Bimmerpost
3
/
4 Series
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BIMMERPOST Universal Forums Cosmetic Care & Detailing (PPF/Wash/Wax/Detailing/Restoration/Repairs) Exterior Paint protection

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      09-03-2024, 12:43 PM   #1
Randy Johnson
M340i
Randy Johnson's Avatar
United_States
481
Rep
1,120
Posts

Drives: BMW M340i
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: South FLA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2021 BMW M340i  [9.90]
Exterior Paint protection

Interested in ceramic coating but checked the prices and it is way too expensive to be done at a shop. Wondering how hard it would be to do at home and what the process is? Obviously I need to wash the car. What about clay barring and waxing? Is this required?
Appreciate 0
      09-03-2024, 06:41 PM   #2
TboneS54
YNWA
TboneS54's Avatar
United_States
1165
Rep
886
Posts

Drives: 2004 M3 6spd & 2011 M3 DCT
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: SoCal

iTrader: (2)

It's very cheap and easy now.

$60 bottle of gyeon mohs/pure 30ml for 1 car lasts 2-3 years. Very forgiving installation time.

Yes clay the car, but it really should be polished as well. At least a light final polish. Clean the paint with a proper panel prep spray before coating.
__________________
/// 2004 Silvergrey M3 · Coupe · 6MT · Slicktop · zero options
/// 2011 Jerez/Bamboo E90 M3 · DCT · Slicktop · IG: @na.s54
Appreciate 0
      09-03-2024, 08:01 PM   #3
John in VA
Colonel
1147
Rep
2,385
Posts

Drives: 2015 228i M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA

iTrader: (6)

Most of the cost of having a shop do ceramic coating is getting the paint surface as good as possible for the coating.
Adam's has a DIY coating kit.
__________________
____________________________________________
2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2024, 01:27 AM   #4
Propulsion
New Member
9
Rep
9
Posts

Drives: G22 M Sport, Lexus GS
Join Date: Jul 2024
Location: US

iTrader: (0)

Can anyone share their experiences with Ceramic Coating? Trying to decide if it’s right for me
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2024, 06:46 AM   #5
John in VA
Colonel
1147
Rep
2,385
Posts

Drives: 2015 228i M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA

iTrader: (6)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Propulsion View Post
Can anyone share their experiences with Ceramic Coating? Trying to decide if it’s right for me
It's a long-lasting coating that adds shine, makes water bead up & prevents dirt from sticking, making the car easier to keep clean.
__________________
____________________________________________
2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2024, 08:12 PM   #6
Randy Johnson
M340i
Randy Johnson's Avatar
United_States
481
Rep
1,120
Posts

Drives: BMW M340i
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: South FLA

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
2021 BMW M340i  [9.90]
Thanks. I’ll check out Adam’s.
Appreciate 0
      09-04-2024, 09:34 PM   #7
tracer bullet
Brigadier General
tracer bullet's Avatar
United_States
3578
Rep
4,163
Posts

Drives: '25 Z4, '15 X3 35i (135i sold)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Saint Paul, MN

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Johnson View Post
What about clay barring and waxing? Is this required?
Think of the coating as sealing in whatever finish you have now. If your paint looks great, you don't need to do much. If it looks terrible then, yeah, it'll stay terrible looking even coated. You have to decide how good you want the paint to look before you coat it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Randy Johnson View Post
Wondering how hard it would be to do at home and what the process is?
I'd suggest a spray coating. Spray it at the applicator, put it on a small section of the car, wipe it off, and then repeat until the car is covered. Be sure it's totally dry first, be sure the wind doesn't carry the overspray onto the car, and do it in weather that lets you examine every section before you move on.

There are TONS of good videos about it, go start watching them.
Appreciate 1
s_ribs90.00
      09-05-2024, 05:58 AM   #8
p0p
Ninja
173
Rep
149
Posts

Drives: N54 & B58
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: NOVA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
I have AvalonKing IX on for over 2years
Hood, roof and trunk still beads up nicely; the sides are showing i need to reapply

When i applied it; paint had little to no marks and still dose.

When i get around to it ill prob. try their MAX
Washing the car most of the time i just rinse, foam, rinse and towel dry

Appreciate 0
      09-05-2024, 10:02 AM   #9
cooolone2
Captain
cooolone2's Avatar
671
Rep
749
Posts

Drives: 20' M240iX B58, 01' 330XI E46
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: NY, USA

iTrader: (0)

If you take care of your paint, you don't need a coating. I feel the coating makes owners lazy, and there's issues too with ceramic coatings if you don't recharge them too. It's not a fix all for taking care of your paint! A detailing, prep, polish, sealant and A1 quality waxing will provide the same protection! Biggest issue with ceramics is if you ever have the need to repair, the coating must be taken off with an abrasive prior to the panel being fixed! With regular coatings this is by far 10x easier! Lol

