Ceramic coatings!

[RobinL]

So posting here but the main chat was on Mercedes Forum. Thought it may be of interest though.
In looking to see what I could do to maintain a good finish / gloss on my AMG C63s but at reasonable cost I've been looking at DIY Ceramics. I particular the recent spate of ultra cheap Chinese offerings.......
Best analysis on t'web was that pro detailers consider they can't be any good as too cheap... However in practice the more objective detailers say they may be ok but may not last long.... at £6 per bottle I could live with that idea?

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[CatmanV2]

I think @Felonious Crud has been waxing lyrical about his polishing accomplishments (mostly frequency and success) in another thread.


C

 

[RobinL]

So I have washed (Auto Glym Polar Blast) rinsed, clay barred, dried with microfibre towel, polished with Autoglym Resin polish and now Ceramic coated with Mr Fix ceramic (Amazon £7.79)

So far I'm actually surprised / impressed. Nice gloss finish. Suppose the question is how long it lasts?? Pictures are pre clean, washed, dried, polished, then ceramic....

Comments, thoughts, questions?

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[zagatoes30]

Clay bar was a revelation to me when I first tried it, gives a super smooth base to start to add polish layers

 

[RobinL]

For my money's worth on Amazon I actually got enough Ceramic coat to either do SWMBO SLK or another coat on mine. I'll sleep on that decision

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[Wattie]

My Merc was ceramic coated when new by the previous owner. I believe it’s offered here as an option: it’s a late 2014 and there is not a single swirl anywhere on it.
whilst the cars only done 16000 miles and we don’t get the extremes of weather u guys do I have to say from my perspective the benefits to the paintwork are visibly obvious.

 

[mjheathcote]

I'm no pro but not sure ceramic coating on top of Autoglym Resin polish will give the best results.
My understanding is that you apply to clearcoat with no polish, stripped of any polish/wax, so it bonds to the clearcoat.
If applied on top of any polish/wax it will eventually wash off?

 

[TimR]

My understanding is that you apply to clearcoat with no polish, stripped of any polish/wax, so it bonds to the clearcoat.
If applied on top of any polish/wax it will eventually wash off?

This is my understanding too...
I had previously used Sonax Polymer Netshield. I like that it is so easy to use. It is kind to the wallet and the beading was, initially anyway, phenomenal. I had been reinforcing the coating with their quick detailer, which seemed to work okay too.....

With brand new Grigio touring paint now however, I have a whole different scenario to play with. I am leaning towards a system of regular waxing. I like cleaning my car ( did I just say that!??! ) and it is very dusty across my plot, surrounded as it is by tilled farmland. Perhaps wax with PPF...?

 

[CatmanV2]

I'm no pro but not sure ceramic coating on top of Autoglym Resin polish will give the best results.

I assume there's a 'not' missing here....

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[mjheathcote]

I assume there's a 'not' missing here....

C

Explain?

 

[CatmanV2]

Explain?

Sorry! The not was not where I expected it

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[Silvercat]

So I have washed (Auto Glym Polar Blast) rinsed, clay barred, dried with microfibre towel, polished with Autoglym Resin polish and now Ceramic coated with Mr Fix ceramic (Amazon £7.79)

So far I'm actually surprised / impressed. Nice gloss finish. Suppose the question is how long it lasts?? Pictures are pre clean, washed, dried, polished, then ceramic....

Comments, thoughts, questions?

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If you resin polished it first of all then the 'Ceramic' coating ( it's actually a polymer) won't do its job because it can't bond with the paint surface. When I had my old QP coated professionaly with 'Ceramic Pro 9h' (3 coats) in Manchester a couple of years ago now, I was informed that any surface where cermic coating is to be applied, must be thoroughly degreased and any residual wax removed before applying it. They also machine polished the coating to bring out the shine because to do it by hand is a nightmare and absolutely knackering to do. I did use some ceramic coating on another car bonnet and thought I would do it myself....what a mistake! It came up all streaky and was a bugger to remove afterwards. Personally I would stick to resin polishes if you want to do it yourself and get good results.

