I did a few searches on this and couldn't find anything recent so hope I don't get flamed for asking again. (If I missed a recent relevant thread which answered all this, flame away :D ).

 

Does anyone here have any experience with these products which claim to protect your paintwork? Apart from the traditional waxes, there appear to be two alternatives: some form of sealant like Supagard or Diamond Brite (I did find one thread which said don't bother with Supagard).

 

Or there is an external film. I've used something similar on my HTC phone and it has survived really well for 18 months so maybe the car version has something going for it?

 

http://car-paint-protection.co.uk/

http://www.armourfend.co.uk/armourfend-for-cars

http://www.paintshield.co.uk/

 

Be interested to hear of any exeriences. Cheers.

Hi Mike hope all is going well,first of all no experience on the film protection for cars but I do like polishing and after many years of buffing I do like the Autoglym products as they are hard to fault. The Autoglym life shine sounds good to me but hopefully more members will be able to comment like Peach who is an expert on this subject, good luck:thumbup1:

Hi Mike,

 

I have read a similar thread regarding Supaguard; however that was on a detailing forum! My guess is that many valeters don't like it because it has the potential to put them out of work.......:innocent:

 

It is expensive, as from what I read don't attempt it yourself; it needs professional application! It's best applied from new or after a full paint correction procedure as you'll only be sealing in the faults and blemishes. It won't protect against stonechips and scratches though.....

 

My SLK had Supaguard applied from new and it's covered by a 3 year guarantee; and contrary to what I have read elsewhere, Supaguard actually recommends the use of Autoglym SRP to enhance the longevity!!

 

The paintwork is still silky smooth to touch - no sign of contaminants sticking to it whatsoever. Although me being me, I've still waxed it once since buying the car, just to prolong the coating's life. But it did not require a polish first!!

 

Personally I would just give the car a damn good polish then finish it off with an extra protective gloss sealant wax. Peach will no doubt recommend something dead good!

 

Richard:thumbup:

I appear to have gained a reputation LOL! :D

 

This is the second time I've typed this as I accidentally closed the tab after I'd finished it the first time!! :headvswal

 

Anyhoo, here goes;

 

Protective Films

 

If you're looking to protect your paintwork against stonechips and scratches, then paint films are definitely worth a look. HOWEVER, from my limited knowledge the films should be applied to brand new or near perfect paint (i.e. older paint should fully machine corrected first). Also, some chemical protection should be applied first to protect the paint underneath the film. I have heard some horror stories of lacquer being ripped off of older paint that hasn't been prepared properly during removal. But, no chemical applications can give anywhere near the sort of physical protection that a layer of plastic film can offer.

 

Professional Treatments

 

Older, more well known 'professional' paint protection coatings have got a bit of a bad rap amongst detailers for a few reasons. They were designed for the 'average' car owner - who basically can't be arsed/doesn't have the time to look after their car themselves. The two systems I have applied in the past are Supagard and Diamond Brite both require top-up additives in the wash cycle after the initial application which, in most cases, doesn't happen (more often than not the owner will just go through an automated car wash). IF the application is made and cared for properly then they are effective. As Richard said, older paint would need to be fully corrected first - no point in protecting knackered paint! There is a new-ish company called GTechniq who specialise in long lasting protective coatings for automotive surfaces ( http://www.gtechniq.com ) and have some amazing products. Definitely worth a Google if that's the sort of thing you're looking for.

 

DIY Chemical Protection

 

In my opinion, after a good wash/clay/machine polish, two coats of sealant followed by two coats of natural hard wax is MORE than enough to give you a good level of day-to-day protection.

My sealant of choice is, and has always been, Chemical Guys Jetseal 109. It's really easy to use, buffs up well, and forms an acrylic layer over the paint surface to repel contaminents and prevent corrosion. It bonds really well with the paint and two coats gives a good even surface to then apply a wax over to enhance the finish.

A good wax for protection is Collinite 476 as it is a hard wax. Two layers of any hard wax will give a decent layer of protection and a nice warm glossy finish. Wax is a bit more of a personal choice, and is also dependant on the colour of the paint - waxes that work well on dark colours don't necessarily look as good on lighter cars. Whatever wax you choose, apply the two coats 24 hours apart, buff to a good shine, then buff again about four hours later (maybe with a quick detailer spray) to get the best shine as any remaining unseen residue will have cured thoroughly by then.

 

 

I do go on don't I!! I'm such a geek :tongue_smilie:

 

Hope this helps anyway.

I've got a supagard pack and another pack just called vehicle protection pack , which I was going to take a picture of and put up for sale on the forum,

 

the latter pack consists of:

 

fabric and carpet protector

leather conditioning & protection cream

surface prep - first stage

paint sealant - final stage

vinyl trim & dashboard wipe

microtag

keycare

customer pack

 

any interest to you?

Good advice Peach and much appreciated:thumbup1:

Good advice Peach and much appreciated:thumbup1:

 

Yup - amen to that mate!

 

I must get my ZX professionally "paint corrected" as there are a few swirls in the laquer that I'd like to see the back of......

 

.....then a good coat of that Jetseal 109 sounds just the job!!

 

Richard:yes:

Thanks guys :)

 

The ironic thing is my current Z is a proper turd! Sure, it's clean enough but the paintwork is completely blistered and dull beyond repair - but that's kind of why I bought it, a long term resto project (watch this space ;) )

Brilliant, Peach, thanks.

Mods - why not bung this in a sticky FAQ? (Well, Peach's bit anyway)

Baz - thanks for the offer but I'm too bone idle / crap at practical things. I'd need to get a professional job done (can't draw a straight line even with the help of a ruler.)

Edited April 19, 201114 yr by Gio