Has anyone had protection film applied to their paintwork? Two years ago I opted for ceramic coating as it was half the price. Made cleaning the car very easy but with plenty of motorway driving picked up a few stone chips. Think I'll opt for the film next time and build it into the overall cost.

Would be interested to hear if anyone has experience of it.

 

I'd be interested in this too; my front end has stone chip rash all over from my motorway commute 

I had a company called Paintshield complete a full front end wrap on my Focus RS. After 2 years of normal driving and a few track days I had 0 chips. 

 

The radiator was was another matter

 

Apparently it it is self healing? 

Edited 9 January, 20188 yr by Tim1631

Just now, Tim1631 said:

I had a company called Paintshield complete a full front end wrap on my Focus RS. After 2 years of normal driving and a few track days I had 0 chips. 

 

Apparently it it is self healing? 

 

What was the cost for that?

I was the first RS owner to have it fitted. So I got a discount. If I remember correctly it was £400/£420. 

 

Including the mirrors and headlights 

 

 

Edited 9 January, 20188 yr by Tim1631

Upon buying a new car, I was offered the option of paint protection ($1499), interior vinyl protection ($599) and fabric protection ($599). I was not explained much about what was involved before being asked to make a decision on whether I would purchase these or not through the After Sales Customer Service manager. I opted to have the lot done (anything to optimise the new car’s longevity) but to date I still haven’t got an answer to what exactly was done to the car. 

 

When approaching the local SuperCheap Auto Store I got the most sage advice on car cleaning. Wash, dry, polish (lasts 3 months without wax) then wax with Carnauba wax (lasts 12 months), regardless of the paint job done, and it will be as protected as it can be. 

The quote I had was about £800 for front (bumpers, bonnet, side panels), £3k for the whole car. Guy did a demo, he used a small wire brush to create scratches, then poured hot water over it. Scratches disappeared. Impressive. I've since seen video product called Xpel which is apparently the best.

http://www.paintshield.co.uk/

 

Some decent cars on there. Gone up market since my visit 

Edited 9 January, 20188 yr by Tim1631

27 minutes ago, SteveC said:

The quote I had was about £800 for front (bumpers, bonnet, side panels), £3k for the whole car. Guy did a demo, he used a small wire brush to create scratches, then poured hot water over it. Scratches disappeared. Impressive. I've since seen video product called Xpel which is apparently the best.

 

Sounds great, not like what was sold to me though. A week after buying the car someone parked beside me must have flung open their driver door and caught my passenger door handle leaving a white paint mark behind. After rubbing it with a light sponge I got the paint off but there is a defect to the top coating that won’t go despite applying NuFinish Scratch Doctor. Sufficed to say I’m not impressed. 

I have gotten ceramics just upon buying car, as it was brand new. It is not protecting from stones, just from dirt and water. Easy to maintain and clean with contactless self service washers. 

 

The layer is very thin, nit giving any mechanical protection. Like wax.

1 hour ago, SkodaAsh said:

Upon buying a new car, I was offered the option of paint protection ($1499), interior vinyl protection ($599) and fabric protection ($599). I was not explained much about what was involved before being asked to make a decision on whether I would purchase these or not through the After Sales Customer Service manager. I opted to have the lot done (anything to optimise the new car’s longevity) but to date I still haven’t got an answer to what exactly was done to the car. 

 

When approaching the local SuperCheap Auto Store I got the most sage advice on car cleaning. Wash, dry, polish (lasts 3 months without wax) then wax with Carnauba wax (lasts 12 months), regardless of the paint job done, and it will be as protected as it can be. 

Standard Skoda practice for new & approved used cars over here in UK. 

 

£299 for paint protection - rip off, probably £25 worth of product slapped on by a YTS kid. 

‘Kin disgrace.

 

That’s before the ‘Gap Insurance’ “offer” at £399 which can be found elsewhere at c. £85. 

 

Never buy any additional dealer add-ons. You are being had over!

And that’s the dilemma. Get charged an arm and a leg for something due to ignorance and find it’s not going to be of value in the end. Are there any other after market paint protection efforts that are good and effective for the car?

People here put invisible film, thin foil in front of the car you actually can't see. It has a characteristics to "cure" itself from stones, protecting mostly exposed parts - front of the good, bumper and mirrors. This doesn't cost much here.

 

Check this option if you need it. I am not going to put anything, goal of all that coating is to wash car easier, once per week I spend 3-5 minutes on self service contactless washing places.

