Use dressing & protectants on plastic coated with DLUX?

[vkn1]

I'm tired of washing my bright silver wheels seemingly every week so have decided to coat the wheels with DLUX. While the smallest bottle they make contains much more than you need for a set of wheels, I thought I'd also go ahead and basically coat everything that is plastic, even the dash, I suppose, and lights.

Is there any point, then, in spending time and money on trim dressings and protectants, such as Koch Plast Star, Pol Star, or CarPro PERL?

Sometimes it seems like coatings are a great way to save money. I go through wheel cleaner like no one's business. I thought I might get that Graphene Flex Wax to coat the wheels but then I realised just a couple bottles of that would already surpass the cost of a coating with DLUX that will last for years.

Is such the case with treating plastics with detailing products as well? Can I be done with all these kinds of products for maintaining plastics if I just get them coated instead? I'll still dress the tires, but can I "coat and forget" the rest of my plastics?

 

[FUNX650]

•The use of a mighty fine Coating, such
as DLux, still will not eliminate the need
to wash those wheels—it will just make
future clean-ups a whole lot easier.

-Same goes for Coating other
automotive components.


•And since nothing in life is permanent
(entropy, et al)...the very idea of ever
attaining the “coat and forget" ranking
is currently unachievable, IMO.


Bob

 

[The Guz]

You won't need to reapply anything other than DLUX down the road as it will eventually lose some if its look. I would recommend applying it on the plastic once a year to maintain the look.

 

[vkn1]

I know a total forget wouldn't be realistic, I was exaggerating a bit, but is it still important to do the same amount of treatment with plastic protectants or could you, for example, just use something quick like Gyeon Interior Detailer on dash and Ceramic Detailer on trim after ever wash rather than having all the extra bottles of Plast Star, Pol Star, PERL etc?

Just trying to clarify what the function of coatings on plastics is, exactly, if you end up using the same other products anyway. Regarding the wheels, might it be just as well then, just to spray some Hybrid Solutions Graphene Flex Wax after every wash rather than going to all the trouble of removing wheels and coating them (somewhat difficult for me to do since I live in apartment/don't have garage)?

 

[vkn1]

You won't need to reapply anything other than DLUX down the road as it will eventually lose some if its look. I would recommend applying it on the plastic once a year to maintain the look.

It sounds a little like you might be thinking other detailing products for plastics might be unnecessary if you have DLUX as long as reapplying when starts to fade. Do I read you correctly? What would you do for maintaining dash and other interior plastics if all of them were coated?

 

[The Guz]

It sounds a little like you might be thinking other detailing products for plastics might be unnecessary if you have DLUX as long as reapplying when starts to fade. Do I read you correctly? What would you do for maintaining dash and other interior plastics if all of them were coated?

Weekly wipe downs on the interior. No need to coat the interior plastics unless it is piano trim material. Modern day glass blocks out a majority of UV. I have coated interior plastics and in the end it is not worth it. Not too mention once the plastics age they tend to dry out especially on the dash due to heat and a coating is going to negate a product that will rehydrate the plastics. For interiors I choose to go with Gyeon Preserve.

Exterior using DLUX is fine and you are correct all you need to do is clean and reapply down the road. DLUX will lose its look on the exterior plastics due to the environments it is exposed to.

 

[vkn1]

Ok thanks for the advice, I think I'll stick with traditional conditioning materials on the interior then. Can you say what you think of wheel coatings? Have you considered just using a product like the Graphene Flex Wax or Gyeon Wet Coat after every wash as a substitute for a coating? I regret not coating the wheels when I first bought them and having to go through all the hassle of doing it now. But if DLUX is better (not to mention cheaper by the time you've gone through several bottles of more temporary products) I suppose it's silly not to just go with it.

 

[The Guz]

I am pro wheel coating and DLUX is a good option for one. I don't use the spray and rinse on my personal wheels. It is a lot of work to coat wheel off the vehicle but for me it is worth the effort.

 

[vkn1]

I am pro wheel coating and DLUX is a good option for one. I don't use the spray and rinse on my personal wheels. It is a lot of work to coat wheel off the vehicle but for me it is worth the effort.

Yeah, I'm just going to sack up and do it. My car is 3 years old (BMW) and I plan to DLUX the headlights and taillights (as long as that's indeed a good idea). Do you know if it would be advisable to use some kind of polish on them first? I ask because, for example, I know it is recommendable to use Ceriglass before applying FlyBy Forte. I know the lights are plastic rather than glass, but I'd think maybe that would be they are even more likely to have surface flaws.

 

[The Guz]

You certainly can polish taillight. It will remove any swirling in them.

Since your car is new and as long as there is no coating failure on the lenses I would wash, panel wipe and coat. I don’t like to polish headlights with a healthy factory coating. I have done it by hand which is fine since it’s not a lot of pressure but which is ok.

As far as wheels. As long as they are not matte or satin you can polish and prep them like you would paint.