Car Paint Protection: Coating

Don't know since when, wax and polish are no longer DIY favored due to the huge effort needed and short effective duration. Although wax and polish are still common in detailing shop where you pay hundreds or thousands of RM, I believe eventually it will be phased out and be replaced by coating! Why is coating necessary? Read here.

Let's do some survey to find out the technology and package offered by various detailer.
Declaimer: as of 17-February-2013, I haven't done coating and is still doing research. The primary objective is to find an easy way to maintain the whiteness and shininess of my white Honda Jazz Hybrid, it gets dirt easily and I need to wash it every week!

1. Sierra Glow (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Glassglow is glass coating material which makes a layer of 100% inorganic on the surface of automobiles. As percentage of polysiloxan component in the product is more than 95% and due to Siloxan bondage (- Si - O – Si -) using non-solvent fluorine resin as a binder, Glassglow forms a layer of very hard and solvent free high polymer silica glass on the surface, which is extremely hard and durable. The detail can be found here.

• Cost: RM550 for Honda Jazz Hybrid, there is no price list published.
• Coverage: Exterior painted surface, headlights, tail lights and rims.
• Warranty: 5 years (Singapore give 3 years, I'm not sure why)
• Maintenance: Regular wash with normal car shampoo. If maintain the car well, after 1.5 to 2 years, may have bit and pieces where area cosmetically does not look nice. Then need to do grooming program to beautify back affected areas. There will be a service charge and depend on the amount of work require.

• Customer Satisfaction: Good, from what I read from Facebook. But I can't find photo with very shinning car that each detailer would published.

2. Waxson (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Permanon is a leading-edge High-tech development in terms of surface-protection and cleaning on the basis of pure mono-molecular Silicium.
• Cost: It is having promotion at the time of writing 17-February-2013.
• Classic Exterior: RM350/400/480/580
• Ultimate Exterior (with Meguiar's 4 step polish): RM500/600/760/960

• Coverage: Pain body, free interior dashboard & door panels and vinyl (promotion package) 
• Warranty: No.
• Maintenance: Permanon require periodic maintenance which is either weekly or monthly.
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook. Does it look ........ amazing?

3. Dirt Away (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Permanon is a leading-edge High-tech development in terms of surface-protection and cleaning on the basis of pure mono-molecular Silicium.
• Cost: It is having promotion at the time of writing 17-February-20. But add up the maintenance cost, it will be RM199 + RM80X12/5 = RM391. Personally I think Waxson will require the similar maintenance cost as it uses Permanon too.
  
• Coverage: External paint panel.
• Warranty: 1 year.
• Maintenance: Must wash the car using Diamond 2 in1 shampoo at least once in a month 100ml cost around RM80 add 20ml with 500ml of water mix and spray throughout the car and wash it.
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook.
  
  

4. Shine Guard (Website; Facebook) / Shine N Shield (Website)

• Technology: Polarized Paint Protection System (PPS) uses PTFE (Teflon) coating (the same substance that makes non-stick cookwares so slippery and tough that nothing will stick to it and will not crack or melt under extreme temperature) that will fuse and bond to the paint with U.S. patented PPS technology to create a dazzling, wet and deep shine and will stay and remain there to protect the paint against the damaging UV sun ray and all other harmful elements for years.

• Cost: RM1500 (Penang); RM880 (Sunway, 15% discount if 2 cars)
• Coverage: External paint panels.
• Warranty: 5 years (If you washed your car regularly especially after the rain and removed all bird droppings, tree saps and other hard to remove and acidic contaminants within 24 hours, PPS will last up to approximately 5 years on a new car) :-)
• Maintenance: Recommended PPS chemical cleaning every 6 month cost RM245.
  
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook.
  
  

5. Nano Brite (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Main ingredient consists of Titanium. That's it, that is the only information you can get, it does not explain further on the product! But surprisingly it provides up to 12H hardness.
• Cost:
  
• Coverage: Refer to the packages detail here.
• Warranty: Refer to Price section.
• Maintenance: It is recommended that weekly washing of the treated surfaces be done with NANO Shampoo. But I can't find the pricing of it.
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook.

