CQuartz without PPF: Dumb Idea?
08-04-2017, 03:52 PM
#1
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CQuartz without PPF: Dumb Idea?
I have a 2017 991.2 with not many miles on it and want to protect the paint job, I was originally thinking of having the front wrapped with XPEL. Then I heard of people applying CQuartz on top to really bring out the gloss and shine.
My question is this: How does the combo of XPEL and CQ stack up to the luster and gloss of the original factory paint job? Is it shinier or less shiny? My car is Sapphire Blue Metallic and I don't want to lose the color's "wow" factor. I know no film is 100% clear but it would suck to pay good money and take a step back in appearance, even if it's better protected...
Alternatively, I guess I can have just the front bumper wrapped and leave the hood very shiny but unprotected. (My old 911 had quite a few dings on the bumper but the hood had just a couple of marks.) If I'm going to spend the money on the bumper, is it stupid to leave out the rest of the front end?
Any suggestions on the best way to go? All I know is that I def want to do the CQ.
Thanks a lot!
My question is this: How does the combo of XPEL and CQ stack up to the luster and gloss of the original factory paint job? Is it shinier or less shiny? My car is Sapphire Blue Metallic and I don't want to lose the color's "wow" factor. I know no film is 100% clear but it would suck to pay good money and take a step back in appearance, even if it's better protected...
Alternatively, I guess I can have just the front bumper wrapped and leave the hood very shiny but unprotected. (My old 911 had quite a few dings on the bumper but the hood had just a couple of marks.) If I'm going to spend the money on the bumper, is it stupid to leave out the rest of the front end?
Any suggestions on the best way to go? All I know is that I def want to do the CQ.
Thanks a lot!
08-04-2017, 04:51 PM
#2
I would venture a guess that a lot of people here wrap the front end in PPF and then coat the whole car. That's what I did. And my car gleams, both where the film is (which is barely perceptible) and on the unfilmed, just coated parts. To me this strikes the right balance of protecting the front end of the car from rock chips, and the whole car from scratches and swirl marks resulting from every day use/washing mistakes, etc.
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Mikster (10-21-2021)
08-04-2017, 05:29 PM
#4
Burning Brakes
I have a 2017 991.2 with not many miles on it and want to protect the paint job, I was originally thinking of having the front wrapped with XPEL. Then I heard of people applying CQuartz on top to really bring out the gloss and shine.
My question is this: How does the combo of XPEL and CQ stack up to the luster and gloss of the original factory paint job? Is it shinier or less shiny? My car is Sapphire Blue Metallic and I don't want to lose the color's "wow" factor. I know no film is 100% clear but it would suck to pay good money and take a step back in appearance, even if it's better protected...
Alternatively, I guess I can have just the front bumper wrapped and leave the hood very shiny but unprotected. (My old 911 had quite a few dings on the bumper but the hood had just a couple of marks.) If I'm going to spend the money on the bumper, is it stupid to leave out the rest of the front end?
Any suggestions on the best way to go? All I know is that I def want to do the CQ.
Thanks a lot!
My question is this: How does the combo of XPEL and CQ stack up to the luster and gloss of the original factory paint job? Is it shinier or less shiny? My car is Sapphire Blue Metallic and I don't want to lose the color's "wow" factor. I know no film is 100% clear but it would suck to pay good money and take a step back in appearance, even if it's better protected...
Alternatively, I guess I can have just the front bumper wrapped and leave the hood very shiny but unprotected. (My old 911 had quite a few dings on the bumper but the hood had just a couple of marks.) If I'm going to spend the money on the bumper, is it stupid to leave out the rest of the front end?
Any suggestions on the best way to go? All I know is that I def want to do the CQ.
Thanks a lot!
Long story short, if you’re up in the air like I was, just do the CQuartz for now and see how it holds up. If you want to add the film later, you should be fine.
08-04-2017, 06:16 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
From what I have gleaned, a quartz coating will not protect the paint from stone chips. I was very hesitant on putting a clear bra on my car but lots of folks who did have the XPEL film installed, recommend it highly including the detailer I take my car to regularly. Because my car is a 4S which I plan to drive in winters in the NE, I know the paint will take a beating in a low car. A protective film will keep it from looking like crap after one season. Or so I hope. I didn't drive my Boxster in the winters and even then the front had numerous chips in the paint with no protective film.
08-04-2017, 06:46 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
I've been wondering for some time about whether applying ceramic coats on top of PPF is a good approach. A lot of people seem to say they do it, but I'd never seen any PPF maker recommend it. The quality PPFs have their own seal-healing coatings that seem to work really well. There seems to be plenty of shops willing to do ceramic coating on PPF, but I guess that makes sense... there's a lot of money to be made there.
