- Sep 20, 2021
- 2,245
- 2,479
- Current Rides
- 2021 Rubicon 392 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon
Good information here! I dont understand why ceramic coat after PPF? It cant help the paint.
Ceramic coat?
- Thread starter petrolhead90
- Start date
StuM
Well-known member
- Mar 14, 2022
- 74
- 164
- Current Rides
- 2022 392XR, 2022 TRX(sold),2021 Lotus Evora GT (sold), 1968 Chevy Nova, 2024 Lexus LC500, 2024 Audi RS6 Avant Performance, SS
Have had mine ceramic coated twice. Helps with the shine and cleaning, but not much re scratches and really helps the color pop. Have PPF of several of my other cars for actual scratch and rock chip protection. Or….do both; PPF and then coat, for the best of all worlds.
petrolhead90
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- #23
Beautiful!
petrolhead90
Active member
- Thread starter
- #24
Love it! Where did you go?
petrolhead90
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- #25
Love it! Where did you get your ppf & ceramic done?Hey @petrolhead90 I did full PPF on my 392. I debated doing full PPF vs. some PPF, here is that post. I'm happy I went with full PPF because the back my Jeep gets super dirty in the winter. Here is my invoice it includes full PPF, and includes the 4 factory half doors, paint correction (paint polish) and ceramic coat (in includes a credit for taking the jeep apart (handles removed, mirrors off, everything removed, etc):
View attachment 31263
If I was to do do it again I would skip the ceramic coat and do that myself. The PPF is the key part, applying that stuff takes lots of experience, here is a post I did showing that process in detail. I would definitely do PPF on a new car before the paint gets scratched up or chipped.
As far as PPF it really does wonders for micro scratches, rock chips, bird poop, road salt, branches, etc. To maintain it I just wash the jeep about once a month in the shade using a bucket with a grit guard and car wash, then I blow off the water drops (to prevent spots) with my EGO blower with a shorty nozzle, then I use TurtleWax Ceramic Spray Coating, after every wash on the outside and 303 Leather on the inside. The guy on Project Farm youtube did a review of ceramic products. I have access to a fancy hanger wash bay with a hot water foam cannon pressure washer and a expensive DI water rinse system used to wash aircraft, so I washed my 392 in there a couple times when I first got it, and honestly this little blower and bucket set-up in my driveway works just as good or better. Here is my Jeep washing stuff:
View attachment 31267
I have a classic VW bug and I wouldn't PPF that thing because PPF will never look as car show shinny as a normal painted clear coat that has been machine polished to a mirror finish. But I don't daily drive my bug all winter. The only other down side to PPF is the cost, it makes the economics of selling or trading the vehicle harder to justify. But I'm really happy with how well it has performed and when I added a new 2024 gill to my Jeep the first thing I did was get it PPF'd.
Hope that helps, good luck with your new Jeep
petrolhead90
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- #26
Thank you!
petrolhead90
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- #27
I guess the PPF helps prevent actual scratches and the ceramic repels dirt/helps keep it clean?
petrolhead90
Active member
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- #28
Yes - perhaps will do both! Looking for a reputable place in CA...
I’ve had my C8 almost a year. Have never had to do anything but rinse it off and it has a show shine all the time. I had full ppf and ceramic done the week I got it. It has never seen soap, a rag, or a brush. Simple rinse makes it look perfect. When my 392 arrives I’m taking it for the same treatment
You might need some soap for your Jeep if you intend to use it as a Jeep.
shoshin
Member
@petrolhead90 not sure where in Los Angeles you live, but I got my ceramic coating done at Detail Union in Monrovia. I was really happy with their work: https://www.yelp.com/biz/detail-union-monrovia
petrolhead90
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- Thread starter
- #32
Thank you! Ceramic, no PPF?
petrolhead90
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- #33
Great! Ty!!
Small shop in Lansing MI
I’ve had graphene ceramic on for almost 3 years. It still looks, feels and repels water the same as it did day one. Supposed to be a 5-7 year…not sure I’ll see 7 but it still looks pretty damn good.
Correct and you should always use a high quality high foam car soap even with PPF and Ceramic Coat because the foam soap lifts the dust-dirt off the surface. Just spraying water on the surface and drying off will still induce swirls into the ppt/ceramic coat.
PPF just protects from rock chips and more major scratches and ceramic coating makes washing ...with a foam soap...extremely easy plus add's pop and shine to the finish.
