First real exterior detailing for me (coating related) Gen 3 Tacoma Pro- 1 year update

I traded a black Tundra for my Tacoma Pro about a month ago. Black as pretty as it is the factory finish always ended up with swirls that drove me nuts. Not to mention the water spots from the salt, chemical filled rain we get around New Orleans

I started researching and had almost decided on Ceramic Pro. Once I got the quotes 600-1700 I decided to look for something I could easily accomplish. After countless hours on autogeek and the sister site autopia I decided on using the Polish Angel products. I ordered the Cosmic V2 kit and high gloss spray

All the reviews I'd read spoke of the absolute ease of application. I found this to be completely true. Since it was almost perfect weather yesterday, mid 70's low humidity, slight breeze (rarity for me as I live on the water) I decided to treat the truck. I had already experimented on the fenders of my motorcycle so I'd have a feel for application

In all. It was one of the simplest things I'd done (scale of expertise varies from wet sanding my badly oxidized boat to normal wax application). The wait times between applications is the hardest. I was doing single panels at a time to keep clock to really. I still have bumpers and roof to complete. Bumpers have more orange peel and require a bit of correction with the DA. I will update periodically to how it's holding up. Advertised as an 18mth to 2 yr product. I'm also using the Wolfgang exterior trim sealant on the black moldings

 

That's lookin' really good!

 

Looks awesome. Take it easy on the orange peel. Don't aim for 100% correction. It could save you some life on the far end. That's my two cents when it comes to daily drivers.

 

Not looking for full correction. Just buff it out a little to closer match the main body panels

 

Thank you

 

To put reflective distance in perspective

The palm tree (drivers door) is about 25' away. Same one that is in the hood picture (35' tall and 20' away in the pic)

The windows (rear door) are close to 35'

 

The bumpers actually have a slight texture finish. We had to replace a customer's and that's how it came from Toyota

 

Good to know. It's only the outer corners that that have a different appearance. Different than the lower doors

 

Ya the lower doors is chip guard when a car comes in wrecked we actually and recreate that with paint it's pretry cool the bumper has a slight texture but to remove it you'd age I go all the way through the base coat.

 

1mth update

I purposefully did not wash the truck for the first month. Just let the rain rinse the truck (except once). We have had a heavy pollen laden early spring. I have 3 live oaks on my property so often in the morning the truck was yellow, I rinsed it with the hose one morning it was so bad.

I have yet to finish the roof and bumpers due to not having optimal conditions over a few days

Attached are beading pictures before wash and after, light was flat in early evening when I finished. I am using a 3 bucket system, Griots wash, microfiber mitt

initial rinse prior to wash. Some beading , water was sheeting off on the horizontal surfaces, while the vertical showing good results. The vinyl and plastic treated with Wolfgang exterior trim sealant




Roof- has been cleaned once with Mequires rinseless wash, next to no beading, water sheets off when sprayed



After wash and rinsed, beading has returned to normal as when first treated. when rained on the beads are much smaller and tighter.



Dried with microfiber towel, gloss is back to a brilliant reflective property. Bug guts come off with very little effort






Just a side observation. I have noticed the coated areas are not nearly a susceptible to the morning dew as the uncoated



So far I'm very happy with the cost and time spent to apply these products

I'll update again later, thanks for looking.

 

Looks good. Like the black on the scoop.

 

This, right here, might convince me! Even after I seal and wax, the morning dew sticks to the paint. Granted, it rolls right off before I even get out of the parking lot, but to not have it stick at all would be awesome!

Keep up the updates!!!

 

Bump for a 4 month update!

 

Apologies. Work and life has gotten in the way

After this storm goes through I'll post an update as I know I will have to was the salt off

Thanks for the reminder

 

No worries, and no pressure! I've got a tire shine thread that I forget about after a while, then update whenever I remember to lol

 

4 month update finally

During the last 3 months I have hand washed (3 bucket system) once and yes committed the ultimate washing sin 4 times through automated car washes

Washed as my normal yesterday after salt spray from TS Cindy came through last week. Combined with everyday dirt buildup

Good shine still just dusty and basic dirt





I did a basic rinse to knock off the dust and grime and to see how if any the water beading was. You can see the paint essentially had no beading. I am very impressed with how the Wolfgang Ext Trum sealant has been holding up



Using a cheap Walmart foamer and griots soap I covered the vehicle and rinsed. Proceeded to 3 bucket wash the truck. Some of the water sheeting and beading on the finished returned. I definitely could tell that there is a coating on the paint. In multiple areas I had to harshly rub the finish to remove some water spotting. The finish did not scratch. I was using a waffle weave microfiber drying towels





Last step after a good dry i reapplied the "high gloss" spray and wiped off. I let this dry overnight before spraying with water before I went off to work. This brought the beading back. I think this step of the system is designed to be "sacrificial" in order to keep the actual coating's integrity





Of course the full body glamour shot showing the glossiness and almost wet look



The rim coating is holding up exceptionally well. Only a dirt thin film remains all else rinses very easily by hose or even wet roads Washing the brake dust residue off is no more difficult than a normal wash.

Edit to add... I neglected in initial post to say I applied PA Supersport PTFE wheel product


Ill keep updating

Thanks for reading

 

That's looking good, my friend!

 

Nice looking truck.

 

6-7 month...Quick update...

Nothing has changed from the last. I'm still washing the same, and neglectfully going through the car wash..lol

Holding up great so far still. Next hand wash I'll refresh the gloss spray again though everything still beading well without it

 

Is it slick feeling when dry? Some coatings are grabby. Curious about the Polish Angel.