Ceramic Coating and PPF

[Shaun Swiers]

What are you using?

Any brands to stay away from?

Custom applied or can you DIY?

Hopefully can get our '19 Max Limited in the next month before we take a road trip to AZ and I'd like to either DIY some Ceramic and PPF or find a place to apply if it offers a better warranty.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shaun Swiers]

Nobody is using a ceramic coating?

 

[Artie]

I got GTECHNIQ crystal serum professionally done after having him do paint correction and some PPF in the door sills, down the running boards, and around the rear bumper. I wouldn’t attempt to do something like that myself but I’m more of a turning wrench type. I’m glad I got it all done, it wasn’t cheap but it makes keeping the truck clean a heck of a lot easier.

 

[TobyU]

Put a ceramic coating in a gas tank once. Ceramic impeller in some turbos too.

No experience with this high priced- even higher application- costs or ceramic paint protectants/sealers.

I'm still the buff with wool pad and some kind of cutting or compound to get it into shape. Foam or waffle pad with polishing compound or finishing. Wax, often by hand once or twice after that. Quick detailer to clean clean dust and light stuff off. Light to no pressure. Let towel weight only do the work.
I have had BLACK show show cars and this is how I got the swirls out and kept looking deep.

Here's a pic from last car show.

 

[scottdm]

What are you using?

Any brands to stay away from?

Custom applied or can you DIY?

Hopefully can get our '19 Max Limited in the next month before we take a road trip to AZ and I'd like to either DIY some Ceramic and PPF or find a place to apply if it offers a better warranty.

Thanks in advance!

I had Suntek Ultra Paint protection film (10 yr warranty) professionally installed on the hood, front fenders, front bumper, headlights, and A pillars. Then the entire vehicle and wheels were coated with Modesta BC-04 ceramic coating (5 yr warranty). Paint correction was performed on the entire vehicle before the PPF or ceramic coating was applied.

I suspect that installing paint film on entire body panels has quite a learning curve, so opted for a professional install. I might be willing to try the ceramic coating on a second set of wheels in the future as a DIY project.

 

[JohnT]

Always did wonder about the "ceramic" coatings. To my admittedly quite jaundiced ear, it always sounded snake oily. Anyone care to elaborate on what the coating is and if it works. I'm seeing some hefty prices being charged by detailers here in the great frozen north for anything even remotely ceramicy sounding.

 

[scottdm]

Always did wonder about the "ceramic" coatings. To my admittedly quite jaundiced ear, it always sounded snake oily. Anyone care to elaborate on what the coating is and if it works. I'm seeing some hefty prices being charged by detailers here in the great frozen north for anything even remotely ceramicy sounding.

Think of the ceramic coating as really fancy wax that lasts a long time. Admittedly this is my first vehicle with the ceramic coating, so I'll see how it holds up long term. The coating is very hard and resists new swirl marks from being introduced into the clear coat. It's also really hydrophobic (makes water bead up for a long time). The Modesta coating I have is warranted for 5 years, so we'll see how it holds up in the salty winters in PA.

 

[benyl]

Paint will still chip with a ceramic coating.

Full plastic wrap.



No chips.


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[mquick5]

So this stuff is 80mph rock proof?

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[scottdm]

So this stuff is 80mph rock proof?

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Depends how big the rock is. The intent is that paint protection film is self healing and repairs itself from rock impacts. However, for any rock big enough to cause a dent in the hood/fenders/A-pillar, it won't make much difference. My wife drives a 2011 Sienna AWD, and the front bumper looks like it has been sand blasted from years of highway driving. The paint film will keep the sand blasted effect from occurring over the long term.

 

[scottdm]

Paint will still chip with a ceramic coating.

Full plastic wrap.
No chips.

Looks good. Is your film a matte finish?

 

[mquick5]

How expensive is this process? Seams like a good investment.

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[TobyU]

Paint will still chip with a ceramic coating.

Full plastic wrap.



No chips.


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So a squeegee on wrap or a plasti-dip style spray on that peels off??

 

[scottdm]

How expensive is this process? Seams like a good investment.

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I'm sure prices vary by installer, the material used, and the amount of coverage. My guy in suburban Pittsburgh, PA quoted $800 for installing Suntek PPF C (5 yr warranty) on the hood, bumper, headlights, front fenders, A pillars and roof area in front of sunroof and $1500 for Suntek Ultra (10 yr warranty). I opted for the Suntek Ultra film.

 

[mquick5]

I'm sure prices vary by installer, the material used, and the amount of coverage. My guy in suburban Pittsburgh, PA quoted $800 for installing Suntek PPF C (5 yr warranty) on the hood, bumper, headlights, front fenders, A pillars and roof area in front of sunroof and $1500 for Suntek Ultra (10 yr warranty). I opted for the Suntek Ultra film.

Thanks, There's a place 3 miles from me that does it. I will definitely look into this.

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[TxBrian]

You should still do paint correction before applying any film which I think a lot of people skip. Any imperfections, swirls, etc get preserved when you coat or film over them.
Ceramic coatings aren't usually too expensive, its the prep/paint correction part that is as it's time consuming and that's what makes a coating or film look great.
Film is better for protection from small rocks, ceramic is better for making paint easy to maintain.

 

[benyl]

Matt PPF.

Here is the way I have looked at it for the past 4 cars I have owned.

There is more than just rocks that hit the front end.

Ever been in an Asian mall parking lot? Have you seen how they treat their cars and other people’s car? The open their doors as wide as they can, even if that means bumping the car beside. I am half Asian, so I know what I am talking about.

Clear coat scratches never happen. Have a wife that has a purse that she drags along the side of the car? No problem.

My E63 is in the midst of getting the film replaced and the paint is perfect underneath. No chips after 5 years on the road in Calgary where they put gravel down (it isn’t sand...) for the winters.

I’ve also attached a picture of my 2010 F150 that didn’t get PPF.




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[TobyU]

Matt PPF.

Here is the way I have looked at it for the past 4 cars I have owned.

There is more than just rocks that hit the front end.

Ever been in an Asian mall parking lot? Have you seen how they treat their cars and other people’s car? The open their doors as wide as they can, even if that means bumping the car beside. I am half Asian, so I know what I am talking about.

Clear coat scratches never happen. Have a wife that has a purse that she drags along the side of the car? No problem.

My E63 is in the midst of getting the film replaced and the paint is perfect underneath. No chips after 5 years on the road in Calgary where they put gravel down (it isn’t sand...) for the winters.

I’ve also attached a picture of my 2010 F150 that didn’t get PPF.




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Is this spray on peel off or squeegee on film?

 

[scottdm]

Never understood why automakers would use a painted steel bumper on trucks. The chromed bumpers seem to be much more durable. I have a neighbor with a similar vintage F150 in red, and his front bumper looks very similar.

 

[Shaun Swiers]

Paint will still chip with a ceramic coating.

Full plastic wrap.



No chips.


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Did you have this done professionally? What brand?