Should I use coating for new car?

[ming]

Hello,I have just bought a new BMW 3 series and the shop offered to do a coating from Viva for the whole car. According to the sales lady the coating has a three years warranty. With this coat I supposedly do not need to do any polishing or waxing, only routine basic wash. Is this true? Will this damage the paint?Need help as making decision by tomorrow.Thank youMing

 

[astroboy]

If within 3 years, you can guarantee won't get a ding or scratch, and have money to splash, why not? For cars that frequent 200kph and like to cucuk others, very easy to collect chips on the hood and bumper. Does your coating protects u against it?

 

[Mavik]

I personally don't think that those coating can prevent stone chips. Heck even with the shield film thing on the bumper on a friend's car still didn't prevent stone chips.

 

[ming]

I think it is coated by Gzox brand. Not sure how good it is.

 

[KrisMas]

How much extra do you need to pay?
Any maintenance schedule that you need to adhere to so that the warranty won't be voided?
Do you need to pay for the maintenance in the schedule? How much?
Are you allowed to wash the car yourself (including sending to normal car wash shops) or do you need to use their own proprietary products for maintenance?
If it's from G'zox, ask them which coating they intend to apply: HiMoh Coat, Quartz 7, Real Glass Coat or Florine Coat. If it's the Florine Coat then I'd say I'd pass.....

If you're okay with all the above then go for it.

Generally, yes, it would be a good idea to go for the new generation coatings to provide further protection of the OEM paint and, no it wouldn't harm the paint. But, saying that, it all depends on the quality of preperation BEFORE the coating and the person applying the coating. With a good quality coating and regular maintenance, the original paint would last longer. Yes, you wouldn't need to polish or wax again for quite a while but DO NOT fall into the notion that you wouldn't need to maintain (wash) them. Regular washing is still required, only thing is washing would be easier with a good quality and healthy coating on.

Regards.

 

[tIANcI]

Coating is only to keep the paint looking FRESH and shiny. That's all. Before the coating they will wash and polish the car. However, when you get tar stains you cannot use normal autocare stuff as it will affect the coating. If can, self wash 3 times a week is better. You also get to live longer because of the extra exercise.

 

[seech]

Coating is only to keep the paint looking FRESH and shiny. That's all. Before the coating they will wash and polish the car. However, when you get tar stains you cannot use normal autocare stuff as it will affect the coating. If can, self wash 3 times a week is better. You also get to live longer because of the extra exercise.

If 'normal autocare stuff' affects the coating then there is something wrong with the coating itself and its highly likely that the 'coating' is not a real coating and more like a glorified sealant. A real coating can be cleaned with strong cleaners that would strip off normal wax/sealants and the coating will still be beading as before. In fact, the best test to determine if it is a 'real' coating is to spray on some strong cleaners and rinse it off to see if the surface still beads water. That is the main benefit of coating as it is still there to protect the paint and cannot be washed off offering permanent protection for the original paint.

As for having to use propriety or special car washes to maintain the coating or having to return to the shop for regular coating 'maintenance', this is more about marketing or perhaps the coating used is not a real coating and has to be topped up by regular maintenance.

That said, a coated surface is still exposed to the environment and while the coating does provide an additional protective layer and preserves the original paint, it is inevitable that the surface of the coating will get contaminated as well which may require a periodic cleaning or a light polish to remove the surface contaminants.

However, even if polishing is required, only the coating will be polished leaving the original paint untouched which is probably the biggest benefit of a proper coating as it does add to the thickness of the clear coat preventing the original paint from thinning out by repeated polishing etc.

A common argument against proper coatings is that you can respray the car for the same price. A cheap respray will NEVER be as good as the original factory paint which has been oven baked in the factory. Besides, who wants to drive around in horrible looking paint while waiting for the time to get it resprayed?

 

[ming]

Thank you all for the information.

Have decided to go for the Hi Mohs coating full package but when i receive the invoice from the BMW sales person i was a little surprised. There are some fine prints.... need to wash once a week, do a maintenance once in three months or the warranty will be void.

