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So my friend told me that he had his Audi coated so he doesn't need to wash his car much anymore and it keeps its shine. I was curious and I send a note to a local detailing shop that would do ceramic coating on my C7. He texted me and say it'll be $800. I told him I didn't know it was that expensive and then 5 minutes later he said he can do it for $500. I told him I'll think about it. Do I really benefit from this coating? The C7 is my DD. I have VentureShield clear bra on front bumper, headlight, and side mirror. Any advise would be appreciated. Keep in mind I am budget conscious. I've been taking the car to a local car wash (I know many of you will never do that), and then waxing it when I get home myself. I do this every other week. If it means I don't have to do that anymore it may save time and money in the long run, is it worth it?
Last edited by amphora001; Aug 16, 2023 at 02:27 PM.
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
No.
I just clay barred my Vette and put 2 coats of Rejex high gloss protective finish on it. Looks just as good as that $800 ceramic coating somebody's trying to sell you. And since you state that you are budget conscience, you'll only pay about $18-$20 bucks doing the Rejex. It may not last as long as the ceramic coating, but doing it just twice a year will keep that excellent shine and protection. Only takes about an hour to do the whole car.
I'd recommend going to Costco and buying a big pack of those large micro-fiber towels to apply and to remove the Rejex. I used several, changing them often for the best result on my car's finish.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say, but I had my 2016 LBR Vert ceramic coated ,with full paint prep and while it was over $1400 I could not be happier. It looks better than when it was new, thinking all of the paint prep for that, and handles the Central Florida sun and rain with no problem. Again, to each his own.
Loving it in FL
If you wax your car why not watch some how to videos on ceramic and do it yourself? I am going to put Adams on my LBR next week after I pick it up, waiting on clear bra install before taking delivery.
I thought that while ceramic does a good job at protecting against the basics, it still needs to be removed within five years and is not a simple process you do at home. This may help explain better than I can:
Since ceramic coatings are somewhat new, I do not think many people know that it can be more costly to do the reapplication and ceramic is not for the life of the car. Sure, if you’re only going to keep a car for a lease, then it’s someone else’s headache I guess, but could be a trade or sale detractor. Bottom line, I will continue to enjoy hand washing and waxing my cars.
I thought that while ceramic does a good job at protecting against the basics, it still needs to be removed within five years and is not a simple process you do at home. This may help explain better than I can: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=93MmQhNwqxk
Since ceramic coatings are somewhat new, I do not think many people know that it can be more costly to do the reapplication and ceramic is not for the life of the car. Sure, if you’re only going to keep a car for a lease, then it’s someone else’s headache I guess, but could be a trade or sale detractor. Bottom line, I will continue to enjoy hand washing and waxing my cars.
Adams seems pretty easy to apply and remove, all it needs is to be polished off, I think as time goes on products improve and get easier to use.
Long time user of rejex and have always liked the results. This year I desided to take the plung into ceramic coating as I want the ease of just washing. I used Wolfgang uber ceramic coat full kit for $129 on sale. Very easy to apply & results are fantastic. Washing the car is so easy, nothing sticks to it, bugs, tar all come right off. I am a daily driver of my C7 and for me it is a must do.
These nano coatings definitely work. Keep in mind that the $500 price you are being quoted is to prep the car and then apply the coating. We are talking about hours and hours or work by a professional so $500 is not absurd. Is it worth it? I think if you are a DIYer you can get similar results for much less money as stated in this thread.
But even just prepping the car requires wash, clay, polish/paint correct, and then the coating. I enjoy this stuff so it is fun for me, but this is going to take the good part of a day if you really want to do it right and depending on how much paint correction you need.
Long time user of rejex and have always liked the results. This year I desided to take the plung into ceramic coating as I want the ease of just washing. I used Wolfgang uber ceramic coat full kit for $129 on sale. Very easy to apply & results are fantastic. Washing the car is so easy, nothing sticks to it, bugs, tar all come right off. I am a daily driver of my C7 and for me it is a must do.
I applied the Wolfgang ceramic to the C7 during the 4th of July holiday last year, and it is still going strong.
Before applying Kamikaze Overcoat this year l did a little experiment to see if there would be any noticeable difference between the two. I applied Overcoat to a small area, then sprayed it with water. You couldn't tell the difference in the water beading from the original coating to the new overcoated area.
Very happy with the ease of application, and the performance of the Wolfgang, enough so I just did the VW.
Arn't you people concerned about the recoating process??
According to the posted video it's a big deal.
Probably cheaper to be careful with your waxed surface and buff out scratches yrs.later.
Wanted to Seal to protect the clear.Now what?
Like anything paint related the prep is the most important step!
I went with the wolfgang ubber ceramic and am very happy with it, even had enough left from the kit to do my 16 Yukon Denali.
