Show Us Your Motors!
- Thread starter Lopéz
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Hopefully. But they even said they didn't think snowfoams were necessary and just pressure washing would be fine, when used on this coating. When it comes to needing a wash, I'll see how it goes and post more on the cleaning thread, rather than take this one off topic.
Looks great and the name of the place you had it done sounded familiar, then I saw the Lake Country logos on the floor - so a great outfit. I also have CSU on my car and a pressure wash isn't enough to get it clean unfortunately. I really went to town on my last deep clean - including a second contact wash using an iron fall out shampoo, the rinse water from that wasn't exactly clear and that was after two snow foams (alkaline, and then acidic), and an initial contact wash with CarPro reset.
Looks good but you have no protection against stone chips! Ceramic offers minor protection against those sadly! PPF would be around £3K + VAT.I wish. Car needed a full correction detail first, which was about 700 quid alone. All in was £1554 (Christ, look, you made me type it) Like I said...eye watering initial cost, but I had budgeted for it when I bought the car - having a professionally detailed and protected car is something I've been envious of seeing others having done, on here and elsewhere. So I always vowed to get it done when I bought a new car.
But the coating is guaranteed for 9 years. If any part of it starts to fail, or stain, it will get reapplied as long as it's inspected each year. And it should mean only minimal maintenance in that period - seriously, I asked about aftercare and they pretty much said there wasn't much to consider. They recommended using a fallout remover semi-regularly (depending on use) and aside from that, just pressure washing and normal, gentle washing should be enough. So if that means no more time and effort spent agonising over and hoarding multiple cleaning products, it's money well spent.
Just picked the car up after having a full 2-stage paint correction detail and ceramic coating applied, by KDS Keltec in Gillingham. Eye watering cost, but something I've always wanted to have done - and given that I'd like to keep this car long term, I keep telling myself it's an investment. Upon collecting the car though, I can see where the money went. It was absolutely immaculate, inside and out. Not only are all minor scratches and swirls gone, but there's much more depth to the colour. Looks utterly stunning in the flesh, and I felt bad having to drive it home on grimy, wet roads. That said, the coating (Gtechniq Crystal Serum Ultra) should make maintenance a breeze, and had a 9-year guarantee.
These phone photos don't really do it justice. They did apparently take some professional photos which they'll forward later, but for now, these will have to do.
Lucky man
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Car looks amazing. Am I reading that right, there's no need to polish for... 9 years? Surely that can't be right.I wish. Car needed a full correction detail first, which was about 700 quid alone. All in was £1554 (Christ, look, you made me type it
But the coating is guaranteed for 9 years. If any part of it starts to fail, or stain, it will get reapplied as long as it's inspected each year. And it should mean only minimal maintenance in that period - seriously, I asked about aftercare and they pretty much said there wasn't much to consider. They recommended using a fallout remover semi-regularly (depending on use) and aside from that, just pressure washing and normal, gentle washing should be enough. So if that means no more time and effort spent agonising over and hoarding multiple cleaning products, it's money well spent.
I'm a little skeptical myself, but its apparently one of the hardest coatings on the market.
Crystal Serum Ultra - Gtechniq
Ceramic 10h paint protection, 9 year guarantee, matchless levels of gloss surface slickness swirl and chemical restistance.
www.gtechniq.co.uk
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I think it's par for the course for even brand new cars to have light swirls and paint defects. And "required" is a relative term; to most people who aren't anally retentive about paint condition and car cleaning, it's not necessary at all. But the coating is best applied to pristine paintwork which means a round of polishing before doing so.
Annoyed but realistically it is a mass produced car so would never be perfect. Op could have skipped this step and gone straight to ceramic but then that's a false economy.
Underboss
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- 20 Oct 2002
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I'd be annoyed too
I'm a little skeptical myself, but its apparently one of the hardest coatings on the market.
Crystal Serum Ultra - Gtechniq
Ceramic 10h paint protection, 9 year guarantee, matchless levels of gloss surface slickness swirl and chemical restistance.
I wonder, have they tested it for 9 years in the real world? My uneducated guess is that it'll be a success even if it lasts for more than a year. I guess it also depends on how the car is stored and used. 9 years if stored in a garage and used once a month perhaps, even then I'd be very surprised.
Then again, I know nothing about these coatings
other than there being a seemingly large detailing scene based around fancy cleaning products with lots of claims.Anyway, hope it lasts long enough for you to be happy with it.
Edit - how good is it with repelling bird poo damage?
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The detailers I used have a Youtube channel, and they did an inspection on a brand new McLaren Senna which had many of the same problems. Granted, it's a track focused car and most people wouldn't care, but it highlights that even high-end stuff doesn't leave the factory perfect. I'll link rather than embed for fear of derailing the thread further: https://youtu.be/UM58mmWAN28
It's hard enough that it can't be easily removed with chemicals, so I understand the acid etching from bird poo should have less effect. Time will tell I guess.I wonder, have they tested it for 9 years in the real world? My uneducated guess is that it'll be a success even if it lasts for more than a year. I guess it also depends on how the car is stored and used. 9 years if stored in a garage and used once a month perhaps, even then I'd be very surprised.
Then again, I know nothing about these coatings
Anyway, hope it lasts long enough for you to be happy with it.
Edit - how good is it with repelling bird poo damage?
Underboss
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 33,706
- Location
- Oxfordshire / Bucks
YouTube
first vid :
first vid :
The sad thing is it probably was perfect when it rolled off the production line. It's what happens to it between then and delivery that causes the issues.
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Hi there
For those interested a picture of the 600 LT's engine bay, still getting a heatshield resonance / rattle when I drop back window which I can really hear, so removed the engine cover which consist of:
- Open roof mechanism to access luggage compartment (give you more room)
- Remove the flap using 8mm allen key
- Remove the 8mm allen bolts holding the engine cover on
- Gently lift the cover off.
You are greeted by this:
Tapping the heatshield picture above was rattling, so some massaging and it now gives a solid ding, fingers crossed the resonance is gone.
If I fixed it I may unplug the valves as spotted them next to the exhaust.
For those interested a picture of the 600 LT's engine bay, still getting a heatshield resonance / rattle when I drop back window which I can really hear, so removed the engine cover which consist of:
- Open roof mechanism to access luggage compartment (give you more room)
- Remove the flap using 8mm allen key
- Remove the 8mm allen bolts holding the engine cover on
- Gently lift the cover off.
You are greeted by this:
Tapping the heatshield picture above was rattling, so some massaging and it now gives a solid ding, fingers crossed the resonance is gone.
If I fixed it I may unplug the valves as spotted them next to the exhaust.
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![5w2IO30.jpeg[\img]](https://i.imgur.com/5w2IO30.jpeg[\img])
Yup. KDS sent me a video report after a few days highlighting some of the paint problems they'd discovered. Most of it was just swirls and dullness caused by the factory paint processes, but they did find evidence of someone having already polished the rear bumper, evidently to fix some light damage that had happened, presumably sometime between the car being built and turning up at the dealer. They did say that there was nothing unusual in this, and that it was entirly typical even for brand new cars to have paintwork in that condition.
All that has now been rectified now, but I completely accept that its an extravagance to fix a problem that 99% of people wouldn't even notice.