Opinion about ceramic coating?

[DecadenceFTW]

You're bay area right? What's the shop name

Mmm, noper. SATX.

 

[SOP]

Mmm, noper. SATX.

My bad. That's what the cost would be here in the bay for a really high quality shop.

 

[Jameson's Viggen]

Whoa, what? Professionally applied ceramic coat, the cost is in the paint prep and correction, not the actual coating itself. Why the hell are they charging you $1500 JUST for the coating itself? What brand coating is it?

The original price for all was $4k. We began talking about working within my budget and took out things like PPF on the rockers. $2500 was going to just be PPF but then he said he'd throw in the full body prep so I could do the ceramic myself. So it's not a simple price of $1500 just for ceramic application.

 

[SOP]

The original price for all was $4k. We began talking about working within my budget and took out things like PPF on the rockers. $2500 was going to just be PPF but then he said he'd throw in the full body prep so I could do the ceramic myself. So it's not a simple price of $1500 just for ceramic application.

Nice job on the negotiation.

 

[Jameson's Viggen]

Nice job on the negotiation.

To me, the nose having the PPF was the most important. Ceramic, I can do that myself.

On previous cars I have spent $650-750 to Expel JUST the bumper. So for $2500, I think I am doing pretty well. I didn't want the lowest quote. I liked the fact that he did another local BlackWing recently.

 

[Blackwing61]

Had a license plate get kicked up off the ground by the car in front of me while on the highway. Wasn't able to avoid it and it did some damage. Luckily, the PPF did it's job and protected the matte paint, but I will need to replace the 2 plastic grill sections. Unlucky...

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I had a rock strike on my splitter and the mark was about the size of a pinky nail. It looked pretty bad. Took the PPF off and not a mark under it. Doing PPF is a no brainer.

 

[Powerhungry]

Had a license plate get kicked up off the ground by the car in front of me while on the highway. Wasn't able to avoid it and it did some damage. Luckily, the PPF did it's job and protected the matte paint, but I will need to replace the 2 plastic grill sections. Unlucky...

View attachment 8457

wow- sorry to see this...glad it wasn't worse! And - BTW - great to meet you at Cars and Coffee last weekend!

 

[NewCaddy]

I did Graphene coating on my CT5-V that I have now and plan on doing the BW..It shines well and makes it easy to clean as well as protecting it from contaminates..I've been thinking about adding some additional protection to the front also...As soon as I get mine I'm taking it to my guy to get the ceramic window tint (6 windows) and the paint protection..My dealer knows me well enough to deliver my car to me dirty because I do not want to start with any swirl marks......

Hey, a couple of questions for you (or anyone reading) if I may. Regarding your tint, did you do the front windshield and if so, do you have HUD on your 5BW? Asking cuz I have a 4BW coming and trying to line up things I may want done.

 

[strohw]

I had 70 put on the windshield of my last car and it had a HUD. Didn't cause any issues, just made it slightly less sharp. I put 50 on the 4bw but it doesn't have a hud.

 

[burn813]

Hey, a couple of questions for you (or anyone reading) if I may. Regarding your tint, did you do the front windshield and if so, do you have HUD on your 5BW? Asking cuz I have a 4BW coming and trying to line up things I may want done.

I have a ct5 and I tinted my windshield at 50% and I can tell you vs the non-tinted Spring Mountain cars, My HUD is much easier to see and I love it

 

[NewCaddy]

I had 70 put on the windshield of my last car and it had a HUD. Didn't cause any issues, just made it slightly less sharp. I put 50 on the 4bw but it doesn't have a hud.

Great, TY. Looking to do 70 too.

 

[DecadenceFTW]

Dealership is saying they are going to put Xpel Prime XR Black 30% on the car. I have done some research and it seems like a pretty good quality tint. If I have to pay for it anyway (part of that "mandatory" package), would this be a good tint to apply in the hot climate of south TX? Anyone have personal experience with Prime XR Black?

 

[SOP]

Dealership is saying they are going to put Xpel Prime XR Black 30% on the car. I have done some research and it seems like a pretty good quality tint. If I have to pay for it anyway (part of that "mandatory" package), would this be a good tint to apply in the hot climate of south TX? Anyone have personal experience with Prime XR Black?

Looks to be a step below the best tint you can get, performance wise. It wouldn't to hurt to ask them if they could give you Xpel Prime XR Plus. 61% TSER vs 57%(higher the better) on the Black model they're giving you. Make sure you get the warranty card, and see if windshield is included. If not, try to get it included. If it just won't happen, I'd pay for it to be done on the windshield. Usual cost should be around $150-250 additional.

IMO, windshield is the most critical since it's the biggest window, and you're right in front of it, along with the dashboard. It's going to be a lot of heat radiating in from that point, and you're AC will have to work that much harder to cool the car.

