About to pay $1600 for paint correction / ceramic coating / ding removal...

I've just never heard of anyone using any product that can always do the job with a touchless wash. Sure for a days worth of pollen or your neighbor cut his grass etc that may work. Run a dirty car through a touchless wash, you'll see it doesn't get everything. In Europe and other places in the world they use very aggressive traffic film removers as a first step in cleaning. They still follow up with a car shampoo to fully clean. Really depends on your environment though like winters with salt slurry.

Just trying to mention that if this type of cleaning and scratch prevention are your biggest issues talk them over with the installer so he can manage your expectations. Discuss what you should be cleaning it with, I would imagine at least some periodic contact cleaning would be advised. Most of the costs are all the prep and paint correction, they just happen to also be the best steps to take if applying a long term coating.

 

What type of ceramic, how many coats? I've done a few trucks, a quality detailer (always scope the social media to see clients vehicles to get an idea, lots of high end is a good sign) will run you about $800 for a decent paint correction, depending on the coating if its a DIY it should only be a few hundred more, if its Ceramic Pro or Modesta they have set rates they want their certifed detailers to charge. Typical Ceramic Silver Package which is 9H + a layer of Sport (once called light) is about $1000-1200 when all is said and done, something like CQuartz will run you $800-1000 depending on layers, etc. A good detailer will help you figure out the best coating for your needs as they all have certain qualities over others. I will say you wont regret a coating, when maintained nothing keeps your car better protected, the rain literally keeps my truck clean and it beads like CRAZY. I will say $1600 for a coating is steep unless that's PDR as well.

 

I would be skeptical of lifetime coating. What brand is it?

You will have to touch the paint. Ceramic will make the paint easier to maintain and keep clean. Ceramic is not some miracle cure for having to wash a vehicle.

 

This ^ But it definitely will make it easier and extend the life of your paint/trim/etc.

 

I'd rather spend 8 hours and not be happy with the results than spend 1,600 and not be happy w/ the results. Seriously. What if it doesnt meet your expectations? What if you spend 1,600 and the truck gets rear ended on the way home?
I love a well maintained paint, but 1,600 seems reckless for a daily driver. If it was a garage queen, I'd be more inclined to say yes.

 

That and $1600 could be a lifetime worth of detailing chemicals, pads, towels and even the machine(s) if you DIY.

 

It's Ceramic pro.

 

I don't have the skilled hands to use those products, so it would be meaningless to me.

After 3 years of detailing myself, I have white wax crust on some of the panels. I have messed-up black plastics from waxing. I have swirl marks from hand wax and drying.

I look at my car, and I just don't feel happy about it.

 

It’s your truck and your $$$ spend it how you like. Remember opinions are like assholes everyone has one.

 

There are better products out there. They were the bees knees back in the day, but now they are all about marketing rather than developing their product, a lot of consumer grade DIY stuff outperforming them. I wouldn’t spend $1600 for CP.

 

Here the hard the truth no one has mentioned. If you not capable of maintaining your truck paint now save the $1600 cause you still won’t be capable after. Just my 2cents worth.

 

How'd it turn out? Thinking about doing this before I get many miles on my truck.

 

It turned out great. It looked fantastic when I picked it up. The even pulled a ding and detailed the whole interior.

The best part was that they clean off all the wax residue on the black plastic.

The first time I washed it, I just went to a touchless autowash. The car looked brand new after the wash was done.

 

1600 bucks, it’s just money. Here’s the skinny. The ceramic coating comes in different grades. The cheapest is a spray on wipe off such as “why wax” It lasts about 3 months depending on how you wash the truck. Retails at about 20-25 bucks.
Next is a mid grade product it would last about a year Maybe longer again depends on how you wash the vehicle. Last time I checked it was about 100 dollars. The best products are around 200+ dollars and if applied correctly will last 3-5 years. You can coat the wheels and glass too.

the real cost is in the labor and correct application, it’s easy to leave streaks if done wrong. It starts with a foam cannon soak and rinse followed by hand wash using two bucket method. Dry then paint correction using a product such as Barney’s leveling compound. Now the paint is clean clear is shining scratches are gone. Now you get a wipe down with 50/50 water alcohol and a final inspection.

now it’s ready to apply ceramic you have to work in small areas per the instructions and not get in a hurry. It takes at least 24 hours to set up if you wanted to do another coating.

the actual product cost is cheap you are paying all labor. It’s not difficult or mysterious work, many teenagers and women with no experience have done it. My wife and I attended a detailing class 40 hours at a vo tech college and it was well worth the money. Covered all aspects of detailing and featured factory reps bringing in professional tools and products.

the takeaway? You buy your products from detail supply houses no autozone or Walmart. Professional grade no consumer level, ok? There are detail supply places in every larger metro area ask a detailer. You buy product in gallon or more but it comes out cheaper this way and you get real results not celebrity endorsed mainstream bull shite. There’s enough product in this container I’m holding to do between 10 -20 trucks. I also like talking face to face with the man making the products.

While your at it tip the detailer well and form a working relationship and they may be likely to share info and tips with you. Industry standard detail uses less than 10 dollars in material per car that’s excluding ceramic of course. The rest is all labor. If you don’t mind paying labor then he’s your new best friend.

 

I know what you’re thinking, I don’t need a gallon of product. Do a group buy to get that cost down. If you do a few cars and people see what you can do they might be willing to pay you 1600 dollars.

again it ain’t rocket science, just elbow grease and correct technique that’s it. Have fun and good luck.

 

Definitely not worth $1600

It's just time and patience when it comes to detailing. There are many rules in detailing, and if a step is missed, the results you sought out for will not come.

 

It’s worth 1600 of don’t know how to do it. Or can’t do it or don’t have the tools. My Rupes buffer cost nearly 500 dollars and that Barney’s leveling compound is 40 dollars a bottle. So unless you have the necessary tools and skills you are pissin up a rope. Detailers with a following can make pretty good money

 

Ceramic coated my truck. No regrets. Just gotta find an honest shop.

 

Ceramic coated my truck when I first got it in 2016. Now it’s got pinstriping and some chips. I have a lot more fun now not worrying about a perfect paint job

 

I ceramic coated my truck i costed me about 150 .