Ceramic Coating- Worth It or Gimmick?

Sweet let us know how it works out! It’s got better reviews then CQuartz but I didn’t look through them hard enough to see if they were fake or not lol.

 

Most are all “verified purchases” but I don’t know if I always believe them still. I guess we shall see, considering it would be difficult to return as it ships from Europe. When it warms up I will be able to apply it and will submit a review here.

 

Thanks. I’ll have to hold off for now then.

 

Just want to update and say that I decided to get the ceramic pro gold package done to my truck. Have had it a few weeks now and loving it so far!

 

I had an obsidian black swirl also. That paint was horrible.

 

Haha, black swirl does take more work but it sure does look good all cleaned up....which last for a day.

 

Any good shops in socal?

 

How can you post that without posting a pic!



I'm scheduled to get my car done with gtech Crystal serum 9 years at the end of the month

 

My bad on the pics! First one is right after picking it up from the detailer. Second is after it's first wash.

 

I'm going to a guy named Kelly at Shine Auto Detailing. I will post pics in this thread when I get it back around April 29.

@ OP, That first image looks good! There is really that mirror shine. How much did you end up spending and how was the first wash?

 

Boss had his truck done with Opti-coat pro 2 years ago.. his truck looks amazing still.

1) get it done professionally..

2) follow the after care directions

3) do the once or twice year Demineralizing washes (no its not a gimmick, its to upkeep the coating)

4) dont use or seriously minimize using the auto car washes with the brush systems

My boss just gets his interior detailed professionally once a year and they do the washes for him at that time.

Im going to get my taco done in late May with the Opti-coat pro plus.

check out this guys place.. hes got some good pictures and vids
http://www.agribuff.com/

 

it is hard to show how well the ceramic coating makes a vehicle look in pictures. it really is.

I did my Subaru Impreza back in the first part of February. it is Lithium Red Pearl and looks amazing. it has been driven daily since I did it and it has been in rain and two separate snow events we have had here in NC and it just got it first wash since doing the coating, this past weekend. WOW! what used to take a minimum of 45 mins scrubbing on this car during its wash, is no more! I literally washed this car top to bottom and wheels (I coated the wheels on the face and backside of them before having them mounted), and dried everything off in about 15 mins. nothing sticks to the paint like it used to. I was honestly skeptical since I used a DIY kit and did it myself, but I am sold. my Taco and my wife's Lexus will be getting the same coating very soon.

 

And which coating is this?

 

I just had the ceramic pro gold applied to mine. I picked it up this afternoon

 

I used this one https://majesticsolutions.com/product/shield-exp-9h-kit

I like it a lot honestly and its definitely worth the money to me. I also bought a gallon of their hydrophobic car wash for $25 as well as a spray bottle of the Revive product.

 

I am buying a brand new motorhome later this fall. I have been in contact with a company that does ceramic coatings. They want $70/foot. I am disabled so couldn't possibly do it myself. Multiply that $70 times the 40 foot length of the motorhome and I'm looking at $2,800 to do the exterior including the wheel and glass. Not cheap but if it saves me from paying to get the motorhome washed periodically over a handful of years, that's great.

Regarding glass, I haven't seen much discussion. Does the ceramic act like Rain-X on a windshield? Will it hold up as long as the coating on the sides?
Thanks.

 

That's a reasonable price for an RV. You will still want to get it washed regularly even with the coating. It will just make the process easier and provide paint protection in between washes.

Most companies have specific glass coatings. They wont hold up as long as a paint coating, I've actually been disappointed in most of the glass coatings I've used. I usually just apply some Optimum Opti-Seal after every wash on the windows and call it good.

 

Ceramic permanently bonds to your clear coat. Sealant isn’t. I was going to get the coating but opted to try out a sealant instead and I am quite pleased. Save your money and buy a quality sealant and reapply every 4-6 months.

 

Then you're missing out on the 9H coating that protects from swirls and such. No sealant is going to give you that. At best you're going to have a hydrophobic layer to repel water, but that's only one part of the solution.

I can't stress enough how the paint stays 100% pristine with the 9H coating... I only own black vehicles and park my Taco outside too.

 

Not entirely true, you can still swirl, scratch and damage paint with a coating. Any good detailer will be clear that coatings offer little in additional scratch resistance. However, they do protect the paint (oxidation/UV) and make it FAR easier to clean given their hydrophobic properties. I think your expectation is a bit exaggerated... only proper washing techniques will help reduce marring and swirls.