Opticoat Pro+ is amaze-balls!

[Asonitez]

So if I understand correctly... its an additional 1500 dollar Clear Coat thats then buffed sanded and Sealed. It's probably thicker than the factory clear coat. But it does not offer protection from paint chips or dings right. A Pebble slams into the front bumber at 75 mph will still chip the paint right through the opti right? This is JUST to protect the PAINT from contaminants and bird poo.

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[arcadewilco]

Yup pretty much. Just an upgraded clear coat. It's a bit more scratch resistant but not much more. I do like the water repellant properties so water will bead right off vs. having water spots. It's definitely an expensive product for what your getting but aside from the minor protection I really like what it does aesthetically to the paint. Makes is look wet and just adds a nice shiny gloss.


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[Blk2015GT]

Pretty much meaning if you regularly wash your car and clay/seal/wax regularly too you can save over $1,000.

And no it's not thicker than clearcoat. Clear is typically 1.5-2 mils thicks. Opticoat is about 2 microns. There are 24.5 microns to 1 mil. Opticoat is about .08 mils, so about 4% the thickness of the clear.

This is why I don't think it's worth the money; it's only microns thick at the end of the day. Yes, sealant and wax are less than 1 microns each but only costs $30 each for a whole year's worth. When applied properly will prevent the same bird droppings etc as it's still a barrier to the clear equally. Again, upkeep is important.

As a gauge, while the clear is 2 mils, clear bra is 8 mils generally.

And yes the paint can still scratch and chip and when you go to buff those out you just ate up a a chunk of your $1,000 coating that has not be re-done now on that panel.

If you're going to do drop $1,000 I would vote get film put on the front bumper, hood and mirror caps. That will help with rocks chip and just clay/seal/wax your car- take care of it.

 

[Evolvd]

Pretty much meaning if you regularly wash your car and clay/seal/wax regularly too you can save over $1,000.

I believe this is an incorrect statement and I'll tell you why. How much time does it take you to wash/clay/seal/wax your car? For me, on a midsize car, anywhere from 4-6 hours if done properly. How much is 4-6 hours worth to you? I can't answer that but for me it's quite a bit when I could be doing a lot of other things more rewarding than polishing my paint. You also disregarded the cost of supplies to do what you say is a cheaper alternative. A couple hundred dollars in towels, buffer, pads, product, water bill, and electricity bill...add that with what your time is worth and it begins to add up.

With this coating I can go much longer without those needed steps and maintenance of the paint is much less as proven by multiple reviews of this product after multi-year tests.

Again, upkeep is important.

Absolutely, and with Opticoat on the car the need for constant upkeep is significantly reduced.

And yes the paint can still scratch and chip and when you go to buff those out you just ate up a a chunk of your $1,000 coating that has not be re-done now on that panel.

Any shop worth it's positive reviews stocks correction kits for such events and only charges the hourly rate for that shop. Same as you would get with any detail shop.

If you're going to do drop $1,000 I would vote get film put on the front bumper, hood and mirror caps. That will help with rocks chip and just clay/seal/wax your car- take care of it.

I certainly didn't get this coating to prevent or reduce rock chips. This is solely a paint application and has been done numerous times prior to install of a film.

One thing you seem to not understand is the coating does not cost $1000. The labor to do all the buffing, polishing, correcting and then applying the coating is what generates the high cost. Feel free to go to any detail shop and ask them what it would cost them to do all that work, at a reasonable interval, for the next five years.

At the end of the day, it's my money and I'm happy with the product...which is all that matters. You have your opinion and you are entitled to it, but it's just your opinion.

 

[ronv95]

I had it on my 12 Camaro SS Convertible, shit is amazing. Going to get it on my stang soon as I decide on which new hood to go with.

 

[Asonitez]

...................
One thing you seem to not understand is the coating does not cost $1000. The labor to do all the buffing, polishing, correcting and then applying the coating is what generates the high cost. Feel free to go to any detail shop and ask them what it would cost them to do all that work, at a reasonable interval, for the next five years.

At the end of the day, it's my money and I'm happy with the product...which is all that matters. You have your opinion and you are entitled to it, but it's just your opinion.

I'm actually very interested in the product Evolvd so I'm def not attacking your purchase. I'm trying to get a handle on its benefits. I think many ppl are that don't know what it is. I hope I get to see it in person soon somewhere here in North Carolina.

1. If this item is a Cost in labor.. then aside from the warranty and stuff getting it re-applied or fixed costs $$ when you need help. Is it something they can do same day or is it something you need to pay for? When the item is applied is there any heat or anything applied on top of it? Can I apply it over my stripes and vinyl?


