Best topper for CQuartz3.0?

bob m

bob m

Member
Joined
May 15, 2009
Messages
296
Reaction score
0
So, I helped my friend detail his recently purchased 2016 BMW X5. The paint (white) is in great shape and he did the wash, Iron X. TarX thing the day before, so we washed, clayed and one step polished (GG Perfecting Cream), washed again, Eraser and CarPro CQuartz3.0 coating. He will apply a second coating today or tomorrow. What would be the best CARPRO (want to keep it in the same family) topper to maintain/protect the coating? Not looking for the 30ml toppers that are applied in a similar manner as the coating, rather the ones that can be applied easily - wipe on/wipe off and offers a few months of solid protection and can be used as a "quick detailer." Reload? Hydro02 Lite?
 
Elixir as a drying agent every wash. I think that's enough to not need any other topper if the person is washing regularly.
 
Seeing as he doesn’t want to apply a topper like the coating then that rules out Gliss. Although the application of Gliss is pretty quick.

I would go this route if he has it.
Mid not stick with Elixir and Ech2o. Both make a good drying aid. Use Elixir monthly and Ech2o at 1:20 the rest of the time and it will be all you need.

Reload is ok but what I don’t like about it, is that after a wash or two it goes flat and masks the performance of the coating until it is completely gone from the coated surface.
 
2wookies said:
For a topper he could also do Gliss
Click to expand...

Unfortunately he said no topper that has to be applied like a coating. But if that is/was an option, definitely Gliss is the way to go. It completely changes the way UK feels and behaves. Totally worth it in my opinion. At this point I don't think I'd consider using UK w/o Gliss because it makes it that much better. Quite easier to apply than UK as well so if the application is what's making him say no to Gliss, just know that it's very easy to apply.
 
Carpro Reload is the no brainer answer.

But, I don't see any harm in any form of using other similar type products from the likes of GTechniq (C2V3) or others like Blackfire Coating Booster, or SIO2 Spray. (In fact I have used them all that I mention on a C'Quartzed vehicle)

I say better to use something, than nothing. It will help prolong the life of the coating I feel.

I strongly doubt that any spray detailers made will hurt a coating, might change some of the coating's properties is all, but doubtful any harm would come in the form of removing that Coating.

Forgive me if there's a few other Coating Toppers from other companies (Polish Angel, etc) that I may have overlooked and missed.

I think the key and rule of thumb is, to use a product that will possess similar properties as the Coating has.
 
I'll be keeping Gliss in mind next time I coat. I would assume Gliss could be also used at some future point if one wished, let's for say the 4-6 month mark after C-Quartz. Or no? Might depend on some other factors (doody accumulation upon the paint, saps, etc) LOL
 
MarkD51 said:
I'll be keeping Gliss in mind next time I coat. I would assume Gliss could be also used at some future point if one wished, let's for say the 4-6 month mark after C-Quartz. Or no? Might depend on some other factors (doody accumulation upon the paint, saps, etc) LOL
Click to expand...

It's possible but you'll want to make sure there's nothing else on top of CQuartz that would prevent bonding. This is from CarPro US website:

Q. My coating is a few months old and I want to apply Gliss but Reload has already been applied over the coating, can I still use Gliss?

A. No, as Reload will not allow the coating to bond to the paint but if you still want to apply Gliss than the process would be as follows:

Wash with CarPro Reset
Decontaminate with Iron X if necessary
Use CarPro Tar X (this will pull the oils out of Reload that will prevent Gliss from bonding. Use in shade, do not allow to dwell, and be careful around sensitive plastics)
a. Spray and wipe in Tar X into panel with microfiber and immediately neutralize the Tar X by either rewashing the panel or using a waterless wash such as CarPro Ech2o (Make sure to neutralize Tar X before moving onto next panel)
Give it one more good wash with CarPro Reset
Wipe down with CarPro Eraser
Gliss application *If applying over an old coating there is a possibility Gliss may haze up the next day and you can see the application marks. If this happens wiping down the vehicle with CarPro Ech2o or a damp microfiber will remove it.*
If you choose to apply Reload over Gliss than you must wait a minimum of 12 hrs to allow Gliss to cure.
 
