Ceramic Coating or Clear bra
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 142
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I dropped mine off yesterday and supposed to be done on Friday. XPel on the bumper, hood, front quarters, rockers all the way, front roof, and A pillars. Then Ceramic Pro over the top of all. I'm doing the 5 year Ceramic Pro. He's throwing in doing my window treatment all the way around including moonroof, headlights, and tinting the windows. My aftermarket wheels are still in the boxes so he said he will do those as well. Also, painted Extend-A-Flares that haven't been put on yet. He said the same thing about the importance of the prep and will be doing polish/paint correction if needed. I'll post some pics when it gets done.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 8
From: Tomball, Tx
I dropped mine off yesterday and supposed to be done on Friday. XPel on the bumper, hood, front quarters, rockers all the way, front roof, and A pillars. Then Ceramic Pro over the top of all. I'm doing the 5 year Ceramic Pro. He's throwing in doing my window treatment all the way around including moonroof, headlights, and tinting the windows. My aftermarket wheels are still in the boxes so he said he will do those as well. Also, painted Extend-A-Flares that haven't been put on yet. He said the same thing about the importance of the prep and will be doing polish/paint correction if needed. I'll post some pics when it gets done.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 2
From: Hatfield's side of river
When I had it applied, the installer/owner said if any body repairs were needed at a shop, to inform them of the ceramic coating. he then showed me an example of how hard this stuff is on a hood they had sitting in the shop for demonstration. he took a razor knife and started slicing into it the hood and there was no physical damage i could see. then he started scraping the hood with the razor knife and it looked like very little almost dust pieces of the ceramic coating (quartz) coming up. Very stout in my opinion. I could see how the ceramic coating would give a body shop an issue if they didn't know it was applied. it would definitely clog a sanding disk very quickly.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 76
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I second that, if you can PM me pricing I'd appreciate. Got a quote a couple weeks ago and thought it was waaaay too much.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 216
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I have a ceramic coating on my truck, and I too drive a route daily with a lot of sand/rock quarry trucks all over. I have had many of debris hit the hood/bumper/grill, and yet have found a single chip in the paint or chrome plating on anything. it all depends on personal preference i guess. I prefer the ceramic coating since they apply it to everything except the glass and the unfinished plastic. I never have to wax the truck again, and don't have to really worry about scratching the paint when I wash it. I live on a dirt road as well, and have literally taken a wet microfiber towel and wiped off the built up sand on the trucks paint and it did not scratch anything. My truck is Blue Jean metallic as well so it would show swirls/scratches pretty easily if they were there.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: USA
I have Opticoat Pro ceramic and Xpel on my Range Rover. The ceramic will protect the paint to some degree but will not hold up to sand/rocks. Hence the Xpel on entire front end, whole hood, A pillars and front of roof. Even with the ceramic coating, they do not want you to take it through a carwash. The ceramic does eliminate the need for waxing and is super glossy. I did not do ceramic on the 350, just Xpel. FYI, Xpel on the B pillars keeps that black plastic from scratching.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 996
Likes: 193
From: AZ
I'm not all that familiar with the coatings - here's what I found online - just one page I looked at:
https://www.drbeasleys.com/blog/2014...ersible-error/
https://www.drbeasleys.com/blog/2014...ersible-error/
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
I had my wife's F150 coated with opti pro coating and then I did a clear bra on my whole truck. having had both I would do the clear bra again but wont waste my money on the opti coat again. It doesn't help with scratches or rock chip at all (at least for us). It does really shine when washed though.
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
I have Opticoat Pro ceramic and Xpel on my Range Rover. The ceramic will protect the paint to some degree but will not hold up to sand/rocks. Hence the Xpel on entire front end, whole hood, A pillars and front of roof. Even with the ceramic coating, they do not want you to take it through a carwash. The ceramic does eliminate the need for waxing and is super glossy. I did not do ceramic on the 350, just Xpel. FYI, Xpel on the B pillars keeps that black plastic from scratching.
they told me after it was done that it had to be hand washed and handed me a bottle special soap. her truck already has water spots on it as well which its not suppose to have. they claim its our fault because it had some goose poop on it so i sprayed it off and didn't dry it. again its not worth the money to do it in my opinion.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
this ^^^
they told me after it was done that it had to be hand washed and handed me a bottle special soap. her truck already has water spots on it as well which its not suppose to have. they claim its our fault because it had some goose poop on it so i sprayed it off and didn't dry it. again its not worth the money to do it in my opinion.
they told me after it was done that it had to be hand washed and handed me a bottle special soap. her truck already has water spots on it as well which its not suppose to have. they claim its our fault because it had some goose poop on it so i sprayed it off and didn't dry it. again its not worth the money to do it in my opinion.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 8
From: Tomball, Tx
Seems like a real racket....or a good steady income if you can get it
Im learning a lot about the hidden cost of these coatings and their warranty requirements.
