kevreh

What do you recommend for someone who's done detailing but never ceramic-coated before?

torchd

I got my windows tinted late Friday evening with Solar FX Plus Nano Ceramic tint. This tint being the highest end tint in the Solar FX lineup was a little pricy, but worth it for the properties that it obtains. This film block 96% - 98% IR rejection.

Couple things to note:

1. My front windows were previously tinted at 20% and metered at 26%.

2. My factory rear privacy glass metered at 22.7%

3. I tinted the fronts windows with15% Solar FX tint. This ended up metering in at 16.7%

4. I tinted all the rear windows in the truck with the 65% Solar FX tint (over the 22.7% privacy glass). This ended up metering in at 16.9%

I got the unified, even look that I wanted with everything matching- one doesn't looking darker than the other.

My front windows are now almost 10% darker and my rear windows are almost 6% darker.

Now, driving this past Saturday with the ceramic tint, I could totally feel the heat transfer from the front shield compared to my front side windows. I could totally feel the radiant heat. Now, I NEED to tint the front windshield in the 65% film. I was a little weary at first as my tinter said this film looks a little yellow when applied. He showed me a little piece and to my eyes, this is a charcoal shade.

eyecandynsx

Out of the coatings I've used, Gtechniq CSL / EXO combo was very easy to apply and held up well. Prep is the key. Good wash, clay, chemical decontamination, polish, paint prep wipe, then coat. Out of the consumer grade coatings, I'm really liking the Blackfire, but its a tricky application for sure. Cant go wrong with the CSL / EXO combo.

Sir Aaron

Great writeup. The only correction I'd offer is that your windshield already has 100% UV protection. All you're adding is heat reduction.

dblas

So what would anyone in the know, recommend to maintain a ceramic coating? I just had my 2016 XLT Supercrew done, and would like to keep it maintained for as long as possible.

Had my entire truck done by a Ceramic Pro dealer. Any opinions on them (yeah I know, after the fact). So far my truck looks good, I would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Thanks.

srt20

Wow prices sure have gone up…

In 2014 I had our Durango ceramic coated by a local shop. I chose them because they used Optimum coatings, which was the good stuff then.(No clue anymore) Anyway they had the Durango for 2 or 3 days doing all the prep, paint correction, etc. I dont remember the exact price but it was right around $1000.
The Durango now has 153,000 miles on it and the ceramic coating is still on, the paint still looks excellent and I’ve never hand waxed the car. The Opti-coat Pro at that time had a lifetime warranty.

I decided against coating my truck or my Jeep. They both go off road and get scratched up.

eyecandynsx

For my personal ceramic coated vehicles and customers, I use ONR (optimum no rinse) for a wash. If you do traditional washes, any ph neutral soap is fine. Any quick detailer or ceramic spray sealant can be used as long as it does not contain wax. Technicians Choice 582 is a great topper, super slick and amazing hydrophobics. Griots 3-1 ceramic spray wax is another great choice for a topper.

eyecandynsx

Optimum is still a great coating. I did my sister in laws black Expedition a year and a half ago with the Optimum gloss coat (the non professional version of what you had). They live 3 1/2 hours away and she never maintained it properly, only ran it through a car wash once and while. After a year and half the hydrophobics were gone, but it did not allow anything to stick to it. I polished it all off and then applied SB3, which is what I've been using for awhile now. I was impressed though with that Optimum coating.

Mackey

This is something that is on my list to do as well with my truck. Thanks!

I also noticed prices have really gone up over the past year or two..