Is sealant dead?

[FUNX650]

Quote:
Originally Posted by fredcandetail
Interesting thread ... I was getting a oil change yesterday at the dealer and he noticed my truck and logos and asked if I detailed... I told him yes blah blah blah and then went on to "what do you charge for my wife's car she never washes it blah blah blah" ... I went on to explain what a benefit CQuartz is and we went online here and read up on it and what a benefit it would be and he explained it was a new car and that any permanent coating added to the clear coat would compromise the warranty ... MY JAW DROPPED
So now what!?!?!? What's the comeback? Obviously if this voided the manufactures warranty no one would want this on there cars ....
So again ... Now what?

LOL not a single OEM warranty covers the paint.

fredcandetail brought up an interesting point, IMO. Good going, sir!!



Not knowing what your background is in, triplejumper18, I still feel that your blanket statement concerning OEM paint warranties may not be totally correct. The paint warranties are there. They may not be worded to everyones liking, though.

One example (from: Ford Warranties FAQ, with my underlining) :

What is the paint warranty on a new Ford vehicle?
If the paint surface of the vehicle body requires attention due to a manufacturing defect, the necessary repairs will be performed completely free of charge by any Ford Authorised Repairer, regardless of any change in vehicle ownership during the warranty period.

What is the paint surface warranty period?
The paint surface warranty starts on the day the vehicle is delivered to the first retail or fleet customer. Where an intermediary purchases a vehicle, the period of cover commences when the vehicle is handed over to that intermediary.
The paint surface warranty period is the same as the Ford Base Warranty applicable to your vehicle. Refer to your vehicle's Service Portfolio (formally Warranty & Service Guide) for the warranty periods applicable to your vehicle.

What is not covered by the paint surface warranty?
Ford is not responsible for any repair that is required as a direct result of:
• Damage caused by neglect, flooding, accident, or improper use.
• Failure to properly maintain Paint and bodywork by regular cleaning in accordance with Ford instructions.
• Factors beyond Ford control, such as: airborne contamination, storm damage, stone chips, scratches and the use of unsuitable cleaning agents.
• Repairs using methods that have not been approved by Ford.

After the: "ooh la la, oh wow!" effect of a new car has somewhat wore off....Not too many John/Jane Doe Consumers will ever read their paint warranty, let alone try to abide by it. That is, until they notice their vehicle's paint doesn't quite have that new car look anymore.

That's usually the time attorneys may get involved....And without a doubt in my mind, they have 'read' these warranties and know them like the back of their hands!

So again, IMO, I believe that fredcandetail's point of: Can paint warranties can be voided by the use of coatings....is well intended and should be given careful consideration.

Bob

 

[RaskyR1]

New car dealers are offering their paint sealants and coatings daily and none of them void new car warranties....

 

[IOMCAMARO]

New car dealers are offering their paint sealants and coatings daily and none of them void new car warranties....

Because they are just sealants. They're garbage compared to what we have. They are just as good as an OTC wax if you ask me lol.

 

[triplejumper18]

Unless your paint flakes off in a bad way the first week the manufacturer will tell you to get bent, essentially giving you no warranty. Litigation will cost a customer more than most paint jobs (or other warranty repairs) and the manufacturers know this.

 

[FUNX650]

LOL not a single OEM warranty covers the paint.

New car dealers are offering their paint sealants and coatings daily and none of them void new car warranties....

Isn't this the consensus:

That these dealer-offered "paint sealants and coatings" are really a big bunch of baloney (to put it nicely), and just a very profitable upsell for the dealership, that these "paint warranties" contain many voiding clauses, and that they are conned onto the unsuspecting consumers

Perhaps I am wrong in this matter, though.



Bob

 

[96Lude]

And for customers, there are many that won't want to pay for a coating and/or won't maintain a coating properly, making it next to useless.

I don't understand your statement. The coatings such as Opti-Coat do not require any maintenance, you simply wash the car, so it's the opposite, no maintenance is required, as opposed to a wax or sealant which must be applied often.

 

[RaskyR1]

Because they are just sealants. They're garbage compared to what we have. They are just as good as an OTC wax if you ask me lol.

Having worked at a shop which applied these products (Auto Armor) for most of the local new car dealers in the area (Late 90's) I would typically agree. However, I detailed this 2009 A5 a few weeks ago which the owner bought from a local Audi dealer with about 2000 miles on it (demo car) and it had something on the glass that seriously impressed me! After several Foam baths with OPC and strong washes with CGCW this stuff beaded like nothing I've ever seen on glass before. The foam literally sheeted right off the glass the second it hit it. Owner was there while I washed the car and said he hasn't used anything special on the glass since it was new.

Looking at the local Audi dealers it may have been Crystal Fusion, as that is what they advertise now, but the car is going on 3 years old so I can't be sure....either way the stuff was awesome!!!

So with the above being said, I feel it's very possible some places are offering similar coatings now.

 

[IOMCAMARO]

I don't understand your statement. The coatings such as Opti-Coat do not require any maintenance, you simply wash the car, so it's the opposite, no maintenance is required, as opposed to a wax or sealant which must be applied often.

You must wash them properly. If you induce scratches in them, then the coatings must be polished down or sometimes completely off. If this is the case, then the coating was a complete waste of money because you'll have to reapply it again. Where as with a regular sealant or wax, you don't have to worry about the high price of re-applying it.