2. I feel when this product is applied not only am I now caring for my paint but I am also trying to make sure that my product (the opticoat) remains on to get the best value out of it.

3. Considering this is microns thick other than

- Making your car look wet and waxed
- Making your car shiny and a little oleophobic to keep off water and dust


what are the touted benefits of this product? At microns thick I figure it would be another layer infront of bird poop or something but does it then need to be re-applied after poop cleanup?

 

[Evolvd]

I'm actually very interested in the product Evolvd so I'm def not attacking your purchase. I'm trying to get a handle on its benefits. I think many ppl are that don't know what it is. I hope I get to see it in person soon somewhere here in North Carolina.

No worries man, legit questions will get legit answers ;)

1. If this item is a Cost in labor.. then aside from the warranty and stuff getting it re-applied or fixed costs $$ when you need help. Is it something they can do same day or is it something you need to pay for? When the item is applied is there any heat or anything applied on top of it? Can I apply it over my stripes and vinyl?

There was no heat gun involved. The product comes in a large syringe and is applied with a specific applicator that comes in the kit. The process is lengthy as the installer has to spread the coating evenly and prevent any high or low spots in the film. My installer brought his wife (who is also a detailer) and they worked as a team.

I do not know specifics about vinyl applications, however if you check Opticoat's website you can find a local dealer who would be able to answer that for you.

2. I feel when this product is applied not only am I now caring for my paint but I am also trying to make sure that my product (the opticoat) remains on to get the best value out of it.

From all the info I've gathered the only way to remove this coating is with abrasives (i.e. cutting compounds or cleaner waxes). The installer even said I could use Dawn dish soap on it and it wouldn't hurt the coating (Of course I'd never do that lol)

3. Considering this is microns thick other than

- Making your car look wet and waxed
- Making your car shiny and a little oleophobic to keep off water and dust


what are the touted benefits of this product? At microns thick I figure it would be another layer infront of bird poop or something but does it then need to be re-applied after poop cleanup?

Imagine a layer of carnuba wax on your paint that doesn't wear out after a few weeks. It's more or less another layer of clear coat on your paint with hydrophobic properties. And with all the june-bugs and seagull around NW Florida the bird poop and bug guts come off very easily with a little water pressure and don't eat into your paint.

 

[Blk2015GT]

I'm actually very interested in the product Evolvd so I'm def not attacking your purchase. I'm trying to get a handle on its benefits. I think many ppl are that don't know what it is. I hope I get to see it in person soon somewhere here in North Carolina.

1. If this item is a Cost in labor.. then aside from the warranty and stuff getting it re-applied or fixed costs $$ when you need help. Is it something they can do same day or is it something you need to pay for? When the item is applied is there any heat or anything applied on top of it? Can I apply it over my stripes and vinyl?


2. I feel when this product is applied not only am I now caring for my paint but I am also trying to make sure that my product (the opticoat) remains on to get the best value out of it.

3. Considering this is microns thick other than

- Making your car look wet and waxed
- Making your car shiny and a little oleophobic to keep off water and dust


what are the touted benefits of this product? At microns thick I figure it would be another layer infront of bird poop or something but does it then need to be re-applied after poop cleanup?

95% of the cost is labor. You can buy a consumer grade of Opticoat from Autogeek.com that's $59.99 for example of product cost- figure the pro grade may be a few bucks more. You may use $5 worth of polish and compound; tops on a really bad car not new cars like ours. So you MAY be talking $100 in consumables. I can tell you now I knew NOTHING about detailing and a few hours of watching youtube and $300 in supplies (polisher with backing plate reusable washable pads set- about $225, compound- $30, polish $30, some microfiber towels$30-40) and I never need to pay a detailer a dime. It's all how much you want to put into it. If I learned it anyone can- it doesnt require any schooling its not brain surgery and very very low risk of damaging the car with the correct consumer grade tool like a Porter Cable 7424XP.

Opticoat is the Ronco "set it and forget it" of car care (allegedly). Its harder than clearcoat and goes on similar to spreading a wax and hardens. Its 2 microns thick and gives you SOME protection to scratches but not a ton at 2 microns thick via common sense. It will give you the same protection against bugs, bird poop, water and dust as a good sealant/wax job. That is the job of both techniques- to protect the clear with a coating. Again, it depends how lazy you are to spend the 1 hour applying wax every month or 2 and sealant ever 3-4 months.

