My pre-registered car is coming soon and I want to protect its paint from the get go. My main objectives for the car:

1. Remain looking looking as beautiful as on display at the dealers
2. To keep the cost below the budget of RM5,000, this can be one-off, or be part of the maintenance payments (for example, wash and wax for RM300 every three-months means the budget can last for four years)
3. To have manageable maintenance schedule and I would rather pay someone to do it than having to do it myself. The cost for maintenance should be chalked into the budget above. I do not have too much time on my hands, I haven't washed my own cars for at least a decade

With these options that I have, which would best suit my criteria above?:

1. applying a ceramic coating
2. installing PPF
3. applying quarterly polish/wax

I understand that it may not be possible to keep my car just as beautiful when it was new, but it is not wrong to try. Look at the car below on display, which is NOT my car, but I love how beautiful the paint shines



This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 20 2020, 08:19 AM

Who the heck waxes and polish every 2months? I think you'll do more harm than good to the paint. If you've already have ceramic coating don't go polish it off, just do bi-weekly normal soap wash. Don't wash under the sun to avoid water spots.

This post has been edited by thxxht: Jan 19 2020, 12:30 PM

I dont know, so what is the interval for the wax and polish? how much would they cost?

PPF to protect front of car. Don't need whole car.

Then wax every 2-3months.
Don't polish unless the shine is gone

Ceramic coating can't protect your car from stone chips btw

Ppf je la

If I PPF, do I still need to polish and/or wax the car?

Would the car look more beautiful with PPF or wax? Or can/should I do both?

I've basically tried all these so called nano coating, PPF or whatever they call it. I would say these stuff do work but not in the long run.

Your car will still be exposed to Malaysia's hot sun and rain. The worst part is rain water which are baked under the hot sun which produces 'watermarks'. Nano-coating or whatever shit they called it can't prevent watermarks.

My suggestion is save the cash and send your car for frequent car washes and apply wax every month or 2. Do a 3 step polish and wax annually and you're good to go.

Now where is that chap that spent RM599 for a wax job for a new Bezza/Axia

Some ceramic coatings will last 5 years, no polish require, just regular washing. That said it's not completely fool proof, you'll still get stains, waterspots, swerly marks overtime, it's just resistant to them. After 5 years do a complete polishing and apply the coating again.

u can try yus detailing auto at bukit jelutong, best of both world tevo coating.
and its cheap too , about 800 iinm , u can check their work at their fb page

This post has been edited by THE CLASS OF 13: Jan 19 2020, 12:39 PM

If it’s going to be your everyday ride, don't have such wishful thinking.

5k can repaint the whole car new new after you abuse it kao kao

I see, so you confirmed my suspicion. I don't like the looks of my car to be up to the dealers; after going for maintenance I am afraid they will tell me that there was only two free maintenance while the rest is not free anymore, or they would just hold my car and do very basic maintenance. Not like I can viral the shit out of them

How much for a good (monthly) wax? Is there a difference between the monthly wax you mentioned and the annual wax?

Keep in mind that I am a car-care noob, but this is my first conti so I think it would be best to takegood care of it.

later drive behind lori bonnet paint all chip off wat coating oso no use

I PPF my wife’s front and ceramic coat the rest.

Of course weekly washing I diy myself (don’t trust other people to wash properly), 2 bucket system, top up occasionally with silica spray (Carpro reload etc).

Washing is much easier with coating, not much hassle.

Cost wise iirc around 6k all in - gguard since they’re the official distributor for xpel.

Scratched ceramic coating is harder to remove compared to clear coat. Simple polish doesn't work.

waxes yes, depend on type of wax. polish no, once a year at most

Polish is when car shine not there, it's to remove very thin layer of clear coat btw, so it's not for you to do it frequently

Wax is added a layer of shine.
Wax it every 2-3months.

Once shine becomes dull, or for watermarks or thin layer of dirt that can't be washed off, only polish.
Then wax.


PPF is protection against stone chips, front bumper, hood, front wheel area. (Like screen protector)
Need to wax

This post has been edited by AllnGap: Jan 19 2020, 12:43 PM

Yeah it is going to be my everyday ride. I didn't pay RM240k for an orange conti to keep it at home hahaha

GGuard is OK is it? They have promotion for their most expensive package, front-end cover RM2150 for M size car (my G20).

oh, like polishing shoes

Now I am partial between the few options. maybe wax the whole car, then PPF front-end for RM2150..

