Hi all:

With the new weather, I am considering some protective coatings for the DB9. From what I can determine, there are three basic types: Wax, polymer and ceramic. There are also some hybrid coatings combining ceramic and polymer. I really have no clue. Whatever I end up choosing, I will also do my wife's 2002 T-bird ( so I better get it right or else I will never hear the end of it). What do you recommend and why? Any particular products?

Thanks

Scott

 

I've been using https://www.detailedimage.com/Blackf...P205/16-oz-S1/ for a few years and recommend it. You can apply the whole car and then wipe off. Lasts a long time, easy to use. Make sure the paint is totally clean before applying. Whatever final coat you apply, I would recommend a product to ensure it's totally clean like https://www.detailedimage.com/CarPro...r-P603/5-L-S2/ You'll be amazed how much cleaner the surface before applying that coat. Very impressive product.

 

Have you considered a full clear bra? Nothing that you've listed above will help with rock chips, if that's a concern for you like it is for me. In the past, for car shine and protection I have liked Zaino. https://www.zainostore.com/

 

I really don't know what to do. I was going to have the car and my wife's T-Bird detailed - just the exterior. Her car is immaculate - she wont even let me sit in it for fear that I will get it dirty. My interior is good too - but I need to do some vacuuming. The cars spend most of their time in a garage. I want the cars to look good, I just don't know the merits of each. I have been doing a lot of research, and seeing a lot of hype and misinformation. I don't know what is true and what are "alternative facts"

 

I used to be smart when it comes to detailing, but technology has changed a lot since those days. What I will most likely do here soon is a full car bra so I no longer wince every time I hear pebbles/gravel on the road. As I understand, you can detail over these films if you like, but it starts to become overkill at some point. People with a lot of money will ceramic coat over their clear films.

If it helps gauge cost, $5k for a good full clear bra is a reasonable figure. You have to be very careful who you allow to do it though, as an untrained hand can cut into the paint when they're fitting the film. This was a great thread on it: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ilm-101-a.html

 

I got my Vantage a few months ago, it's Jet black and had a fair amount of "swirl marks"/micro scratches. I spent a fair amount of time learning about paint correction and how to apply coatings as I knew I wanted to add some protection; I had never done either before. I did a 3 stage paint correction, and while some of the deeper scratches remained, I was very happy with the result of my first attempt. Once that was done I went on to ceramic coating. I used Kamakazi Collection products that I bought through Esoteric Car Care. 2 coats Myabi, 1 coat ISM 1.0, then 2 coats of Stance on the wheels. I am very happy with the results and how easy it was to apply myself; although if you're coating 2 cars it's going to take a while and starts to get pricey. You can certainly hire it out, but that's significantly more expensive.

My Vantage also came with a PPF over the hood & front fenders, which I think is really nice to have, I used a renewal product on that (which didn't seem to do a whole lot), then ceramic coated over top of it while doing the rest of the car.

I got my polishing items (polisher, pads, compounds) through Adam's along with their air blower.
I got the coating products, along with some other detailing supplies, through Esoteric.
The VINWiki YouTube channel has also been recommending Avalon King coatings (you can get a coupon code in their recent videos), which appear to be quite a bit cheaper and still perform very well; but I don't have personal experience with them.
I believe I'm about $1,200-$1,300 in so far; which includes the tools (polisher, blower, etc)

The Esoteric YouTube channel has a wealth of information for all aspects of DIY detailing and paint care, which I found to be extremely helpful.

As others have mentioned, make sure your paint is in the best condition you can get it first, then coat on top.

I found that I enjoyed the exterior detailing and coating processes, as long as I have the time for it. I just throw some music/podcasts on in the garage and go to work.

Hope that helps, good luck!

 

Go with the premium paint protection film like ClearGuard Alpha and it will solve the problems of scratches, rock chips, etc. Prestige Film Technologies (www.prestige-films.com) makes ClearGuard Alpha in which its latest generation just launched May 2020 (this month). It uses a multi-cellular plasma system that reacts to oxygen to self-heal scratches. No heat, no hot water, just exposure to air. It will self-heal even in minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

Here is a video of us doing a heavy scratch test of Clearguard Alpha that is installed on a $3 million Pagani

 

I'd personally just get PPF and a non ceramic coating on top put on regularly. Ceramic Coatings per my dealer really only last them about two years before they start to lose the hydrophobic properties on the cars they did. A front bumper/hood PPF with high wear areas. Depending on your local installer it would be around 2K. I would never recommended STEK their authorized installer did a horrible job and the company wouldn't help when they their authorized installer messed up and wouldn't respond until a demand was sent for a replacement film as there were knife marks and it was poorly done. It's not the film as much as the installer and what film they feel most comfortable working with, but STEK is a tiny company with no interest in having the standards of other film manufacturers / resellers. Make sure you get a written or diagram of a car outing what will be done and if it's tucked etc like at the top of the hood. 3M hasn't failed me the in the past either installed at the factory or the dealership which was authorized, but I recognize there are newer options.

 

what happens to your car finish in 5 to 7 years when your have to remove and replace PPF?

 

They used steam to remove the old 3M PPF and it had no issues, thoroughly cleaned then new PPF applied.

 

Take it off and re-apply a new film for the same big cost.

 

is it easy to remove with out damage? will paint be faded where PPF was not installed?

 

Do plan to re-install or just go without?

It looks pretty easy to do, but I would let the pro's handle that. I don't think the films have UV protection, but not sure on that.

 

Nobody knows because they already sold the car.

 

So there are multiple things to consider to answer this specific question:

1. OEM paint safe - as long as it is a quality film like ClearGuard Alpha, there would be no issue removing the film
2. Aftermarket paint is a different story. If a car was repainted and film applied after, it really is up in the air because there is just so much variance in bodyshop paint work quality. If it is a bad paint job, then removing the film off of this aftermarket paint may remove the paint as well. This is why it is quite important to protect the OEM finish from the very beginning.
3. Some adhesive will remain and can be removed with an adhesive remover
4. How does the paint look when the film is removed:
a. the paint condition underneath the film would look the day it did when the film was installed
b. areas that are not protected may have more swirls, scratches, and obviously rock chips from road debris hitting it