four months later and no visible differences when clean or dirty
ttforcefed - Yes, I see that you are conducting a comparison and they both seem to be wearing equally. I do wonder what the downside is to the ceramics besides the relative cost. My concern is any long term effect on the paint like the way petroleum-based waxes bleach the paint over a decade or so of use. That's why I have not done it on my F12. As far as the Zymol experience, it was sort of expensive and very time consuming to apply but my black 540i at the time was both a queen and a DD so it was a lot of work to keep it in new condition. With the Zymol, you had to do only a quarter of a panel or so at a time to get it just right. Sometimes even having to heat it a bit with a hair dryer to sort of 're-flow' the wax to get it to buff perfectly. If you were doing the three-step it would take all weekend especially if you included the wheels!
So you don't take care of them at all or don't know how they are being taken care of?? The results you've seen to date are that there is no difference side to side but they have no swirls or they do have swirls but they are the same, side to side? SV
I don't take care of them at all. I have a few guys who help me take care of all the cars. they are all capable. no swirls so far.
Sorry for the detailed questions (so to speak)... Are you sure your crew isn't polishing out any swirls rather than not doing anything at all? In 4 months you haven't seen any degradation at all which seems suspicious on its own. With wax vs ceramic it seems your care is achieving perfect performance which seems dubious even if welcome! Would be interested to hear others experience as well... I just had cquartz put on an Aston and it looks terrific but no time on it yet... SV
definitely no polishing. at the 6 month mark the car will go back to AI in tuckahoe who did the detailing and i will report back. pretty funny you call the one person on the board who has actually spent the money side by side dubious. Come take a look at at my FF - it looks like crap after 2 years. Im sure the RR will also, and the half that has the ceramic wont be materially better than the carnuba side.
Not calling you anything. Trying to clarify with details. Your experience certainly suggests that correcting the paint and adding a high quality clear bra may be the best bet for preserving a pristine look. Not rely on the coatings except for something minimal. On the other hand there is considerable experience on the other side with regard to the improvements in these coatings. The disparity in those positions has to generate a level of skepticism. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, no? I'm trying to understand the level of maintenance and techniques you employ... Happy Holidays! SV
my carnuba details costs me as much as the ceramic so cost isn't why I dislike the ceramics. on my tdf I will wrap the whole thing and be done with it. On all existing cars I will continue to use what has worked for 20 years. also my carnuba details cost me as much as the ceramic - I'm happy to pay for skill/effort. anyhow I'm happy to be proven wrong at the 6 and 12 month marks, but I still won't ever use a ceramic on something like my f40
I have ceramic pro on my f430 and it has made a huge difference vs my previous cars. I had it done ~7 months ago and if I slid my finger across the paint right now it feels unbelievably slick. It's been much easier to maintain with spray washes and quick details too. Perhaps the ceramic pro is best utilized by folks who don't have a detail team take care of their cars. Or those who don't have hours to dedicate to a diy car wash/detail.
I have ceramic pro on my Audi and I love it. It was first applied a year and a half ago. At the one year point I brought it back for its re-application and it still looked amazing. I'm a big fan and I feel it's a great product and with the money. My car almost never looks dirty and when it is I simply hit it with a high pressure hose or bucket wash it when it's really needed. They did the exterior, wheels, glass and interior. I get comments all of the time that my car looks new and sparkly. My wheels never look dirty. No dust. I just bought a new 5 series and it's getting the same treatment. Bottom line is wax / paint treatment is like ice cream. Everyone likes a different flavor. After a year and a half with ceramic pro, I am very pleased.
Coatings are going to HELP prevent light scratches, marring, etc. Its the environmental protection agent. clear bra is the impact protection. Coatings are bar non leaps and bounds better protection for your car. The glass layer provides an inorganic protection sheet that will not fade or crack or blemish when applied properly. There are definitely differences in the coatings on the market, some are just relabeled products from the same manufacture, and there are some stand alone companies who will not OEM for anyone else. For the most part, there are only a couple that really stand out. We have tried the majority of the ones on the market (maybe not the relabeled ones, no need) and have found some that perform, and some that do not. Different applications call for a different coating...daily driven, weekend car, show stopper, hand washed, car wash washed, etc. Its best to discuss proper care with your installer of choice. Keep in mind, there are a few factors that go into choosing coating/installer
Ceramic pro works amazing. We install it at my shop, we've tried various coatings and found ceramic pro to hold up the best and provide a great wet looking finish.
Yes , Oct 7 I believe, if you bring one of the cars w the different detailing I am curious to see in person , i just can't seem to get the glass like look I've seen on other cars. Always thought that was ceramic coating.