videos. I haven't seen a single link. I seriously want to see these.

I have no personal investment in it other than I've had it done and it's one of the best things I've ever done.

You must have missed where I stated my friend was a professional detailer. Nationally known. Did cars worth four times what a Tacoma is worth.

Yup. Waxing is the dark ages compared to ceramic coating.

It lasts no more than a year? So a company warranties a product for seven years that only lasts a year? That's good business sense.

You are right on one thing. This is exactly like an oil thread.

Hopefully, the OP will do research.

 

One more link:https://www.autogeekonline.net/foru...ation.html?s=56e87a192b28ac82c63cfdb66b1b7576

 

You can burn through paint with a buffer with rubbing compound, glaze, cleaner wax, regular wax. Just hold it in the same spot for a while and itll take the paint off. I've never put on ceramic coating but if you dont know what your doing you can mess up anything.

 

Yup. That's why I take it to the professionals. Tried to do it once myself with consumer grade and it didn't go well.

 

Lots of misinformation being spread here.
It's not easy to burn thru clear with a DA polisher at all, your have to really try. And idk of any ceramic that will last 7 years on its own, maybe 5. But if it is "maintained" with another coat of ceramic topper every couple years, I supposed the base layer could still be there in 7 years. If I were up in the air trying to decide to hey a coating or not...this thread would not be helpful at all. There is very very little downside to getting it done, other than high cost and higher maintenance costs, than regular waxing.

 

What coatings are you looking at that don't last 7 years? I've had Opti-Coat and 22PLE. The 22PLE was still fine after five years. Not full strength, but working. Unfortunately, couldn't say about Opti-Coat because the car was totaled after 1.5 years. But again,bwhy would a company warranty something for seven years and not have it last at least that long? It's a bad business model.

And I could be wrong, but the maintenance seems to be only needed for the consumer grade coatings. I never waxed my long term car and it looked amazing after each wash. I did a quick detailer once in a while, but that's it.

I don't think people understand that there are different levels of these coatings. Optimum won't even sell their professional level coating to you or I. 22PLE required a course before they'd sell to a detailer.

 

I'm talking about optimum, carpro cquartz, 22ple, gtechiq....I dont know of any of them offering 7 years of warranty. They all need to maintained with proper wash soap like reset, expensive sio2 maint. sprays, ironx, and sometimes light ceramic toppers. I am all for ceramic coatings and recommend them to a lot of people. But they are not impervious to damage or degradation without proper maintenance, and certainly will not last for 7 years not maintained properly. Show me the 7 year maintenance free warranty.