The ceramic is easier than waxing and the bugs and junk come off really easy.
$500 is a good deal btw
Took me 5 hours to finish my grand sport.
1. Wash
2. Deionize the contaminants out iron x works
3. Wash with clay bar mitt huge time saver if your car is fairly new needing little correction.
4. Wax any scratches swirl marks out I used zaino
5. Clean with the Wolfgang prep spray and wipe down
6. Ceramic coat
I use a foam canon and two bucket method on every vehicle I own.
Arn't you people concerned about the recoating process??
According to the posted video it's a big deal.
Probably cheaper to be careful with your waxed surface and buff out scratches yrs.later.
Wanted to Seal to protect the clear.Now what?
No, It's not as hard to remove as the first video leads you to believe and I assume it may be different for different brands.
Q: Can I remove Adam’s Paint Coating after it cures?
A: Yes. Adam’s Paint Coating can be removed by machine polishing. It must be removed by machine due to it forming a much stronger bond with the painted surface of the vehicle than our other wax and sealant products. Adam’s Correcting Polish with an Orange Foam Pad or Microfiber Cutting Pad should be enough to remove the coating for any follow-up polishing work, or to repair improper application/curing of the coating.
No, It's not as hard to remove as the first video leads you to believe and I assume it may be different for different brands.
Q: Can I remove Adam’s Paint Coating after it cures?
A: Yes. Adam’s Paint Coating can be removed by machine polishing. It must be removed by machine due to it forming a much stronger bond with the painted surface of the vehicle than our other wax and sealant products. Adam’s Correcting Polish with an Orange Foam Pad or Microfiber Cutting Pad should be enough to remove the coating for any follow-up polishing work, or to repair improper application/curing of the coating.
Thanks for the info I purchased this product because of the layering and time of protection.I'm waiting on the spec's if compatible with certain protective films.
Guess if no ceramic you will be waxing more often.Then in time you will be repairing with all that scratching of the clear. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CERAMIC-COAT...-/253000136323
The video in post #5 features the CEO of a wax company. Of course, he's going to try to find ways to trash his competition. Consider the source, which is not an objective one by any stretch of the imagination.
Ceramic vs. traditional wax/or finish protection is a simple personal choice.
Ceramic coating guarantees 3-5 year surface protection, provides more protection than waxes, and makes cleaning very easy. Some say that it will last indefinitely on a car that spends most of it's life in a garage. Usually a low-pressure power washer and 5 minutes is all one needs.
If you're the type that either doesn't mind or enjoys more involved washing, and then waxing every 6 months or more often as required, then go that route.
You can also wax over ceramic coatings. The minor swirls that sometimes appear on my CQuartz Finest coated car are in the ceramic coating, not the paint. A very light wax application to the affected area makes them disappear immediately.
OP: Ask about paint prep, which, as others have noted is key. My concern would be that the $500 job involves less prep than the $800 job. If so, get the $800 job. My car cost me $1k, btw. Most of the cost is the prep.
What he said. A comprehensive paint correction is the foundation which everything else is built upon. Whether it's ceramic coating, PPF film, or just wax or polymer protection, getting the paint surface as clean and smooth as possible is the most important thing one should do before anything else.
A good surface prep plus ceramic coating application will be a minimum of $1K when done by a true pro. It is important to remember that much of that cost is the prep, not the ceramic.
A $500 ceramic coat job probably involves only a rudimentary surface prep.
Your call, but here's what mine looks like today. I did it myself, wheels, paint and glass, took me 25 hours. I did it last October when the car was brand new. Now, I either blow the dust off with an air hose or rinse it with a 1650 psi power washer, no wash mit ever. Well worth the labor.
So my friend told me that he had his Audi coated so he doesn't need to wash his car much anymore
Now THAT'S just silly. A ceramic coating does not prevent your car from getting dirty. You also need not spend hundreds of dollars to have it done. I've used both Wolfgang and Pinnacle on two different cars. Pinnacle was easier to use. It's a spray bottle. Wolfgang comes in a syringe and is a little more difficult to apply evenly. On one car I applied a high-end Carnuba wax (Adams) over the top. I like the finishes on both cars just fine. Water beads up nicely. But I have to tell you that to the average eye you probably can't tell the difference between these coatings.
I think he meant to he doesn't have to do a traditional wash with car wash soap, mitt's, 2 buckets, and the whole deal. That part is true.
I've not used car wash shampoo on mine for more than year since I had CQuart Finest installed. Nothing sticks, and a low psi power-wash is all that is required. After that, I Master Blaster it dry.
Ceramic coating advice
I purchased this product because of the layering and time of protection.I'm waiting on the spec's if compatible with certain protective films. 
