[Harvey Specter]

Looking to get paint protection done and came across "Protex paint protection", has anyone dealt with them? And who does Xpel locally?

[VR6GTI]

Paint Protection Film ? Autowerkes Exclusive (http://www.autowerkesexclusive.com/paint-protection-film/)

[Simplex123]

A few guys were recommending opticoating in here:

http://www.revscene.net/forums/700121-undecided-clear-bra-sealant-new-car-thoughts.html

[MarkyMark]

If you want it done well definitely see Ken at Autowerkes. It ain't cheap but every time I've dropped in he's got another 100k+ car that he's putting a clear bra on. He does amazing work

[Simplex123]

LOL He's doubled his price though

It's now:
SMALL CAR OR SUV — 1195
MEDIUM/LARGE CAR OR SUV — 1295
LARGE SUV OR DUALLY PICKUP — 1495

Ken's prices are on his website. For Opticoat it's:

Small vehicles ( Subaru BRZ etc ) $550
Medium vehicles ( BMW 3,5 series, most SUVs ) $595
Large SUVs $650

My brother paid $595 for his brand new CX-5 to be done up, I'd expect the Mustang to be considered medium sized too.

[Harvey Specter]

^
Lol, that's what I realized when I visited his site.

[MarkyMark]

LOL He's doubled his price though

It's now:
SMALL CAR OR SUV — 1195
MEDIUM/LARGE CAR OR SUV — 1295
LARGE SUV OR DUALLY PICKUP — 1495

Yeah it's gotten steep. When I last talked to him in September he said it's actually the people who make the coatings that set the prices, that's out of his control. Not saying his prices haven't gotten higher on top of that but it's not him just doubling the price and pocketing it all.

[dinfung]

i did the full front on my NSX with Luke and protex. he did a great job and i am very happy with it.

[threezero]

Looking to get something like opti coat done too. Any recommendation in the 600-700 price range.

[- kT]

opticoat is just a glorified wax. i'd go the protex route anyday w/ the clear bra. i've personally seen protex's work, 110% everytime. doesn't necessarily have to be protex obviously, as i've heard they're pretty expensive, but with that said, people pay a LOT more than they should for opticoat. it's all a gimmick, but there's nothing gimmicky about a layer of physical film across the entire car

opticoat is just a brand fyi. the actual substance inside the bottle can be purchase at lordco under a variety of different names (diamond kote, etc). the application process is the exact same as a carnauba wax. the effects are the exact same as a carnauba wax. it lasts for the same amount of time as carnauba wax, and needs to be reapplied at the same intervals. at the end of the day paying $600-700 for it as absolutely absurd

[Harvey Specter]

Spent some time reading reviews and watching videos online it seems like Xpel is the way to go and the best option for complete protection.

I spoke with Luke at Protex and their protection product is basically the Xpel ultimate but rebranded for Canada and with a longer warranty (10 years instead of 7). Pricing is pretty good for frontal protection and rocker panels. I did e-mail another Vancouver shop and they quoted me $6000, Protex is much cheaper.

[threezero]

$6000! wow.

So is opti coat similar to the paint protection stuff that stealership pushes on you? If So i can basically get it at cost with hook ups.

[- kT]

^ it's exactly the same. again it's listed under different brand names (opticoat diamond kote) but it's all the sane

[SpuGen]

I used gtechniq csl+exov2 on the Z.

Haven't washed the car in 3 months. Hosing off doesnt count.

Applied it to customer cars a while back, and they haven't called me for paint correction since. Which sucks for me. Great for them.

I also didnt charge nearly as much as Autowerks, but I dont depend on it for a living.

It's the typical 9h ceramic coating, but it's the best one I've used, and would recommend.

Hit me up if you're interested.

[Cman333]

Anyone with experience on Ceramic Pro?

I've talked to a couple shops, I got pricing of $800-1200 for the basic 1 coat, and then roughly $500 per additional coat of Ceramic Pro.

[MarkyMark]

opticoat is just a glorified wax. i'd go the protex route anyday w/ the clear bra. i've personally seen protex's work, 110% everytime. doesn't necessarily have to be protex obviously, as i've heard they're pretty expensive, but with that said, people pay a LOT more than they should for opticoat. it's all a gimmick, but there's nothing gimmicky about a layer of physical film across the entire car

opticoat is just a brand fyi. the actual substance inside the bottle can be purchase at lordco under a variety of different names (diamond kote, etc). the application process is the exact same as a carnauba wax. the effects are the exact same as a carnauba wax. it lasts for the same amount of time as carnauba wax, and needs to be reapplied at the same intervals. at the end of the day paying $600-700 for it as absolutely absurd

Uh Opti Coat is nothing like a caranuba wax. Show me a wax that will last you 5+ years, or even still be on the car after hitting a touch less car wash. Show me a caranuba wax that will let a bird bomb sit on it for a week and not etch the paint. The only way to remove Opti Coat or similar brands is a cut polish with a buffer. I can remove a caranuba with some rubbing alcohol, or just wait 6 months and it will remove itself.

If by gimmick you mean it won't protect you from rock chips sure. Generally you would opti coat over your xpel anyways to protect it from the elements. But it sure isn't the same as a wax, or that cheap shit the dealership puts on it.