BSoares said:
It's possible but you'll want to make sure there's nothing else on top of CQuartz that would prevent bonding. This is from CarPro US website:

Q. My coating is a few months old and I want to apply Gliss but Reload has already been applied over the coating, can I still use Gliss?

A. No, as Reload will not allow the coating to bond to the paint but if you still want to apply Gliss than the process would be as follows:

Wash with CarPro Reset
Decontaminate with Iron X if necessary
Use CarPro Tar X (this will pull the oils out of Reload that will prevent Gliss from bonding. Use in shade, do not allow to dwell, and be careful around sensitive plastics)
a. Spray and wipe in Tar X into panel with microfiber and immediately neutralize the Tar X by either rewashing the panel or using a waterless wash such as CarPro Ech2o (Make sure to neutralize Tar X before moving onto next panel)
Give it one more good wash with CarPro Reset
Wipe down with CarPro Eraser
Gliss application *If applying over an old coating there is a possibility Gliss may haze up the next day and you can see the application marks. If this happens wiping down the vehicle with CarPro Ech2o or a damp microfiber will remove it.*
If you choose to apply Reload over Gliss than you must wait a minimum of 12 hrs to allow Gliss to cure.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. Makes logical sense, thank you!
 
BSoares said:
Gliss is the way to go. It completely changes the way UK feels and behaves. Totally worth it in my opinion. At this point I don't think I'd consider using UK w/o Gliss because it makes it that much better. Quite easier to apply than UK as well so if the application is what's making him say no to Gliss, just know that it's very easy to apply.
Click to expand...

This ^.

Gliss completely changes the game.
 
Wow, that is a lot of steps to perform just to add something back on a very good coating product. Almost think that is a solid reason why most daily drivers are better off with simple spray sealants and occasional wax. Coatings are not the perfect answer
 
Thomkirby said:
Wow, that is a lot of steps to perform just to add something back on a very good coating product. Almost think that is a solid reason why most daily drivers are better off with simple spray sealants and occasional wax. Coatings are not the perfect answer
Click to expand...

It's not the coating that is the problem if you thinking of the application of Gliss after a while. Reload and it's oils in it that makes Gliss application a no go if not degreasing the surface first. Otherwise it's just goes over with a thorough cleaning and a Eraser wipe down. So here is the spray sealant the problem LOL.

But agreed that coatings is not always the answer. And it's awesome that we can use what we like on our vehicals with all of the options out there today.

I second The Guz recommendations with EcH2O and Elixir. Or just EcH2O and let the coating doing it's thing. And down the road when the wear is coming start to top it up with Elixir.
 
That's why I think it suggested that it's better to use this product immediately after applying a coating, rather than at some point later. That just like a coating, you have to have a squeaky clean surface.

Coatings can and will offer a lot more protection to the paint than any wax or sealant I've ever used, and last a whole lot longer as well. On any vehicle this saves you time, work, and in the long run I'd say money too. On a very large vehicle, your body will thank you for it!
 
Yeah Ech20 for sure. I mix a batch of elixir up with 2.5 ounces Ech20 and 3 oz of sio2 topper. Would recommend looking into something other than Reload though.

A lot better products for your money. I’d put synergy out the window with that one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Coatingsarecrack said:
Yeah Ech20 for sure. I mix a batch of elixir up with 2.5 ounces Ech20 and 3 oz of sio2 topper. Would recommend looking into something other than Reload though.

A lot better products for your money. I’d put synergy out the window with that one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

At one time, I felt Reload was a good product. When it once came in a White Bottle.
So did I think a lot of other people.
Then version this and version that came out, and a lot of people began having problems with it including myself.

