I’m looking at some paint enhancement/protection - and there is a local company that does various ceramic coatings and looks as thought they do some very good work judging by photos. I suppose I am just wanting to do something to help protect the bodywork through Scottish weather/roads, rather than get something that is super showroom shiny.
Any comments / experiences ? There are a lot of different finishes on my Ds4 2022 Cross, bits of chrome trim, bits of gloss black trim, bits of matt back trim, and there seem to be lots of options for different coatings with different performance.
Never Paid someone to apply a ceramic coating to any of my cars.
Initially I washed and dried the car, used a paint cleaner, this removes old polish and surface contaminates, Then I applied the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax.
Now all I do is Pre-wash with Valet Pro Citrus, wash with Meguiars Gold Class shampoo & conditioner and shammy off. Then every 3rd(ish) wash add another coat the Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish & Wax.
You really have to spend alot of money to get a long lasting coating, but my way I top it up with “Cheaper” one 4-5 times a year, car always looks good, water always beads off, road salt falls off at the Pre-wash stage. A few years ago reserch, I hopw this helps
Product
Manufacturer / From
Price
Qty
Type
Surface
Instructions / Notes
Force Shield
Jorgens
0.1
Liquid]
Paint Sealer
Vertua Bond 408
Chemical Guys
£16.95
0.3
Liquid
Paint Cleaner
It prepares paintwork and fibreglass surfaces with bonding agents that create the perfect situation for sealants or paste waxes. Vertua-Bond 408 allows products to perform the way they were engineered too.
Chemical Guys Vertua-Bond 408 lightly cleanses dead, dull, oxidised paint and light minor oxidisation, moderate surface scratches, accumulated road film, tar and calcium/acid rain deposits. Vertua-Bond 408 revives original paint lustre, ideal for first time sealant or wax users. Vertua-Bond 408 is an essential first step for proper bonding. Formulated with essential oils to restore and enrich paint leaving a wet, glossy, surface that is superiorly prepped for sealant or wax application.
It can be applied by hand or with a machine. A light finishing pad or ultra light polishing pad is recommended.
16oz Bottle
Colour Restorer
Wilko
£20.00
0.5
Liquid
Paint Cleaner
Perma-seal 10 year sealant (Step 1)
0.1
Liquid
Paint Cleaner
The UK’s Best Selling Paint Protection System The ultimate long lasting car paintwork protection system - 10 year guarantee! German PTFE nano-technology at its best Step 1 removes paintwork impurities and coats initialising bonding agent Step 2 seals paintwork with diamond hard PTFE invisible finish Lasts an unbelievable 10 years protecting from sun, salt, bird droppings, grime dirt. Protects and provides amazing shine, without the need for polishing! Never wax your car again? For some car owners this is the dream. Now realise your dream with the Power of PTFE. Developed by German nanotechnology researchers, our Permaseal PTFE Protection System is the ultimate solution in paint work protection. Use it once, and you’ll never need to wax your car again. Transmits amazing shine for 10 years!! The protective barrier will also withstand car washing over and over again. Your car will come out of a wash gleaming. A car dealership will typically charge you £500-700 to have your car sealed - why not do it yourself and save? Can also be used on boats and caravans.
G10 Finishing Polish (Cutting Compound)
FareCla Halfords, Wrexham
£20.00
0.5
Paint Restorer
True Colour Finish – G10 Finishing Compound acts as a gentle abrasive to bring colour back to discoloured paint surfaces Versatile Application – Can be used by hand or machine Dry Use – No water is required, reducing splatter and clean up time Superior Fine Cut – Ideal for removing light scratches or swirl marks, especially on darker colours `Perfect Finish – Quickly provides a high gloss finish and ultimate finish, saving time and money
G10 Finishing Compound is ideal for removing light scratches or swirl marks, especially on darker colours.
It will also restore older paint work and bring the true colour back.
