ceramic coating Versus waxing from the CEO swissvax

[Andy B]

2 hours ago, Fatts said:

Andy do you mind to pm me I also have a new car on order and want to know more details and cost of this application 

No problem @Fattsfeel free to PM me with any questions you have and I will try to answer them. 

[Rabbers]

This is to enquire, out of curiosity, what happens if ceramically coated paintwork gets a significant scratch or scrape.  After repair would the body shop automatically redo the coating or would the car preferably need to be taken back to where the original coating was done?

[ALAW]

On 12/12/2021 at 10:51 AM, Marlinleg said:

Thank you Ed for your thoughts. Being a 73yr old widow I have plenty of time to wash and wax my cars and i am looking forward to starting on my new  NX sometime in May 2022. I use Bilt Hamber (bh) 

I find there products excellent

 Snow Foam/Auto-Wash/Auto-Wheel/Auto-Clay /Finis-Wax. Ed you were saying you use BH Hydra Wax (liquid) I've seen the product on there web site , is it easy to use spray on buff off with micro cloth  ?

If I may tell you that I contacted BH tech guy to ask if they sold any Bird Poo remover

 They said there Surfex-HD dilution rate 5% to water spray the poo with the solution then rinse with water , I carry a small made up solution spray bottle in my boot 

Nice to talk take care 

Phil

Hi Phil I find the BH products good. Thanks for the info about the Surfex in spring i have a never ending job with bird poo. So will def try this.

[Marlinleg]

👍

[GMB]

Regarding wiping off bird poo I normally find that it can't be done as the bird is usually miles away by the time I find something to clean it with. Lots of water and some kitchen roll works - if the bird is still at the scene, but they don't like you touching them anyway.

Last week a pigeon yacked up a stomachful of cherry stones, that it could not digest, on to the roof of my car; at least it wasn't like the last time when it ( or one of its mates ) shat a ton of purple elderberry poo all over it.

Wildlife is wonderful isn't it?

[LenT]

On 3/9/2022 at 7:40 AM, Rabbers said:

This is to enquire, out of curiosity, what happens if ceramically coated paintwork gets a significant scratch or scrape.  After repair would the body shop automatically redo the coating or would the car preferably need to be taken back to where the original coating was done?

I don’t know if you’re still interested  Renato, after four months (!), but as no-one has replied I thought I’d venture an answer.

Body shops and Detailers do appear to be distinct businesses.   So it’s unlikely that a body shop would have the same ceramic products as the original Detailer .  In fact it may not even do that kind of detailed detailing.

So if possible, if it happened to me, I’d take the repaired bodywork back to the original Detailer - who would appreciate the opportunity to work on a well-prepared surface.

[LenT]

3 hours ago, GMB said:

…at least it wasn't like the last time when it ( or one of its mates ) shat a ton of purple elderberry poo all over it.

Coincidentally, just returned from a practical demonstration of the value of ceramic coatings.  Strolling past my white Lexus, I noticed the bonnet was now sporting purple patches and deposits.

But a quick local spray with the garden hose was pretty much all it took to restore its pristine whiteness.  Mind you, it. probably wouldn’t do to leave it undisturbed for too long!

As for the culprits…well, let’s just say that I know where they live!

[Rabbers]

10 hours ago, LenT said:

…  if it happened to me, I’d take the repaired bodywork back to the original Detailer - who would appreciate the opportunity to work on a well-prepared surface.

That sounds perfectly logical.  But then again, were I to want a car coated when new, I would unless advised differently instinctively take it to a body shop on the assumption that it would do the job at least as well as any detailer.  Re-coating subsequent to future repairs would therefore be done as a matter of course

[LenT]

1 hour ago, Rabbers said:

That sounds perfectly logical.  But then again, were I to want a car coated when new, I would unless advised differently instinctively take it to a body shop on the assumption that it would do the job at least as well as any detailer.  Re-coating subsequent to future repairs would therefore be done as a matter of course

I agree.  A full detailing service, such as I got for my Lexus, would seem to be a natural ancillary for a well-equipped body shop.  And I wouldn’t be so bold as to say they don’t exist.

But I couldn’t find one when I was looking locally and used this chap.

https://www.huntsmiths.co.uk

He spent four days working through the many stages of a full detailing process.  I think the economics of a regular body shop would not make this profitable - which is why it’s become a specialist service.

In fact, while I agree that having the process applied to a brand new car is a very good idea, as other posters here have reported they actually take the car to a Detailer who has to spend some time ‘correcting’ the paintwork of the new car!

[Rabbers]

20 hours ago, GMB said:

Last week a pigeon yacked up a stomachful of cherry stones, that it could not digest, on to the roof of my car….