What is a good order of things?

Waxing is basically applying a thin layer of protection onto your car paint which gives it a smooth finishing and water beading effect. Dirt will less likely stick onto your car thus won't get dirty as fast after rain. However, this layer of wax will eventually wear off. That is why you should apply it once every month or 2.

Polish on the other hand will remove a very fine layer of your paint's clear coat. This process normally will eliminate those minor scratches and swirl marks accumulated during car wash & etc. That is why you shouldn't do polishing too frequently.

My current practice is wash the car on a weekly basis and self apply a quick layer of liquid wax (e.g. Turtle wax liquid carnuaba, Ice wax or etc). Will only do polish when the paint has accumulated lots of swirl marks.

If you can park your car in a sheltered car park, it is even better as this will prevent watermarks from etching onto your car paint.

PPF front = protect front
Wax = every 2-3months interval (see no shine then go wax d)
Polish = every year interval

This post has been edited by AllnGap: Jan 19 2020, 12:55 PM

[quote=wild_card_my,Jan 19 2020, 12:46 PM]
Yeah it is going to be my everyday ride. I didn't pay RM240k for an orange conti to keep it at home hahaha
GGuard is OK is it? They have promotion for their most expensive package, front-end cover RM2150 for M size car (my G20).

I’m happy with GGuard. No complaints from me. Condition after 1.5 yrs.



This post has been edited by takr: Jan 19 2020, 01:14 PM

If I am going to install M performance parts like the side skirts, front and side splitters, side decal, rear spoiler, rear diffusers... should I do that too before I do PPF?

Huh, that look sshiny. So this thing works? i tkeeps the shine?

Soryr if I am asking a stupid q, but you do still need to polish and wax right?

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 19 2020, 01:00 PM

Like somebody said above, polish only if dull or scratched up. PPF helps esp of you do highway speeds .. no unsightly stone chips so far

If you wash your car properly (look up 2 bucket system, or see rinse less wash) you can minimize scratching hence minimize having to polish. So far I’ve only had to polish when a motorbike grazed her back bumper.

As for waxing / protection, I usually apply Carpro reload on top, maybe every 1-2 months. Sort of sacrificial layer if you’d like.

Polish : will polish off a thin layer of clear coat, to remove swirl marks, fine scratches, and to bring back gloss.

Wax : add protection layer to the paint to protect the clear coat, looks glossy, and water beading effect.

Coating : permanent sort of thing similar to wax (depends on brand), will look gloss & shine providing you wash frequently. Wax can be added occasionally to further enhance the gloss & water beading. Coated car not to be polished otherwise will tear off the coat, so eventually you will have swirl marks, water marks, etc. Can’t prevent stone chips.

PPF : self healing good type will self cure after stone chips, may look different color if wrap only front part. May require special care during wash. No more polishing. Wax I’m not sure.

Best, if budget allows,
Coating first, then wrap with PPF.
And followed with recommended maintenance by detailing shop that do the PPF.

I use ceramic pro, I took the gold package , warranty 5 years, 2.6k, not bad at all for mine, everytime feel like the rain repellent not that good, I just go back there for free reapplication

Bos btc and eth dark knight rises a lot the last few weeks...surely u smiling ear to ear now

who so free wash car just for it to shine, i just wash car when got bird dropping

Dint capture la.... waiting for pullback that never came adoi

TS is insurance agent?

So this is a coating right? when they reapply, do you see for yourself that they are doing it? Just chekcing if shops are true and honest to their work


Haha how is this applicable to this thread?

When I was driving my local car I didn't a damn, but this is an investment of sort to me. If you drive an ugly BMW people will laugh at you for being miskin or have your priorities jumbled (can buy car, but no money to maintain the car, better buy cheaper cars)

I am a lot of things, including an insurance agent. But I do more than just that, basically in the personal finance spectrum

[quote=wild_card_my,Jan 19 2020, 01:22 PM]
So this is a coating right? when they reapply, do you see for yourself that they are doing it? Just chekcing if shops are true and honest to their work

Yes, their customer service is really good, you can watch them do it too if you want

For your 330?

noted

yes the G20 330i

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 19 2020, 01:55 PM

From my personally experience, waxing 2-3 times a year is the best.

