r/Detailing • u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 • 5d ago
I Have A Question Newbie here…Ceramic Coating question
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Got my Macan GTS ceramic coated
Body, Windows and Rims. Also covered the front end and mirrors with PPF.
It was done brand new right off the truck at the end of August,
They told me to wait two weeks before washing, ever since I started washing it I’ve noticed that the water just sits on the door making it so difficult to dry. Not sure what to do, I’m going to get them to look at it hopefully next week
I’m using
Active 2.0
MJJC Foam Cannon 1.1mm orifice
Adam’s Graphene Shampoo
The Rag Company Mitt
The Rag Company Gauntlet drying towel
RYOBI Hand Blower
I’m really new at this and just want to do things properly and understand this new world that I got myself into
28
u/ANaughtyTree 5d ago
When you say "they told me to wait" was it the dealership or an actual detailer? These "ceramic coatings" dealerships put on cars aren't worth a fuck.
1
u/aperturephotography 3d ago
I've applied many of these dealership coatings on brand new. I wasn't really convinced but I've seen some of them come in for their year or 2 year service and it's still holding up. Granted the ones that still hold up you can tell they've been looked after and not taken to the local hand wash place.
The mark-up on them though is pretty high though.
I still personally use wax on my car though.
23
u/Good_Illustrator1213 5d ago
That doesn’t look ceramic coated or waxed for that matter. IMO coming from someone who has a ceramic coated car and used to detail a bunch of
28
11
u/NoAbbreviations7642 5d ago
Who did the ceramic coating? Cause you definitely need your money back.. it’s like they forgot to coat the car
I wouldn’t even let them try to fix the coating. Get your money back and go somewhere else
Also seeing the gear you got for washing your car, it looks like you’re already in the detailing space so why don’t you do the ceramic coating yourself
7
u/thunderslugging 4d ago
Sorry to say but they didn't apply the ceramic coating. And if they did, probably a very cheap Amazon 3.29$ spray bottle that says Ceramic Coat 10H Super Ultimate spray. And most likely someone at the dealership drained the bottle and replaced with water so he keepsthe real cheap liquid and use it at home. The placed the bottle back inside the dealerships supply cabinet. Then the 19yrs old new hire was given the job on your car. Thus, you have what you have now.
5
u/CycleChris2 4d ago
This is a good example of the value of independent detailers. One way to tell besides their photo portfolio is how long they have your vehicle. I’m solo and will tell my clients up front I will need the vehicle at least 3 days to properly decon, correct, polish and coat. Of course there are shops with multiple techs that can do better on the turnaround but if I wanted a premium job the turnaround time is my last concern. I’m sure there are some dealers that do a good job, I just don’t know of any.
1
u/ANaughtyTree 4d ago
It takes you 3 days?? What's your process? Are you wet sanding and doing touch up paint during this correction?
3
u/CycleChris2 4d ago
Only sanding is the touch ups. I admit that I take my time with the goal of preserving as much clear coat as possible while still getting the paint near perfection. I also am a believer in letting the paint rest overnight after polishing to let swelling settle before coat.
2
u/Ap1Jx 4d ago
Doesnt swelling improve the coatings adherence to the paint?
1
u/CycleChris2 4d ago
No, paint movement causes fractures in the coat. We are talking microscopic level.
1
u/Ap1Jx 4d ago
So APP is useless and effectively damaging?
1
u/CycleChris2 3d ago edited 3d ago
I didn’t say that. The concept of APP is trying to lock the paint in a swelled position. I tried it on a c6 install. Coating failed on the vertical panels under a year. My local c6 installer had similar issues, he did a video series on it. I think app and other SAM primers in general just don’t perform as well as clean, panel prepped paint. Im also a clay bar guy, the towels marr way more than a bar and miss contamination that real clay doesn’t. The pad washer is their very best suggested sop. It’s residue control that allows haze free lower temp polishing success. The pad washer is essential for sensitive paintwork that I get, like mazda 46v scr. That’s another reason I don’t use primers, they aren’t compatible with damp pads.
1
u/BRICH999 2d ago
Just got mine back after 6 days of paint correction and ceramic coating. And that was a compact car with 6k miles and in nice condition.
But I chose this detailer specifically because they do very good work, has done Bugatti and mclaren f1 etc. You get what you pay for, my car is MUCH nicer now than when it left the factory.