Ive personally used 3M Crystalline, Solar Gard Xenith XR, and my go-to use to be Madico Wincos, but the aforementioned performs a little better, so I've switched.

 

[DecadenceFTW]

Looks to be a step below the best tint you can get, performance wise. It wouldn't to hurt to ask them if they could give you Xpel Prime XR Plus. 61% TSER vs 57%(higher the better) on the Black model they're giving you. Make sure you get the warranty card, and see if windshield is included. If not, try to get it included. If it just won't happen, I'd pay for it to be done on the windshield. Usual cost should be around $150-250 additional.

IMO, windshield is the most critical since it's the biggest window, and you're right in front of it, along with the dashboard. It's going to be a lot of heat radiating in from that point, and you're AC will have to work that much harder to cool the car.

Ive personally used 3M Crystalline, Solar Gard Xenith XR, and my go-to use to be Madico Wincos, but the aforementioned performs a little better, so I've switched.

Wow, thanks for the info. I've reached out to them to check on the upgrade and windshield piece.

 

[DecadenceFTW]

Looks to be a step below the best tint you can get, performance wise. It wouldn't to hurt to ask them if they could give you Xpel Prime XR Plus. 61% TSER vs 57%(higher the better) on the Black model they're giving you. Make sure you get the warranty card, and see if windshield is included. If not, try to get it included. If it just won't happen, I'd pay for it to be done on the windshield. Usual cost should be around $150-250 additional.

IMO, windshield is the most critical since it's the biggest window, and you're right in front of it, along with the dashboard. It's going to be a lot of heat radiating in from that point, and you're AC will have to work that much harder to cool the car.

Ive personally used 3M Crystalline, Solar Gard Xenith XR, and my go-to use to be Madico Wincos, but the aforementioned performs a little better, so I've switched.

So dealership says they won't tint windshield because illegal in TX. Well, I can do the very top but I guess they don't do that. *sigh* They are checking to see if they can get the XR Plus though.

 

[MatthewAMEL]

So dealership says they won't tint windshield because illegal in TX. Well, I can do the very top but I guess they don't do that. *sigh* They are checking to see if they can get the XR Plus though.

Window Tinting Standards​

Window Tint Standards can be found in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Part 1, Rule 21.3.
NOTE: Windows immediately to the right and left of the driver that have less than 25% light transmission will fail inspection, regardless of the model year of the vehicle.

Windshield​

Sunscreening devices can be applied to the windshield if all of the conditions below are met.

1. Sunscreening devices must be applied above the AS-1 line. If there is no AS-1 line, sunscreening devices must end five inches below the top of the windshield.
2. Sunscreening devices may not be red, amber, or blue in color.
3. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, must have a light transmittance value of 25% or more.
4. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, must have a luminous reflectance value of 25% or less.
5. A clear (un-tinted) UV film is allowed anywhere on the front windshield without a medical exemption being required.

Number 5 might be of interest to you...that means you can put on something like exoshield. 100% UV and impact protection.

Windshield Protection Film | ExoShield

ExoShield is a nanoceramic windshield protection film that stops rock chips in their tracks and prevents expensive windshield replacements. Protect your car with industry-leading technology.

www.getexoshield.com

 

[SOP]

It's illegal in CA too. They have very light tint, 70-80% range that makes the window look OEM. You will have a little bit of heat rejection, but you'll have the UV protection that will help preserve your dash and interior from UV damage.

This is why it's important to go with a name brand, and high end tint. No name tints won't do much beyond providing improved aesthetics, especially when you have to go with such a light tint on the windshield.

 

[strohw]

I don't recall any state where it's legal to tint the windshield without prescription though I'm sure there's one. If you want the windshield done just find a place that installs the same tint after you get the car and have them do it. You could also get attempt to get a prescription.

 

[Throat Yogurt]

It's illegal in CA too. They have very light tint, 70-80% range that makes the window look OEM. You will have a little bit of heat rejection, but you'll have the UV protection that will help preserve your dash and interior from UV damage.

This is why it's important to go with a name brand, and high end tint. No name tints won't do much beyond providing improved aesthetics, especially when you have to go with such a light tint on the windshield.

Modern laminated windshields already block nearly all UV light.

IMO tinting the windhsield (beyond a clear heat-rejection film) to reduce light is a terrible idea, unless you have some sort of extreme eye condition. Just wear sunglasses. You know, the kind that you can take off at night.

 

[SOP]

Modern laminated windshields already block nearly all UV light.

IMO tinting the windhsield (beyond a clear heat-rejection film) to reduce light is a terrible idea, unless you have some sort of extreme eye condition. Just wear sunglasses. You know, the kind that you can take off at night.

I had darker tinted windshield on one of my first cars: never again. Wasn't even that dark at 35%, but if you were in a dimly lit parking garage, you couldn't see well at all. I do 70-80% depending on what's available at the time and I don't notice any difference in night or day reduction in vision. Obviously YMMV