I did coating before, spent bout 3k, interior wise I am happy but exterior is very troublesome, water mark stain and all. Every time go back have to queue and wait.

End up I bought a DA and read through how to do detailing.

Removed the coating myself and wax all over again.

So far very happy with it.

thanks so much for this personal input man

i was worried about claiming the maintenance too. The shops may assign more manpower on the installation of the coating than the maintenance because they have already locked your money with them

If waxing, I do not believe I have the skill nor time to do it, I will just send it to the shop at my office, if it is RM200 every quarter it isn't too much at all. That is RM800 a year, while I have been quoted crazy amounts for "coating". I hate having my balls held by businessmen and their "warranty and maintenance" programs

How much did you spend to remove the coating?

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 19 2020, 02:04 PM

No problem bro, I bought a DA and use compound to remove it myself took me quite awhile.

The thing about coating is really depending on how fussy you are, coating you get the shine but after awhile it will absorb those unnecessary contaminants, don’t get me wrong the car still shiny as heck.

For a detailed person like me I prefer shiny + clean, not just shine.

Really personal bro, you can check out lowyat detailing thread to understand more.

PPF the areas prone to stone chips ie the front of the car. Apart from that wash and wax plus detailed polishing once a year.

Lowyat detailing thread huh... ok will go and check things out. V5 and active, people are crazy about taking care of their cars I see

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/3888490/+8240#bottom

yeap, this is what I plan on doing. I guess I got it all figured out, for now at least. Say no to coating haha. I hate the "maintenance" part of it. With waxing I can do it anywhere, anytime

You’d be surprised, it's considered as hobby to a lot.

Anyway congratulations on your new ride.

Question to all, if I plan on waxing (i think the dealer would already polish the car) the car, and then applying FRONT PPF... and I want to install M-performance parts on my car (but I will go for cheaper options because who the guck has RM27k for accessories? hahaha), which one should I do first? Btw, I found a few shops that have these (imitation) lists for less than RM5k not sure if they would be recommended, but I would not spend RM27k no matter what for accessories

1. install the M-performance parts then wax + PPF or
2. wax + PPF then install the M-performance parts

Exterior M-Performance parts list
Front ornamental grille in high gloss black
Exterior mirror cap carbon fibre
Front splitter pro carbon fibre
Front splitter in high gloss black
Side skirt attachments
Side skirt films in Frozen Black
Side decals in Frozen Black
Rear spoiler in matte black
Rear diffuser in high gloss black
Rear bumper trim in high gloss black

BMW G20 M-performance parts list

yes, add me to the list I guess. but I am doing this just to protect my investment and to stand out: the sunset orange plus M-performance (imitation) parts hahaha

Thank you

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 19 2020, 02:28 PM

No amount of coating can help u against stone chips... get a laminate protection jer la

Check out Sierra Glow Blue Flame treatment.

Sierra Glow had been around for like a decade i think, so they're pretty reputable.

Their flagship coating treatment is Blue Flame package, seems highly rated.

I'd say most flagship coating package out there maybe negligible difference with each other, but the people running the business can make the difference. Given how long SG established themselves, I'd have confidence with them.

For my 330, the car coating person don’t recommend ppf because of the color discoloration. Mine is white. So if you are getting white I don’t think can be done

question to all, if I plan to install M performance parts (spoilers, diffusers, side skirts, splitters, etc) should I do it before or after wax? Or does it not matter since the installer will know what to do...

i am getting orange. The car coating person of yours, does he offer PPF or just coating? if just coating maybe he was being biased? hehehe

in any case, I will not go for coating, but will do wax at fixed intervals. PPF i will consider if the prices are OK.

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 19 2020, 11:20 PM

Wax least painful on asshole

Wax is just easy job nowadays with spray on wax
No need to buff
Go search utube for turtle wax seal n shine.. buy in sg more worth than in Malaysia.. Malaysia selling 100+ per bottle meanwhile sg only 60+ after converted

how many applications can this waxing last? and how much time to complete a wax? Sorry what is "buff"? You mean I just spray and let it sit, no need to wipe?

