Ceramic coating - reservations?

Stallingrad

Thinking of getting the car Ceramic coated, I know the guy doing it and I know it will be a top job.

I have a couple reservations though.

I actually enjoy the whole car cleaning thing, am pretty OCD and have a shed full of waxes and polishes. I assume ceramic coating will be the end of all that, with just simply washing replacing all those products? Would you ever wax a car that has a ceramic coating, I assume there is no point?

The actual visual results of ceramic coating. I've seen them and the shine has a very glassy look to it, hard to describe but different from the gloss you get with waxing and polishing. My wife actually said she didn't want hers done as she doesn't like that glassy look! Am I imagining this?

Lastly, how long does the coating last with weekly washing.

MetzgerMeister

Applying a wax to a ceramic coating will only serve to make the coating fill up with wax and you won't get the benefit of it along with creating more work for you. Waxing can also reduce the life of the coating because it's receiving more abrasion by applying and buffing the wax.

Companies that offer ceramic coatings often have "booster" type products that can be applied e.g. CarPro's Reload and Gtechniq's QD.

The shine is supposed to have a glassy look to it, that's how it works. This glassy look also provides incredible sheeting (dry the car with water effect).

If you use the shampoo from the same company, the coating should last however long they suggest on the packaging with proper maintenance, proper use of upkeep products and no wax applied on top

Stallingrad

Figured as much, will just have to divert all my products onto the wifes car!

Can you use one companies reload product anothers coating?

For those that have had it done was it worth it?

MetzgerMeister

Stallingrad wrote: »

Figured as much, will just have to divert all my products onto the wifes car!

Can you use one companies reload product anothers coating?

For those that have had it done was it worth it?

You can but you're better off sticking to the same line of products as they are made (by the same chemists) to work with each other.

It was most certainly worth it. It cut the time I spent on the car down considerably with not having to apply wax or anything like that. It was wash, dry, job done.

Can I ask which coating you are considering?

Stallingrad

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Can I ask which coating you are considering?

Of course, Diamondbrite.

MetzgerMeister

Stallingrad wrote: »

Of course, Diamondbrite.

That's one of the dealer-applied products isn't it? Anything like that isn't going to be a true ceramic coating (such as Gtechniq Crystal Serum, CarPro CQuartz) It's more of a sealant cream type product that's applied in the same manner as a wax.

Truckermal

What happens with Tar spatters? If you use Tardis or similar will it ruin the coating?

MetzgerMeister

Truckermal wrote: »

What happens with Tar spatters? If you use Tardis or similar will it ruin the coating?

Not sure as I've no experience with these type of coatings.

SandyMac1234

Thinking of doing this myself. Who do you recommend doing it and what is the cost like? I believe this process even hides some small scratches. A friend in work got the coating on line @ 7.50 euro. Took him 4 hours but the car needs to be spotless before starting it.

doh1988

I always found the same , that a coating never gives that nice wet look a good quality wax will give.

I always like trying new products , so have decided against getting my own car coated.

championc

Has anyone any experience of using Autoglym's ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION CERAMIC COATING ?

https://www.autoglym.com/ultra-high-definition-ceramic-coating