emmjay
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- Feb 2, 2015
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$6000 for a full body wrap in clear film?? Ouch....
Why isn't everyone using coatings if it is "better" than sealants?
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$6000 for a full body wrap in clear film?? Ouch....
TTQ B4U
Well-known member
- Jan 20, 2016
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Love my clear bras but I would never do an entire car. Especially the paint on a Tesla. One of the better quality paint jobs out there IMO. No way, even my Premium Shield Material as clear as it is wouldn't do it justice.
emmjay
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- Feb 2, 2015
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Oh don't get me wrong. I love the look of the car in direct sun and at night. Its just when I see the high spots/dry product I cringe (in low light). I like the feel of the paint after Uber no doubt. My point was - if these coatings were more user friendly and did not dry in seconds I would be all for it. I tried coatings for a reason - to make life easier when washing. However, I still wash my car the same way...coating or not. So to me, the ease of washing is not really there. Secondly, I like the fact that water just runs from the paint - a lot faster than Powerlock, no doubt about that. But is that it? My car gets equally dusty and dirty every week - I don't see any difference what so ever with the coating applied at the end of the week when its time to wash. I guess my surroundings and weather just don't allow it lol.
Secondly, coatings definitely make sense for you guys who get snow and salt on roads. Out here in Dubai, its 9 months of intense heat, and 3 months of cool-ish weather(once the sun is gone lol), with maybe a couple of rain showers a year. I got onto the coating bandwagon to try it out and just try to understand why dealers here charge $1500 - $2000 for these products? Some even hit the paint with lighters and sharp objects after coating and demo no scratches -I really want to know what coatings those are lol. Most of these have no brands - they just say "nano ceramic coating".
I do love the idea of coatings, but it's just a little boring. I like the 1-1.5 hours I spend every Thursday after work washing and cleaning the car. I like the fact that I apply a wax every 2 months and on that day spend close to 2.5 hours on the car. I like the idea that after a few months I can change up the product I use on the car. I like the idea that if I do polish the car to get rid of fine marring - I don't lose $600 worth of products, right down the drain. Post polishing, I don't have to be anal about anything and prep the paint, have no winds blowings, have temps of 60-70 etc. I hope you get my point lol. I just found coatings to have too many rules and restrictions that come with it, and that kind of killed it for me.
Give me a coating that will not dry in 5 seconds after touching the paint, give me a coating that can work in a variety of temperatures, give me a coating that I can use again in 2 years which does not go bad because I didn't use all of it...., give me a coating that does not need "diffused" light to look for high spots and earn myself a degree in limbo or flexibility lol, give me a coating that does not need said boosters and what not (what am I paying $199 for if it needs a booster costing another $80?), give me a coating that actually is as easy to apply as a sealant (not just words) - and trust me, I will buy it in a heart beat and will recommend it to everyone
Coatings are evolving and hats off to PBMG for making coatings a little more accessible to the masses. But, IMHO its not there yet, its still way to finicky and surgical for my tastes. Just like sealants that are now so easy to apply, I sincerely hope coatings get easy. 22ple is one example with their HPC, they incorporated the hazing of a sealant into a coating to tell you when its time to wipe off, so it is happening, albeit a little slowly.
p.s. I got the same candy look with menzerna powerlock as I did with Uber...A look I actually prefer over the warm glow
emmjay
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- Feb 2, 2015
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I had no idea Tesla paint was that good. I was under the impression that it has soft paint. But that's good to know
I was doing some work right next to a tesla quick charge station and a black tesla came in. I went to look at it and the paint laid down very nice with no orange peel. It did have some swirling and scratching and I handed him my card and told him I could make it look gorgeous. I messed up actually as I was trying to sell him something be didn't know he could use. He was shocked and informed me be just bought the car that day. I could tell I insulted him.
For being brand new I would say it was very soft paint!
For being brand new I would say it was very soft paint!