I personally dont care what anyone says, I bill several hundred dollars per hour as an attorney so I know value of time quite well, and I find/make time to take care of my car considering it only needs more than a wash and dry once a month if that (and that's a lot usually 2-3 months is good for wax). It just depends how much work you want to put in it versus paying someone else your hard earned money (and a lot of it in my opinion when its 3-4% of your car's cost you just paid if it was $30-35k)

Opticoat will not stay perfect forever, you may need touchups down the line after a re-polishing- it all depends in your level of car care along the way. No matter what anyone tells you about these "magical coatings" which is mostly users to justify their purchase and a vested interest. It's harder than clear but not a forcefield- a shopping cart bump it, it WILL scratch. Keyed, will scratch. Something abrasive will scratch it, as compounding it will remove the coating- its not permanent.

Personally, myself, I would rather full detail my car once a year and keep it looking good then deal with detailers and re-applying coatings at more money after already dropping a grand or more. Yes, it takes 4-6 hours ONCE A YEAR. It is not that big a deal as others make it sound like it is; that's laziness talking. You do not want to be polishing your car as polishing is taking off microns of clear like ultra fine sandpaper.

It's up to you if the money is worth it. It's your money not mine- and you could be talking a grand up front and then hundreds to touch up panels along the way if they get in an accident or scratched up. More and more money.

Google it and don't rely on just 1 or 2 people. Some people think it's a ripoff some people think it's the best thing since sliced bread. You have both sides of the story here already.

 

[Evolvd]

Just the Opticoat Pro+ is $650 from the same dealer. The regular Opticoat is $299. So as you can see, the price is not $1000 for just the coating. I had the glass coating and interior leather and fabric coating as well.

Personally I don't want to learn the process of doing a proper detail in a manner that a professional would use no more than I'd want to learn how to defend a criminal in a court of law. I'll pay someone for those services...a line of thinking you've seem to have missed.

You can call it whatever you want...but you can't spin your opinion into "facts". You obviously have no experience with this coating, its process or you would have cited some personal experience to give a subjective point of view rather than just insinuating that anyone who purchases this product is lazy or stupid.

 

[Matador91]

Let me just say that I am a certified installer of opti-coat pro. Hands down the most durable coating that I have tried. When people try and compare a wax or sealant to opti-coat pro I just realized they are un educated on the product and the benefits. There is not a comparison

Opti-Coat Pro provides exceptional protection for vehicles that experience normal wear and tear. A hardwearing, ceramic clear coat, this permanent product is applied in a single layer. It forms a continuous protective film, providing superior resistance to scratching (9H) and protection from chemical etching due to environmental impacts.

Opti-Coat Pro has better chemical resistance, scratch & mar resistance, and release properties than any automotive paint coating in use. It provides permanent protection for all modern factory paints and can also be used to protect metal, vinyl stripes, and hard plastic surfaces.

Also opti-coat pro needs to cure for 24 hours indoors. You can speed this process up by using a infrared light.

Also opti coat pro installers have signed contracts stating we will sell at a minimum price. Doing things like this helps to weed out the hacks and the undercutting.

 

[arcadewilco]

[MENTION=10930]Matador91[/MENTION] I have a question for you. Do you think it will bond to line-X? I just did my entire Tacoma in it and I'm looking for something to prevent water spots, help prevent fading, etc.

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[Matador91]

[MENTION=10930]Matador91[/MENTION] I have a question for you. Do you think it will bond to line-X? I just did my entire Tacoma in it and I'm looking for something to prevent water spots, help prevent
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I'm pretty sure line-x is a rubber based product, and if it is, opti-coat pro won't permanently bond to rubber.

 

[Blk2015GT]

Just the Opticoat Pro+ is $650 from the same dealer. The regular Opticoat is $299. So as you can see, the price is not $1000 for just the coating. I had the glass coating and interior leather and fabric coating as well.

Personally I don't want to learn the process of doing a proper detail in a manner that a professional would use no more than I'd want to learn how to defend a criminal in a court of law. I'll pay someone for those services...a line of thinking you've seem to have missed.

You can call it whatever you want...but you can't spin your opinion into "facts". You obviously have no experience with this coating, its process or you would have cited some personal experience to give a subjective point of view rather than just insinuating that anyone who purchases this product is lazy or stupid.

I don't need to have it on my car to have an opinion from reading HOURS and hours of material on it from other forums- people and pro detailers. You don't have to be in politics to have an opinion on them or our leaders from what you've read and seen, do you?

If you believe those prices I see why you think a grand is a "sweet deal." What you stated are the MINIMUM price the detailers agreed with Optimum to charge, not the product cost to the detailer (who sells a product at cost afterall); just as Matador91 said. Opticoat 2.0 before they pulled it for a true consumer grade and left the 2.0 to the pros was STILL around $100 for the material itself. Again, I get you're trying to justify your expensive purchase though.