Citrus Prewash 1L NEW STYLE OFFICIAL UK STOCKIST
ValetPRO
£8.00
Paint Wash
Removes bug splats All purpose cleaner Pleasant citrus smell Cleans all surfaces Does not remove wax layers
Citrus Pre Wash is a product to be used prior to shampooing your car; it removes excess dirt like bug splats and general road grime in order to prep the car for washing. The most common method is to apply it via pump spray to the bottom seals of the vehicle and under the wheels where it penetrates the grime and enables you to easily rinse it off. This product is designed to minimise the breakdown of waxes and sealants. The citrus oils enable great grime penetration, allowing it to be an exceptionally effective cleaner. Directions:
1. Dilute 1:8. 2. Spray all the lower panels of the vehicle. 3. Leave to dwell but not dry out. 4. Starting from the bottom, rinse off with a pressure washer.
Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner
Maguiars
£15.60
Liquid
Paint Wash
Ultimate Liquid Wax
Maguiars
£29.95
Paint Wax
Take durability and shine to the max with Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax and Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax and
This synthetic polymer wax offers the ultimate shine and paint protection in an easy-to-apply paste wax.
Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax brings out the best in any paint finish. Meguiars Ultimate Paste Wax features Meguiar’s Thin Film technology, which makes the wax incredibly easy to apply. The wax can be applied in direct sunlight on a warm surface - it won’t affect the performance of Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax. It’s error-proof!
Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax lasts longer than a carnauba wax and even longer than many synthetic waxes. It’s formulated to offer the longest-lasting protection and water-beading. Meguiar’s proprietary Hydrophobic Polymer Technology reduces surface tension so water beads and rolls off! Meguiars Ultimate Liquid Wax is suitable for any paint color. It enhances color, depth, and reflections.
Applicator and microfiber towel included.
9H Liquid Nano Ceramic Car Glass Coating Super Hydrophobic Anti Scratch Polish
Ebay
£2.41
Paint Wax
Features: Material: Polysiloxane,Nano materials Hardness: 9H Coating Thickness: about 30um Gloss: Shiny as a mirror with excellent high gloss PH Tolerance: PH2-12 Consumption: 30ML Description: 1.With the hardness of super hydrophobic glass coating. 2.The sacrifical coated on the surface can be used as a coat of the barrier 3.Protect your car from blaknięcie aging, weathering and erosion, sunshine, sour powder, etc. 4.Protect your car from scratching, make the car more shining like the new. How to Use: 1.Wrap the cloth over coating sponge 2.Put coat liquid on the cloth 3.Spread the liquid on the car 4.Use towel to wipe and polish sponge over the coated fabric
Triple Wax
0.5
Liquid
Paint Wax
Easy Wax
Black Flash
Turtle Wax
Liquid
Trim Polish
Step 1, Ensure surface is clean and dry. Shake bottle well. Step 2, Apply a small amount onto a cloth or small sponge and apply in a circular motion, working the product into the surface. Step 3, Leave to penetrate for 3 to 5 minutes. Lightly wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. For a matt finish apply and wipe immediately with a clean cloth.
Black Back
Carpride Wilko
£2.39
Spray
Trim Polish
Car Pride Black Pack 300ml Carpride Black Pack Helps Bumpers & Trims Back To There Original Black Showroom Finish. The Formula Contains A Rubber Lubricant That Helps Prevent Crazing & Repels Dirt.
Bumper Grey
Simoniz
0.1
liquid
Trim Polish
Tyre Black
Simoniz
Spray
Tyre Restorer
Restore & protect your car tyres for a new-look finish Provide a high-gloss shine for your car bumper 500ml can of Back to Black tyre shine aerosol spray
- Guaranteed to restore, protect and shine - Long lasting results - Easy to use spray The Simoniz Black to Black Tyreshine restores, protects and shines the tyres on your car. Simoniz has a heritage of protective shine which is poured into each bottle, so that every time you treat your tyres you’re rewarded with a shine and finish worthy of a showroom. Back to Black Tyreshine removes scuffs and marks and protects your tyres so they look as good as new.
