How to protect your brand new car paint

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Wax/Polish vs Coating vs PPF

I just bought a new car and I'm not sure how to protect the paint and make it look brand new for the years to come. There are so many options out there and some people also choose to respray their car from time to time. I did some research and here are my findings. 

Wax & Polish

Wax is one of the most common cheaper option used products to keep your car shiny at all times. It is a synthetic coating that provides a thin layer of protection over the car body. There are differences in brands but their end goals are similar. 

Intervals
The wax on the car depends on many factors such as the Ph level of the car shampoo used, parking under shade or sun and frequency of car washes and rain. So there is no standard timeline on when to reapply wax onto your car. But a good visual representation would be to look out for the shininess, smoothness and water resistance of the paint.

Pros
●One of the cheaper options 
●Pretty easy to DIY
●Provides shine and water repellent effect

Cons

• Very thin layer of protection, minimal protection 
• Effects might not last long depending on weather
• Can be very tiring if applying without an applicator 
• Needs application from time to time

Price Range

• RM20 - RM70 per bottle of wax (Recommends: Meguiar's, Soft 99, Turtle Wax)
• RM70 - RM 200 polish machine
• RM150 - RM600 Wax/Polish Service (Depending on car size)

Coating

Imagine going to a beach on a bright sunny day. Pretty relaxing, but having sunscreen applied is always crucial to avoid getting sunburned. Ceramic Coating is exactly like sunscreen but instead of humans it is designed for cars.

Ceramic coating is a liquid polymer that is applied on the exterior of the car and once cured it will attach permanently on the surface of the paint which is more durable and offers significantly higher protection compared to Wax.

Intervals
Ceramic coating bonds at a molecular level so the effects can actually last pretty long. With that said, factors such as weather, installation process  and brand can actually affect the durability of your coating. Users can expect a duration of at least 2-5 years with proper care and maintenance. 

Pros

• Provides better shine and water repellent compared to Wax
• Offers higher degree of protection compared to Wax
• Longer lasting and peace of mind compared to Wax
• DIY coating can be almost as easy as Wax/Polish

Cons

• Application can take up to several days
• Complex procedures and special equipment needed
• Not protected against stone chips
• More expensive compared to Wax

Price Range
Depending on the size of the vehicle, layer, brand and ongoing promotion, the price can range between RM1,000 to RM8,000. 

Paint Protection Film (PPF)

This is the highest level of car paint protection to date. Literally the screen protector to your car. PPF is basically a film made of elastomeric polymer substance. It can maintain its natural shape after sticking on to gloss surfaces like car paint. The special characteristic about this substance is that it can self heal under high temperature.

Intervals
A good PPF should last anywhere between five to ten years. Reputable brands will also provide a warranty up to several years and requires you to come back for a yearly inspection. Like with all methods mentioned above, the same factors will also affect the longevity of the product. 

Pros

• Protect against stone chips and light scratches 
• Self-healing technology 
• Highest level of protection to date
• Can be peeled off

Cons 

• Good quality PPF can actually cost a ton
• Not hydrophobic unless ceramic coating is applied on top of PPF
• Requires professional installation and installation takes up several days
• Discolouration might be visible on lighter color paint
• Might damage paint if left for too long or applied on resprayed paint

Price Range
●Essentials includes: (RM1000 to RM5000) 

• Headlamps
• Front bumper 
• Side mirrors
• Door Handles 

●Full Wrap Package (RM2000 to RM15000)

• Price varies between size of vehicle

Verdict
With that said, it all comes down to what you really want from paint protection and your budget. 

Personally I drive an Audi S5 and I do a lot of convoys and tough sessions. These activities include a lot of spirited driving, so I went with PPF and Ceramic Coating. I cannot respray my car from time to time because its in a special colour and it will cost quite a lot and the coating is to make sure my car is always hydrophobic and shiny for good photos. 

However, paint protection does not come cheap, so if your paint is a common colour and readily available. You can skip all the paint protection and go for a time to time respray.

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