Opinions on these "pro applied" paint protection........

[ShadowsPapa]

The background -
Dealers in our area, like others, make some money by selling other "products and services" - even those supplied by outside of their dealership.
I'm sure you've all been approached about "interior protection" and "paint protection" and the warranties they show that all that comes with. There's level A, B and C.
I tracked down the company that our dealer uses to provide those accessory services as I've seen/read a lot on here about ceramic protection for paint and so on. Hmm, interesting, and some of the results are fantastic, beautiful (but do they REALLY protect?????)
I was wondering - what if that company the dealer uses offers something other than is on that laminated A, B, C list of "protections" - and I tell them no, but - what about this?

So - what do people think about their exterior protection products/services, especially the ceramic type protections?

I've in the past had the other "Auto Armor" stuff done on cars/SUVs, and it actually did help make cleaning things up a lot easier - but you did have to reapply every so often. I see this same company the dealer uses for the basic protections also offers ceramic type products. Their accessories person said "no, we don't offer that" but they might change their mind if I said I'd go for a package.......... IF..........
So looking for opinions. And no, I'm way past the point of doing that myself.

https://scautomotive.com/services/vehicle-appearance-protection

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[Viper501]

Profit center for dealers. Period.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Profit center for dealers. Period.

Now how did I know that would be one of the first responses even though that wasn't even the question?

I know that - I was asking about the product, as I can always take a vehicle to this company any time - skipping the dealer and so on, if that was my choice.

(on the other hand, dealership employees gotta eat, too and it's a miniscule bit for them on these things)

The question - the PRODUCTS/packages, anyone know about these products, and so on.
That's why I posted the link directly to the company that does it, and their products, as anyone can go in and have this done, new vehicle or not, dealer or not.

 

[Viper501]

Sorry for misunderstanding. I know lots of folks using the high end ceramic coatings on the paint in very expensive vehicles. This includes both clearcoat and single stage paints. A good detail guy is worth the $$$ to get it done in my opinion. However, with my Jeep I just don’t care enough to spend that coin in the paint.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sorry for misunderstanding. I know lots of folks using the high end ceramic coatings on the paint in very expensive vehicles. This includes both clearcoat and single stage paints. A good detail guy is worth the $$$ to get it done in my opinion. However, with my Jeep I just don’t care enough to spend that coin in the paint.

The salt, sand, grime, dust in the air and other stuff, plus retaining value to some extent, is why I at least try to keep things looking good.
Bird crap is quit nasty - there's still a spot on the roof of my SX4 show car from a single bird poo - I got it off, but it was too late. You can still find that spot 3 years later.

 

[dave33]

I would never pay for such a service. That said Ive had good luck with the do it yourself ceramic coating stuff. Quite easy to apply after a wash, can do the whole Jeep in no time. Bugs hitting the windshield at night come right off with the wiper/washer and everything is noticeably easier coming off while washing. Im sure the high end stuff lasts longer and is overall better but for less than/about $20 a bottle that will do 2 or 3 applications and 30-45 mins of my time Im happy with the results.

 

[Viper501]

Another thing, the real professional value is in the prep work prior to the application. I’ve watched one in particular spend a week on a car making sure every inch of the vehicle was perfected and polished prior to the ceramic application. With a new vehicle you’ll have some prep work, just as iron removal, but not nearly what you’re paying for at a typical pro shop.

With your use case, given your winters especially, I’d say the under spray would be my first choice by a pro followed by @dave33 suggestion regarding the DIY on the new paint.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I would never pay for such a service. That said Ive had good luck with the do it yourself ceramic coating stuff. Quite easy to apply after a wash, can do the whole Jeep in no time. Bugs hitting the windshield at night come right off with the wiper/washer and everything is noticeably easier coming off while washing. Im sure the high end stuff lasts longer and is overall better but for less than/about $20 a bottle that will do 2 or 3 applications and 30-45 mins of my time Im happy with the results.

Yeah, you haven't really follow my current situation, I guess - I'm to the point I need to pay for some things, I'm past the "I can do anything, everything, all if it, all myself" - those days are gone - no more, never to be seen again.
YOU can probably do it, but not me, and to have to do it every few weeks? No thanks. I am looking for something that lasts.........

So, back to the real original question - opinions on the products?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

followed by @dave33 suggestion regarding the DIY on the new paint.

If he wants to come apply it, every few weeks - I'll send my address!

My point is - I'm BEYOND THAT.

It's why I had to have help just swapping the parts back out of my 2022 for trade. My days of doing everything and never ever letting anyone touch or work on my stuff - they are gone, never to be seen again. And I must adapt and live with that.

 

[Viper501]

Guy I know is a pro and uses the Adams products on Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens, Rolls, etc. https://adamspolishes.com/ Like I said it is a pretty simple process for the ceramic coating once the paint is ready for it. For a new vehicle that's a pretty simple task unless you want to get really obsessed with it. It seems to last quite a while based on my discussions with him and he's not pimping me to sell me on something.