TTQ B4U
Well-known member
- Jan 20, 2016
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I had no idea Tesla paint was that good. I was under the impression that it has soft paint. But that's good to know
It may be soft I don't know. I've never corrected one. What I'm referencing is the clarity and finish. The ones I've seen, especially the reds, blues and blacks, if polished are outstanding in reflectivity. Ultra smooth in appearance. No way I'd wrap an entire car with clear bra as while the newer products are very clear, they will not due the Tesla Paint justice.
kevincwelch
New member
- May 12, 2013
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Re: Why isn't everyone using coatings if it is "better" than sealants?
I've seen some Teslas in Xpel, and they look great. Now, I agree with you that the Tesla paint looks great, and man, does it polish easily to a shine! However, after four years of driving on the Eisenhower, my hood looks like it has been riddled with sand and pebbles. Nothing severe, but if you look closely, you can tell. Again, nothing 99% of people would never notice, but we're the 1%.
I enjoy polishing and detailing too much, so I ultimately didn't go with the wrap.
I've seen some Teslas in Xpel, and they look great. Now, I agree with you that the Tesla paint looks great, and man, does it polish easily to a shine! However, after four years of driving on the Eisenhower, my hood looks like it has been riddled with sand and pebbles. Nothing severe, but if you look closely, you can tell. Again, nothing 99% of people would never notice, but we're the 1%.
I enjoy polishing and detailing too much, so I ultimately didn't go with the wrap.
kevincwelch
New member
- May 12, 2013
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Re: Why isn't everyone using coatings if it is "better" than sealants?
As far as the paint goes, the multi coat paints are very good. The initial offerings (mine) were very soft and scratched/swirled easily. Lots of orange peel in the early releases. Mine has leveled out over four years with the correction I have slowly done so that it looks better now than it did 4 years ago.
Having said that, I agree with you that the paint looks fantastic in general now.
Having a clear bra really is an issue of practicality.
Well, as I said, the Xpel actually does look nice on the Teslas.
As far as the paint goes, the multi coat paints are very good. The initial offerings (mine) were very soft and scratched/swirled easily. Lots of orange peel in the early releases. Mine has leveled out over four years with the correction I have slowly done so that it looks better now than it did 4 years ago.
Having said that, I agree with you that the paint looks fantastic in general now.
Having a clear bra really is an issue of practicality.
TTQ B4U
Well-known member
- Jan 20, 2016
- 5,504
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Re: Why isn't everyone using coatings if it is "better" than sealants?
No doubt....but the whole car? I'm just saying I personally wouldn't do an entire car as there is a difference between the areas that are clear covered vs not. I'm very very pleased with the clarity of mine, but I wouldn't do the whole car. The layer of adhesive and the 5-7 layers that make up the film will never look as good as naked paint. Wraping the sides, roof, decklid, etc is really unnecessary too.
I have the leading edges and exposed areas done:
Entire front bumper/clip
Headlights/fogs
First 1/3 of the hood
Front fenders to match line of hood
Leading section of roof in front of sunroof
A pillars
Rocker panels - bottom 4" of the doors on my car
Inside the kick panels so exiting vehicle skuffs won't damage sills/paint or lighted panels my car has in there
Didn't do mirrors as mine are aluminum
Also, while clear bras are excellent at protecting the paint, they too are suspeptible to damage and marks from sandblasting, etc. on the roads. Their clear coats are good but they don't hold up long term as well as one would hope. I've had them for 20+ years on a dozen or cars or so and the are certainly something I believe in but to me only on select areas.
Sounds like the hood of our van. I didn't get the van done only because it's a van and at the time, I just didn't care as much about it. Hindsight, I should have coated it with clear bra. I'm with you as the 1%'ers in this regard.
No doubt....but the whole car? I'm just saying I personally wouldn't do an entire car as there is a difference between the areas that are clear covered vs not. I'm very very pleased with the clarity of mine, but I wouldn't do the whole car. The layer of adhesive and the 5-7 layers that make up the film will never look as good as naked paint. Wraping the sides, roof, decklid, etc is really unnecessary too.