Alloy Wheel Cleaner
Turtle Wax, Halfords
£4.40
Wheel Paint Cleaner
The Turtle Wax Wheel Cleaner 500ML rapidly lifts dirt off all wheels, for a like-new shine. Turtle Wax Essential Wheel Cleaner 500ml Extra Info
Acidic formulation removes burnt on break dust, tar and road grime. Suitable for all types of alloy, steel and plastic wheel covers. Will not damage decals or tyres.
Wheel Sealant
Porbouys
Wheel Wax
Bright pink and smelling of suntan lotion, Poorboy’s Wheel Sealant can be used on aluminium, coated, chrome and painted wheels and offers superb protection from the environment and brake dust.
Brake dust attacks the wheels and can leave you with corrosion, so the price of this Wheel sealant is much less than a set of new rims. Poorboy’s Wheel Sealant provides a clear, shiny and protective coating that will block out the dirt and pollution. You apply it like you would any wax or sealant, buffing to produce a shine and then the dirt and dust sit on this coating unable to break through it. It also means that your wheels will be easier to clean next time.
Use on any wheel types Helps protects wheels from brake dust, oxidation, moisture, tar and bugs. Use weekly for best results.
Wheal Seal
Wonder Wheels Halfords
£10.00
Spray
Wheel Wax
Wonder Wheels Wheel Sealant 300ml
The Wonder Wheels Wheel Sealant 300ml contains the latest nano surface technology. Revolutionary instant wheel sealant leaves an invisble, protective shield over the wheel surface, creating a barrier against the build up of stubborn brake dust, road grime and dirt. Once applied Wonder Wheels Wheel Sealant produces a super repellent nano film, which when rained on or rinsed with water will self clean. Wonder Wheels Wheel Sealant 300ml Extra Info
Thanks for sharing what you have found works well for you. All those product info look helpful for future. The prices for some of the high end coatings applied by a reputable place are very high, but some with shorter life may be better. Appreciate the info about the DIY approach as helpful to figure out if worth it or not.
Basically I couldn’t justify the cost getting a professional coating put on my cars.
The makers of various coatings say they last for a number of years, but how do they know?
What i do definitely lasts between coats, possibly little less than it did when it was first applied, but not that noticeable.
Às a note, I do get people remark on how my cars look, even when dirty - which they don’t get often.
I’ve had “Professional Ceramic Coating” applied to two of our previous cars when they were purchased new, and my son had it done on his new car.
I paid for it on the first car as it sounded so good, “You’ll never have wax your car again”, the second car it came free, my sons car it came free.
TOTAL WASTE OF MONEY PAYING THESE “PROFESIONALS”.
You’ll do a far better job yourself, your car will look better, you’ll know you’ve done it right and you’ll save ££££’s.
Great list of products above, some might seem a little pricey starting off but its far far cheaper than having someone else do a crap job, plus you’ll start to build up a great collection of valet products.
I’ve tried countless different products over the years, and I find many of the “named” brands are pretty much like for like, you’ll find your favourites and stick with it for a while, but then another will catch your eye.
you’ll get know when you’ve applied something thats good.
I find Autoglyms range a good choice, Chemical Guy’s is another, I find Maguiars a bit & miss though.
Autoglyms Polar Snow Foam is very good and I stuck with it for years, but a few months ago my local Halfords store ran out of Autoglyms snow foam so I opted for Halfords own make Advanced Snow Foam, its half the price of the Autoglym product, I read good reviews so gave it a go, WOW, its as good as any “named” snow foam, and probably better than many.
The car detailing market is vast, but by doing your car yourself you’ll soon find what works and what doesn’t, and save youself money in the long term.
YouTube is very good for reviewing products .