It is also my understanding from the product literature on ceramic coatings that they are made to chemically bond with paint molecules. So I don't think it will bond as intended to PPF. So from this angle it just doesn't seem to make sense either.
So I sent a message to Xpel and asked about their recommendation. Here is the response I just got:"Ceramic coating can be applied on top of the film but we do not know the long term effects of applying it. It could affect the self healing properties of the film. Our XPEL film sealant does take the place of wax to help keep the gloss of the film."
If anyone has non-anecdotal expert information about this I'd love to hear it. Otherwise I'll stick with using the Xpel sealant on my film and nothing else.
It is also my understanding from the product literature on ceramic coatings that they are made to chemically bond with paint molecules. So I don't think it will bond as intended to PPF. So from this angle it just doesn't seem to make sense either.
So I sent a message to Xpel and asked about their recommendation. Here is the response I just got:"Ceramic coating can be applied on top of the film but we do not know the long term effects of applying it. It could affect the self healing properties of the film. Our XPEL film sealant does take the place of wax to help keep the gloss of the film."
If anyone has non-anecdotal expert information about this I'd love to hear it. Otherwise I'll stick with using the Xpel sealant on my film and nothing else.
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08-04-2017, 07:02 PM
#8
Rennlist Member
Those were also my sentiments but stone and salt/sand are harsher than pudgy butts. I am doing it more for ease of cleaning. Lower maintenance I have been told. Bugs wash off and stone chips don't show up. Lazy man's solution in my case. I hate washing and waxing my car myself.
08-04-2017, 08:24 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
I did CQuartz Tio2 on my car myself, it is not the finest version but I am very pleased with it. I have it on my Jeep and my wife's S5 as well. Every couple of months I do a reload application. Very slick surface, water blows off the paint as I drive. Next morning when the car is dry no water spots.
Eric
Eric
08-04-2017, 09:06 PM
#10
I wrapped my whole front in Clear Guard Nano and I'm thinking about wrapping the rest of it now as well.
What I really like about the wrapped parts is that I dont really need to worry about swirls in the paint anymore. I can have it washed anywhere and a couple of hours in the sun will heal any swirls.
What I really like about the wrapped parts is that I dont really need to worry about swirls in the paint anymore. I can have it washed anywhere and a couple of hours in the sun will heal any swirls.
08-04-2017, 09:26 PM
#11
Hi Big997fan I did exactly what you are describing....xpel on front bumper and side mirrors ONLY (the front facing parts of the car) and nanocoating (I used ceramic pro) over entire car.
i am happy to report that after 18 months of ownership there car looks spectacular (I attribute it mainly to the CP). there have been only a few tiny chips in the hood of the car so small that I only noticed them while detailing my car and these I dab a small amount of dr colorchip and they are imperceptible afterwards to the point I cant even find them anymore.
i had wrapped my previous car a targa 4S entire front and i feel by not doing this the paintjob appears more 'factory finish'. i shared similar concerns as yours and feel i made the right choice in retrospect. the nano may add a slightly 'wetter' look to your car than factory but it is WELL worth it since it does an astounding job of preserving the paint overall from dulling over time. people still think my car looks brand new even after 18 months including the SA who sold it to me who says it looks the same as the day i pulled out of the lot!
i am happy to report that after 18 months of ownership there car looks spectacular (I attribute it mainly to the CP). there have been only a few tiny chips in the hood of the car so small that I only noticed them while detailing my car and these I dab a small amount of dr colorchip and they are imperceptible afterwards to the point I cant even find them anymore.
i had wrapped my previous car a targa 4S entire front and i feel by not doing this the paintjob appears more 'factory finish'. i shared similar concerns as yours and feel i made the right choice in retrospect. the nano may add a slightly 'wetter' look to your car than factory but it is WELL worth it since it does an astounding job of preserving the paint overall from dulling over time. people still think my car looks brand new even after 18 months including the SA who sold it to me who says it looks the same as the day i pulled out of the lot!
08-04-2017, 09:42 PM
#12
Coating the paint will have many benefits with or without PPF. Cleaning will be easier, bird droppings less caustic (still need to remove asap) wax looks great but does not last very long. I like the "hard candy" looks of coatings, I did XPEL and Ceramic Pro coating. Installer skill is more critical for both components versus the product choice.
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Mikster (10-21-2021)
08-04-2017, 11:31 PM
#15
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
The one issue with applying a ceramic coating like CQuartz underneath PPF is that it inhibits the adhesive properties of the PPF.
Just something to consider.
Just something to consider.