 

[tIANcI]

seech ... I meant autocare stuff for removal of tar etc. the solvents will affect coating. Not your usual car shampoo la. :0)

 

[KrisMas]

Thank you all for the information.

Have decided to go for the Hi Mohs coating full package but when i receive the invoice from the BMW sales person i was a little surprised. There are some fine prints.... need to wash once a week, do a maintenance once in three months or the warranty will be void.

Good that you noticed. A lot of people are unaware and being duped by their initial offerings....

seech ... I meant autocare stuff for removal of tar etc. the solvents will affect coating. Not your usual car shampoo la. :0)

Like sifu seech said.....a good quality coating (and we're not talking about waxes, sealants or the like) would be able to handle those harsh chemicals.

 

[tIANcI]

Kris ... I must do more research then.

 

[primus2211]

Ming,

Coating is good if you don't mind paying for a good coating, don't waste time with PPS or Sierra or any of those sub-1k. Has zero beading after a couple of wash.

Get in touch with bro seech, the Optimum stuff he does is awesome. I've got it on my F10, after 2.5 months still nice, clean and easy to wash. Do my own wash once a week and so far still beads and so far no stains that the power cleaner can't get rid of where normal wash fails.

 

[3er]

How long does Optimum last?

 

[primus2211]

How long does Optimum last?

Claimed to be a couple of years but then I'd be happy if it last 1-2 years. By then probably I'd be looking at touching up the car for minor dents and stone chips. Call the optimum boys of more info?

 

[tIANcI]

Called up Sierra, dang its cheap ... however, they say cannot use solvent based stuff on their coating. Called up Optimum, costs about double BUT they say its not merely a coating that hangs in there on a molecular level, its more like a nice clear coat that truly protects. Now that sounds a lot more better!

 

[seech]

Called up Sierra, dang its cheap ... however, they say cannot use solvent based stuff on their coating. Called up Optimum, costs about double BUT they say its not merely a coating that hangs in there on a molecular level, its more like a nice clear coat that truly protects. Now that sounds a lot more better!

There must be a reason it's cheaper......

Aside from the coating itself, the surface preparation is critical as the coating will seal in any paint defects so do check how the surface is prepped before coating. Also, as you mentioned, the Opti Cost forms a permanent protective coating on top of the existing factory clear coat which is harder, more chemical resistant and has greater water beading characteristics.

Hope this helps to answer your questions. Tq

 

[tIANcI]

There must be a reason it's cheaper......

Aside from the coating itself, the surface preparation is critical as the coating will seal in any paint defects so do check how the surface is prepped before coating. Also, as you mentioned, the Opti Cost forms a permanent protective coating on top of the existing factory clear coat which is harder, more chemical resistant and has greater water beading characteristics.

Hope this helps to answer your questions. Tq

seech ... since Opti has no issues with autocar solvents such as tar removers, that speaks volumes!

 

[ahloong2]

My civic fd1 was coated with 3M DiamondBrite about 3 yrs ago, and it only cost Rm550 + RM50 (remove the water mark on windows and wind screen); till now it's still in good shape, never wash the car with conserver, but car always parked under shade. I am a strong believer on the 3M stuff, but now BMW quote me for 1388 if not mistaken….may be I will wait for couple months before I coat my car with 3M. p/s do not coat your windscreen it might cause the wipers to judder…...

 

[kc's]

My civic fd1 was coated with 3M DiamondBrite about 3 yrs ago, and it only cost Rm550 + RM50 (remove the water mark on windows and wind screen); till now it's still in good shape, never wash the car with conserver, but car always parked under shade. I am a strong believer on the 3M stuff, but now BMW quote me for 1388 if not mistaken….may be I will wait for couple months before I coat my car with 3M. p/s do not coat your windscreen it might cause the wipers to judder…...

As far as I know a good coating will not judders yr wipers, infact i hardly switch on my wipers in the rain ... as the new layer is more resilient to any contamination like water, rains, tars as well.....and real effortless to rinse off with water alone....even certain degree acid & a good coating should last a life time

many detailers does coating test by spraying aggressive cleaners, ta da

 

[xxxx]

i don't think any coating can protect from scratches or even tiny stones