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Old 08-21-2019, 09:38 AM   #6
HouseStark
 
Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: United States
Posts: 225
Quote:
Originally Posted by GrantB View Post
You, sir, seem to have quite the garage! One day I'll be there!

My 0.02 cents: Take it to a reputable 'Cermaic Pro' dealer. I live in Little Rock, AR and there are only two in my area. Not sure of your area, but I am sure there is a licensed business somewhere.

I had my 2017 2SS TWO stage paint corrected, then ceramic coated. Then some illegal immigrant (yes, no license, no insurance and even had a damn fake insurance card he handed to the police..) so he never got held accountable for any of it. F****** insane the police didn't send his idiot self back where he came from. Sorry for the rant, I'm still salty because it was such an insanely good deal I got on it. Depending on color, a single stage may work but will likely need 2 stage if you want it perfect.

Now I have a black 2SS, and I got that one done by a shop that a high school buddy owns. 2 stage correction and ceramic pro silver. Ran me about $1800 for each car, but the place I first got it done did not do the quality work of the place I got my new one done. They took so much time and care it was insane. Not sure of your car color, but black is way way way harder than any other color to perfectly paint correct. I suggest asking around your area, and if you tell me (PM or post back) your area, maybe someone knows who can do the best work. I have a 5 year warranty on my coating and once a year they touch it up for you even. I have minimal swirls and its been 6 months. And I mean MINIMAL. It looks insanely good, a literal mirror.

In conclusion: you seem to be doing alright for yourself with the car garage, I'd suggest dropping the $ on paint correction and ceramic coating. If you can bear the financial burden and really want it kept perfect, get the ceramic pro coaters to 2 stage paint correct (~$600), do the ceramic pro silver package ($1000 flat with 5 year warranty, or do the gold package with lifetime warranty for ~$1600), and then 100% get an excel or other reputable brand clear bra on the entire front bumper/fascia, the first 6"-8" of the hood/leading edge, side mirrors, and then the rear quarter panels in front of the rear tires since it kicks up s*** and will scratch the paint. That is a pre-determined package for like $600-$800 I believe from most shops. It is 100000% worth the investment if you plan to keep the car long term and want it to shine like a diamond.

Personal experience: Two stage paint correction and ceramic pro silver package is incredible and takes out EVERY swirl or imperfection. I am only 23 so I am not strapped with cash like my dad would be or others on the forum, but it was worth the $1800. My next sports car I will definitely do both the two stage and ceramic pro silver, but I would highly highly suggest a clear bra of a reputable brand. You have to get it done when you do the ceramic coating, though. There process is, at that point, paint correction, clear bra, then ceramic over the entire car/clear bra. You don't want to ceramic coat and decide later to get a clear bra because it then won't have the hydrophobic and easy cleaning properties of the rest of the car. It can be done after the coating but then you pay even more to have the bra ceramic coated! I have rock chips I didn't think I would ever get but I do drive my car in a 'spirited' manner sometimes...lol. But hey that is what it is meant for, right?

Reason I say two stage: one stage does not get every swirl out. I saw mine after the first stage and it wasn't up to par and is not near what the two stage provides. It will let you down. For instance, my buddy with the shop that did my current car with ceramic pro and such, they got an Aston Martin with 200 miles (TWO FREAKING HUNDRED) and had to do a stage two correction to make it perfect. It had a bajillion swirls, and yes that is a word. Stage one will disappoint...
The silver package by the way coats the calipers, wheels, and the entire exterior surfaces.

Cleaning of car with ceramic pro (with or without clear bra, does not matter): I have ceramic pro towels that are some grade of softness. Don't know what unit they have since it has been a while, but any micro-fiber >300 XXunits is soft enough to not swirl ceramic or anything else.
1) Get car wet with hose or pressure washer
2) Foam cannon with pressure washer the entire car with Chemical Guys soap
Foam canon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00WPKHFA6/ref=emc_b_5_i
Soap WITHOUT wax that I use: https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...sr=1-5-catcorr
3) Rinse car with regular hose nozzle or pressure washer
4) Foam cannon again...(you can do isolated areas if you can't wash fast so you don't leave soap on the paint while washing other areas of the car)
5) Hand wash with a very soft and nice microfiber mitt. I use this Chemical Guys wash mitt and it has been incredible. I try to not use it on super dirty/built up gunk areas like behind the rear ties so that the dirt it may pick up doesn't get wiped all over the rest of the car and possibly scratch it. If I do, I leave those areas to wash last!
https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...S4C9EGW600XFMP
6) Clean the wheels and tires with a typical brush, something like this one, but you don't need to break the bank on it. Any of them will work pretty much and not scratch the rims or remove the ceramic coating but will still remove brake dust.
https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...omotive&sr=1-4
7) Rise entire car with either a regular nozzle or use the pressure washer. As you can tell the pressure washer with a quick connect is great for this process. I bought this one to replace my old washer that did not have a quick connect and only had 1500psi. I got mine on sale for $160.
https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-RY14190...59978844&psc=1
8) Blow water off with a leaf blower. Since it is ceramic coated and very hydrophobic, the water pretty much runs off like crazy. There are certain spots that are tough to get all the water out, but you'll figure out how to get the water off after you do it a few times.
9) Spot clean with a non-wax infused spot cleaner. I use Meguirs spot cleaner that I linked below, and only use the very soft ceramic pro microfibers like stated earlier, but if you some searching you can find equally soft ones online but make sure to get 'edgeless' ones, since the roucher edge can scratch the surface. Once you drive it, since the paint and coating is so perfect, you will notice a few streaks on say the side windows where the vert top meets the windshield (for my convertible, not sure on coupes), below the mirrors, and possibly some on the rear deeding how well you blow it off. This is very easy as a last step and you're done!

Side note: For the interior, I use a leather conditioner for the seats, and then an all purpose total interior cleaner spray from Chemical Guys.
https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guys...JG1TAT4TZPTPBB

I know that was a long a** post, but hopefully it helps. Get yourself a stage two, clear bra from a good brand, and then Ceramic Pro coat it with either silver or gold package. I did not even know what any of this was prior to buying this car but I have done WAY TOO MUCH research and testing into what items work best. This is a surefire way to keep that beautiful 1LE SS, beautiful at all times!

P.S. - After doing it once a week for months, I can do that entire process in about 1.5 hours from start to finish. Then another 15min to hit the inside with my Dyson Animal or shop vac and wipe down/clean the interior with the Chem Guys stuff I linked. Add another 15min for leather conditioning but I've only done that two times since I got the car about 6 months ago.

I hope this helps because I just spent 25 minutes typing it while I should have been working lol, but I just wanted to share my process and such since I have spent hours and hours perfecting it and finding the best products.

If you do simply go with correction with no coating, do a stage two and shell out the cash for a clear bra. I will be doing that and the ceramic pro silver or gold on my next car.

Let me know what you end up doing and have a good one, man! Him me up if you have any questions. I have done loads of research and can probably point ya in the right direction no matter what you end up doing!

Grant
Very comprehensive I appreciate your input and sorry to hear about your first Camaro that's some bad luck. Haha well I got rid of the other 2 but it would be nice to have all 3!

Esoteric is near me and they are phenomenal just pricey. Single stage paint correction is 800, 3 stage Ceramic Coating is 1500 plus 120 to include windows. Full Expel protection clear wrap is 5400
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