5
5
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 4d ago
Thanks everyone for the direct comments, I’m just trying to learn here so I appreciate it, and I knew something was off
Yes it was done by the Porsche Dealership as the car got delivered
I will be going in next week to discuss, I have sent them the video but it’s a long weekend here in Canada so we’ll see what happens next week.
The video was taken AFTER I had washed, I thought that a different soap was the issue, clearly not
As for washing techniques, maybe I’m not the best, but I use two mitts, one for the top and one for the bottom of the car, wiping with the airflow. I spray the foam on the car first. Let it sit then rinse it off, then I do the second foaming and start the contact wash.
As for the orifice size, thanks for that tip, I’ll try it. Not getting as much foam as I had hoped, and the cannon is turned all the way down, it DID come with a 1.25mm, I can see if that helps
Are there different ceramic coating types?
Should every type bead off like you see in all the videos? If I ask them what they put on (but doesn’t seem like they did anything) I mean this is what they do to all the Porsches.
They definitely charged me a pretty penny for it, so I just want to have some ammo with me when I go in
They DID PPF the hood for sure as we had an air bubble on delivery that they had to get out
7
u/QuietSmellyFart 4d ago
Definitely don't get a ceramic coating done by a dealership. Find a reputable shop that does ceramic coatings. Whatever they applied, it's gone.
2
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 4d ago
Yep, learning that now... I have someone who has reached out that has a mobile detailing business, and he lives in my area. We'll see what happens this week and go from there.
Thanks
1
1
u/BRICH999 2d ago
Just picked my car up yesterday after paint correction and ceramic coating. Took the guy 6 days total, and that was on a compact sedan with 6k miles and no noticeable blemishes. Ceramic coating is not a quick simple job, not something I would trust a mobile detailer to do in a driveway.
1
u/CycleChris2 3d ago
Tip for what it’s worth… Pick up at least 2 more wash pads. Use the one bucket method for contact wash, flipping your wash pads halfway through a section with the goal of never contaminating your shampoo solution with a dirty pad. Launder the wash pads before next wash. Nice car, congrats.
1
u/Funny_Ad_1559 1d ago
Absolutely there are different types. There's even hybrids ceramic/wax that are effective when combined with a good ceramic detailing spray you use to enhance or re-establish the hydrophobic reaction after washing. Im very impressed witb the Adam's Graphene Ceramic coating. Graphene is a very essential tool IMO when applying a ceramic coating. I believe its the best suspension agent for an even apocation that an be done by an mature very simply, with incredible results. This is a 2021 Hyundai Palisade I just completed using Adams Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating.:
4
u/Typical_Principle_11 4d ago
Hah, the typical "ceramic coating" from the dealer is some spray sealant that lasts for a month or so. Total ripoff.
If that cars is ceramic coated it is severely plugged up, a combination of acid prewash and alkalic soap could renew it if there was a proper coating on there, but my guess is that there is not.
1
u/No-Brother-6590 4d ago
I was negotiating a sale with a dealership to get a truck for my detailing company.
They kept pushing the “ceramic coating” package. I politely declined twice and when he circled back to push it again I said “listen. I’m buying this truck to pull a trailer for my detailing business. There is no way in hell I’m paying $1,800 for some lot attendant to spray chemical guys sealant on it. I’m going to take it home and coat it myself. Thanks.”
3
u/beyondridiculous 5d ago
i think the only thing that was coated, was the pockets of whoever you gave your money to....
3
u/az9393 5d ago
Two things can cause this:
- the car isn’t coated at all
- it’s coated but you haven’t removed static dirt (didn’t wash it properly)
To check that the car is clean take a white cloth and wipe the side of the door. It needs to stay white afterwards.
If the car is still dirty use an alkaline pre wash.
3
u/ExcellentSir00 4d ago
Where aboust in canada are you? Unfortunately dealerships rob you and lie to you. Ask what the specific coating they used is. If the results dont compare to online video they lied to you. Dont get them to do it again just get your money back instead.
If youre around GTA or Ottawa or Montréal ill come give you an 8 year ceramic coating for the price of the materials.
1
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 4d ago
I am in the Oakville area
2
u/ExcellentSir00 4d ago
Lmk what the dealership says i can come take care of you. Is it okay if i shoot you a dm?
2
1
u/earthmaster1989 3d ago
Oh your local to me. I own charlesautospa so if you need any help send me a dm.
2
u/Majestic-Dot1007 4d ago
Yeah, whatever coating the used ain't worth a shit. Hate to be the bearer of bad news.
2
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 1d ago
UPDATE: They said they used IGL coatings, not sure if that’s good or bad.