Sounds absolutely disgusting, and perhaps not unlikely to have been dangerously evocative of machine-fire fire had the car been moving when struck.  The nearest I have experienced to this was a nauseous combination of undigested grape pips and skins, almost certainly of the Lambrusco variety, which is known for its potent staining properties. The catalogue of solid pollutants liable to be found on one’s car seems to be getting longer, possibly as a result of hot weather, climate change, excessive urbanization etc., which may be causing our feathered friends (or enemies) to change their dietary habits.  One has always been aware, of course, that birds can pee as well as poo, and a recent proliferation of splatterings of a yellowish hue and filmy consistency may well indicate that liquid nourishment is being desperately sought wherever it can be found in these times of drought.  Occasionally, the stains are not only exceptionally copious but are also accompanied by a powdery sugar-like residue that could well suggest avian diabetes.  Not that I am planning to investigate the possibility.  

[LenT]

6 hours ago, Rabbers said:

but are also accompanied by a powdery sugar-like residue ….

I almost hesitate to ask, but ‘sugar-like’ in what respect?  🤢

[Rabbers]

51 minutes ago, LenT said:

I almost hesitate to ask, but ‘sugar-like’ in what respect?  🤢

I almost hesitate to reply, but I chose the adjective “powdery” to indicate a substance morphologically more akin to caster sugar than the crystalline granulated type.

[LenT]

47 minutes ago, Rabbers said:

I almost hesitate to reply, but I chose the adjective “powdery” to indicate a substance morphologically more akin to caster sugar than the crystalline granulated type.

I am relieved to learn that your allusion was textural rather than gustatory.🙂  

[Rabbers]

7 hours ago, LenT said:

I am relieved to learn that your allusion was textural rather than gustatory.🙂  

I am grateful for the elucidation.  Not that I hadn’t already got your drift.  

[talaipwros]

Hi guys, quick question

Is this a good deal for a new Lexus RX?

GEN 3 Glass coat ceramic paint seal protection £559.00

Cheers

 

[First_Lexus]

On 9/12/2022 at 10:12 AM, talaipwros said:

Hi guys, quick question

Is this a good deal for a new Lexus RX?

GEN 3 Glass coat ceramic paint seal protection £559.00

Cheers

 

Depends what you get for that. To give you an idea, I paid £500 total (with a very good detailer) for a GTechniq ceramic coating (including wheels), full correction prior, and colour block protection to the interior leather surfaces. 

[Mr_Groundhog]

On 2/6/2022 at 2:08 PM, Rabbers said:

Never having had any car of mine ceramically coated I can offer no comments from experience, but I have often wondered why manufacturers, given the reported advantages of the process, don’t automatically apply it to all cars before they leave the factory.

....actually Lexus does! 

Probbaly not one of these "ceramic" ones , but the manufacturer claims the car comes with a self-repairing coating that lasts about five years after leaving the factory, as mentioned in page 546 of the extended manual: https://www.lexus.co.uk/owners/about-my-lexus/manuals

See screengrab here:

 

[Mr_Groundhog]

Ceramic coatings seem great, to be frank. Never tried one but seems a good idea for some cars!

Personally, I prefer the waxing option because of its meditative factor (it calms me down, it is like meditation and I generally enjoy the process, doing it slowly while listening to some good music), and it's less fiddly and risky to apply than a proper ceramic treatment.
...It seems I live very close to one of the most famous detailers in the UK, who specialise in Gtechniq treatments, so have the choice if I change my mind.

I think there is a sort of intermediate option: a very durable wax: Soft99 Fusso coat claims to be a special, 12 month wax.
I bought it last month but have not used it yet. I'm waiting for temperatures to go up as it's supposed to be applied between 15 and 25 degrees.

The one I tried is the high def wax by Autoglym and i found it pretty good and super easy to apply.

[beyond the blue]

Very slow thread this which isn't surprising. My ES300h is 18 months old now, I took it for ceramic coating the day I picked it up from the dealers, still with all it's protective plastic wrappers on and although I will never know how it would have been if it had not been done after 18 months the paintwork still looks like new. It is extremely easy to clean and have never put any further treatment on. I have cleaned it today and although I noticed a couple of tar spots they came off with the slightest rub. I had the windows and wheels done as well, the only down side I found was the front screen water beaded that much the wipers would drag the droplets back across the screen. I removed the ceramic coating from the screen with screen cutting compound (not an easy job) but that cured the problem. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I'm very pleased with it so far.

[LenT]

15 minutes ago, beyond the blue said:

My ES300h is 18 months old now, I took it for ceramic coating the day I picked it up from the dealers

Spookily, Neil, that’s just what I suggested today to another poster about to collect a new Lexus.  I doubt he’ll bother, but as you’ve discovered - and Detailers would recommend - if you want bodywork to stay looking like new, then that’s when to ceramic coat it.