 

[Viper501]

When I say lasts quite a while I mean many months, if not years, depending on what it is subjected to and how well it is applied.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Guy I know is a pro and uses the Adams products on Ferraris, Lambos, McLarens, Rolls, etc. https://adamspolishes.com/ Like I said it is a pretty simple process for the ceramic coating once the paint is ready for it. For a new vehicle that's a pretty simple task unless you want to get really obsessed with it. It seems to last quite a while based on my discussions with him and he's not pimping me to sell me on something.

Yeah, not looking for the whole clay bar treatment for show quality results. It's a truck! But......... I'm hoping it lasts a while. Whoever gets my 2022 will not find rust or major problems and it will clean up like new without a ton of effort on the dealer's prep people.

I'm also considering taking my wife's reign JLU to some place to have it detailed and done up nice with ceramic for her b-day later this year. She loves that Jeep and that color and it really pops when done up right.

When I say lasts quite a while I mean many months, if not years, depending on what it is subjected to and how well it is applied.

Ideally, I'd be looking for at least a year, and not having to do something every 2 or 3 months. Things can get brutal in our winters, and then planting and harvest season see a ton of abrasive dust hit the air - you keep an eye on air filters here during harvest especially.

This is salt, SAND and ice/snow - yeah, the sand sticks into the slush that gets splashed up with the brine and then sticks to and freezes on things.

This is salt -

 

[1945gpw]

Had my gladiator covered completely in PPF by a local shop that specializes in that stuff, I wouldn’t use the dealers, different cheaper products that don’t hold up as good.

my installer initially had an issue with the product not sticking properly because the new paints have a hydrophobic property already in the paint so they had to polish every panel on my jeep to make it adhere perfectly. So this took longer than expected but I didn’t care as long as it adhered good.
I’m super happy that I got it completely covered in PPF though. Keeps the scratches and desert pen stripes off and looks new every time I wash it.
We got my wife’s 4Runner complete front clip PPF and the rest of the car ceramic coated. The ceramic is nice, makes washing it super slick snd easy, it has a deep shiny color but it’s not going to protect from scratches as good as PPF if your going off roading a lot.

 

[Ckeefe84]

Now how did I know that would be one of the first responses even though that wasn't even the question?

I know that - I was asking about the product, as I can always take a vehicle to this company any time - skipping the dealer and so on, if that was my choice.

(on the other hand, dealership employees gotta eat, too and it's a miniscule bit for them on these things)

The question - the PRODUCTS/packages, anyone know about these products, and so on.
That's why I posted the link directly to the company that does it, and their products, as anyone can go in and have this done, new vehicle or not, dealer or not.

So I work at a dealership and on my 2020 had the detail department apply the paint protectorant and After 6 years and only washing it a handful of times it held up way better than any other non treated vehicles I have had in the past. My just aquired 2024 mojave I will have the same thing done this time at a different dealership I now work at and we use Armor All "Glass Shield.

(If purchased on a new vehicle you get lifetime waranty , and on a used vehicle if purchased is up to 7 years) This is what you are really paying for is the warranty part.

I have seen the demo from the rep where they treat half the hood with the paint protection of a new vehicle, spray spray paint, light the spray paint on fire then wipe the burnt spray paint off. Like magic the hood is perfect looking and no damage.

The verbiage I was trained to use is similar to : If you take a new vehicle's water based clear coat and water based paint and blew it up under a microscope it looks like a golf ball with all the divets or pockets. these pockets hold dirt and debris, and as you drive this dirt / debris erodes the clear coat and eventually the paint.
Armor All Glass Shield bonds to the clear coat on a molecular level to fill in these divets and forming the "Glass shield" to protect the clear coat and paint. Even hard water stains do not form cause the hard minerals slides off and cannot settle in the pockets.


Also PFF is a thick plastic that adheres to the vehicle. PPF is more expensive and protects better, but over time it yellows and is why I avoid it...
Hope this helps ?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I work at a dealership and on my 2020 had the detail department apply the paint protectorant and After 6 years and only washing it a handful of times it held up way better than any other non treated vehicles I have had in the past. My just aquired 2024 mojave I will have the same thing done this time at a different dealership I now work at and we use Armor All "Glass Shield.

(If purchased on a new vehicle you get lifetime waranty , and on a used vehicle if purchased is up to 7 years) This is what you are really paying for is the warranty part.

I have seen the demo from the rep where they treat half the hood with the paint protection of a new vehicle, spray spray paint, light the spray paint on fire then wipe the burnt spray paint off. Like magic the hood is perfect looking and no damage.

The verbiage I was trained to use is similar to : If you take a new vehicle's water based clear coat and water based paint and blew it up under a microscope it looks like a golf ball with all the divets or pockets. these pockets hold dirt and debris, and as you drive this dirt / debris erodes the clear coat and eventually the paint.
Armor All Glass Shield bonds to the clear coat on a molecular level to fill in these divets and forming the "Glass shield" to protect the clear coat and paint. Even hard water stains do not form cause the hard minerals slides off and cannot settle in the pockets.


Also PFF is a thick plastic that adheres to the vehicle. PPF is more expensive and protects better, but over time it yellows and is why I avoid it...
Hope this helps ?

that's what the ceramic products are supposed to do - get into and bond with the paint using the imperfect surface of the paint.

These are two products the company offers if you drive up, walk in, and want something done - SAME exact company the dealership uses, but they don't include either of these two things -

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