When I bought mine in Jan 2017, I was offered the Autoglym LifeShine inside and out for £500 - with 'lifetime guarantee' - i.e. as long as you own the car. As mine is intended to hopefully be a v. long termer, I took it as a no-brainer (although a lot of the detailing guys will be rolling their eyes, I'm sure... - I'm a self-confessed ignoramus).

 

My main justification for the £500 was that it can be reapplied for free, thanks to the guarantee, whenever there might be any fade, loss of coverage (mainly on the interior), or paint scratches etc.

 

On the first hand-wash, you can tell where the coating's been applied on the outside - it's fairly hydrophobic. I wish it / something similar had been applied to the wheels, but sadly not. Either way, I've experienced good results with it, especially keeping mud and 1-2 day old bird-crap (i.e. when I notice for the first time) from damaging paintwork. Separate to this topic, the interior coverage is actually excellent - spillages and the like wipe off extremely well from the leather, without stains (sounds like a Vanish advert...). It doesn't necessarily stop the chips across the front, but I've had noticeably less than a friend of mine with diesel model - although that could be down to distance from car in front this Winter...

 

I'd recommend the Lifeshine, even if it seems like a gimmick - if only to ensure that reapplications are free.

4 hours ago, Ads230 said:

When I bought mine in Jan 2017, I was offered the Autoglym LifeShine inside and out for £500 - with 'lifetime guarantee' - i.e. as long as you own the car. As mine is intended to hopefully be a v. long termer, I took it as a no-brainer (although a lot of the detailing guys will be rolling their eyes, I'm sure... - I'm a self-confessed ignoramus).

 

My main justification for the £500 was that it can be reapplied for free, thanks to the guarantee, whenever there might be any fade, loss of coverage (mainly on the interior), or paint scratches etc.

 

On the first hand-wash, you can tell where the coating's been applied on the outside - it's fairly hydrophobic. I wish it / something similar had been applied to the wheels, but sadly not. Either way, I've experienced good results with it, especially keeping mud and 1-2 day old bird-crap (i.e. when I notice for the first time) from damaging paintwork. Separate to this topic, the interior coverage is actually excellent - spillages and the like wipe off extremely well from the leather, without stains (sounds like a Vanish advert...). It doesn't necessarily stop the chips across the front, but I've had noticeably less than a friend of mine with diesel model - although that could be down to distance from car in front this Winter...

 

I'd recommend the Lifeshine, even if it seems like a gimmick - if only to ensure that reapplications are free.

Are you entirely sure about that? Three things spring immediately to mind:

 

1: The first alarm signs ring when you say that it can be re-applied for free whenever there might be any fade, or paint scratches.  Fade? But the product is sold on the premise it prevents fade and paint scratches. And if the car has faded I think you're going to need a tad more than simply applying a coat of protection to rectify it.  Scratches? (assuming they're light) Any half decent polish will remove scratches but no amount of protection will prevent stone chips, scratches from people rubbing along side the car etc.

 

The next thing is that 'guarantee'. have you read the small print? Are you sure it's only guaranteed as long as you keep polishing / cleaning etc the car using Autoglym's own products? There are so many 'get out' clauses I wonder if Autoglym and other similar protection schemes have ever paid out. 

 

And finally the price. £500 !!!!!!!  These so called 'protection kits' are usually sold for the rip-off price of around £300 but that's the first I've ever seen for £500 - Jeez.  Halfords were selling the same Autoglym kit for £48 over the Chritmas period.

 

Sorry to be so negative but it really does sound like you've been shafted.  

@Scot5 - all good points, mate. (I actually made an error re: £500, it was £300! But still a hefty price)

 

I called up Autoglym and discussed it with them to double-check that it wasn't just a face value deal (https://www.lifeshine.com/guarantee.php) and received some genuinely satisfactory answers re: scenarios for reapplication. I highly doubt they'll cover everything, but one of the clauses was indeed use of their own products - and invalidation can come from using auto-car washes etc (which is funny). I do tend to read a lot of small print stuff, due to my job, so I was relatively satisfied with their offering. It's registered, so I can give them a call tomorrow and find out more info perhaps.

 

I also liked the shiny £50 product bag they give you  ... but - and this is important - in the context of the sale, it was a steal, as I sold my Fiesta ZS Mk6 to them (*the garage providing the LS service) unseen for twice its value (@£2500 p/x) and with an exhaust + cambelt on their way out.

 

Purely IMHO, it's been ok so far. But some very good points above - and @£300, it's each to their own about the cost v. benefits.

Edited 10 January, 20188 yr by Ads230

Always interesting the 'Fully Trained Operatives' applying the products, 

pretty much like someone doing it their self might do it, only taking their time.

ive got this on my bus nose.