[BeerGuy]

I decided to preserve the new finish of the QX80 and try to bring out the highlights in the Imperial Black color which has plenty of metal flake and cranberry and blue tones under different light types.

I realize this is an SUV that will be driving in mud and snow, but I like to have them look sharp so investing in the Ceramic Pro Gold treatment to help protect the newness of finish. This will take a full week to complete all the cleaning, prep to remove marring from factory and multi layer curing.

I've used GTechniq Pro Signature on my car with outstanding results but thought the Ceramic Pro would be a little more rugged over the long haul, especially with a black color.

The link below is the detailers Facebook site where you can see the brute size of this vehicle and several stages which are still in process.

https://www.facebook.com/LuxorAutoDetail/photos/pcb.952019434847647/952018844847706/?type=3

 

[BeerGuy]

Ceramic Pro Treatment looks great and water really beads off the car nicely. A little expensive and pain to let it cure but very satisfied.

But Hmm ... I guess I need to re-think the protection film for the front end. Ceramic Pro is great for protecting paint finish, but will do nothing for rock chips. Don't know how I got them but a cluster of 3 chips on the front hood peak right into the primer on one 5 mile trip ... very obvious to see, but heard nothing. Must have been a big stone tumbling. I'll just use the old fashioned paint pen and try to hide those.

Might need to consider some level of paint protection film ... like Suntek or XPEL. I guess this big front end with soft paint will catch the stones/rocks. Interesting on my Escalade, I had few chips in the paint after 10 years of driving ... just blasted the front chrome grill and area just above the grill.

 

[Luxurious]

How much are you guys having to pay for it?

Never did anything like this beofre.

 

[BeerGuy]

How much are you guys having to pay for it?

Never did anything like this before.

On the QX80 which is huge amount of surface area you start at $500 for the basic and for multi-layer treatments with preparation >$2K range.

The protective films with self healing properties are also expensive but much better protection from chips than coatings ... you'd be in the 2K range for proper "targeted" coverage of the QX80.

This Infiniti paint seems brittle based on the chip fracture; and it might be more due to all the new standards for volatile emissions moving car paints from acrylic to water-based.

 

[Luxy]

Can we get some pictures to see how beautiful it looks ?!

 

[Luxurious]

On the QX80 which is huge amount of surface area you start at $500 for the basic and for multi-layer treatments with preparation >$2K range.

The protective films with self healing properties are also expensive but much better protection from chips than coatings ... you'd be in the 2K range for proper "targeted" coverage of the QX80.

This Infiniti paint seems brittle based on the chip fracture; and it might be more due to all the new standards for volatile emissions moving car paints from acrylic to water-based.

I guess for someone looking for a cheaper alternative, getting opti-coat or something similar is the way to go. It basically acts as another layer of clear coat, so with that you position yourself better on preventing damage from rock chips, tree sap, etc. I think for the QX80 an opti-coat job might be around the $400-500 range.

 

[Luxy]

You still have to do the paint correction to apply opti coat pro though. So I think it would be more ? When I bought my last car (small coupe) I was quoted $750 to get it opti-coated literally 4 days after delivery so there wasn't any scratches or anything.

 

[BeerGuy]

Can we get some pictures to see how beautiful it looks ?!

This is the 2016 QX80 (Imperial Black) with Ceramic Pro (4 layers) on car vehicle. As an aside, the tires are coated with Black Pearl which lasts many months before it needs to be re-coated.

 

[Luxurious]

This is the 2016 QX80 (Imperial Black) with Ceramic Pro (4 layers) on car vehicle. As an aside, the tires are coated with Black Pearl which lasts many months before it needs to be re-coated.

Under what weather conditions will it last that short of a time frame because I hope its not in the best of weather conditions, hate to know how short it will last under extreme conditions. At that point it might not be worth doing.

 

[BeerGuy]

Under what weather conditions will it last that short of a time frame because I hope its not in the best of weather conditions, hate to know how short it will last under extreme conditions. At that point it might not be worth doing.

The ceramic pro coating will last for many years , in fact it is listed as lifetime limited warranty. It literally bonds to the paint finish as another layer of clear coat ... just harder.
You'll only need annual "sport" top coating to keep the water beading properties and deep shine. The posted picture was after we added the maintenance sport top coat.

The Black Pearl tire coating is very different from tire dressings. It binds to the tire rubber and is smooth/clean to the touch ... no oily residue. Most people see 3-6 months of protection depending on how often you clean the tires. Once you have this applied regular car soap and water will keep it looking new. I apply every 6-months. This stuff is relatively new to the market ... usually only done by professionals, but easy enough for anyone complete.

 

[Luxy]

The ceramic pro coating will last for many years , in fact it is listed as lifetime limited warranty. It literally bonds to the paint finish as another layer of clear coat ... just harder.
You'll only need annual "sport" top coating to keep the water beading properties and deep shine. The posted picture was after we added the maintenance sport top coat.

The Black Pearl tire coating is very different from tire dressings. It binds to the tire rubber and is smooth/clean to the touch ... no oily residue. Most people see 3-6 months of protection depending on how often you clean the tires. Once you have this applied regular car soap and water will keep it looking new. I apply every 6-months. This stuff is relatively new to the market ... usually only done by professionals, but easy enough for anyone complete.

For a tire coating to last anywhere between 2-4 months alone is good enough for me. I never expect tire dressings to last long at all and they're not really much of a concern to be real. Once the paint is covered and will last me long enough until I sell the vehicle, I'm real happy lol.

But I'm gonna check into that tire coating just because of the no oily residue thing. I hate when they garbage kicks up on the paint and you gotta walk around and do the paint check.

 

[Luxurious]

Plus you also have to look at the long term benefit as well as cost of applying it and factoring in that it isn't that bad after all. Plus at the end of the day what we're doing here is much better than what some owner do which is nothing at all.

 

[Luxy]

Definitely isn't bad. I've used tons of different tire dressings from aerosol spray ons, gel and applicator pads, foaming, etc. And I've had best results with the Meguiars hot shine tire spray (aerosol can) and I'd typically spray them down with the adjustable spray size, and then let them sit in there for 5-10 minutes, and then wipe off the excess with a microfiber. Typically worked out for me and lasted maybe a month or a bit more with regular washing every two-three days.