 

[IOMCAMARO]

Having worked at a shop which applied these products (Auto Armor) for most of the local new car dealers in the area (Late 90's) I would typically agree. However, I detailed this 2009 A5 a few weeks ago which the owner bought from a local Audi dealer with about 2000 miles on it (demo car) and it had something on the glass that seriously impressed me! After several Foam baths with OPC and strong washes with CGCW this stuff beaded like nothing I've ever seen on glass before. The foam literally sheeted right off the glass the second it hit it. Owner was there while I washed the car and said he hasn't used anything special on the glass since it was new.

Looking at the local Audi dealers it may have been Crystal Fusion, as that is what they advertise now, but the car is going on 3 years old so I can't be sure....either way the stuff was awesome!!!

So with the above being said, I feel it's very possible some places are offering similar coatings now.

Maybe. Of course I highly doubt that you'll find these at the low-end car dealers. Audi's and higher end cars will probably be trying to make good use of these products. Idk what is coated on my Camaro, but my glass still beads like day 1 when I picked it up from the dealer. It is over 2 years old. Idk if glass is being coated with anything or not now, but I haven't applied anything to my windows since I bought it.

 

[FUNX650]

Unless your paint flakes off in a bad way the first week the manufacturer will tell you to get bent, essentially giving you no warranty. Litigation will cost a customer more than most paint jobs (or other warranty repairs) and the manufacturers know this.

They also know that acting as a per se, with little to no personal cost, you have a better than average chance to beating them at their own game! Only if your willing to go the distance, though. And have documentation...you know they will.

Oh BTW....Ever hear of "Secret Warranties" or "Goodwill Warranties" ? They are there also.

Bob

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

If all of those points can be established than it comes down to a matter of education of the masses and cost per application.

And that's what we're all about on these online discussion forums...

Sharing information... educating the customer...


And I can't think of any form of communication that has done more to help bring people up to date with new products, ideas and techniques than a well-run, helpful and friendly discussion forum.


:dblthumb2:

 

[Setec Astronomy]

As far as this mysterious glass beading, a few years ago we discussed something weird (but different from this), and it turns out that at one time on some models Lexus was coating the driver window at the factory with something to improve visibility in the rain...so perhaps those of you who have mentioned this unusual beading are seeing a factory-applied coating (probably at the glass factory).

 

[RaskyR1]

As far as this mysterious glass beading, a few years ago we discussed something weird (but different from this), and it turns out that at one time on some models Lexus was coating the driver window at the factory with something to improve visibility in the rain...so perhaps those of you who have mentioned this unusual beading are seeing a factory-applied coating (probably at the glass factory).

I wondered if that was possibly the case too, though it was all the glass on this Audi. Either way, I'd LOVE to know what it was.

 

[IOMCAMARO]

I wondered if that was possibly the case too, though it was all the glass on this Audi. Either way, I'd LOVE to know what it was.

It is on all of the glass of my car too. The water just rolls off. And my car sits outside 24/7 and has 28k on the odometer.

 

[Old Tiger]

Nice post Chad. :xyxthumbs:


Chad is an example of where coatings are making in-roads to the masses. The masses are not able to utilize these new coatings because of the lack of their knowledge and skill in the craft of car detailing.

The masses can and do rely on professionals like Chad to first, educate them on their options, and then second, do the work for them...



Two kinds of people in this world,

• DIY - Do-it-yourselfer
• DIFM- Do-it-for-me

Right now, coatings technology is in it's infancy and the strongest market is for DIFM customers that rely on people like Chad...

You picked a great guy to make this point WITH!

 

[triplejumper18]

They also know that acting as a per se, with little to no personal cost, you have a better than average chance to beating them at their own game! Only if your willing to go the distance, though. And have documentation...you know they will.

Oh BTW....Ever hear of "Secret Warranties" or "Goodwill Warranties" ? They are there also.

Bob

Most people are idiots and don't understand things like facts, opinions, and case law.

 

[RaskyR1]

It is on all of the glass of my car too. The water just rolls off. And my car sits outside 24/7 and has 28k on the odometer.

Very interesting. I've worked on a lot of cars over the years, old and new, and I know new cars glass will bead very well, but I've never seen water/foam respond the way this stuff did before, especially after using OPC on it. I'll see if I can get the owner to shoot a video of it or maybe even come over and let me do it.

 

[FUNX650]

It is on all of the glass of my car too. The water just rolls off. And my car sits outside 24/7 and has 28k on the odometer.

Nanotechnology has some current applications which includes the self-cleaning window. It is designed to be hydrophobic....perhaps this has trickled into the automotive industry and some OEM's may be utilizing this "window of opportunity" as well....the auto OEM's can easily afford new technology. Nano: It's in some of their paints now...

Bob

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I wondered if that was possibly the case too, though it was all the glass on this Audi. Either way, I'd LOVE to know what it was.

It might be Saint Gobain Sekurit Hydrophobic Glass: "The secret is a special polymer coating applied across the entire glass surface, forming a durable barrier between the water and the windscreen. That not only prevents smearing, but when you travel above 50 kp/h, the water actually slides off the glass, creating superior visibility on motorways."

 

[Flash Gordon]

Find a product you like and use it often

This is a little saying I came up with just now