Protecting New Paint

[Frostee]

Hope I am not doubling up here on an existing thread.

I’m interested to know what people recommend re protecting paintwork on a new car. Do you do it yourself or take to a detailer?

I’ve always been of the opinion that you should apply a protective polish soon after you take delivery, but it’s been a few years since I’ve had a new car so am somewhat out of touch with products and techniques recommended today.

[Corey_R]

Do it yourself, or take it to a detailer... either way is fine.. JUST AS LONG AS YOU DONT PAY THE DEALER TO DO IT!!!!! The dealer protection packages are a complete waste of money.

As for detailers - they offer the advantage that they've done it many times before and it means you don't have to spend the hours preparing the car and applying the product. Some detailing companies also offer special products which are not available to be applied by general consumers. For example Surface Tech with their G|Techniq C1and Reflect Effect with their Opti-Coat treatment.

Surface Tech and many other companies also offer 3M Paint Protection Film/Ventureshield Stonegard which offers a transparent (invisible to anyone more than 1m away) PHYSICAL protective barrier between your car and stones and other debris which may chip your car. These are typically applied to front facing surfaces, although it can be applied to the entire car.

[carcareproducts]

Hope I am not doubling up here on an existing thread.

I’m interested to know what people recommend re protecting paintwork on a new car. Do you do it yourself or take to a detailer?

I’ve always been of the opinion that you should apply a protective polish soon after you take delivery, but it’s been a few years since I’ve had a new car so am somewhat out of touch with products and techniques recommended today.

Also remember however with a protective "laminate" on your car, stone chips are reduced yes however it still can go through and once pealed off it can also peal off a large amount of paint if you have a chip within size that has gone through both paint and protecting laminate coat.

Regarding sealants, you can do a many of choices from a natural wax which lasts approx 3-5 months, acrylic like mentioned which is anything from 3-12 months, a polymer sealant which is 6-12 months, a nano based sealant which is 1-3 years.

There are plenty of options available and easily done if you are willing. If not you can go to one of many people who will offer you the right product at the right price for you as well.

[Frostee]

Thanks for the feedback. This has been very helpful

[brad]

polish is for "reinvigorating" paintwork. To protect paint you need either a sealer/sealant or a wax (or you can apply sealant followed by wax for a bit of depth).

Mr carcareproducts above can offer good advice & sell you product (at a discount for Vwwc members). Otherwise, try Waxit.com.au or ChemGuys.

My red car is now 2.5 years old & looks very tidy. IIRC, I applied some Meguiers Cleaner Wax about 3 months after got it (dealer had waxed it as part of the predelivery!!!), which isn't a fantastic product but better than many. About 9 months later I put some Poorboys / Nattys Blue paste wax straight over the top of the Megs (which is the lazy way of doing it) and it was much easier to apply than the Megs. repeated the process 6 months later.
It's due again & I have some ChemGuys sealant & ChemGuys paste wax waiting to be applied.

I think that just as important is to use a decent car wash product (like Duragloss) & wash mit. Don't let bird poo & other nasties sit on the paint & if the car is wet, towell dry the water off to prevent water spotting.

There's a few decent threads on here about basic car care & products to use. It can become addictive & you can end up with a lot of product if you get carried away.

[Frostee]

Thanks for that. I'm planning to take my car along to Protech in Boronia to get a base sealant or wax as you point out. They seem to have been in business for some time and the customer reviews are very favourable.

I have a heap of Zaino product that I've used on my last car and will probably use the likes of their detailing spray to spruce it up after washes. I agree 100% with you that you should use a good car wash product, as some stuff out there I understand to be quite nasty.

I'll read through the various threads as you suggest, as I'm sure there's lots of good tips there.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience with me

[Rob_R]

Hi guys, can you have opticoat applied and ventureshield fitted on top of it?

[Corey_R]

No.

The Ventureshield will not stick to the Opti-coat.
The distributor for Opti-coat does tell me that it can be applied on top of the Ventureshield though.