[911fanatic]

^ it's exactly the same. again it's listed under different brand names (opticoat diamond kote) but it's all the sane

Actually it's not. Diamond Cote is pretty much the same as any polymer sealant that you can purchase at Lordco, Canadian Tire etc. The coatings we install are completely different in that they are for the most part silica based, ( Opti Coat is a resin ) and are will indeed last for years whereas the polymer sealants will last for 3-4 months on average. As for the price increases mentioned, yes they have gone up substantially. Unfortunately the manufacturers of pretty much all of the coatings have set MAP ( minimum ) pricing that we as installers have to abide by. The increase is not all profit. My cost per application of Opti Coat has increased over 1000% in the last 3 years.

[flagella]

Pretty interested in doing this but looks like prices are all very steep now. Has anyone been to any shops recently for one of these good coating for under $1,000?

[thumper]

Pretty interested in doing this but looks like prices are all very steep now. Has anyone been to any shops recently for one of these good coating for under $1,000?

how bad is your paint? maybe you could get someone like ken to do paint correction (if you can't do that yourself) and then try just buying the opticoat from ken and do it yourself... i didn't find it easy though because i don't have a garage to work in and doing it in direct sunlight is a bitch :(

https://youtu.be/Yyo_-UA8yM4

[haulin oats]

LOTS and LOTS of complaints about the Protex. they have the account for Porsche Centre Langley and probably 2/3 of the cars they do have to go back, and have parts redone over and over. Many people end up ripping it off, and going to Ken at Autowerkes in the end anyways.

[dinfung]

have anyone try Anthony at 5 star tint?

[haulin oats]

have anyone try Anthony at 5 star tint?

friend of mine had his GT4 done at 5 star. Is getting it removed, and redone at Autowerkes as well.

[flagella]

how bad is your paint? maybe you could get someone like ken to do paint correction (if you can't do that yourself) and then try just buying the opticoat from ken and do it yourself... i didn't find it easy though because i don't have a garage to work in and doing it in direct sunlight is a bitch :(

https://youtu.be/Yyo_-UA8yM4

It's actually a brand new car. Sort of dirty now after 3 weeks. Ken seems to do a great job but prices have been jacked up quite a bit.

[hi-revs]

Got my car done with cquartz last summer and it still looks amazing.

[911fanatic]

It's actually a brand new car. Sort of dirty now after 3 weeks. Ken seems to do a great job but prices have been jacked up quite a bit.

If you check out my website, we have coatings starting at $695. We have CQuartz Classic ( 18-24 months ) starting at $695. Its a great looking coating and has really good durability. Considering a regular sealant would have to be reapplied 3-4x a year at $200 a pop, its good value as well.

[Gunsmokez]

LOTS and LOTS of complaints about the Protex. they have the account for Porsche Centre Langley and probably 2/3 of the cars they do have to go back, and have parts redone over and over. Many people end up ripping it off, and going to Ken at Autowerkes in the end anyways.

where are these complaints you speak of?

[Harvey Specter]

Protex is crap. My father-in-law purchased a new Macan last summer from Porsche Langley and the dealer had to have the front rewrapped because it was peeling.

[oldsnail]

I know my local Porsche dealer uses 3m...

I am pretty happy with 3 m on my car

[Badhobz]

or you can just wax on wax off. repeat when necessary.

I really enjoy detailing my car

[mpt2006]

Anyone heard of Jurgen at Vancouver Clear Bra? Ken is using Stek vs Xpel? Is Stek now comparable to Xpel Ultimate Plus that just came out?

[striderblade]

Can check out speed projects lab. Check their Instagram. They always post pictures of their work. They do xpel paint protection and seal off with a xpel sealant.

[SkydiveDan]

Anyone heard of Jurgen at Vancouver Clear Bra? Ken is using Stek vs Xpel? Is Stek now comparable to Xpel Ultimate Plus that just came out?

Search Revscene for Downtown Auto Spa.... not good, not good at all.

[mpt2006]

Search Revscene for Downtown Auto Spa.... not good, not good at all.

Which part of “not good, not good at all” are you referring to? Jurgen or Stek?


Update: Wow thank god I asked

[mpt2006]

Ok so who would you all recommend for install? I’m looking to do a full wrap on a Civic Type R.

Xpel Ultimate Plus vs Stek vs Protex Ultra? I don’t love the idea of ceramic coating every few years. I plan on keeping the car 10-12 years, and I park it outside in the elements.

[SkydiveDan]

Which part of “not good, not good at all” are you referring to? Jurgen or Stek?


Update: Wow thank god I asked

Jurgen and his crew were amazing to begin with but as they got bigger and needing more people the place went to absolute shit. I asked for Zaino one day and I think all they did was wash it LUL

[mpt2006]

Jurgen and his crew were amazing to begin with but as they got bigger and needing more people the place went to absolute shit. I asked for Zaino one day and I think all they did was wash it LUL

Has anything changed recently since starting Vancouver clear bra or would you still stay away? Especially since I’m looking to do a full PPF wrap

[mpt2006]

Can check out speed projects lab. Check their Instagram. They always post pictures of their work. They do xpel paint protection and seal off with a xpel sealant.

How is the quality at speed projects lab?

[Akord]

Ok so who would you all recommend for install? I’m looking to do a full wrap on a Civic Type R.

Xpel Ultimate Plus vs Stek vs Protex Ultra? I don’t love the idea of ceramic coating every few years. I plan on keeping the car 10-12 years, and I park it outside in the elements.

Hey man let me know what you end up choosing. Will be doing same thing when I get my CTR

[mpt2006]

Hey man let me know what you end up choosing. Will be doing same thing when I get my CTR

I think I may pass on the PPF and may just go with a more durable ceramic coating for ease of keeping clean and not needing to wax twice a year.

I’m leaning towards going with GTECHNIQ crystal serum using Ken at Autowerkes. He seems to get a lot of praise here.