Anyways...
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2024, 10:28 AM   #10
tracer bullet
Brigadier General
tracer bullet's Avatar
United_States
3578
Rep
4,163
Posts

Drives: '25 Z4, '15 X3 35i (135i sold)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Saint Paul, MN

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cooolone2 View Post
If you take care of your paint, you don't need a coating. I feel the coating makes owners lazy, and there's issues too with ceramic coatings if you don't recharge them too. It's not a fix all for taking care of your paint! A detailing, prep, polish, sealant and A1 quality waxing will provide the same protection! Biggest issue with ceramics is if you ever have the need to repair, the coating must be taken off with an abrasive prior to the panel being fixed! With regular coatings this is by far 10x easier! Lol

Anyways...
I follow, but disagree as well. I've found that with ceramic, the actual cleaning process is far easier. Bugs for example come off the front just spraying with my garden hose, where I used to have to at least use a sponge and maybe some bug remover as well.

For repair, you do have to polish off the ceramic, but - if you're repairing something that requires it to come off, you're probably already doing that anyhow. Any damage or scratch removal already has polishing involved so I don't really see the difference.

I'd suggest an in-between which is to DIY a spray coating. Something claimed to last 2 years is likely good for at least one. So you can DIY it once a year.

I don't hate wax, I still use Zaino on my wife's car. But once it runs out she'll get a spray ceramic. Now that I've had some experience applying it and cleaning it, I do think it is indeed better. Maybe not worth all of the hype it gets, but it is better.
Appreciate 2
s_ribs90.00
TheMocc57.00
      09-05-2024, 11:31 AM   #11
FrankMstein
Major
FrankMstein's Avatar
United_States
1307
Rep
1,167
Posts

Drives: F80 M3, R56 Camden, F56
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: Charlotte

iTrader: (1)

For testing products: https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHD/videos
Not much in auto parts stores work for long. Detailing shops will carry Gtechnic C2V3 topper which "*CAN* be used w/o a base coat.

You WILL need to wash, clay, wash, and alcohol wipe beforehand or it won't work well. Some of the new clay towel(s)/mits are very effective and fast. Otherwise...half ass it and squirt and wipe.
__________________
2015 Sakhir/Sonoma (first one totalled) 2nd one MHD and BM3, Eventuri, Mosselman, NICECNC, MAD FAT BOY DP, "Valvetronic Designs" single mid, PAGID RSC1, Hotchkis/GTMore, Vorschlag, Bilstein B16/10.
Soon Powerflex diff brace, Akropovic axle back for sale.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2024, 06:34 PM   #12
TheMocc
Anchorman
TheMocc's Avatar
United_States
57
Rep
30
Posts

Drives: 2025 X5 Xdrive40i
Join Date: May 2024
Location: NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankMstein View Post
For testing products: https://www.youtube.com/@ScottHD/videos
Not much in auto parts stores work for long. Detailing shops will carry Gtechnic C2V3 topper which "*CAN* be used w/o a base coat.

You WILL need to wash, clay, wash, and alcohol wipe beforehand or it won't work well. Some of the new clay towel(s)/mits are very effective and fast. Otherwise...half ass it and squirt and wipe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Propulsion View Post
Can anyone share their experiences with Ceramic Coating? Trying to decide if it’s right for me
You can check out my thread in this forum on Gyeon One ceramic coating (DIY)
If you are comfortable with car detailing you should be fine with these products and depending on your level of paint correction needed - should be relatively fun and easy process.

Good luck
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2024, 06:50 PM   #13
louielouie
Major
United_States
714
Rep
1,176
Posts

Drives: '18 F80
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Los Angeles

iTrader: (13)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cooolone2 View Post
If you take care of your paint, you don't need a coating. I feel the coating makes owners lazy, and there's issues too with ceramic coatings if you don't recharge them too. It's not a fix all for taking care of your paint! A detailing, prep, polish, sealant and A1 quality waxing will provide the same protection! Biggest issue with ceramics is if you ever have the need to repair, the coating must be taken off with an abrasive prior to the panel being fixed! With regular coatings this is by far 10x easier! Lol

Anyways...
Coating makes my washes easier. If you take care of your paint, that should be the reason to get a coating. It makes cleaning easier so someone who takes their car to the car wash sees way less benefit.

A light polish takes off most coatings.. You're acting like metal armor is being welded onto the panels.
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2024, 07:52 PM   #14
reallymarkedup
Second Lieutenant
563
Rep
246
Posts

Drives: 2021 M2C
Join Date: Aug 2024
Location: CO

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by cooolone2 View Post
If you take care of your paint, you don't need a coating.
I've never understood how people arrive at this logic. Getting it ceramic coated IS taking care of your paint. It's literally why you do it.
Appreciate 4
TboneS541165.00
s_ribs90.00
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:18 PM.




g20
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST