Hi all,
I recently purchased a 2025 Ford Maverick in Sand. I was planning to ceramic coat the car I traded in, so I luckily had almost everything I needed to quickly lock in that new car goodness.
First, let me say thank the lord the weather was PERFECT. Low 70s, low humidity, and clouds to keep panels from heat soaking while doing decon.
After my last ceramic coating failed at 6 months, I decided to stay in brand as much as possible on this one. I started off with Armour Decon Soap foamed and allowed to Dwell. Then I followed with a contact wash also using ADS. I went over the car several times. I really wanted a good decon foundation and also wanted to strip Gyeon Wet coat I had on the plastics. I also used Adams wheel and tire cleaner on the wheels and tires.
Next I used the ADS Iron remover, All over the car. Let that dwell for a while. Again with the good weather I was able to take my time.
I Foamed over the Iron remover with Adams Shampoo and used a clay mit to finish the decon, stopping every so often to add foam for lubrication.
With the decon complete, I moved on to Polishing. Even though I stopped the dealer from washing the car, there were still very small defects, the type only people on this forum would notice in exactly the right light. The gloss had some room to improve as well. I chose to use Koch Chemie M302. I love my standby sonax perfect finish, but the bottle is 2 years old, and I wanted something low dust. I experimented between rupes white and yellow pads. Ultimately I went with yellow. It got the paint as close to perfect as possible with minimal effort.
This was not a concerted paint correction effort. I spent maybe 5 minutes per panel, with 3 total passes, at a moderate speed. The paint was already in great shape, so just basic polish passes shined it and cleaned it. My Rupes Cordless 15mm fresh back from Rupes was able to do the entire car on 1 and a half charges. The M302 finishes excellently, corrects well and it had 0 dusting. This may be the reduced cycle time I was putting it under, but I'm a fan so far.
Next it was time for ADS Quartz. I was nervous about this, as folks on here mentioned it not being the friendliest to apply. I found it easy to use. It was tolerant of sitting a few minutes while I coated the next panel before wipe off. The removal was easy, maybe a touch grabby, but nothing problematic. Again, I had essentially perfect Weather to apply so weigh that when setting expectations for your application. Plastic trim looks AMAZING with Quartz on it. Even more than the paint, applying to the trim changed the car.
I did notice two high spots as I was doing other things to the car. One came off very easily with just wiping, the other came off with a touch of panel prep. (I am going to watch that area to see if it needs to be re-applied. I also half heartedly did the roof (same with my polishing) its on there and I wiped it off, but im sure there are some high spots. I dont see the roof often, and I did not have my step stool for proper application. (ah well, its a small area, maybe for trying out other coatings ..)
Of course headlights, grill, mirrors door handles all received Quartz. The main exception were the wheels and glass (minus the mirrors)
Next i moved on to glass. I polished the windshield during the paint correction with the same pad and polsh as the paint. I cleaned it panel prep first then followed with glass cleaner, each step getting its own towel. The door windows were just cleaned, no polishing. The rear window wasnt touched as I have some plans for it.
The glass was coated with Gtechniq G1. I've used a few glass coatings now and its the only one to impress me. With that said. I REFUSE to use their applicators and do the little swirls, especially after all the polishing and applying quartz. I used a microfiber applicator and cross hatch. I removed it with panel prep, as their release agent just smells like IPA to me. I am fully aware this may ruin the coating, and that my application method may also ruin it. If so, ill try a different coating.
The wheels were finished with Ceramic speed shine. I considered coating them, but at this point I was dead. I was also doing this at a friends house and needed to leave.
tires were treated with Suds labs tire dressing which my friend asked me to try.
While I was paint correcting, my friend applied Gyeon Fabric guard to the seats. last weekend i protected the front seat interior trim with C6 Matt dash and L1. (backseat eventually)
Needless to say, I am pooped, but very pleased with the car. The interior needs a quick clean, but otherwise, I am as done as I plan to get, aside from maybe fabric coating the carpet. I had to leave after only an hour an a half of cure. I really hope it doesnt shorten the life.
The difference Is note night, but gloss is noticeably improved,. and the coating is starting to cure into that candy shell look. In a few days it should look amazing.
The parking lot image is a before shot of a clean truck. I know the lighting isnt the same, but I am hoping it gives some context.
These are the after, note minimal curing time at this point.
Paint is definitely clearer and glossier, even with the sun behind the clouds. I am again VERY happy with the trim as well. Looks so much richer and darker.
