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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Cosmetic Maintenance: Wash, Wax, Detailing, Repairs > I'm never waxing my car again
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      08-21-2018, 02:04 PM   #23
34dean
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Regulator View Post
Ceramic coating is the only way to go. Its so much easier to apply than wax, lasts longer, looks better, and provides more protection. I'm seriously impressed with the results and I don't think I'll ever go back to wax.

Heres what I did to prep:
1. Wash - 2 bucket method
2. Claybar
3. Polish with Griots Garage 6" random orbital & orange correcting pad. Used plain old Meguiars polish.
4. Wash again to remove any remaining polish.
5. Dried car with Adams double soft microfiber drying towels (these are awesome).
6. Applied generous amount of ceramic coating panel by panel, waited a few minutes, and wiped off residue with microfiber towels. Stupidly easy.

(Yes I realize there's a scratch in this picture. Its too deep to polish out, but you get the idea heh.)


I just sprayed the car off for the first time after ceramic coating last week and I've never seen the water bead the way it does with ceramic coat. It is just like a new ceramic cooking pan, nothing sticks!

This is the kit I used (CarPro cQuarts):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1




Thank you, Reg. Did you apply the Ceramic in sunlight, shade, in-garage?
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      08-22-2018, 03:47 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobh59 View Post
Here's my experience with coatings, and this is coming from someone who used to feel the exact same way about ceramic coatings as you and others have expressed. In fact I thought I was wasting $100+ and a day of my time to apply one on my car, but as it turned out I couldn't have been more wrong.

First, that's true regarding scratch resistance, but most of the normal, unavoidable, everyday type of "scratches" will be on the coating, not your paint. Typical polishing will remove a consumer grade coating, or what's left of it, so you would only have to do that once every two years or longer.

The new versions of these coatings are actually easier to apply than any wax or sealant (except the spray on/wipe off varieties). The additional gloss is very noticeable, even on a lighter color like the platinum bronze on mine. You can really "feel" the coating when you wash the car and it makes normal maintenance much, much easier. And the hydrophobic properties are exceptional.

The only real negative I can see - and it's a significant one - is the time it takes to do it right. You really have to make sure the paint is surgically clean before applying it, and that means wash/decontaminate/prep/polish/prep again/apply which takes a great deal of time to do, and you can't skip any of those steps. Plus most folks don't have the time, tools, or products to do the job.

The only other mildly potential negative is you do have to apply a booster or Si02 sealant on a somewhat regular basis as all the coating mfgs recommend this practice. I enjoy doing this so it's not a negative for me.

Having said all that, they're not for everyone. For someone who regularly uses a car wash and is going to continue to do so, they make no sense at all because the car wash will quickly undo what I spent 8-12+ hours doing. So for these folks a thorough cleaning plus wax/sealant in the spring & fall is a much better value. But if you're like me and would never, ever, take your car through a car wash; enjoy washing and maintaining your cars yourself or have them professionally detailed; and place value in the additional benefits a coating offers, then they might make a great deal of sense.

Btw, how do you like your X3 M40i?
I like my M40i very much .

The hydrophobic properties might be better on ceramic coating but for me I don't see significant benefit. Using sealant regularly will achieve very similar result. Dirt will still accumulate on the surface regardless what professional grade coating you have. The negative of ceramic coating is not able to easy "reset" using DA polishing. If I have scratches on clear coat, I can easily polish it and reset my paint surface. For me, I do 2 buckets cash wash every week or two, apply sealant(multiple layers) every 6 months and do paint repair/DA polish every year. With ceramic coating, you need to use very aggressive pad and polish to cut through it. It will be tough to resurface the coating because of its hardness. And it is not cheap to reapply ceramic coating after each repair. Again, no matter how hard it is, it will has scratches eventually.
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      08-27-2018, 02:35 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 34dean View Post
Thank you, Reg. Did you apply the Ceramic in sunlight, shade, in-garage?
I applied it in a garage.

Quick update: After about 3 washes since ceramic coating and the water still beads like crazy. Still looks freshly polished too so its protecting as well.
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      08-30-2018, 09:01 AM   #26
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Awesome results there
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      08-30-2018, 12:28 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Regulator View Post
I applied it in a garage.

Quick update: After about 3 washes since ceramic coating and the water still beads like crazy. Still looks freshly polished too so its protecting as well.
To maintain the coating, you should add CarPro Reset to your regimen. I'm also using CarPro Reload on top of the coating, but another member showed insane results with CarPro Gliss.
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      08-30-2018, 08:56 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by louielouie View Post
To maintain the coating, you should add CarPro Reset to your regimen. I'm also using CarPro Reload on top of the coating, but another member showed insane results with CarPro Gliss.
Where does it end!?!
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      08-31-2018, 08:43 AM   #29
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I also use Reset as it is a safe PH balanced soap to wash the car with after it is coated. I hit it with Reload every 6 months or so.

I haven't tried Gliss but also heard great things.
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      09-05-2018, 03:47 PM   #30
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To present a counter argument

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      09-26-2018, 01:55 AM   #31
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Originally Posted by M Smurf View Post
To present a counter argument

92 cents for a pound of sio2 powder.!!! Lol this guy is too funny.
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      09-27-2018, 10:20 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trucheli View Post
Coatings are overrated. I would never put a coat on my car. I can get the same protection with a polymer sealer and I can get it off if I need to polish my car.
Well said.
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      10-16-2018, 04:20 PM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Regulator View Post
Here's a picture I took today:
What is that front lip you have on there? Have any other pics of it?

Also might give that ceramic coating a try, it looks amazing

Thanks!
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      10-16-2018, 08:00 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arivera5 View Post
What is that front lip you have on there? Have any other pics of it?

Also might give that ceramic coating a try, it looks amazing

Thanks!
Its a replica msport lip from ebay. It came painted and its been hanging in there for almost a year. I think I bought it from Ikon but my purchase history doesn't show it anymore.

I'm still impressed with the ceramic all this time later. I just sprayed it off today and the paint still feels/looks great.
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