Protection for eBay Carbon Fiber spoiler

Really, IMHO, it will depend less "what you use", but how often you use it. Wash and wax frequently - you won't have no problems unless the clear coat is crap.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
You want the best option (no mention made of cost being a consideration), so I suggest Opti-Lens ( "Polycarbonate headlight lenses require far more UV protection than paint does so Dr. David Ghodoussi – CEO and chemist behind Optimum Polymer Technologies – formulated Opti-Lens Headlight Coating with the highest amount of UV inhibitors available in a coating.")and DLux ("It repels UV rays...with a crystal clear coating...with strong UV protection.") {quotes from Autogeek store product pages}

But your solution is this:



If that's what you want to do, fine, hey, I tried.
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No, I do think Opti-Lens is a possible, good solution... like my other response to you first suggesting this though is, that I thought it was made for plastic's... not necessarily paint and/or clear coat...
Every time I've ever stumbled across Opti... was in headlight restoration threads/post

Because if that is the case, why wouldn't people just cover their entire car in Opti-Lens as opposed to sealant/wax? Or maybe they do?

I truly don't know, as I am just learning about more products that are out there. Ive heard of Opti-coating before, but like I said, was under the impression this was a "headlight thing" ... I will look further into Opti-Lens...

I am not trying to be argumentative, or dismissive, I am honestly just trying to increase my knowledge.. and it certainly seems like you would be one to agree that, auto detailing and paint care, etc. is a big, big world... it's not just slather some wax on and call it a day.
 
Allblackbimmer said:
it certainly seems like you would be one to agree that, auto detailing and paint care, etc. is a big, big world... it's not just slather some wax on and call it a day.
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Yes, but as Swanicyouth noted, some part of it is frequency vs. product, that is, you can have a really ineffective product that will give better long-term results if you use it frequently, than a really effective product that you apply once.

Opti-Lens is simply a version of Opti-Coat with (more?) UV absorbers. The clearcoat on your car has UV absorbers in it, arguably lenses are more sensitive and require more protection (for example you frequently see vehicles with failed headlight coating without failed paint). Black plastic trim also quickly fades from UV exposure, so durable products for that application would also be indicated.

Why don't people use Opti-Lens on their whole car? Maybe because it's much more expensive than the old OC 2.0 (although kind of the same as Gloss-Coat). It also is not quite as user-friendly as OC 2.0 was.

I don't know what kind of clear is on your spoiler, whether it is a real 2K clear (with UV absorbers) like on your vehicle or something else. If it's something else, you need to be more careful. My limited understanding of CF is that the resin (which would be under the clear) yellows easily, perhaps a lot more easily than the basecoat on the rest of the vehicle. So there's a lot of products you could use, just follow the simple rule of thumb that the less durable the product the more often you should reapply.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Yes, but as Swanicyouth noted, some part of it is frequency vs. product, that is, you can have a really ineffective product that will give better long-term results if you use it frequently, than a really effective product that you apply once.

Opti-Lens is simply a version of Opti-Coat with (more?) UV absorbers. The clearcoat on your car has UV absorbers in it, arguably lenses are more sensitive and require more protection (for example you frequently see vehicles with failed headlight coating without failed paint). Black plastic trim also quickly fades from UV exposure, so durable products for that application would also be indicated.

Why don't people use Opti-Lens on their whole car? Maybe because it's much more expensive than the old OC 2.0 (although kind of the same as Gloss-Coat). It also is not quite as user-friendly as OC 2.0 was.

I don't know what kind of clear is on your spoiler, whether it is a real 2K clear (with UV absorbers) like on your vehicle or something else. If it's something else, you need to be more careful. My limited understanding of CF is that the resin (which would be under the clear) yellows easily, perhaps a lot more easily than the basecoat on the rest of the vehicle. So there's a lot of products you could use, just follow the simple rule of thumb that the less durable the product the more often you should reapply.
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Yea, after a quick google... I was thinking Opti-Lens and not Opti-Coat... not realizing they were different products...

