I need help- EXO? C1? or Opti Coat?

ShineTimeDetail

ShineTimeDetail

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So I can't find much info on EXO but it says it will hold up to beyond 600 washes and gives a slight resistance to marring. I also found a thread on AG that someone from GTechniq says it will only give one year of protection maybe longer...That doesn't make since to me. You can wash your car 600 times but it will only last 12 months? How much will that one bottle do?

C1 has the scratch resistance that EXO doesn't have but Opti coat does. Still C1 doesn't say how long it last only it last 10x longer than what a dealership sealant does. How long it that? Also it looks like you need to combine it with C1.5 How much can that one bottle do?

Opti Coat last for 2 years is scratch resistant plus it cost half of C1 and a lot less than EXO

Exo seems to give that deep look as opti coat doesn't....I don't know what to use!!
 
Use some deductive reasoning methods.

Is the product for yourself or someone else?

What are your "end result" expectations after the product is applied?

Is the car that will receive the treatment abused or pampered, maybe a daily driver in-between?

In other words, it sounds like you have the products split into three categories:
1. Gloss and depth but less protective strength and durability - Exo
2. Some gloss and strength but questionable durability - C1
3. Less gloss but highly durable and strong - Opti

Once you know what your goals are then it should be an easy choice to make.
 
RoadRageDetail said:
Use some deductive reasoning methods.

Is the product for yourself or someone else?

What are your "end result" expectations after the product is applied?

Is the car that will receive the treatment abused or pampered, maybe a daily driver in-between?

In other words, it sounds like you have the products split into three categories:
1. Gloss and depth but less protective strength and durability - Exo
2. Some gloss and strength but questionable durability - C1
3. Less gloss but highly durable and strong - Opti

Once you know what your goals are then it should be an easy choice to make.
Click to expand...


I want it all! I want that deep shine with scratch resistance and I want it to last at least 2 years. I saw on the EXO checkout page it says years of protection. This is going on some daily drivers and also I'm thinking about using it on a show car.
 
To date I've tried 2 of these new coatings

  • Element 119
  • Optimum Opti-Coat
Element 119 seems to be more glossy. It applies like a sealant, Ultima Paint Guard Plus, and dries in a couple of minutes. Then go over it with a clean microfiber towel, per the instructions, now give it a second coat.....Gorgeous! :props:


Optimum Opti-Coat goes on thin and evaporates very quickly. It's thinner but it's shine is really dependent on the surface prep done prior to coating...Beautiful! :props:
 
How long does 119 last and how well does it protect against marring? Also seems cheaper.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
What's element 119?
Click to expand...

It's another hard coating. It's not sold here so I won't delve into it but it's one of the two I tried and thought I'd mention it...

I don't know how durable it is but it's still going strong after 2 months on 2 different vehicles.....that's all I can say about it...
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
So I can't find much info on EXO but it says it will hold up to beyond 600 washes and gives a slight resistance to marring. I also found a thread on AG that someone from GTechniq says it will only give one year of protection maybe longer...That doesn't make since to me. You can wash your car 600 times but it will only last 12 months? How much will that one bottle do?

C1 has the scratch resistance that EXO doesn't have but Opti coat does. Still C1 doesn't say how long it last only it last 10x longer than what a dealership sealant does. How long it that? Also it looks like you need to combine it with C1.5 How much can that one bottle do?

Opti Coat last for 2 years is scratch resistant plus it cost half of C1 and a lot less than EXO

Exo seems to give that deep look as opti coat doesn't....I don't know what to use!!
Click to expand...


unless you have dark non-metallic or soft lacquered dark colour then exo will be fine (it has some marr resistance).

for soft dark finishes that show up wash marring badly - you can apply exo on top of C1.
 
gtechrob said:
unless you have dark non-metallic or soft lacquered dark colour then exo will be fine (it has some marr resistance).

for soft dark finishes that show up wash marring badly - you can apply exo on top of C1.
Click to expand...

So topping c1 with EXO, do I get the life of EXO with being scratch resistant too? Does that make sense? Or am I still only getting the same life span of c1?

Basically I hear EXO will last years so will I get years of scratch resistance if I apply EXO on top of the c1?
 
C1 will give you scratch resistance. EXO is only helping and adding gloss.


Rob just out of curiosity. Is EXO easily removed by machine polishing?
 
I use CQuartz, then top with a carnauba to add alittle depth/gloss...works fine for me. I then use a nonabrasive cleaner (KAIO or Pinn. cleanser) if I wish to remove the carnauba and apply more.

I know some top OptiCoat as well.

IME, both of these offer some scratch resistance...or at least you are scratching the coating and not the clear.
 
If you want high gloss and scratch resistance and looking for two years protection check out CQuartz. You described it right there.
 
ShineTimeDetail said:
So topping c1 with EXO, do I get the life of EXO with being scratch resistant too? Does that make sense? Or am I still only getting the same life span of c1?

Basically I hear EXO will last years so will I get years of scratch resistance if I apply EXO on top of the c1?
Click to expand...

EXO and C1 both lay down a layer of quartz which uses a chemical bond to adhere to your car's paintwork. But where C1 is a relatively basic, durable layer of quartz, EXO is a hybrid of inorganic quartz and an organic layer which has all the nice features you get from a very very high end wax such as slickness of finish, wetness of look and extreme hydrophobic function (110degrees contact angle) but none of the draw backs you get with a wax such as ease of staining, yellowing and poor durability.

EXO's layer of quartz isn't as thick as that of C1 so it won't provide as much swirls resistance but EXO bonds perfectly with C1 so you can get the best of both worlds albeit at a price financially and time wise as you will need to leave the C1 cure overnight before applying EXO.
 
loudog2 said:
C1 will give you scratch resistance. EXO is only helping and adding gloss.


Rob just out of curiosity. Is EXO easily removed by machine polishing?
Click to expand...

yes - exo/c1 - and similar coatings are all easily removed with a machine polish.
 
gtechrob said:
EXO and C1 both lay down a layer of quartz which uses a chemical bond to adhere to your car's paintwork. But where C1 is a relatively basic, durable layer of quartz, EXO is a hybrid of inorganic quartz and an organic layer which has all the nice features you get from a very very high end wax such as slickness of finish, wetness of look and extreme hydrophobic function (110degrees contact angle) but none of the draw backs you get with a wax such as ease of staining, yellowing and poor durability.

EXO's layer of quartz isn't as thick as that of C1 so it won't provide as much swirls resistance but EXO bonds perfectly with C1 so you can get the best of both worlds albeit at a price financially and time wise as you will need to leave the C1 cure overnight before applying EXO.
Click to expand...
Plus EXO should be dry for 48 hours which can be a deal breaker.
 
Old Tiger said:
Plus EXO should be dry for 48 hours which can be a deal breaker.
Click to expand...

tbh - even though this is ideal - we have had cars that have been sent out into a rainstorm 3 hours after correct application and not seen any adverse reaction or drop in performance
 
gtechrob said:
tbh - even though this is ideal - we have had cars that have been sent out into a rainstorm 3 hours after correct application and not seen any adverse reaction or drop in performance
Click to expand...
Rob, IMO you should clarify the instructions on the can. I thought this may be the case.
 
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