Ceramic coatings and paint correction reviews - come one come all

[AbeViator]

Hey guys & gals,

I'm looking to get ceramic coating done on my car shortly and minor paint correction. I know several of you have used Opticoat, Ceramic Pro, CQuartz, and GTechniq for your vehicles. I've read through the different threads but all of them vary in timing dating back several years. I'm hoping you guys can share your reviews and opinions on the product/detailing package you chose and how it has held up over time, pros/cons etc. There are numerous options available in the market today and I know one size does not fit all, but hopefully this thread will help me and other folks on here make an educated decision since it can get relatively pricey for these packages. Any photographic evidence would be much appreciated, thanks in advance!

- Abe

[jkownz]

first question you should be asking yourself is, why do you want it done? and what do you expect it to do?. It wont really protect against most scratches or any sort of paint chips. It will help with cleaning the car, not having to wax, helps prevent water spots, bird poop from messing up the clear coat. You can also coat wheels and windows. Over time you might need to have it reapplied or at least touched up on major areas like the hood and roof area depending if its your DD, weather and whatnot

[audirs5guy]

I do all my own work; paint correction and application. I've used all the Gyeon products and are pleased with them.


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[JamesRS5]

I'm 2 years in with the gtechniq range of ceramic coating, I had the Crystal Serum and EXO applied to the body, C5 on the wheels, C4 on the plastics and the glass sealed with G1 Clear avission, the interior was also treated with C6 matte dash, L1 leather guard and the carpets sealed with I1 Smart Fabric.
Washing is made very simple and the car looks like it's had a full days detailing after just a quick wash and towel down.

I'd not heard of gtechniq until I started my search for a paintwork sealant that would last much longer than the dealer applied rubbish that fades after 6 months. The desert environment here is as harsh as it gets for car paintwork and it really seems to standing up well, I know Hamad uses the same products on his RS5 also.

I used to love spending an afternoon waxing the car but it really isn't required now, it only ever needs a hose down and I use the G Wash (which smells like cherries) to give it a wash.

As jkownz said, it isn't an inpenitrable force field around the car, but it certainly will prevent swirl marks, make cleaning a breeze and look great for a few years with minimal maintenance.

[AbeViator]

^^^ Thanks again for the information on GTechniq, really like their product line from what I've heard. I'm talking to detailers who are using GTechniq crystal serum, cquartz finest, ceramic pro, and Modesta. I know tons of people use CQuartz Finest and it looks great, but it's interesting they offer 2 yr warranty vs. some of the competition which offers more. I understand warranty doesn't mean the product will stop working, but still interesting. Modesta seems to be picking up quite a following in the Ferrari/Tesla forums and detailer swears by them.

first question you should be asking yourself is, why do you want it done? and what do you expect it to do?. It wont really protect against most scratches or any sort of paint chips. It will help with cleaning the car, not having to wax, helps prevent water spots, bird poop from messing up the clear coat. You can also coat wheels and windows. Over time you might need to have it reapplied or at least touched up on major areas like the hood and roof area depending if its your DD, weather and whatnot

I'm definitely considering this for the paint protection in terms of resistance against swirl marks, protecting the clear coat, protecting against insects and any outdoor pollution. I understand this is not a defense shield against everything, certainly not against rock chips etc. I personally am not a fan of clear bra, I've had it done before and I'm sure it's come a long way since but my car is mostly garaged and the ceramic protection will probably provide what I am looking for. Although if I did anything with Xpel, it would be the stealth wrap on the whole car and that's possibly coming down the line. I know a lot of people are in this same boat where they have to justify the expense of proper paint correction and coating, but with your reviews on the different products/experiences, it certainly helps!

[Rocket Tech]

Have had ceramic pro (4 layers) applied to both of my cars. The first car, the coating started to fail about 6 months in. On the second car about a year and a half. By fail I mean the hydrophobic properties decreased to the point where water was not beading off the car any more on certain areas. My detailer agreed the coating was bad and he stripped it/applied a different coating under warranty. The ceramic pro company didn't warranty their product and he ate the entire cost of taking care of me. On the second car I've decided not to go back to have it removed, I'm just going to compound the car myself eventually and not bother with "pro" coatings, going to try products I can apply myself.

[RVJ]

I've got CQuartz Finest (2 coats) and been very happy with it. Coming up on a year now and no noticeable swirls. (I do blow dry the car though). Makes washing super easy and the car looks freshly detailed after. As mentioned, not a cure all but really gives a great gloss. A few pics below.

In the shop


Normal lighting conditions


After a Chicago winter and salt on the roads. Strange pic, I know (this one was for Mops) and the car is actually a bit dirty but you can tell that the hood still has a nice, deep gloss.



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[JamesRS5]

Here's a coupe of pictures of the gtechniq serum/Exo combination 2 years old, the first picture was taken last month, the second picture in March this year. The car has never been waxed, only ever washed and towelled down.