It’s a relatively small investment relative to the purchase price, but it’ll pay dividends if you’re planning to keep the car for some years.

The one place where the benefit is a bit dubious is the windscreen,  as you discovered.  This article explains it in more detail.

https://cars.newagain.co.uk/blog.asp?topic=Can-you-ceramic-coat-windscreens&tag=&id=40

Many years ago I knew the Company marketing a product called Rain-X, which was a silicon coating for glass to promote water beading.  They specifically recommended that it should NOT be used on windscreens for the very reason you’ve described.  When Chris Mitchell sold the product to another Company, they dropped that warning!

[Jgtcracer]

On 6/29/2023 at 10:33 PM, beyond the blue said:

Very slow thread this which isn't surprising. My ES300h is 18 months old now, I took it for ceramic coating the day I picked it up from the dealers, still with all it's protective plastic wrappers on and although I will never know how it would have been if it had not been done after 18 months the paintwork still looks like new. It is extremely easy to clean and have never put any further treatment on. I have cleaned it today and although I noticed a couple of tar spots they came off with the slightest rub. I had the windows and wheels done as well, the only down side I found was the front screen water beaded that much the wipers would drag the droplets back across the screen. I removed the ceramic coating from the screen with screen cutting compound (not an easy job) but that cured the problem. I know it's not to everyone's taste but I'm very pleased with it so far.

I’ve had mine on for 15 months or so and still going strong.  I do find that it adds quite a bit of value on the rest of the glass but my windscreen wore off ages ago, I assume due to the wiper action across it…

[Newbie777]

Hello

Interesting thread..

I have used swissvax products (swissol) and  I bought the cheaper carnauba wax for £50? Fir a small tub.

Swissvax also sell wax for over £5k for a small tub!

You can't just use the wax after cleaning drying the car  you need an application agent and then the wax, which smells beautiful and is best applied by hand.Very painstaking work.

For me it is not about a mirror or shiny finish, but the overall effort and enjoying the finished result.

Over the years there have been a few long term products like diamond bite and now ceramic coating, which are great.

But for me I just like the old fashioned but therapeutic version

[Boomer54]

56 minutes ago, Newbie777 said:

Hello

Interesting thread..

I have used swissvax products (swissol) and  I bought the cheaper carnauba wax for £50? Fir a small tub.

Swissvax also sell wax for over £5k for a small tub!

You can't just use the wax after cleaning drying the car  you need an application agent and then the wax, which smells beautiful and is best applied by hand.Very painstaking work.

For me it is not about a mirror or shiny finish, but the overall effort and enjoying the finished result.

Over the years there have been a few long term products like diamond bite and now ceramic coating, which are great.

But for me I just like the old fashioned but therapeutic version

"For me it is not about a mirror or shiny finish, but the overall effort and enjoying the finished result." Hmm, call me in about 20 years time to discuss.

[LenT]

1 hour ago, Newbie777 said:

Swissvax also sell wax for over £5k for a small tub!

 

You make that sound expensive, Niaz.  😊

But to be fair, you do get two 200ml tubs of carnuba wax, a nicely rolled bit of paper tied with a red ribbon, and an acrylic case with an engraved 900 silver plaque.

Unfortunatly, it doesn’t quite stretch to an applicator or polishing cloth.

https://swissvax.co.uk/collections/autowachs/products/divine-carnauba-wachs-62-vol

For people who do these things on the cheap, SWISSVAX does offer a single tub of Carnuba Wax at the everyday price of £1400.

https://swissvax.co.uk/products/carat-81-vol-carnaubawachs-mit-ptfe

Makes a few days of professional detailing with ceramic products look like quite a bargain!

[Newbie777]

1 hour ago, LenT said:

You make that sound expensive, Niaz.  😊

But to be fair, you do get two 200ml tubs of carnuba wax, a nicely rolled bit of paper tied with a red ribbon, and an acrylic case with an engraved 900 silver plaque.

Unfortunatly, it doesn’t quite stretch to an applicator or polishing cloth.

https://swissvax.co.uk/collections/autowachs/products/divine-carnauba-wachs-62-vol

For people who do these things on the cheap, SWISSVAX does offer a single tub of Carnuba Wax at the everyday price of £1400.

https://swissvax.co.uk/products/carat-81-vol-carnaubawachs-mit-ptfe

Makes a few days of professional Detailing with ceramic products look like quite a bargain!

Oh, the one I was referring too was possibly more than £5k and came in a special wood box, going back 15 years or so.

It was for Concours cars.