This post has been edited by wild_card_my: Jan 20 2020, 12:11 AM

I had done it for my family red color car for ppf. Sort of like every vehicle we get we go there? But yeah a few of the people don’t recommend ppf for white. But you are going with orange definitely can. Find a good one, else you will see bad workmanship

I opted for Ceramic Pro as I got a damn good CNY deal years ago (exterior + interior coat with 5 years warranty on the exterior for just over RM3k). Coming up on 4 years this Feb and I have to say it’s holding up well. Just go for a free touch up once a year and it’s like brand new. Saves me the hassle of worrying about stuff like bird droppings etc. damaging the paintwork. Even washing is irregular, sometimes up to a month between washes.

Hard to recommend them these days as the cost has rocketed (my friend was quoted almost RM7k for his Passat), but quality-wise I’d vouch for them.

Buff - letting the wax 'cure' on the paint after application, then proceed to 'buff' off with a towel to bring out the shine.

No buffing means wipe on, wipe off immediately, walk away.

I'm one of the few active ones on the detailing thread as well, and didn't go down the coating route as I'm more of a DIY person.

Anyways, any factory fresh car will have minor paint blemishes such as orange peel etc. You'll likely notice it when you receive your car, as is some tiny swirl marks/RIDs that's usually only very visible under bright sunlight.

Hope you're able to decide on the best option to give the best TLC to your new ride bro!

PS: Nice colour on your Bimmer. Rare colour!

This post has been edited by woodentiger86: Jan 20 2020, 07:43 AM

Thanks for the input. How difficult was it to get the maintenance done? Did they give you any trouble? If i were paying RM7k which is way above my 5k budget, I do not want to worry about the shop holding me hostage with their exclusions and what not

Ah that is what buff means. Yes that would be convenient. If it is just spray and wipe I can do that myself too although nothing wrong if i feel like having the shops do it I guess. Perhaps I'll see how they do it then do it myself later

Im leaning towards periodical waxing plus PPF in the front. I just think that coating is not for me given the hassle that comes with it. I understand the pros and cons, already balanced it against other options

And thanks, i purposely took that color to be unique on the road. There were other color options, but they were all "safe" colors

For long lasting wax have a look at Soft99 Fusso. Claimed to perform up to 12 months and super hydrophobic. Very popular in Europe.

During testing on my other uncoated car I managed to get around 7-8 months in Malaysian weather, considered not bad lah. Cheap too, just that the application process can get a bit tricky.

PPF you're doing entire front (i.e. bonnet, front bumper, front quarter panel)?

This post has been edited by takr: Jan 20 2020, 08:56 AM

So far no issues la. I once had an accident where my front bonnet was replaced and they helped re-coat that section for free also.

forget it

some itchy hands gonna want to decorate your nice car when they see it in the parking lot



This post has been edited by Elgore: Jan 20 2020, 09:49 AM

Just get a Ceramic Pro coating and PPF it done.

why waste on this so called protection....maybe it's new car excitement syndrome
just abuse ur daily ride...after 2-3 years...get a new paint or wrap.
u get a new car again.

If got coating, the car cannot be waxed?

I had a coating done 1 year plus ago, now i wax it, i don't see anything abnormal

I completely agree. Used to spend a lot of money with polish etc... Ended up getting my car scratched also (not within my control).

So I rather save up for a fresh new paint in a few years time... at most RM5k to repaint the entire car.

it just a car.
it meant to be weared and teared

Bases on my experience

1. Go with a 6 month Polish job and wax monthly, you can buy this package from a car detailer near you
2. Ceramic, Glass or Nano coat works but if not take care also no use, and the process of taking care of it is harder than you think, cannot send to those bangla car wash as they use those chemical soap that can degrade those coating.... need to send to those good car wash....

If you stay at condo, invest in a good covered car park, if you work, rent a covered car park. getting a covered car park beats all this coating and will actually protect the car better.

Wash every week, yes every week. my old car wash every 3 days and after 5 years like brand new....

Is this the story of boss announce business not good no bonus this year but the next day drive a new e class to company? Lol

Maybe, but if I have that kind of mindset I should not be buying the car in the firs tplace


Perhaps a wax job every quarter shouldn't be too much for me. And it is unlikely that I will keep this car beyond its warranty

yeah I am leaning toward that. Waxing instead of coating. Not sure about the PPF though, seems pricey for what it is

nah, Ive always been upfront with my staff. business has bee OK so far. The car is just something i have always wanted, so it doesn't hurt to get a 330i at the age of 33 and 10 months. Can you see the pattern?