6. Detailien (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Opti-Coat (Opti-Guard) is a hard wearing, aftermarket, ceramic clear coat for superior resistance to scratching (9H) and chemical etching from environmental impacts. It provides permanent protection for all factory paints, and can also be applied to exterior glass, metal and hard plastic surfaces.Optimum Coating bonds chemically to the clear coat.
  
  
• Cost & Coverage 
• From SuperDetailer:
• Opti Coat 2.0 price = RM1000 to RM1300 (Only Body panel).
• Opti Guard price = RM1800 to RM2700 (Body, Windscreen + windows and wheels rims.).
• From Detailien:
• Opti Guard price = RM2200 + RM200 (for rims)
• Warranty:  ULTIMATE warranty with term and conditions, recommend to wash car weekly with ONR (RM80 for 32 times wash)
• Maintenance: Annual - Hand wash and dry. Surface inspection. Paint decontamination if required. But personally I believe it needs periodic wash, listed here.
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook. But I'm truly impressed with their work and passion. Check out the Blogspot here.
  
  
  

7. Tribos (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Polymer designed specifically for painted surfaces protection. It acts like a car protective coating that ensures a water and oil-repellent surface that ‘locks out’ damaging water and salt and is very easy to clean. It contains amino functional silicones and silicone resins that chemically bond to the paint surface. They then cross-link together, chemically.
• Cost: The price of our Car Paint Protection varies according to size, type and condition of your automobile. You will need to contact them for a quote. For Honda Jazz Hybrid, it will cost RM1688.
• Coverage: Car paint, glass, wheels and fabric.
• Warranty: Car paint 3 years; Glass 6 months; Wheels 3 years; Fabric 1 year.
• Maintenance: Recommend to wash regularly with TRIBOS® Shampoo or an equivalent LOW ALKALINE shampoo and a clean sponge. Allow to air dry or use a clean chamois to remove any watermarks.
• Customer Satisfaction: Every Mazda car is treated with Tribos, from CX-5 owners feedback, the application and effectiveness are below bar. There is owner that satisfy with the product too. So, I guess the application process and detailer's skill play an important roles and it is not very consistent across the board. But the customer service is a top notch!
  
  
  

8. Prestige (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: CQuartz, Ceremic Nano Particles.
  
• Cost, Coverage and Warranty:
• Diamond Premium (RM1288, buy 2 free 1)
  1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP/Warranty
  1 x Prestige Exterior Coating
  1 x Windscreen Coating (1 year warranty)
  1 x Prestige 3 Layer Detailing( no interior detailing)
  12 Month Coating Warranty
• Titanium (RM2088, buy 2 free 1)
  2 YEARS MEMBERSHIP/Warranty
  1 x Prestige Premium Exterior Coating
  1 x Windscreen Coating (1 year warranty)
  1 x Prestige 3 Layer Detailing
  1 x Prestige Interior Detailing
  24 Month Coating Warranty
• Maintenance: Every 3 month waxing cost RM38 to removed some stain.
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook.
  
  
  

9. G'Zox (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Various type ranging from low end Fluorine Coating to high end Quartz 7 and to super high end Hi-MOHS.
• Cost: For a compact sized sedan, it ranges from RM480 (Fluorine Coating) to RM2200 (Quartz 7) and RM4500 (Hi-MOHS).
• Warranty: Ranges from 3 months (Fluorine Coating), 36 months (Quartz 7) and 60 months (Hi-MOHS).
• Maintenance: It is quite tedious as listed here. I believe alternatively, can send back to the shop for wash and maintenance: cost for 2nd and 3rd years will be RM100 X 8 Quarters= RM800.
  .
• Customer Satisfaction: Not available, as there is no customer feedback in Facebook.
  
  
  

10. RainAway (Website; Facebook)

• Technology:
• Silcoat - Based on a complex formula link and bond onto your car’s clear coat lacquer.
• Nano Diamond Coat Series is an Ionized Nano Resin that adheres strongly to the paint surface ensuring unprecedented performance. The coating protects all body paint from acid rain, salt damages, UV ray, prevents paint color fading and has an extreme water repellency and beading effect.
• Cost & Warranty & Coverage:
• Solcoat - Yet to confirm, but from Seremban dealer it is like RM1800 and must do in KL headquarter.
• Nano Diamond Coat. This is the interesting one, I asked 3 shops in Seremban and I get all different pricing and warranty. I immediately lost faith as there is no consistency affecting people perception on the product reputation and doubt its quality.
• Shop A: RM1388 (car paint, windows and interior) with 1 year warranty; RM550 (car paint and windows) but no warranty. 
• Shop B: RM625 (car paint and windows) with 1 year warranty for both.
• Shop C RM498 (car paint and windows) with 1 year warranty on windows.
• Maintenance: Need to wax every 3 months, cost RM40 to RM60 depends on shop. Again, there is no consistency.
• Customer Satisfaction: Quite good feedback on the windows coating, but there is no feedback on the car paint coating.
  