Im not looking for a "one-time" solution.. I usually wash/clay/wax my car a few times over a year, with weekly car-wash spray-off's (manual, not that auto-car wash brillow pad) ... so I have no problem applying a few coats of "X brand"-sealant/wax and then reapplying a month or two later.

I am sure the clear coat on my spoiler is whatever is "cheaper"... which is one without good UV protection in all likelihood, hence the reason for this post to begin with. And yes, my understanding is also that the resin in CF will yellow more quickly than the actual clear coat, which is what im trying to protect (the actual CF/resin)

Opti-coat seems like a good option, however, I still debate clear vinyl + using a product like 303 ontop the vinyl OR just using a product like Klasse when I do the rest of my car. I suppose they are the 3 real options I have. I would be OK with a less "clear" look with vinyl, IF it protected more, which is hard to say one way or the other.

At the end of the day, the spoiler wasn't a huge $$$ amount, so I am really over thinking this... but I enjoy learning about new products/options and hearing people's opinions on them.
 
Allblackbimmer said:
Opti-coat seems like a good option, however, I still debate clear vinyl + using a product like 303 ontop the vinyl OR just using a product like Klasse when I do the rest of my car. I suppose they are the 3 real options I have. I would be OK with a less "clear" look with vinyl, IF it protected more, which is hard to say one way or the other.
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You can't get Opti-Coat, it's a professional product. The consumer version, OC 2.0, was discontinued last year. As other posters have mentioned, forget the 303, it's not really good for hard surfaces, and heck it's not any kind long-term of solution even for interior vinyl, protected from most of the UV by glass.

A coating is your best bet, there are plenty of them. If it was me I'd use Opti-Lens or DLux. If you want something similar, Optimum Car Wax has a patented UV absorber system (the patent is more about mixing the UV absorber into the product rather than the UV absorber itself).
 
Allblackbimmer said:
I am sure the clear coat on my spoiler is whatever is "cheaper"... which is one without good UV protection in all likelihood, hence the reason for this post to begin with. And yes, my understanding is also that the resin in CF will yellow more quickly than the actual clear coat, which is what im trying to protect (the actual CF/resin)
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This, IMHO, is still the best "first" preventative-measure:
FUNX725 said:
I'd first get it sprayed with a couple
more coats of ClearCoat...
...CC that contains the maximum amount of
UV-inhibitors/absorbers that's available.
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Allblackbimmer said:
At the end of the day, the spoiler wasn't a huge $$$ amount, so I am really over thinking this... but I enjoy learning about new products/options and hearing people's opinions on them.
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Hope it all works out for you for the long run.


Bob
 
I believe, after much research and all of your help...

Optimum Car Wax might be the best solution for me. Looks like a great wax that has UV protection, unlike many others.

My only question regarding this product is - should I seal the clear coat first with something like Klasse and then apply the Optimum Car Wax, Or should I just apply Optimum directly on the clear without sealant first?

It seems sealant would give an added layer of protection, but I am not sure if they are compatible with each other?
 
Pics... one with flash, one without.

15953245753_1a0e9494f9_n.jpg
[/url]20150217_212047 by AllBlackBimmer, on Flickr[/IMG]

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[/url]20150217_212118 by AllBlackBimmer, on Flickr[/IMG]
 
I was in a similar situation and ended up going with the klasse twins + a top coat of carnauba every 3-4 weeks. Can't say for sure if this will/will not prevent the "yellowing", but so far it looks as good as the day I got it.

Honestly, I'm of the opinion that as long as your car/carbon fiber isn't spending every day baking in the sun for 12+ hours, you'll be fine. I've owned many CF products on various cars over the years and have never run into issues with fading or yellowing, but I've always made sure to at minimum apply wax regularly and avoid parking in direct sunlight when possible.
 
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