599 wax

I dont use PPF cause it will become yellow and stick to car paint.... hard to remove likely your paint goes with it

my nihon wash wax sometime polish. it give great satisfaction watching she got clean and gosok all over coz easily get dirty dusty. rainy season housing hilly windy area. dont ask.

my conti coat. maintain layers every 2 months. everytime also shiny. hard to get dirty. infact sometime i skip maintenance. just normal no soap wash.

you like take ur car for a wash? polish wax
you no time always want car shiny? coat

havent try ppf maybe for future ride

Will your car be parked outdoor or in a covered carpark?

Generally I think it's better to wash the car regularly and polish the car once a year, but you need to be sure those guys know what they are doing. I feel there's too many shops nowadays offering waxing and polishing services but don't really do it properly.

I wouldn't go for coating as I feel con outweigh the pro. No idea about PPF though.

2 things to add : one, you need to be prepared to deal with emergency bird poop on your car. Never let them sit and dry on your car for too long, immediately clean them off or they might etch into your paint. Worse bird poop got seeds in it and if you wipe it, the seed will get drag and scratch up your car.

Second thing is rock chips. While I understand European car paint is harder.. Thus possibly lessen the chance of rock chips occurring, for me I would still deal with rock chips fast (with touch up paint) because I am paranoid of possibility of rust caused by rock chips unattended for long time (when the bare metal is exposed to the elements).

Chipping in my 2 cents. I prefer to go for quarter wax and polish. PPF does help in stone chipping especially when driving high speed on highway but the cost of doing PPF can go for repaint already in the next 3-5 years. Ceramic coating or any kind of coating is a waste of money IMO and no offense. You still need to wash your car and it doesn't fend off watermarks completely. Also it cost a lot which almost like going for polish and wax quarterly.

This post has been edited by Duckies: Jan 20 2020, 10:55 AM

quarterly wax , yearly polish.

You can't polish too often.
A sacrificial barrier like wax is better than one expensive ceramic coating

I do not mind sending the car for wash; especially if I do not have to do it myself. can clean the car too at the same time

I guess the coat is just not for me, not for this ride at least

Covered car park most of the time, even when doing sales calls I would find a covered car park.

yeah for now I think I would rather pay someone to wash, polish, and wax as I go along compared to getting a coating and having to maintain it at the dealers/shops.

Car is car and car will break down

doesnt mean you should not care for it

Also, while I never tried them out before, but maybe you can consider engaging the services of mobile detailers (they come to your house), might be more convenient for you. Just one more option for you to chose from.

Just wash weekly and wax quarterly. It is sufficient. Cost wise RM600-800 per year

PPF and Coating will not save the paint from stone chips or scratches.
Cost wise RM3k per coating that lasts for 3 years, but requires maintenance.

With RM3-4k, you could probably get a new fresh paint after 5 years.
And in the event of minor crashes, the coat and PPF will be gone.

thanks for the suggestion. but this would be more expensive and I live in a condo (for now), there is a detailing shop at the basement of the mall

800 a year is very reasonable; at least this is a cost that I can control, instead of paying upfront to a shot and maintaining the coat which is done by the shop based on their warranty and promises. I agree with the paint after a few years, or I could just off load the car when it is out of warranty and free services in 4 years

i would definitely go for PPF ( the front end only) , coating /ceramic coating wont last long especially under msai weather, it went off 1-2 years

Yup. The coating is more like signing a deal or membership at that specific detailer. You're under contract if you need to maintain the coat.

For wash and wax, some shops do have memberships but the cost breakeven point is usually not much different than walk in. It's worth it if you plan to send the car wax monthly. For polish, do it once every 2 years based on the paint condition. Only when there's too much swirl and micro scratches can see by naked eye. If you do polish every 3 months, your paint will get thinner and thinner and you'll see the base metal soon. A colleague of mine did that to her City. In 3 years, the A pillars paint are gone and faded off.

Polish = Sanding. If you sand a block of wood daily, eventually the wood will turn to dust

Age 33 and 10 month buy 330i? Woe what a good feat. What kind of business r u doing by the way? I heard many prop agent n insurance usually at youg age also spluege on these ec
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