Requirements for annual or bi-annual cleanings and re-applications -
Ceramic Pro quoted $350 per annual visit
Another, $124 every 4-6 months
Some allowed the DIY and periodic (hand) washing but require you to buy expensive chemicals.....for the cost of the chemicals I be smarter to let someone else do it.
Carpro Iron X Iron Remover (500 ml / 16 oz) - $26
Modesta M2 Blast / spray wax (200ml / 6 oz) - $40
CarPro Reload Spray Sealant (500 ml / 16 oz) - $39
Im learning a lot about the hidden cost of these coatings and their warranty requirements.
Requirements for annual or bi-annual cleanings and re-applications -
Ceramic Pro quoted $350 per annual visit
Another, $124 every 4-6 months
Some allowed the DIY and periodic (hand) washing but require you to buy expensive chemicals.....for the cost of the chemicals I be smarter to let someone else do it.
Carpro Iron X Iron Remover (500 ml / 16 oz) - $26
Modesta M2 Blast / spray wax (200ml / 6 oz) - $40
CarPro Reload Spray Sealant (500 ml / 16 oz) - $39
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: USA
I have had Opti-coat on last two Rovers never an issue. I have heard horror stories on all brands of ceramic coatings if not applied properly. There is an extensive prep process. On a side note, the Optimum car wash they suggest for washing ceramic coated vehicles is a waterless car wash. I thought it was crazy stupid at first but is amazingly easy with great results. I walked by it in the garage for months and washed like normal. It is actually far less work. Really great on the Harley and can wash convertible with top down.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 5
From: NJ
I got a quote for my F250 CC SB, Ceramic Pro, Silver package $1500. and Gold package $2100, plus yearly maintenance of $350 for the Sport or $550.00 for the Light, that is for a complete vehicle, glass, wheels, all trim etc. I was also told no brush style car washes and even hand car washes were discouraged. There was no mention of needing special products to wash on my own but perhaps we just didn't get that far into the conversation. I really like the idea a coating but damn that is a lot of money once the maintenance is figured in and chances are over the course of ownership for me which is at least 10 years something will happen requiring bodywork and then there will be more coating needed plug perhaps extra bodyshop $$ due to having to sand the stuff off. I'm just not sure at this point what I will do...
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
I got a quote for my F250 CC SB, Ceramic Pro, Silver package $1500. and Gold package $2100, plus yearly maintenance of $350 for the Sport or $550.00 for the Light, that is for a complete vehicle, glass, wheels, all trim etc. I was also told no brush style car washes and even hand car washes were discouraged. There was no mention of needing special products to wash on my own but perhaps we just didn't get that far into the conversation. I really like the idea a coating but damn that is a lot of money once the maintenance is figured in and chances are over the course of ownership for me which is at least 10 years something will happen requiring bodywork and then there will be more coating needed plug perhaps extra bodyshop $$ due to having to sand the stuff off. I'm just not sure at this point what I will do...
All CP packages by warranty life:
Gold Package - Lifetime Warranty $1290
Silver Package - 5 Year Warranty $890
Bronze Package - 2 Year Warranty $690
Sport Package - 6 month warranty $450
Interior Package - 2 Year Warranty $290
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,784
Likes: 8
From: Tomball, Tx
I'm w/ you rwilimo! This ceramic coating stuff sure seems like a racket.
I could have a paint correcting detail once a year for 500 and STILL be money ahead.
I'm thinking of going w/ some Clear Bra instead - I believe it will protect the paint better.
I could have a paint correcting detail once a year for 500 and STILL be money ahead.
I'm thinking of going w/ some Clear Bra instead - I believe it will protect the paint better.