Hayabusa
Well-known member
Good replies here. A couple of mentions based on my experiences. I've had 15 cars and 3 bikes either ceramic coated, PPF'd, or both since the mid 2000's. So much has evolved in this space over that time. Last car I had done was 7 months ago. I don't have a large car collection. I have a daily driver and a "toy" at any given time. That drove the numbers.
More recent: Dealers want $$$ for "ceramic" or "ceramic-like" coating. Jag/Land Rover wanted $3500. After telling them I wanted to talk to the installer about how paint correction was done and what products were used or it was a deal breaker they said it was oil based and not an issue to remove. I did not buy from them. I am currently negotiating on a car and the $2000 "ceramic-like coating" charge was gone is 60 seconds..."hasn't been applied yet, no problem". Be careful of bull$#!+ ADM through "dealer installed options".
As others mentioned, product used and prep are critical. Paint correction is no joke and labor intensive...decontamination, removing microscratches/imperfections, applying product and curing correctly all count and drive cost. When possible I have new cars PDF'd but not washed or exterior cleaned in any way. Beware the dealership 1 bucket, bottom up, 5 cars on 1 rag approach. Quickly ads time and $ for your detail guy to repair but is basis for a great outcome.
PPF helps, self healing stuff actually worked on minor stuff. A good rock hit could tear it but it is laid in replaceable sections. I saw a car come in where the PPF was peeled back and flapping on the hood. Car was bought used, added PPF, didn't know it was ceramic coated (the real deal) and the PPF lifted at highway speed. No PPF over ceramic!
My favorite ceramic product is C-Quartz and I pay a detailer to decontaminate, paint correct, and install. He does wheels off and cures with UV. His shop is set up to address the chemicals (both his health and the enviorment). C-Quartz installers go through both initial training/certification and regular required follow up training in person. There were 3 guys in my tri-state area who were licensed to use the stuff last time I looked (there is a retail product they have you can get that is pretty damn good to).
Sorry, this got long. I could go on but...'nuff for now. Good luck and hope you find what you like at a good price!
More recent: Dealers want $$$ for "ceramic" or "ceramic-like" coating. Jag/Land Rover wanted $3500. After telling them I wanted to talk to the installer about how paint correction was done and what products were used or it was a deal breaker they said it was oil based and not an issue to remove. I did not buy from them. I am currently negotiating on a car and the $2000 "ceramic-like coating" charge was gone is 60 seconds..."hasn't been applied yet, no problem". Be careful of bull$#!+ ADM through "dealer installed options".
As others mentioned, product used and prep are critical. Paint correction is no joke and labor intensive...decontamination, removing microscratches/imperfections, applying product and curing correctly all count and drive cost. When possible I have new cars PDF'd but not washed or exterior cleaned in any way. Beware the dealership 1 bucket, bottom up, 5 cars on 1 rag approach. Quickly ads time and $ for your detail guy to repair but is basis for a great outcome.
PPF helps, self healing stuff actually worked on minor stuff. A good rock hit could tear it but it is laid in replaceable sections. I saw a car come in where the PPF was peeled back and flapping on the hood. Car was bought used, added PPF, didn't know it was ceramic coated (the real deal) and the PPF lifted at highway speed. No PPF over ceramic!
My favorite ceramic product is C-Quartz and I pay a detailer to decontaminate, paint correct, and install. He does wheels off and cures with UV. His shop is set up to address the chemicals (both his health and the enviorment). C-Quartz installers go through both initial training/certification and regular required follow up training in person. There were 3 guys in my tri-state area who were licensed to use the stuff last time I looked (there is a retail product they have you can get that is pretty damn good to).
Sorry, this got long. I could go on but...'nuff for now. Good luck and hope you find what you like at a good price!
Hayabusa
Well-known member
I think I've posted this pic before. Taken with 2015 era I-Phone, unedited. Paint work done right...Predator like camo reflection. Paint work on dark colors is especially wicked. I miss that ride.
petrolhead90
Active member
- Thread starter
- #39
Thank you! No PPF over ceramic...got it. How about ceramic over PPF?
Also, what do you mean by "Beware the dealership 1 bucket, bottom up, 5 cars on 1 rag approach. Quickly ads time and $ for your detail guy to repair but is basis for a great outcome?"
TY!!
Yes Ceramic on top of PPF. Makes washing easy and keeps some dirt off longer.
Dealership 1 bucket he’s talking about is the dealer washes the Jeep …wheels tires paint with 1 bucket inside of the better way of using 2 buckets…1 for wheels tires and 1 for paint…. Same for the rag wash mitt!
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