Typically you'd have Ventureshield applied to the front portion of your car (standard kit is front "half" of your bonnet and quarter panels, bumper, grill, and mirror cups). Then the opti-coat will protect the uncovered paint and add some resiliance to the ventureshield too.

[Rob_R]

No.

The Ventureshield will not stick to the Opti-coat.
The distributor for Opti-coat does tell me that it can be applied on top of the Ventureshield though.

Typically you'd have Ventureshield applied to the front portion of your car (standard kit is front "half" of your bonnet and quarter panels, bumper, grill, and mirror cups). Then the opti-coat will protect the uncovered paint and add some resiliance to the ventureshield too.

Ahh I see. Thanks for that advice. I can have both if I do it in the right order. Makes sense. I was thinking of getting the whole bonnet covered by ventureshield after looking at my current car. Poor thing has become a magnet to stone and rocks mainly from trucks in front or passing. Pity I can't protect the the windscreen as well.

[Corey_R]

Yeah - it's not legal to put the ventureshield on the windscreen unfortunately. I'm told that you can put the Opti-coat on the windscreen however! As your local Opti-coat dealer about it.

Yeah - stone chips all over the bonnets of my previous cars was the reason I went for the entire bonnet and front quarter panels being wrapped. It's already saved me a few times!

[shakespeare]

I've got the Opticoat and very happy with it, the shine is awesome, even after 5 months! FYI I was told by the supplier that the Opticoat on top of ventureshield is not good, not sure why though!

Windscreen chips are a nuisance, I had one recently a 5cent piece sized crack which was fixed by O'brien's for around $150 and you can hardly tell it was there, so in some ways they can be fixed sometimes!

Here's a pic of the R straight after the opticoat was applied

[Corey_R]

Yeah - to clarify my comments, I have not had 3M or Ventureshield confirm that it is safe to put Opti-coat on top of their products. The Australian Opti-coat distributor has advised me that it can be done...

So shakespeare. After 5 months... how many stone chips do you have on the bonnet/bumper?

[Rob_R]

I'll definately get the full bonnet and bumper etc. protected. I guess they will still apply opticoat to 3/4 of the car. Yet to make any official inquiries.

Shakespeare, good to here you are rapt with the application. Can't remember reading anything negative about it. Nice pic. Only Blue will do! (Only a friendly stir to all non blues)

Yep chips in the windscreen is a pain especially when they wear wiper blades quicker. Most of mine at the moment are the pesky divit ones that haven't starred. Touch wood!

[shakespeare]

Yeah - to clarify my comments, I have not had 3M or Ventureshield confirm that it is safe to put Opti-coat on top of their products. The Australian Opti-coat distributor has advised me that it can be done...

So shakespeare. After 5 months... how many stone chips do you have on the bonnet/bumper?

0 stone chips on the front, only 1 on the windscreen, which was actually kicked up from oncoming traffic on a Mazda cruise of all things!!! (quickly touches wood and trys not to drive on loose surface roads with cars in front)

I'll definately get the full bonnet and bumper etc. protected. I guess they will still apply opticoat to 3/4 of the car. Yet to make any official inquiries.

Shakespeare, good to here you are rapt with the application. Can't remember reading anything negative about it. Nice pic. Only Blue will do! (Only a friendly stir to all non blues)

Yep chips in the windscreen is a pain especially when they wear wiper blades quicker. Most of mine at the moment are the pesky divit ones that haven't starred. Touch wood!

Thanks mate, how soon till your R arrives?

[Rob_R]

[QUOTE=Thanks mate, how soon till your R arrives?[/QUOTE]

Well I was told some weeks ago mine was earmarked for build week 20 or 22. Trying to get an update but my phone calls seem to be falling on deaf ears. Have left a couple of messages for the salesman to contact me last week but yet to hear back from him. If I can find the time I will have to drop in at the dealer. It's all good though. "It won't happen overnight but it will happen"