Spent time with Ford EV team & got charging tips from Mach-E Chief Engineer

[beatle]

Watch out for scratches even with ceramic. It's a great treatment but still not invincible. If you want to completely eliminate scratches you'll want PPF, but that's another level of expense..

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[GDN]

I just recently traded in my 2021 ICE F-150 Carbonized Gray for the 2022 ICE F-150 AMB. Once I finally get to order the Lightning, I'll be going with AMB. It's a beautiful color. A word of advice though, it does show swirl marks pretty badly. The detail guys at the dealership where I traded in my 2021 really destroyed the paint on my 2022. There are scratches everywhere. The GM is having me take it to their bodyshop to get fixed. I'm going to make sure no detail guys come close to my Lightning before I can get it ceramic coated.

I plan on doing my best to never have anyone at the dealership touch the paint on my truck when it arrives. I really prefer all of the plastic be left on the inside too.

 

[sotek2345]

Watch out for scratches even with ceramic. It's a great treatment but still not invincible. If you want to completely eliminate scratches you'll want PPF, but that's another level of expense..

Yeah - I have never really gotten the case for ceramic coating and PPF - if you do both, it costs more than fully repainting the vehicle!

I can see ceramic if you are doing it just to make washing the car easier, and it is worth the cost to you - but it doesn't make $$ sense for protecting the paint.

 

[craptacular]

Yeah - I have never really gotten the case for ceramic coating and PPF - if you do both, it costs more than fully repainting the vehicle!

I can see ceramic if you are doing it just to make washing the car easier, and it is worth the cost to you - but it doesn't make $$ sense for protecting the paint.

I was told by the GM at the dealership where I'm dealing with the swirl marks that there are a few different levels of ceramic coating that they can do. One that is about a $200 cost and does a good job of protecting the paint (which I think they charge $500 for) and another which gets into the thousands but is near impervious ($1,500 or $2,000 I think he said). I'd be looking at the lower level as I'm not about to spend thousands like you pointed out. I haven't done much research on ceramic coating though and am sure that there are probably way more than just 2 levels.

 

[sotek2345]

I was told by the GM at the dealership where I'm dealing with the swirl marks that there are a few different levels of ceramic coating that they can do. One that is about a $200 cost and does a good job of protecting the paint (which I think they charge $500 for) and another which gets into the thousands but is near impervious ($1,500 or $2,000 I think he said). I'd be looking at the lower level as I'm not about to spend thousands like you pointed out. I haven't done much research on ceramic coating though and am sure that there are probably way more than just 2 levels.

I would ask some pointy questions on that low cost option. Does that include the paint correction first? If so that is an insane cost. If not, you will lock in any defects.

 

[GDN]

There really aren't huge difference in prices for the coatings if you buy them off the shelf. it is the work that must be done before they go on. Some spend many hours doing that and some don't. Some cars need more work. Some workers are more proud of their work (charge more).

Make no mistake though- $300 in tools and a coating and some elbow grease and sweat and most any of you could do this and accomplish within 95% of the job that many are paying thousands for from the pros. It is all about what you want to pay and the stories you want to buy/pay for.

 

[beatle]

Ceramic coating yourself is not expensive, just time consuming and a bit finicky. A garage is recommended to ensure everything stays dry while the coating cures. I did two coats of CQuartz UK 3.0 on my Model S back in January 2020. The coating is now starting to show its age, but I still consider it a good product.

 

[GDN]

Ceramic coating yourself is not expensive, just time consuming and a bit finicky. A garage is recommended to ensure everything stays dry while the coating cures. I did two coats of CQuartz UK 3.0 on my Model S back in January 2020. The coating is now starting to show its age, but I still consider it a good product.

My goto product is Gyeon Quartz, the stuff is amazing and watching an hours worth of videos gives all the instruction you need. They just point out the gotchas.

I've got two Model 3's coated for over 3 years. Garage kept, but they see the elements. Both look great and bead water better than any wax you've seen. A few years back I did my 4 year old F-150 (it had never seen a single night in the garage) as a learning experience before I touched the Model 3's. It was better than when new - shined and had the reflection of a mirror.

 

[craptacular]

I would ask some pointy questions on that low cost option. Does that include the paint correction first? If so that is an insane cost. If not, you will lock in any defects.

I probably should have been more specific. The prices he quoted me weren't in reference to having it done to my current F-150 with the swirl marks. He gave me that info after we started talking about the Lightning and how to prevent swirl marks in the first place with the AMB color (or any dark color). Even after the swirl marks get corrected (I hope), it isn't something I'm going to do on the current truck. It was more planning on having it done first thing after I get the Lightning.

 

[sotek2345]

I probably should have been more specific. The prices he quoted me weren't in reference to having it done to my current F-150 with the swirl marks. He gave me that info after we started talking about the Lightning and how to prevent swirl marks in the first place with the AMB color (or any dark color). Even after the swirl marks get corrected (I hope), it isn't something I'm going to do on the current truck. It was more planning to having it done first thing after I get the Lightning.

Many (not me) do the corrections on brand new vehicles as well since they won't come from the factory perfect.

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