The sealant makes the paint look slightly darker and I feel it brings out more of the purples in the color.

[Canadianwraith]

I used Carbon Collective's wheel coating on my rims when I first got them. It's only been a few months but it works incredibly well. With my peelers I would be scrubbing and scrubbing to get them clean. Now it's a quick wipe. I will use it again

[AbeViator]

I've heard mixed reviews on the ceramic pro products. CQuartz definitely seems to be popular with Audi folks and looks great. James, your Sepang really shines wow! Whichever coating I choose, definitely want it to last at least 3 years. Thanks for sharing!


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[GotRS?]

Good thread. I've always just used sealant right onto well prepped paint and I've found it holds up well together with the hard Audi clearcoat for swirls. But I have a P-car on the way (softer clearcoat) so I got some McKee's 37 ceramic coating. It's not pricey and I may do two coats, but I'll always add carnuba wax for a deeper gloss, and because I have it. Interested if anyone has used McKee's 37, it gets good reviews but it's not so expensive.

I certainly wouldn't pay someone to do it if you have a garage, sponge applicators and good MF towels is all you need (then trashed after, the coating will go solid on the towels).

[JamesRS5]

It's all in the preparation as with any paint work. Clay, Machine polish, clean the paint with panel wipe or isopropyl, then apply the sealant. Do it correctly and it will last a few years, apply it over a previous coating or wax and it will last a few months.

[GotRS?]

That sums it up prep wise.

The "ceramic" coatings do have a wide price range compared to your usual sealant. Spreading a 1oz vile of some of those over a whole car seems a little pretentious, to cynical me. I've got my 4oz bottle of a, no doubt thinned out one to make it easier to apply, but in the end the same result

[AbeViator]

I've used Adams liquid sealant before and G&G on my last Audi and it worked well. But when I see the ceramic coated cars in person, I must admit they do seem to have a really nice shine to them even after having it for a year+. My RS has relatively low mileage and paint is in good shape, so only minor paint correction is needed. If I was more confident and educated with ceramic coatings, I'd probably give it a shot in my garage but risking it on a $80K car is a little too stressful for me lol

[waxxonMTL]

lots of marketing hype with these coatings.. just get the cquartz one and you will be very happy with it !

[AbeViator]

Hey guys, just wanted to update you on the progress. After speaking with several detailers in the area, I decided on Adonis who came highly recommended by a couple Porsche guys. Tim offers several options for ceramic coatings, so we spoke at length about the differences. He said one of the best results he has seen on Audi pearl effect paint jobs is GTechniq Crystal Serum. Although I originally thought of doing CQuartz, I went with his suggestion. There was another Porsche GT4 in Sapphire blue that just got it done, and holy crap it was stunning.

Decided on full body paint correction, GTechniq Crystal Serum and Gloss on entire car along with wheels, brakes and trim. After leaving her at the shop for 2 days, I picked her up and all I can say is wow!

Here are my first impressions:

1) The metallic flake in Sepang has never been shinier, the purple and blues look amazing.
2) The paint is extremely smooth and hydrophobic.
3) The wheels have added depth to the bronze and the gold flake pops even more.
4) The grilles/trim look a deeper black.
5) Even the glass components look better.

If you are considering getting this done, I highly recommend GTechniq and in general getting ceramic protection. The paint just looks healthier and is protected for years to come, definitely worth the investment. Here's a few photos, I'll try to get the video showing before/after and post it. Hope it helps people considering this type of service.

[JamesRS5]

Beautiful Abe, amazing result !

It really brings out the purple/blue in the paint doesn't it. Did you go for the top coat of Exo too?

Just wait until your first wash, there is hardly anything to dry, the water just sheets off the car. If you do need to towel it, just hold the towel at each corner and drag it over the car lightly.

[BadLuckB7]

That color is stunning when clean!

[AbeViator]

That color is stunning when clean!

Thanks man!

Beautiful Abe, amazing result !

It really brings out the purple/blue in the paint doesn't it. Did you go for the top coat of Exo too?

Just wait until your first wash, there is hardly anything to dry, the water just sheets off the car. If you do need to towel it, just hold the towel at each corner and drag it over the car lightly.

James, you were dead on. The CS with Exo is stunning on Sepang, now the challenge is to keep her this way for awhile. Time to order a carton of those border less Adams towels lol. These beauties were in for some TLC as well...

[Triad Caniac]

I had Ceramic Pro completed by a local, well respected detailer in February. No issues at all thus far and washing is a breeze. They put down four layers of 9H and one light layer after paint correction. If I come in once per year for a light layer refresh (at $80), it has a lifetime warranty.


