countrysquire

Uh...OK.

centex99

New cars are painted on the line, but they don't need time to cure like a body shop because they're baked after being painted... can't bake a whole assembled car at the body shop, so hence... can't do much to the paint afterwards for a few months. But yes, new cars should likely have an iron-x + clay or at least a claybar run across them followed by a nice sealant/wax/combo...

graysailor

Just curious if anyone knows. The dealers are always trying to sell some kind of stuff they put on the exterior and interior of new cars. Can't remember the name but I was wondering if that stuff is any good.

Kantuckid

iTrader: (1)

The names of the "paint protectors/sealants" change & the price goes up, no doubt. Do your dealer a favor & go for it if you want it!
I suppose we wouldn't need this thread if people knew how good the stuff is?

I have to say that I've never heard of "rail dust" as a problem in many hours in an auto shop. I wasn't a prep person, maybe they dealt with it? White vehicles get it often in winter as mentioned as it shows on light paint like other road junk. I got the sealer goop from a hwy paint striping truck on my white car-was extremely hard to remove!
Is this rail dust the same issue when covered rail cars are used? In written discussions about them I read years ago the damage from vandals was the only kind talked I read about.
just read a bunch o google stuff on rail dust and sure makes you not want a new one shipped that way and I want white too!

Curmudgeon

Let's just say 'Well, it probably doesn't hurt anything to do such treatments" and consider the 400% (or more) dealer profit a gift to him/her in the holiday spirit.

tpr676

Don't waste your money, if you want a coating find a authorized detailer still pricey but cheaper than a dealer mark up. Opi coat is one of the good ones and can be done by a dyi if you feel comfortable with the procedure.

countrysquire

That's good advice. I put OptiCoat on my wife's BMW and it lasted about three years. What is nice is that every time it was washed, it looked like a fresh detail. I will definitely be putting a coating on the truck when it arrives, just not sure which one since OptiCoat changed their formula. Several good choices out there now.

GOBLUEJD

When I was young I worked for a company that prepped all the GM execs corvettes and when they came in they had a protective coating. It was chalky and could only be removed with a little bottle of stuff that was shipped with the car. Doubtful ford uses this.

Kantuckid

iTrader: (1)

FWIW, our new X3 was hand waxed at the Performance Delivery Center (near the SC factory) with pure yellow carnuba wax.
I wonder why the mfg doesn't offer the "coatings/sealants" from the factory? Left undone for dealer profits?

countrysquire

Yeah, those sealants are a nice money maker for the dealer. The product doesn't cost them much, then add about an hour labor, and then a little more for the "warranty" if there is one. My guess is the cost is less than $50 for the dealer. If their sealant fails within the warranty period, they just simply reapply it, so it might cost them another hour's labor.

These new coatings that are being discussed are great, but proper application is beyond what most people are equipped to do themselves. If you don't want to pay for a qualified detailer to apply a coating (which should last 2+ years), a good option is Meguiar's Ultimate Wax. It's actually a sealant and not a wax, but it's easy to use, should last six months or so, and is available everywhere. Plus, what a better way to get acquainted to your new truck than to spend some time applying a coat of wax?