Cheap ceramic coating

ThorOdinson

Any tips on how to get ceramic coating cheaper than the £500-600 everyone seems to charge for a 5 year one?

Aside from doing it myself, I can't and will have to get someone to do it for me.

Mr.Generous

I know a guy who valets for a BMW dealership, they get paid £100 for doing a ceramic coat on top of a full valet. (Yes, £100 for everything - they are self employed).  The dealership charge the customer hundreds for this. Enough margin that they throw it in for half price to seal a deal on a new car!! Only £400 - should be £800 !! 

Makes me wonder that if you wandered in and had a chat with any of the valet guys then you could arrange to get one done as a foreigner on the weekend? When they do a car they are issued a kit, and on big vehicles they get 2 kits. They end up having full unopened ceramic kits to use as and when - have a look at Ebay - plenty of BMW / Mini ceramic kits for sale so it must be common to have stuff left over.

So if he has the product and the necessary expertise and does it for £100 day in day out with a full valet....

I'm sure most car dealerships with a valet bay are probably very similar.

400ixl

Dealers tend to do ceramic sealants not ceramic coating. 1hr job vs a 1 day job.

You should be able to find someone to do a one stage paint correction and a ceramic seal for £350-400. Personally do my own, but buying everything you need for a one off job is not really worth the investment, but if you plan to do future cars it can be worth the investment.

m0bov

Why ceramic? You can get sealants and waxes, the time and cost is in the prep work. A bottle of ceramic coating is about £40, so unless you just want it slapped on a swirly car, then I don't think you'd get it much cheaper. I'd just get the car valeted and ask them to wax it. Should last 6 months.

born_again

Buy cheap, buy many times over.
It is not just a case of the ceramic coat, they also prepare the paint to a good finish, so the coat works as it should.

Want cheap then get someone to do something like a diamondbrite sealant. Often done/sold by dealers when buying a new car.
Any local valeter should do it, but expect to be told it's a waste of money.

ThorOdinson

I'm not hugely worried about minor paint issues like swirls, I just want to protect the paint from chips and make it easier to keep clean.

m0bov

Common myth, ceramic coating doesn't prevent chips or scratches, that's clear wrapping or ppf. Expect that cost to be X3.

Iceweasel

To stop stone chips - don't drive it anywhere.

To make it easier to clean - use CarPlan No.1 Supergloss - it's hydrophobic.

It takes 10 minutes of very little effort every 6 months or so.

Or use CarPlan No.1 SuperCeramic which it a little more hydrophobic but needs a good bit more effort.

Desmond_Hume

As said, ceramic coating won’t prevent chips. 

If you’re not bothered about swirls and paint defects then just go down your local £5 scratch and shine.

It ultimately sounds like you’re looking for a shortcut here and they don’t exist.

My routine… a coating of CarPro Hydro2 every 3 months. Every 12 months I decontaminate with IronX and TarX. 

Maintenance washes in between are snow foam with Bilthamber,  rinse then wash with CarPro Reset. Is it a perfect routine? No. Does it make my now 7 year old car look better than 99% of 7 month old cars out there? Yes. 

born_again

https://www.apmcustoms.co.uk/blog/paint-protection-film-ppf-the-facts

Just on the area that gets the  chips..

ThorOdinson

Iceweasel said:

To stop stone chips - don't drive it anywhere.

To make it easier to clean - use CarPlan No.1 Supergloss - it's hydrophobic.

It takes 10 minutes of very little effort every 6 months or so.

Or use CarPlan No.1 SuperCeramic which it a little more hydrophobic but needs a good bit more effort.

Really don't appreciate this condescending ableism. Just because it's easy for you doesn't mean it's easy for everyone else.