'15 S5 P+ - 6MT - Brilliant Black - Black Optics - 19" Titanium Rotors - Sports Differential - Nappa Leather - Carbon Inlays - Ceramic Pro Gold

[Canadianwraith]

That Sepang is stunning holy shit! I ordered Reflex from Ammo, will try that and see what it looks like. Not ceramic but hopefully will get a nice shine

[AbeViator]

That Sepang is stunning holy shit! I ordered Reflex from Ammo, will try that and see what it looks like. Not ceramic but hopefully will get a nice shine

Thank you sir! Yeah if you can post before/after shots if possible, would be good to see comparable products on the market that we all use and what they actually do compared to one another.

[bknewtype]

all the coatings in the world just brings out how ugly ur ambers are xD

car looks really good! @jkownz should show u the video of the protection he got last week

[AbeViator]

all the coatings in the world just brings out how ugly ur ambers are xD

car looks really good! @jkownz should show u the video of the protection he got last week

Lol thanks man, Ecodes are coming. Yeah if he can post the vid on here, would be helpful for everyone to see. I'm still waiting on mine but will try to post once I get it.

[bknewtype]

Lol thanks man, Ecodes are coming. Yeah if he can post the vid on here, would be helpful for everyone to see. I'm still waiting on mine but will try to post once I get it.

@jkownz has ecodes for sale too ;) ;)

[AbeViator]

@jkownz has ecodes for sale too ;) ;)

Haha sweet, I'm waiting on a set from someone in SoCal but if they bail I'll hit him up, then tell JKownz to hook a brotha up

[AbeViator]

UPDATE:

So today was the first hand wash with Adams shampoo and detailer on the RS since the coating and here are my impressions.

1) Paint is very hydrophobic and does a great job getting rid of excess water.

2) The dirt and dust on the car comes off almost too easily when you use a pressurized nozzle.

3) The paint feels incredibly smooth to the touch, better than what I've felt after a clay bar treatment in the past.

4) Noticed no bugs or critters stuck to the paint at all! That's after 200 miles on the highway after a trip.

5) The brake dust on the wheels came almost right off after spraying with pressurized nozzle. Then I sprayed wheel detailer to get any little bit of residue off.

Overall I'm very impressed with the coating's results. The amount of time and energy required washing the car has become so much easier. Just air dry with a blower and use a soft microfiber towel to get the nooks and crannies and you're done! The gloss and shine are still fantastic, definitely happy so far

[jkownz]

I just washed my car for the first time with gtech coating and then applied the gtech exo coating. Also done the windows. Actually had a hard time cleaning my car haha. Water would not stay on the car nor the soap. I had to get the foam gun and spray as I washed with a mitt. Very happy so far.

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[14S4GWM]

CQuartz for me, so easy washing it. I'm at 9 months now.

[AbeViator]

I just washed my car for the first time with gtech coating and then applied the gtech exo coating. Also done the windows. Actually had a hard time cleaning my car haha. Water would not stay on the car nor the soap. I had to get the foam gun and spray as I washed with a mitt. Very happy so far.

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Hahah exactly! The foam kept sliding off but guess it's a good problem to have.

[Rshane]

Wow, great write-ups. Looks like something I need to do for my S4. Black paint is so damn hard to maintain...but looks so good whe done right.

[14S4GWM]

^ You won't regret it, just get a full paint correction first.

[jkownz]

Yea my only regret was I should of done it a year ago. Added such a awesome gloss and depth to the paint. It bring out the best in any color. And not really having to wax, more protected against uv and bird poop+ easier to dry and maintain. It's worth it to me.

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[JamesRS5]

I'm not sure if it makes a difference but I have fully converted to the gtechniq system and use all their supporting products which are designed to prolong and protect the finish, the protection on my car is 2 years old now and still looks superb.

http://usa.gtechniq.com/products/auto/

The g-wash is worth it just for the cherry smell.

[AbeViator]

I'm not sure if it makes a difference but I have fully converted to the gtechniq system and use all their supporting products which are designed to prolong and protect the finish, the protection on my car is 2 years old now and still looks superb.

http://usa.gtechniq.com/products/auto/

The g-wash is worth it just for the cherry smell.

I've been a big fan of Adams thus far but I ordered some of the GTechniq products to test them. I want to see what difference if any, there is with the wash and detailer.

[JamesRS5]

Too be honest, the Quick Detail doesn't really make a difference to a newly detailed car with the EXO top coat, you can't really improve on that level of gloss, it is good for giving the areas around door handles a quick spritz over when you've picked up some finger prints after a few days of use and its therapeutic if you miss giving the girl a wax and feel the need to spray something over her.

[AbeViator]

Too be honest, the Quick Detail doesn't really make a difference to a newly detailed car with the EXO top coat, you can't really improve on that level of gloss, it is good for giving the areas around door handles a quick spritz over when you've picked up some finger prints after a few days of use and its therapeutic if you miss giving the girl a wax and feel the need to spray something over her.

Lol it probably is just therapeutic, love that Adams detail spray scent. So used to putting in the work with adams products regularly washing my Audi's in the past, it's kind of nice not to have to worry about the gloss anymore :)