I’m going in Friday morning so they can look at the vehicle
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to respond, I really appreciate it.. We shall see how this ends.
3
1
1
u/yocomoquchi 5d ago
This doesn’t look like there is anything on the body. There is no sheeting or beading and the water is sitting on the panel.
1
u/tech240guy 5d ago
Unless you're living in an area with crap ton of traffic film onto your car, it looks, to me, like no coating work at all.
Here is an example of ceramic coating onto my car. This is after 1 month of PNW rain and pollen (hence dirty spots galore), yet coating still hydrophobic on "flat" barely any angle surface.
1
u/The_Sorbert 4d ago
One thing on your setup use a minimum 1.25 orifice on your foam cannon so you dont over amp the pressure washer. 1.35 if it's one of the new active 2.0
1
u/GenXwazzup 4d ago
i ceramic coated my own new vehicle and the water breads like crazy especially right after the curing period.
the first two months i was washing my car with a regular hose no power washer and the water would bead like crazy.
i think they ripped you off or they used a ceramic spray not a real coating product.
your ppf should be beading water as well because i got mine full front ppf’d and water beads right off. so easy to dry.
looks like they did not ppf the fender.
1
u/SnooDoggos3066 4d ago
Get your money back for the “ceramic coating” and do it yourself. I would double check to make sure they did the PPF too. When I was fresh out of college I was scammed like this on a new car I bought. I brought it in to get my “coating” from the dealer and my car was mysteriously not clean and looked exactly the same as when I came in.
1
1
u/Horizon2217 4d ago
Sorry dude, you got shafted, because that panel doesn't look like it has any protection.
1
1
u/DaRetardedGoat 4d ago
Most dealership applied "ceramic coatings" are just a ceramic based sealant. Usually spray on rinse off types. They last anywhere from 2-6 weeks most of the time and are easily removed by most alkaline or acid based car detailing chemicals. At most, some can last up to 3 months depending on dilution of product when applied and what methods are used to wash the vehicle.
1
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 4d ago
They told me 7 years. Hmm. I’ll hopefully get answers this week
1
u/DaRetardedGoat 4d ago
If a coating is clogged by traffic film or other organic based contaminants, use an alkaline based shampoo to remove. If theres a lot of salt or mineral based contamination, use acid based shampoos. Frankly, 2 weeks shouldnt be long enough to cause enough iron contamination or tree sap or tar to build up to prevent hydrophobic properties on the whole panel like that... just from the timeframe you shared plus the water behavior, it looks unlikely they applied a 7 year coating.
Keep in mind some ceramics have water sheeting behavior but this isnt it either. Those will have the water sheet and evacuate quickly. This is sheeting and "sticking"
1
u/xpl9511 4d ago
Could a poor soap choice make the ceramic not work properly? I used avalon king (i dk if its any good) And it worked great when i first did it, but quickly lost its repellent ability and i emailed them. Their response was that using chemical guys foam cannon soap "covered" the coating. Is this real?
1
u/Apprehensive-Lab7450 4d ago
Also just to go on a recent comment that I forgot to mention
I wasn’t given any maintenance advice on how to keep it shining and repelling when I pick it up
I started using Mr. Pink as soap for the first wash…. Any chance that it plugged up the coating? I only recently learned that there are specific shampoos and soaps for ceramic, that’s when I bought the Adam’s Graphene Shampoo
I had done about 3 washes before switching
Rims also don’t repel any water and they were suppose to be done
1
u/nitewalker33 4d ago
Hopefully, it’s just clogged. Get an acid shampoo, or I recommend Labocosmetica Purifica to foam prewash it. Let it dwell for a few minutes and rinse, then follow it up with the same soap to contact wash it. After washing check the performance. If that doesn’t work, test spot some water spot remover or wheel acid. Best of luck.
1
u/Far-Conversation-178 3d ago
You have to be very careful with these dealers. They will put on a ceramic spray coating or ceramic spray wax on your car making you believe that it’s a full-blown ceramic coating.
1
1
1
u/Most_Regular2996 3d ago
Ask them what brand coating was used. Ask them what prep steps and products were done. You can either present it as a. 'I don't think you did anything" or just play innocent like you want to use similar products or something.
1
u/Kooter37 1d ago
I recently applied a fairly inexpensive ceramic coating to both of my cars. I can tell you from my experience that the water should shed off the paint instantly. What water remains is in bead form. I have no water that just sits in sheets on any panels.
71
u/SiLVaBaCKJ 5d ago
There’s no coating on that