  
  

11. Bonson Diamondbrite (Website)

• Technology: Diamondbrite is made from refined rock oils that are formulated into a 2 stage process so that each product compliments the next and builds up to create a tough durable glaze. The detail can be found here.
• Cost & Coverage: RM1388 for exterior paint surface.
• Warranty: 10 years, require year inspection/re-coat, free for the first 6 years, subsequent need to pay RM160-RM190.
• Maintenance: Monthly apply Conserver after car wash. Conserver (250ml) cost RM149.00, last for 1 year.
• Customer Satisfaction: Can't find much information, but in U.K. it has many automotive customers such as Ferrari, Bentley and etc.
  
  
  
  I'm a bit worry on the environment, it does not look like a professional car detailier shop.

12. Bling Detailing Haus (Website; Facebook)

• Technology: Nano Ceramic Coating.
  
  

• Cost & Warranty:
• For Honda Jazz or similar size
• Stage 1 (1 year warranty): RM499 promotional price; normal price is RM1199
• Stage 2 (2 year warranty): RM799 promotional price; normal price is RM1899
• Stage 3 (5 year warranty): RM1999 promotional price; normal price is RM3419
• For Honda Civic or similar size
• Stage 1 (1 year warranty): RM599 promotional price; normal price is RM1399
• Stage 2 (2 year warranty): RM999 promotional price; normal price is RM2299
• Stage 3 (5 year warranty): RM1999 promotional price; normal price is RM4299
• Coverage: Exterior paint surface
• Maintenance: Normal weekly wash with PH neutral shampoo.
• Customer Satisfaction: Can't find much information.

13. ProTech (Website, Facebook)

• Technology: Proprietary self developed solution. The only one has Test weather-o-meter ISO (11341-2813) testing.
  
  
  
• Cost:
• Honda Jazz or similar size: RM2390
• Honda Civic or similar size: RM2690
• Warranty: 5 years for new car (less than 5000KM and less than 3 months), 3 years for old car.
• Maintenance: Free with 1 ProCase maintenance kit, but there is no mentioning on the price if need to purchase a new one.
• Customer Satisfaction: International brand, check out their websites and Facebook, a lot of high class car is their customer.
  
  
  

Final Verdict:
Regardless the technology they use, in order to prolong the lifespan almost all coating requires regular car wash using either normal shampoo or their proprietary shampoo. Moreover some require yearly inspection and maintenance.

	Cost*	Warranty (year)	Special Shampoo	Maintenance  Effort	Require Touch Up
Sierra Glow	550	5	Yes (SierraWash)	Wash + SierraBead	Yes, Chargeable
Shine Guard Shine N Shield	880	5	Yes (Paint Maint Kit)	Wash	Half yearly, Chargeable (RM145)
Nano Brite	1380	5	Yes (Nano Shampoo)	Wash	Yes, FOC
Detailien	2200	Ultimate	Yes (ONR)	Wash	Yes, Unknown
Tribos	1688	3	Yes (TRIBOS)	Wash	Unknown
Prestige	2088	2	No	Wash	Quarterly, Chargeable (RM38)
G’Zox	2200	3	Yes	Wash	Quarterly, 2nd year onward Chargeable (RM100)
Bonson	1388	10	Yes (Conserver)	Wash + Conserver	Yearly, FOC for 6 years, RM160 to RM190 after that.
Bling	799**	2	No	Wash	Yes (as long as water does not bead anymore), FOC
ProTech	2390	5	Yes (ProCase)	ProCase (5 steps)	Yes, FOC

*Cost is based on Honda Jazz.
**Promotion price.