 

[Felonious Crud]

There are a few on here who know what they’re talking about and do this professionally, but I have a few amateur thoughts. First, start with clean paint, ie no wax and shite on it. This probably means lots of panel wipe, clay and a proper polish with one of those DA polishers that I wouldn’t trust myself with. The upside isn’t you’ll also get rid of all those nasty swirl marks. After that, you can pay someone to do an incredible multi-year ceramic silicon carbon blah blah finish or you can go DIY and get a superb result that won’t last ask as long. I had mine detailed two years ago and it’s hanging on ok. A few swirls are appearing in really bright sun, which I’m trying to ignore. I’ve recently sloshed some Chemical Guys Hydro Slick and a coat of R222 wax on it and it looks every bit as good as when the detailer had finished. Downside is, I’ll need to keep topping up the coatings (every month-ish) which increases the chance of adding more swirls. Upside is, I quite enjoy doing it and it’s a really quick job.

Is now a good time to discuss the pros and cons of PPF..?

 

[TimR]

Honestly, I cant see the sense of using something like Ghemical Guys Hydrosh1te AND THEN adding a wax.
Ive seen something like CG HS come off in a couple or three washes using iron contaminat removers and other carefully formulated cleaners & such. Sonax lasts half as long as that but these products wont last forever. The claims of x months are pontless as its so dependant on environmental factors (IMO- and I know bu55er all)
Its a minefield; consider nwhat you start with, how you work, how often, how easy is it to use, how do you 'maintain it' out fpreference and then the reality of time you can give it. Whats your paint like, what colour is it....etc etc. Im a little sceptical of modern chemistry coatings...
I dont like the idea of washing products on and then down the drain with next wash.
Im paranoid about painters saying "no" when they learn how much **** you've been sloshing all over.
Im easily fooled with snazzy words and bling-bling BS precisely because Im not a chemist, or have any experience beyond a few years painting for TV and rock bands. Different kind of painting !
Yes- lets talk PPF. Its expensive. Its not like ceramic coating !
What else ?

 

[mjheathcote]

PPF, thought PPF spray would be more cost effective...

Paint Protection Spray

www.litchfieldmotors.com

I'll give that a miss!

 

[Felonious Crud]

Honestly, I cant see the sense of using something like Ghemical Guys Hydrosh1te AND THEN adding a wax.

I don't know either, so let me explain my reasoning but start at the end by saying that it looked better with the Hydro Slick and better again with the R222. My rationale was that the Hydro Slick will provide a longer-lasting water-repellant barrier and a smoother finish to the paint at a microscopic level. This would then form a better base for the not-very-durable R222, which will give the pain a really slick almost wet look.

Given the amount of use my car gets, which is primarily dry weather in spring, summer and autumn, I reckon I'll reapply the wax every month or so and the Hydro Slick maybe every six months after a wash with a shampoo that's good at breaking down waxes.

 

[TimR]

I don't know either, so let me explain my reasoning but start at the end by saying that it looked better with the Hydro Slick and better again with the R222.

Yeah-ok. As I thought; its all about the look for you. Over and above the simplicity of the designer sealant. Which is fine. As long as you know you are constantly shovelling the proverbial uphill...! In truth, you perhaps arent straying so far from the chemists design because your base, a ceramic ( see polymer) is reinforced by another polymer...but all this just to get it flat enough to make your wax work !
I think thats why I am on the track I am currently ( paralysed by the guff and market place gaffaw ). Not only is my paint new, clean and pure...but I hope to keep it that way by using a decent/affordable carnuba wax, which I can apply to my hearts content.... ( R222 for example..)
Just to add- the car previously has quite thin lacquer levels . It has now a more generous baseline when it comes time to correct the inevitable swirls, scratches and such...At least, that's the way my logic is working !

 

[Wattie]

So, reading the above, my car gets washed once a quarter by the guys down the road.
I’ve never done anything to the ceramic coat on the car.....beyond a shampoo and whatever they do in the basic package, neither have they.
It beads as good as ever and their is no swirl anywhere.
Is the difference the weather or am I lucky it's lasted as long.

 

[Felonious Crud]

Yeah-ok. As I thought; its all about the look for you.

In part, but I also want a protective sealant that helps deter water and dirt. Bird shite will burn through anything, but any protectant that buys a bit more time to clean it off before it really buggers things up will be appealing.

 

[Felonious Crud]

So, reading the above, my car gets washed once a quarter by the guys down the road.
I’ve never done anything to the ceramic coat on the car.....beyond a shampoo and whatever they do in the basic package, neither have they.
It beads as good as ever and their is no swirl anywhere.
Is the difference the weather or am I lucky it's lasted as long.

Probably 'cos you never wash it. If you want to knacker your paint, wash and wipe it a lot.