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Ceramic Coating

Technical issues not related to a DLOC car marque, eg tyres, ethanol, other car makes, etc. and legal, political and insurance
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Alpine Daimler
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:17 pm
Location: A tad west of Hamburg on the Elbe River

Ceramic Coating

Post by Alpine Daimler »

Hello All

Anybody here applied a Ceramic or Nano Ceramic coating to their paintwork for protection against the elements and an improved finish and appearance? Is it suitable for opalescent finishes?

My understanding is it's a job for someone who knows what they are doing rather than a spanner man like me!

Coachwork and upholstery do not belong to my core competencies although I did, after a fashion and very long time, eventually succeed in overhauling and re-engineering my sun visors some time ago, but paintwork? No!

I'll be interested to read of your experiences and opinions.

Keep well everybody.

Regards
Rob C.

JT7196
Extremely Wise Man
Extremely Wise Man
Posts: 1535
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2016 7:22 am

Re: Ceramic Coating

Post by JT7196 »

Hi Rob, apart from owning a 1937 Lanchester Eleven, I also own a 2003 MG ZS finished in Le Mans Green, which is metallic .
Some of the owners on the MG forum recommended Ez Car Care Extreme Ceramic Wax S102, so I gave it a try, have to say that the result was very good, with rain water beading off rapidly.
Up to this time, I have been using Harly Wax which is a pure Carnauba polish, which in itself, I have also been very pleased with.
Apparently, the Ceramic Polish lasts approx “10 - 12 months on a well maintained vehicle” , I have as yet to try it on my Lanchester, that is finished in Cellulose , but it will be interesting to do a comparison.
My only gripe with this product is the small amount you actually get for your money, £17.95 for a 50g pot !

Cheers Al 👍👍🚗🚗

A.N.Other
Wide Man
Wide Man
Posts: 551
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2016 12:45 pm
Location: Leeds

Re: Ceramic Coating

Post by A.N.Other »

I may be wrong but I understand that the coating is exactly that a coating.
What ever is underneath will be seen after the application. The reason it is expensive to have done by a professional is the preparation work before the product even goes near the car. Any scratches, blemishes, flaws and dirt that are covered will still be visible after. It is not a wonder tonic that covers all evils, in effect it is a hard lacquer .
Colin,
I may be slow but I’m rough as well !

Rolf B.
Posts: 245
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2017 7:07 pm
Location: 68309 Mannheim, Germany

Re: Ceramic Coating

Post by Rolf B. »

Hello Rob,

exactly ten years ago my Daimler Double Six was affected by an incident in a factory when it came to an acid rain and all the horizontal paintwork became white spots. The acid interfused the clear lacquer by a small whole like pinholing and the acid spreaded between the clear lacquer and the gun-metal micatellic grey, looking as if white lime stains would have covered al the horizontal surface of the car.

So a complete new repainting was necessary and all the lacquer has to be removed to bare metall to eliminate all the acid infected spots. So my decision was to cover the new clear lacquer over the micatellic lacquer by a Nano lacquer. This was a very good decision because the result is impressive. Dirt and birddroppings - even from seagulls, raptors and doves don't leave bad surprises. After cleaning the birddroppings with water it only needs a little bit of polish to protect this spot again.

Generally I'm polishing and protecting the DD6 - but not only the DD6 - with products from Swizöl Swissvax and the last coat of finish I apply is the polish with Carnauba wax. It protects the painting for two to three years, because Carnauba is the hardest natural wax.

Cheers
Rolf

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Alpine Daimler
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:17 pm
Location: A tad west of Hamburg on the Elbe River

Re: Ceramic Coating

Post by Alpine Daimler »

Good afternoon from Lower Saxony where it is raining yet again...why did we ever move here :D

Thank you for sharing your opinions and experiences with regard to automotive bodywork ceramic coatings which I read with interest.

Well, its been done! I am pleased with the result and cost (will reveal later don't fret!) of the work which was not too eye watering (but a little nonetheless) when one considers the claims of the manufacturer, the time and preparation taken to apply, the fact that the specialist outfit who performed the work only trust it to trained personnel who have attended a seminar at Sonax whose product was used and how it now looks.

As Col says it is "only" a coating but quite an impressive one at that, yes, some scratches and of course the pretty awful willful damage bestowed upon the car some time ago on one of the wings are still visible but not nearly so obvious as before. In completing many task in the engine room over the years I have succeeded in applying numerous scratches and blemishes to the upper wing surfaces in spite of using Frau Rob's treasured duvet covers, blankets, sheets etc, these seem, to my eye anyway, to have largely disappeared.

Most, especially those I paid to do the work, agree that it "looks a different car" and that "the color is a lot deeper", I think it looks just great and nice and shiny and almost takes my mind off the increasingly smokey Turner power plant......judge for yourselves the pics are below.

And now what you all want to know, the cost, I paid €1000,00 , it doesn't seem like much if you say it quickly, plus German VAT, a lot of money I justify as follows : Over the years I have performed a great deal work on my Daimler sometimes into the small hours alone in a celler or a workshop in the "Bavarian Congo" before we moved up here (where it is still teaming down) and getting a late train (and 2 bikes) home. I have never taken it, and the interior!, through a car wash for obvious reasons or spent much time or effort on the bodywork so after all the years it was perhaps time for a bit of TLC as they say.
I should also be honest and add the owner of the company where the work was done and my Daimler is stored in climate controlled luxury has become a friend of ours having delivered the car safely from Munich and more importantly was an immeasurable help to Frau Rob and myself when we were struck down with Covid 19 last October whilst moving up here and finding ourselves on police instructions in quarantine in emergency 0,1* accommodation for refugees (it was not very nice and had no heating,Wi-fi or telly ) as we had no home at the time being in-between houses, above all he and his family took on our smelly Gordon Setter Sadie and her sometimes questionable table manners for the time we were incarcerated. I attach also a picture of Sadie with her favorite Daimler in the workshop while offering moral support in exchange for a dried pigs ear or similar.

So yes, after all the waffle I think its worth it especially if the paintwork is protected to a degree for a number of years the manufacturer claims, and if it stays looking as good at it does now. As for cost, well, I have not been able to spend on holidays, meals out, cinemas, shopping etc etc and we have saved on the reduction in VAT over here these last months so I'm happy to spread some cash around I can afford for good folk that can use it.

Thats enough eh?

As always keep well and safe, you've almost reached the end of the covid 19 tunnel in the UK, us in the EU? don' ask, its all gone pear shaped after a good start unfortunately...ho-hum.
Rob C.
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User avatar
Alpine Daimler
Posts: 189
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 2:17 pm
Location: A tad west of Hamburg on the Elbe River

Re: Ceramic Coating

Post by Alpine Daimler »

And a few more as promised :
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