Never said it's a bad or fake product, just IMO not needed if you keep up your car. The whole point of the coating is minimum maintenance- so yes for people who don't want to put in the maintenance work like it or not. Cars have been around 100 years without nano coatings and people got by just fine keeping up their paint.

But again people should know that they have the alternative to do the labor themselves and make their own informed decision of what the true costs are. Some people clearly dont even know what the product does let alone that there are legit alternative methods like doing it one's self. There's nothing wrong with learning, or suggesting to learn, a skill just because you personally don't want to; hence my post you're commenting on wasn't even to you to begin with, but someone new to the concept of coatings.

Idk why this forum in general has gotten so petty/childish just in the recent month or 2 with people complaining about others expressing perfectly valid opinions and not in violation of any forum rule. As I keep telling others around here lately, if you don't want to hear other or conflicting opinions start a blog site, turn off the comments, and go to town hearing yourself talk. Forums are for the open exchange of opinions whether you like those opinions or not.

 

[Evolvd]

You make some valid points however your delivery over this entire thread leaves a lot to be desired.

Saying

I think these ceramic coatings are mostly a scam and paying $1,000+ is just asinine.

or insinuating I am "lazy" or calling the coatings a "scam" is not the way to express your opinion of the product in a constructive manner. You said

I wouldn't take other's wrod either as there are apparently lots of other suckers too. It doesnt make the product legit.

however you continued to speak down to those interested in this product as if your word has more weight than those who use and like this product.

The fact that Opticoat was about $400-500 a year or 2 ago tells me half that insane price is market hype and not value

and then saying

Damn I should order some $59.99 tubes of Opticoat and using my XP7424 and a bit of polish and charge $800 a pop at a "discount" and a few hours time with a material cost of $75.

Cynicism isn't a mark of a logical argument.

I've since shown that the pricing hasn't changed, you assumed that the $1K cost was just for the coating when I specifically said

I also had them do the wheels, glass, and interior with Opticoat products.

Bottom line, you can disagree on what people feel are worthwhile purchases...but that doesn't give you cart-blanche to insult and degrade others for their choices.

 

[Blk2015GT]

You make some valid points however your delivery over this entire thread leaves a lot to be desired.

Saying or insinuating I am "lazy" or calling the coatings a "scam" is not the way to express your opinion of the product in a constructive manner. You said however you continued to speak down to those interested in this product as if your word has more weight than those who use and like this product.

and then saying Cynicism isn't a mark of a logical argument.

I've since shown that the pricing hasn't changed, you assumed that the $1K cost was just for the coating when I specifically said

Bottom line, you can disagree on what people feel are worthwhile purchases...but that doesn't give you cart-blanche to insult and degrade others for their choices.

1) You're interpretation of what I said isn't what I said. That's your personal issue reading more into it.

2) "Scam" is subjective. But frankly, why you do care if I think a product is a scam? I think a lot of products out there are scams. Are you the Optimum CEO? President? What's your personal investment into these companies who make the product to be so personally insulted? Further, search Google for "Opticoat scam" I am FAR from the only person out there with that opinion or that it's not worth the money generally. In fact, you will see a 50/50 split in opinions.

Yes, I like to rely on testing and science rather than marketing pitches. Call it cynicism if that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. When I see some definitive testing and science to this then my opinion may change. Just like this 9H nonsense. Have you in person with your eyes SEEN a true 9H test done on an Opticoated car? That's a marketing gimmick until proven true by someone independent and reputable. Or is it the same 9H nonsense that glass screen protectors for smartphones spew which still scratch well under 9H in normal use against material nowhere near 9H scratch capable.

It's like the no life on any other planet argument- without seeing it with one's eyes it's debatable 50/50; best guess who knows. Can't see a 2 micron coating at work so it's debatable 50/50; best guess it does something but who knows.

3) you keep saying labor. I get that hence the "few hours of time" you directly quoted. You cannot apply a coating without polishing 99.999%, even a brand new never driven car, so they go hand in hand. I've never heard of applying Opticoat or any coating without polishing first.

You think before when prices were lower they weren't still prepping the paint the same way? :shrug: The true cynicism is that detailers are riding the coating fad and gouging people vs prices just 2-3 years ago before they knew people would shell out whatever they asked for. The coating costs the same, the compound and polish bottles cost the same, so the only thing doubling or tripling is detailer's install/prep fee clearly.

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