I have the leading edges and exposed areas done:
Entire front bumper/clip
Headlights/fogs
First 1/3 of the hood
Front fenders to match line of hood
Leading section of roof in front of sunroof
A pillars
Rocker panels - bottom 4" of the doors on my car
Inside the kick panels so exiting vehicle skuffs won't damage sills/paint or lighted panels my car has in there
Didn't do mirrors as mine are aluminum
Also, while clear bras are excellent at protecting the paint, they too are suspeptible to damage and marks from sandblasting, etc. on the roads. Their clear coats are good but they don't hold up long term as well as one would hope. I've had them for 20+ years on a dozen or cars or so and the are certainly something I believe in but to me only on select areas.
Sounds like the hood of our van. I didn't get the van done only because it's a van and at the time, I just didn't care as much about it. Hindsight, I should have coated it with clear bra. I'm with you as the 1%'ers in this regard.
I coated seven cars in a roll.
Yesterday, I coated one in the morning, and another late afternoon.
I'm getting really good at, and even making my own applicator.
I work with several brands of coatings, depending on the customer's budget.
People who use car as daily driver, and don't care much about appearance, usually want the added protection coating is supposed to give.
My two cents, best regards
Yesterday, I coated one in the morning, and another late afternoon.
I'm getting really good at, and even making my own applicator.
I work with several brands of coatings, depending on the customer's budget.
People who use car as daily driver, and don't care much about appearance, usually want the added protection coating is supposed to give.
My two cents, best regards
tdekany
SELF BANNED
- May 5, 2009
- 1,052
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Whole car wrapped, and protected with Opti Coat Pro. BTW, I have done a lot of teslas, and I do not think that the paint is any better than most. If you want to see clarity, check out RR or Bentley.
16393607894_fe17315a6e_o by Thomas Dekany, on Flickr- Thread starter
- #112
Lol I would hope a RR or Bentley would have nice paint.
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
- 14,545
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I completely agree with this.^
IME the only thing "boosters" have ever done is degrade my original lsp and result in me needing to clay prematurely. I think alot of people have been duped by the short lived water beading these sprays may provide, but in the long run all you're left with is their weak protection, hence the need to clay every 2-3 months. I learned that lesson and quit using them on my paint. Of course it also helps to have an lsp that actually protects your paint from bonded contaminants, or else what's the point. Lol.
Another thing I've never understood is how people say their lsp lasts 8-10 months with the help of a "booster" [spray wax, hydrophobic detail spray, spray sealant, etc] The way I see it, a good spray wax can probably have your paint beading forever if you were to wash your car weekly and apply spray wax afterwards.. It'll bead, but do a baggie test and odds are it will need a good claying.
TTQ B4U
Well-known member
- Jan 20, 2016
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they do but I've done a black Bentley and it turned out great but the paint wasn't IMO deemed special in terms of finish.
Moravcik25
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- Sep 17, 2016
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I've been using Gtechniq EXO and find it brilliant and very durable.
Although it will be interesting to see how it survives a Scottish winter with lots of salt on the roads and low/freezing temperatures.
Although it will be interesting to see how it survives a Scottish winter with lots of salt on the roads and low/freezing temperatures.
AutowerxDetailing
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- Apr 10, 2012
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I've never heard of a wax, sealant, or ceramic coating that is advertised to completely shield the paint from bonded contaminates. What is one that you would recommend that would provide this feature for several years?
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
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As far as I know there is no wax or sealant that can accomplish this for 2 yrs. I was hoping a coating would be able to, since some of them claim yrs. worth of durability.
Eldorado2k
Well-known member
- Nov 9, 2015
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I've been seeing so many varying opinions.. I guess the only real way to find out would be to try a coating for myself. If and when I do, you'll be hearing a real deal unbiased review from me, that's for sure.
Rsurfer
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- Jan 26, 2007
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When you do, you will say, I should have done this years ago.
The Guz
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- Jun 17, 2013
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Durability is not necessarily measured in terms of contaminant free. Contaminants can hinder the performance of a coating and as I previously stated a few pages back. The contaminant level in your area is much more than what I see in my area seeing as you are in a more industrial area. A simple decon wash will often restore the performance of a coating removing some of those bonded contaminants.
I posted something for you a few pages back on getting one and testing it side by side with your sealant.