Hello All.

I picked up my 2024 C8 and had a local mobile auto detailing company apply a ceramic coat. This service included paint correction, wash and application of the ceramic coat. It has been pretty overcast so I did not notice until yesterday (first sunny day) that there are what looks like white scuff marks on the hood.

Has anyone else experienced similar issues. If so, what did you do?

Not sure I want to use the same detailing company. Anyone have a shop that you would recommend in Orange County, CA?

Thanks all. BTW, love the car so far !

 

First use some detailing product.
If that does not clear it up, take back to the detailer. They fix it in little time at no charge if they have any pride in their work.
If the detailer screws you, post their name here!

 

Thanks for the info !

I gave the detailer a call who instead of stopping by wanted me to take a picture of the affected area. As soon as the sun comes out and gets bright out, I'll take and send pictures. I cannot see the imperfections unless under bright sun.

I'll let everyone know what happens.

Thanks again for your reply and advice.

 

any good professional detailer will apply ceramic coat using paint inspection lights so that he can see Misapplication quickly and correct it. Ron is right, a product like Carpro essence is made to clear up problems with ceramics, polish it down and reapply ceramic.

 

Thanks Glen

Unfortunately I used a mobile service and they applied the coat on an overcast day. I told the detailer I want them to come on a sunny day to fix the issue. I may just bite the bullet and take it to a shop with proper inspection lights. An expensive lesson....Live and learn.

 

You can't do paint correction outdoors. I hope they didn't charge you what paint correction normally costs.

 

Sorry to say your first (major) mistake was using a mobile service!

 

True. Only thing I'd consider using a mobile service for would be interior cleaning. They wouldn't be touching my paint in any way.

 

I have been waxing, polishing, detailing my cars for decades. I have well used orbital and standard rotary buffers of various sizes. More micro fiber and cotton towels than I can count and have tried every wax, sealant you can think of and generally consider myself to be only a few steps below a pro….

And then my son bought me the “new ceramic” coating for Father’s Day a few years back. Super excited. Dying to try it.

My C8 is probably the fifth or sixth car I have ceramic coated and I’m glad I’ve had some practice because it is THE most particular car care product I have ever used. Several times I thought I finally got it right only to machine polish the entire coating off the car or start over again.

Ceramic is amazing and it really is like putting a micro thin clear coat on your car but Jesus miss one spot when applying or removing. Let it sit too long and we’re talking minutes… don’t have the paint 100% clean and stripped of old wax (this is a big one) and it looks messed up and you have to do it again and doing it again right involves machine polishing the entire panel and re-applying.

My usual way too long winded way of saying even Pros need to work hard and get solid experience applying ceramic coating and mobile sounds like it would be an extra challenge unless you have a very clean garage for them to work in. I can’t do ceramic application outside under any circumstances… one wisp of a breeze and my car has dust on it that’s a nightmare if you’re applying a ceramic coating.

Checking around for the right shop is key.

 

Without going into boring detail, I had my professionally applied ceramic coating polished off by the installer after 5 months of frustrating regret. Could not be happier with the outcome. I can now wash, wax and detail with any product of my choice (Mother's Gold Class Caranuba,P21S and Meguiars Quick Detailer or Adams), and the results are outstanding, partially due to the paint correction that was done for the ceramic. IMHO the most critical part of achieving a great paint finish.

 

if you want an easy to apply very forgiving ceramic, try Gyeon Cancoat. It doesn’t give you high sides and literally just wipes on and you polish off immediately. I’ve done three cars with it now and they all come out perfect whereas other true ceramics are really finicky and you have to watch yourself. it needs to be applied about every 6 to 9 months, but it’s so easy I don’t mind the application frequency. It truly is a ceramic for beginners. Try it on your wife's car….LOL

 

Thanks for the tip!! Ceramic is not for the novice and as much as I love the protection. Bird crap wipes right off. Never any etching in the paint…, overall I don’t find the finish any better than a good sealant and great wax gives a deeper shine but if doesn’t last at all…

 

I agree, ceramics give me about the same gloss as I get by polishing and using a good polymer sealant or a wax. Obviously it lasts longer, I do find it to be a little bit more hydrophobic for a longer period of time and ceramics give me a little more of a candy look. Like this rear fender on my Mustang, with Cancoat.

 

my sentiments, exactly! Lots of claimed auto detailers out there, mobile as well as new car auto sales groups. A good detailer ceramic coating with a prior quality paint correction is the way to go if you can handle the extra cost. Better yet, a quality paint correction job, then a PPF installation, than a quality ceramic coating is worth the money if you have a special car, regardless of manufacturer.

 

I suggest taking it to a good paint shop for inspection. The paint may have been damaged while doing "paint correction." Hope not, but...

 

Take your car to a highly recommended ceramic coating company and see what they say. I think I would avoid taking it back to the mobile detailer unless you absolutely feel they can correct the imperfections.

 

Y'all are making me so glad my guy is top notch and cares as much about my cars as I do (if not more). He is the only other human, outside of me, who touches the paint on any of my vehicles.

This is ~after 15 months since he applied the System X ceramic. Car is so hydrophobic it almost dries itself.

Look at that SHINE inside my garage....




OP, go find a PRO and let them look at it

 

Looks great, how much is a paint correction and ceramic coating?

 

That is hard for me to answer for a few reasons.

1. First, he used every product that System X offers on my car, inside and out (engine bay is coated too) so I am not sure what just a "normal" job would run.
2. Second, I get a discount so I do not want to mislead anyone as to what it should normally cost. Since I do not pay "retail", I do not disclose what I pay him.
3. A lot depends on the level of coating you get (how long the coating is under warranty).
   1. My car was done in MAX and now they have MAX G+, which is supposed to be 30% more shine than my coating...no idea if that costs more
   2. https://www.systemx.com/products/

You can get them to have one of their certified shops give you a free quote. https://www.systemx.com/get-a-quote/

 

That depends on where you live and the competition between the shops in the area. The labor cost for paint correction if done right drives up the price. The best quote I've seen here about ceramic coating is that "you pay for the installer - not the product." You also need to remember that only certified shops can buy the best ceramic products from the manufacturer since those products come with a warranty.