Firstly, what is the purpose for coating? My purpose is to reduce the time and frequency for washing/take care the car (I buy car, not car buy me). At the same time, I can't afford to frequently send back for preventive maintenance such as quarterly. It wastes time, although no doubts it provides better protection and more shine, but that is not my purpose of coating.

The next factor to consider is budget:

• If money is not a problem at all, go for ProTech followed by Detailien and then Nano Brite. 
• If budget is limited, I would consider Bling (promotional price) followed by Sierra Glow. Total cost of ownership of Sierra Glow factor in the SierraWash, SierraBead (for best effect) and touch up cost is comparable with Bling. Bling benefits for less maintenance effort, FOC touch up whenever the surface is no longer bead water and 9H pencil hardness (Sierra Glow is 5H); but Sierra Glow provide 5 years warranty.

Disclaimer, this is purely my personal opinions, as of 9-March-2013 I haven't decided which coat to go for.
Feel free to share your and let me know if any of the above information is inaccurate.

Wet Shine does have a nice write up on coat comparison here, but unfortunately he does not finish up the durability testing.




Sharing: Permanon Platinum vs. Nu Finish One Year Polish (here).

Special: To share my bad experience on Groupon Deal: London Weight Management Slimming Package, where is the Consumer Right?

Groupon Deal: London Weight Management Slimming Package

Groupon, the "group coupon" offering quantity discounts which suppose to achieve a WIN-WIN deal between the retailers and the buyers.

Buyers will get the product/service at a lower cost and the retailers will get free advertisement via Groupon posting with millions of users and good word of mouth publicity from the users who purchase the product/service (generally people is more willing to try out thing that is at lower price).

But, does this ideal WIN-WIN is achievable or is being carried out faithfully by the retailers? Let's me share the real experience and you judge it.

I bought the deal for my wife as one of her birthday presents, thinking of letting her to relax and to try something that is "branded", a similar not branded traditional full body scrub and massage by a makcik will cost about 2.5 times more. Does it really have "cheap-good-great" stuff on the reality world?

Here is the chronology of the events:

22-March-2013: 

• Purchased the deal, printed out the Groupon and bring to get more detail from the branch in Seremban.
• The staff was trying to tell my wife it is a single session Groupon and does not come with all the goodies listed. I went again for "further" inquiry and show them the detail of the deal in Groupon website. The staff was then "oh" it is a RM28 2 sessions deal and say that I do not need to do further booking via the online booking system in Groupon deal.
• Okay that's fine. So we make an appointment on 30-March-13 3:30PM.

30-March-2013:

• I fetched my wife to Jusco Seremban branch at 3:25PM, to ensure we are not late. So as usual my wife is being brain washed to purchase their package for around 1 hour together with the so-call body analysis.
• Then she was left doing nothing by the staff until 5:30PM, the reason given by the staff is there is NO available room to do the treatment! WTF, what kind of service is being provided by a reputable brand, what the purpose of asking a customer making an appointment and there is NO room?
• By 7:30PM, the session one is completed, according to my wife there is 3 staffs trying to convince her to buy the slimming package, which I think is fine for any business, it is a payback for the discounted service.
• The staff promised to call on 31-March-31 to schedule the second session body steaming of 45 minutes.
• We were given some voucher, but there is no London Exclusive Slimming Kit (Oxy Trimming Gel, Sea Salt Scrub & Trimming Fluid worth RM68) and Complimentary ampoule (for bookings before May 2, 2013 only)!
• This is the 2nd WTF, you can get a free trial without paying anything, whereas I paid RM28 and get NOTHING! I'm not sure what went wrong or it is just Seremban branch that went wrong! It is not about the money, it is all about the unfulfilled promise and consumer's right!

31-March-2013:

• Waited and there is no one call to complete the second session. I'm really disappointed with the service provided!

My thinking of doing business: Provide your service faithfully and professionally, customer will always come back even without the hour of brain washing and customer don't mind paying as long as it worth the money. For now, I won't recommend the company at all or at least the Seremban branch at all! They are very unprofessional and zero customer satisfaction.

I'm going to send complain email to the company headquarter and see how will they response. You won't find their customer service email on their company website, I will send the email through their HR recruiter and may post in their FB page. I will keep yours updated.

Costumer is not always right, but customer has consumer's right!!

Customer "feedback" I captured from their FB page.