Was bad enough at one point that I sent back two .500ml bottles for refund.

Using both Blackfire Coating Booster, and SIO2 Spray, didn't see such problems with those that Reload was once possessing, meaning oily smeary and uneven results.

Reload I think is better today, but not sure I can say it is exactly like back to the old formula, even though it is claimed that it is.
 
Coatingsarecrack said:
Yeah Ech20 for sure. I mix a batch of elixir up with 2.5 ounces Ech20 and 3 oz of sio2 topper. Would recommend looking into something other than Reload though.

A lot better products for your money. I’d put synergy out the window with that one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Interesting....
Can you provide a little more info about how you make this concoction and when/how often you use it, and how is it applied and removed? Thanks!
I like the economy and efficiency of this if it works.
 
My most recent Elixir in a 16oz bottle (not 32oz like I think crack is mentioning) was:
1.5oz Ech2o, 0.5oz PA Cosmic Spritz, 0.5oz PA High Gloss. So 1oz of Spray Sealant in my 16oz bottle, but PA sprays are pretty concentrated.

I used it the same way I would any QD: as a drying aid after wash/rinse, or just to spruce things up after a WW or if the car sat in my garage only for a few days and had light dust. The particular PA combo I used is a bit pricey compared to some other Elixir combos, but I estimate it costing about $9 or less per 16oz, not expensive when comparing to RTU QDs. Holy crap was it a shiny combo on top of Cosmic Spritz base coat.
 
packfan said:
Interesting....
Can you provide a little more info about how you make this concoction and when/how often you use it, and how is it applied and removed? Thanks!
I like the economy and efficiency of this if it works.
Click to expand...

Yes a guy name Merlin popularized this and dubbed it elixir. Was so popular Carpros came up with a QD named elixir.

Originally it was (I believe) 1.7oz Reload and 1.7oz Ech20 in 24 oz bottle. I don’t have 24 oz bottles so played around with mixture in 32oz Kwazar.

I currently like best 2.5 Ech20 2oz of Shine Supply Clutch (sio2 spray I prefer over CP reload) and fill rest with distilled water.

For drying aid this works great but I use a different mix now.

I still use 2.5 Ech20 but 1oz of Clutch. I then add 1.5 oz of Carpros Hydro2 lite (their spray on rinse off sio2 sealant. It’s water activated so figure it works better with water.

I’m liking this combo for drying and second as dry/QD application.

Dry application:

Spray on liberally long as car not to dirty. Wipe in straight line across panel rolling dirty edge back after each pass. I use RC (rag company) creature edgeless or eagle edgeless 500 for this. I then dry with RC pluffle and then final buff with RC 850 Everest.

Wet application/drying aid:

Spray on after final rinse or before I dry using a waterless (either way Car is wet). Spray 3-6 sprays per panel. I dry with a pluffle (I try and baby my PFM’s and only use after rinseless or bucket method with no drying aid).




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
acuRAS82 said:
My most recent Elixir in a 16oz bottle (not 32oz like I think crack is mentioning) was:
1.5oz Ech2o, 0.5oz PA Cosmic Spritz, 0.5oz PA High Gloss. So 1oz of Spray Sealant in my 16oz bottle, but PA sprays are pretty concentrated.

I used it the same way I would any QD: as a drying aid after wash/rinse, or just to spruce things up after a WW or if the car sat in my garage only for a few days and had light dust. The particular PA combo I used is a bit pricey compared to some other Elixir combos, but I estimate it costing about $9 or less per 16oz, not expensive when comparing to RTU QDs. Holy crap was it a shiny combo on top of Cosmic Spritz base coat.
Click to expand...

Very interesting. What do you think of 2oz of tacsystem Aqua Waterless and 1oz of high gloss in 16oz for a drying aid on CQUK3? I guess there are no right answers.

Can't wait to apply my first ceramic coating!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top