Clear Bra vs Ceramic Coat

[stshoo]

Anyone ceramic coat their car? Pro's vs Con's compared to clear bra? Can you do it if your car is striped? Sounds like some of the better systems can last 5+ years, so similar to clear bra's. Cost seems significantly less than a full clear bra, but does it protect against rocks/bugs/tar from the track?

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[Spacebird]

They're two very different things.

Ceramic coating keeps your car clean by making it difficult for anything to adhere to it. Clear wrap provides an impact resistant barrier.

Ceramic coating will not provide anywhere near the level of rock/bug chip protection that a clear wrap will.

The ultimate solution is clear wrap with ceramic coating on top of it.


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[50 Deep]

Two threads have already been started on this. Search is your friend.

Rock Chips Anyone

The GT350 detailing thread

 

[Bender]

Do both. I did it to mine. Xpel ultimate and Cquartz finest

 

[buggy whip]

Do both. I did it to mine. Xpel ultimate and Cquartz finest

FULL Front Clip ?
Hood, bumper, fenders, head lights & mirrors or ?
If you don't mind, what did it cost ?

I'm having the Qquartz guy give me a estimate this weekend.
I'm paying $1100.00 for a full front flip w/ Suntek.

 

[Stage_3]

CQuartz Finest does add a 2 micron thick of protection. Probably not better than the Clear Bra. Like someone posted above. Do the Clear Bra and then the CQuartz Finest on top.
I have my truck scheduled in May for a Stage One polishing and 2 coats of CQuartz Finest on the exterior and on all 4 wheels. Going to look killer and be protected pretty good. Being done by one of the best detailing shops around. :cheers:

 

[Shift]

I don't get the clear bra + ceramic coat on top. The reason you put the self-healing clear bra is because of that top layer that can repair itself and show no scratches or damage.

When you put the ceramic coating, you're putting a hard layer of 'clear coat', which can now be scratched and have swirl marks(it resists swirls, not immune to it).

It just seems unnecessary, and isn't that ceramic coating supposed to be a hard layer? How does it react when you get a scratch on it and the clear bra. The clear bra can 'move' and heal itself. What about the ceramic coating?

 

[krt22]

The ceramic coat on top of the clear bra helps prevent discoloration of the clear bra itself (ie due to bird poop, bugs, etc). I would hope at the micro level no real issues with it on top of the clear bra, im guessing its more a con-formal type layer than a rigid hard coat

 

[Shift]

The ceramic coat on top of the clear bra helps prevent discoloration of the clear bra itself (ie due to bird poop, bugs, etc)

Xpel guarantees against that and more for 10 years. Aside from that though, how does it react to a relatively deep scratch where the clear bra heals itself. I imagined a layer of ceramic coat is like a layer of physical super thin glass. If you scratch it, it's not coming out unless you polish it, which again, a clear bra helps you avoid that. That's why you pay out the ass for Xpel/Suntek

 

[Bender]

FULL Front Clip ?
Hood, bumper, fenders, head lights & mirrors or ?
If you don't mind, what did it cost ?

I'm having the Qquartz guy give me a estimate this weekend.
I'm paying $1100.00 for a full front flip w/ Suntek.

Yes. My whole car was fully washed, full paint correction, xpel ultimate on front clip, mirror caps, rockers/lower doors. I did not do the lights as I may tint them later on. I am waiting for me to send me the receipt with a breakdown as I had a few other things done while my car was there

Xpel guarantees against that and more for 10 years. Aside from that though, how does it react to a relatively deep scratch where the clear bra heals itself. I imagined a layer of ceramic coat is like a layer of physical super thin glass. If you scratch it, it's not coming out unless you polish it, which again, a clear bra helps you avoid that. That's why you pay out the ass for Xpel/Suntek

The Xpel is not pH resistant. Granted most of us will remove bird shit and that ASAP but the crap in acid rain if driven in weather can aid in wear acceleration of the vinyl. Even though xpel has the 10 year warranty if I can help prevent environmental wear and tear I will. Proper wash methods will really help cut swirling and the combo of the xpel and cquartz makes the surface super hydrophobic. I can pretty much fart on it and push all the water off (ok not that easily lol) but my electric leaf blower and in 5 minutes the car is dry. Just take a towel to wipe out the little drips that always seem to find there way out 5 miuntes later

 

[zombiekiller]

Xpel guarantees against that and more for 10 years. Aside from that though, how does it react to a relatively deep scratch where the clear bra heals itself. I imagined a layer of ceramic coat is like a layer of physical super thin glass. If you scratch it, it's not coming out unless you polish it, which again, a clear bra helps you avoid that. That's why you pay out the ass for Xpel/Suntek

So if you get a scratch or gouge on the xpel/cquartz combo, first you pour a cup of really hot water over it.

Then you use waterless wash to make sure it has healed itself.

If you see any scratching or swirling, wash the panel with Carpro Reset, dry it, then use carpro reload on the panel. The imperfection will be , pretty much gone and you wont be able to find it again.

reload does wonders with cquartz finest.

finest also is not brittle as you would assume. its a nanotech bond to the underlying media.

alot of times really high end detailers will even put cquartz finest overtop of vinyl so it doesnt stain. ( my roof is being wrapped in flat black vinyl next week while i'm away on business, finest on top of the vinyl too.)

I didnt have a header of xpel put on the roof and i got a freaking paint chip 3 days after picking it up. my detailer has had poor experience with attempting to wrap with xpel after a finest treatment. I'd prefer this to be my only paint chip, so i'm having the roof wrapped.

So, word to the wise, if you are doing PPC on these cars, don't forget to do at least a header on the roof. The front edge of the roof is apparently a rock magnet.

 

[Spa2k]

The roof header/A pillar combination is now an optional add-on kit for XPEL.

 

[Shift]

Thanks for the info and tips, especially for the header on the roof. Anyone know if the fenders have any areas prone to rock chips?

 

[zombiekiller]

The roof header/A pillar combination is now an optional add-on kit for XPEL.

I know, but it dont stick to good to cquartz finest.

Furthermore, for those that go to a shop that is using the xpel template for the front bumper...

Check the corners of the front bump immediately outboard of the headlight after it is done.

There is a bit of a pocket right there. The template is such that it does not cover about 1.5CM of that "pocket" . My detailer had to cut 2 small pieces off a roll to lay a patch over that. It WILL catch a rock in there and completely piss you off.

furthermore, the xpel template for the front bumper is a 3 piece, so if you look closely you will see 2 seams on the top of the front bumper plastic piece above the grill.

its apparent that the gt350 front bumper is a complete PITA to wrap.

 

[Shift]

I know, but it dont stick to good to cquartz finest.

Furthermore, for those that go to a shop that is using the xpel template for the front bumper...

Check the corners of the front bump immediately outboard of the headlight after it is done.

There is a bit of a pocket right there. The template is such that it does not cover about 1.5CM of that "pocket" . My detailer had to cut 2 small pieces off a roll to lay a patch over that. It WILL catch a rock in there and completely piss you off.

furthermore, the xpel template for the front bumper is a 3 piece, so if you look closely you will see 2 seams on the top of the front bumper plastic piece above the grill.

its apparent that the gt350 front bumper is a complete PITA to wrap.

Bulk roll, custom wrapping only. Got it, thanks.

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