Another ceramic coating question

[DevonPaul]

Looking at swapping the car next week. A couple of main dealers are offering ceramic coating and carpet and leather protection for £799 with a "lifetime guarantee". So assuming the first owner didn't spec it anyway, and the guarantee is actually worth something, is it a decent idea?

The local detailers are not that much cheaper, the one with the best reputation starts at £700 +VAT

 

[javis20]

I was under the impression ceramic coating only lasted a few years... Sounds suspicious.

 

[BeeEmm]

Main dealers specialise in selling cars and anything that falls under 'valeting' with them is basic. I have bought 14 new cars in the last 25 years and all had fine scratches on the bodywork that I learned many years ago to polish out myself and then ceramic coat the car. One Aston Martin salesperson actually said that all cars had scratches and it is only under the bright lights of the showroom that they show up (He didn't appreciate that the 'valet' rubbing grit into the Vanquish next to us with a dry microfibre cloth was undoing AM's great finish). When they ceramic coat over those scratches, they give a proper detailer a lot more work, and you more expense. Ask them for free servicing for 3 years instead and have the car detailed by a trusted detailer who, after polishing out the scratches will give you a proper ceramic coating which will last about 5 years.

 

[Pondy]

If a dealer is asking £799, they will be paying less than half that. So they will ask the detailer for a 'quick, cheap job'.

"lifetime guarantees" mean nothing. Whose lifetime.....yours, the car's, the ceramic coating, their pet hamster?

Personally I would get someone with a good reputation to do ceramic coating, not a dealer's 'mate', or worse, their apprentice.

As for the other bits; leather 'protection' comes in a bottle and can be bought cheaply from Halfrauds or online. Can't see any 'carpet protection' being much use in a car TBH.

 

[DevonPaul]

If a dealer is asking £799, they will be paying less than half that. So they will ask the detailer for a 'quick, cheap job'.

"lifetime guarantees" mean nothing. Whose lifetime.....yours, the car's, the ceramic coating, their pet hamster?

Personally I would get someone with a good reputation to do ceramic coating, not a dealer's 'mate', or worse, their apprentice.

Thanks all - kind of what I figured. I spoke to a couple of local people and their standard job is to correct blemishes and then put a 2 or 3 year coat on it. Both said the dealer one will be a quick wipe over and then seal in the blemishes. One suggested a trainee and a £15 bottle of Halfords DIY sealant.

OTSO Lifetime guarantees Kwik Fit did "free brake replacements for the time you own the car" in the late 90s. 30 years and 120,000 miles later we still have it. And the receipt

 

[SV8Predator]

The local detailers are not that much cheaper, the one with the best reputation starts at £700 +VAT

The dealer will have a deal with their valeter; it will be a very cheap product applied very quickly with no preparation other than washing the car. I'd reckon about £60 for the "ceramic" product and they'll pay the valeter similar.

Money for old rope.

The professional local detailer however will fully prepare the paintwork for a professional ceramic system to be applied. The use of the clay bar alone will be two or three hours to do properly. Then the paintwork can be corrected, polished and cleaned again. Finally a top-quality ceramic will be applied (the car may need to stay there overnight to let it cure). When you pick the car up the detailer will explain fully how to maintain the finish.

Money well-spent.