I used to own a Mobil and fixed shop detailing company that did everything from boats to planes, 18 wheelers, fleets and dealership cars. I always love testing new products just to see how they work. So based on all the hype given to these coatings, I decided to give them a try. I went with CQuartz. I tried their standard 110 and UK versions
First thing you need to know- they require maintenance by means of washing and reapplication of their product (works like a quick detail spray wax- not difficult). So it’s not apply and forget. Second is bird crap eats through them. Don’t care how great they claim to be- all state it must be removed within 12-24 hours. So it’s not a miracle potion.
Third point is they don’t like automatic car washes so unless your into handwashing- that $1500-$1700 coating won’t last.
The good sides are they work as a coating, extremely well and what is an absolute shocker- are some of the easiest products to apply for a DIY. Like many state, prep is the key.
I used the the two polishes CarPro makes for CQuartz prep. One is a one step (Finisher) The other requires two steps (Fixer) and removes down to 1500 grit sandpaper marks. To prove it was DIY, I bought all the stuff needed and it was close to $260. I already owned a Cyclo polisher and pads so a polisher would add to your costs but the only thing you would be required to buy for the second car application is the ceramic coating at $60. If you can work an orbital sander- you can polish paint. It’s realky a no brained. Plenty of videos on YouTube can show you how to mask off, correct pad types, position of polisher and speed. After using both products on my wife’s 2010 BMW, I wiped it all down with Eraser to remove any residue, old wax, grease and any other contaminants. Did that twice and changed towels a lot.
After that you apply the coating. It’s rubbing in one direction, then at 90 degrees to the original direction. The application pad is a sponge and you use a small piece of supplied chamois over that. Coating takes only a few drops to cover a 2’ x 2’ area. Once it’s been applied, wait till it flashes, and remove with a microfiber towel. Flip the microfiber towel often and discard after use (gets gunked up).
So my wife’s black BMW used the 110 formula and I felt it lasted the longest. I used the recommended Reload every month and found the coating held up very well. Washing off road grime was as easy as turning on the pressure washer and spraying it down. I used the UK version on my Juke and it did not last as long but to be fair, was an outside car versus the other stayed in the garage at home and work. Texas sun does wear this product down.
Main thing to do is watch a lot of videos on application and realize this is something you can do yourself and not spend the price of a decent aftermarket front bumper doing so. Also note if your paint is really bad, the prep side will take longer but most of CarPros products were very easy to use (comparably to other compounds, polishes and glazes I’ve used) and performed very well.