I recently purchased a 2025 Ford Maverick in Sand. I was planning to ceramic coat the car I traded in, so I luckily had almost everything I needed to quickly lock in that new car goodness.
First, let me say thank the lord the weather was PERFECT. Low 70s, low humidity, and clouds to keep panels from heat soaking while doing decon.
After my last ceramic coating failed at 6 months, I decided to stay in brand as much as possible on this one. I started off with Armour Decon Soap foamed and allowed to Dwell. Then I followed with a contact wash also using ADS. I went over the car several times. I really wanted a good decon foundation and also wanted to strip Gyeon Wet coat I had on the plastics. I also used Adams wheel and tire cleaner on the wheels and tires.
Next I used the ADS Iron remover, All over the car. Let that dwell for a while. Again with the good weather I was able to take my time.
I Foamed over the Iron remover with Adams Shampoo and used a clay mit to finish the decon, stopping every so often to add foam for lubrication.
With the decon complete, I moved on to Polishing. Even though I stopped the dealer from washing the car, there were still very small defects, the type only people on this forum would notice in exactly the right light. The gloss had some room to improve as well. I chose to use Koch Chemie M302. I love my standby sonax perfect finish, but the bottle is 2 years old, and I wanted something low dust. I experimented between rupes white and yellow pads. Ultimately I went with yellow. It got the paint as close to perfect as possible with minimal effort.
This was not a concerted paint correction effort. I spent maybe 5 minutes per panel, with 3 total passes, at a moderate speed. The paint was already in great shape, so just basic polish passes shined it and cleaned it. My Rupes Cordless 15mm fresh back from Rupes was able to do the entire car on 1 and a half charges. The M302 finishes excellently, corrects well and it had 0 dusting. This may be the reduced cycle time I was putting it under, but I'm a fan so far.
Next it was time for ADS Quartz. I was nervous about this, as folks on here mentioned it not being the friendliest to apply. I found it easy to use. It was tolerant of sitting a few minutes while I coated the next panel before wipe off. The removal was easy, maybe a touch grabby, but nothing problematic. Again, I had essentially perfect Weather to apply so weigh that when setting expectations for your application. Plastic trim looks AMAZING with Quartz on it. Even more than the paint, applying to the trim changed the car.
I did notice two high spots as I was doing other things to the car. One came off very easily with just wiping, the other came off with a touch of panel prep. (I am going to watch that area to see if it needs to be re-applied. I also half heartedly did the roof (same with my polishing) its on there and I wiped it off, but im sure there are some high spots. I dont see the roof often, and I did not have my step stool for proper application. (ah well, its a small area, maybe for trying out other coatings ..)
Of course headlights, grill, mirrors door handles all received Quartz. The main exception were the wheels and glass (minus the mirrors)
Next i moved on to glass. I polished the windshield during the paint correction with the same pad and polsh as the paint. I cleaned it panel prep first then followed with glass cleaner, each step getting its own towel. The door windows were just cleaned, no polishing. The rear window wasnt touched as I have some plans for it.
The glass was coated with Gtechniq G1. I've used a few glass coatings now and its the only one to impress me. With that said. I REFUSE to use their applicators and do the little swirls, especially after all the polishing and applying quartz. I used a microfiber applicator and cross hatch. I removed it with panel prep, as their release agent just smells like IPA to me. I am fully aware this may ruin the coating, and that my application method may also ruin it. If so, ill try a different coating.
The wheels were finished with Ceramic speed shine. I considered coating them, but at this point I was dead. I was also doing this at a friends house and needed to leave.
tires were treated with Suds labs tire dressing which my friend asked me to try.
While I was paint correcting, my friend applied Gyeon Fabric guard to the seats. last weekend i protected the front seat interior trim with C6 Matt dash and L1. (backseat eventually)
Needless to say, I am pooped, but very pleased with the car. The interior needs a quick clean, but otherwise, I am as done as I plan to get, aside from maybe fabric coating the carpet. I had to leave after only an hour an a half of cure. I really hope it doesnt shorten the life.
The difference Is note night, but gloss is noticeably improved,. and the coating is starting to cure into that candy shell look. In a few days it should look amazing.
The parking lot image is a before shot of a clean truck. I know the lighting isnt the same, but I am hoping it gives some context.
These are the after, note minimal curing time at this point.
Paint is definitely clearer and glossier, even with the sun behind the clouds. I am again VERY happy with the trim as well. Looks so much richer and darker.
