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Ceramic coating and PPF worth it or not..lets hear from the masses

I'm a big fan boy, I've Commented on it in the past. If you use Xpel as intended it's awesome. I had it done on my last truck, it worked as advertised. I used my truck for a lot of Baja runs and saved my paint . When I went to see it. I avoided a complete paint job! So it was worth it. Plus going with a good mat finish looks awesome on some colors like the post above!

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I was a huge skeptic on both. After a lot of conversations with the shop that does the services I pulled the trigger. Xpel ceramic and PPF on my 2023 limited 3500.

I am now a huge fanboy. Truck looks amazing, water beads off and dirt does not seem to “stick” to the surface as much. Super easy to wash. And did mention it looks amazing.

I think as with most things you need to find a good shop. The shop I went to stands behind all their work and offers free touch ups.

I would do it all over again sure sure.
 
I will also mention in here. If you don’t regularly touch less wash your truck (every week). Yes don’t be scrubbing on it. Then doing ceramic coating or ceramic coated PPF is a waste of your money.

If it isn’t properly taken care of it will not last just like anything else.
 
Vdrsnk said:
I will also mention in here. If you don’t regularly touch less wash your truck (every week). Yes don’t be scrubbing on it. Then doing ceramic coating or ceramic coated PPF is a waste of your money.

If it isn’t properly taken care of it will not last just like anything else.
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True but even the touchless car washes usually use soaps that are way too strong and high in acid so that they can actually get the dirt off.
My detailer told me to hand wash it or just spray it off. I found a feller that gives me an outside wash for $50 so sometimes
I wash it or if the back ain't so good I take it to him. I take it to him in the winter about every 2 to 3 weeks.
 
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unclelala said:
True but even the touchless car washes usually use soaps that are way too strong and hi in acid so that they can actually get the dirt off.
My detailer told me to hand wash it or just spray it off. I found a feller that gives me an outside was for $50 so sometimes
I wash it or if the back ain't so good I take it to him. I take it to him in the winter about every 2 to 3 weeks.
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Sorry for confusion, I wasn’t talking about auto touchless wash. I meant at home touchless washing and blow drying.
 
Vdrsnk said:
Sorry for confusion, I wasn’t talking about auto touchless wash. I meant at home touchless washing and blow drying.
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Are you talking those products you foam onto the truck then spray off ? And if so are they safe for ceramics ?
 
unclelala said:
Are you talking those products you foam onto the truck then spray off ? And if so are they safe for ceramics ?
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Yes sir, I just follow the steps my professionals gave me that they warranty.
 
I would disagree. I have two vehicles fully PPF and ceramic coated. One has had it in place for over 6 years now, other over a year.

The 6 year one I hand wash with water about 2-3 times a year, blow it off with a leaf blower. I’ll occasionally “dry wash” some spots and use Rejen for that.

The other vehicle (truck) goes through a car wash probably 6-8 times a year. Both look flawless. The PPF / ceramic holds up great for both types of washing IMHO. As long as you are using non-petroleum based detergents it does fine. Most car washes these days have pretty strict guidelines for the detergents they use.


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mountainears said:
I would disagree. I have two vehicles fully PPF and ceramic coated. One has had it in place for over 6 years now, other over a year.

The 6 year one I hand wash with water about 2-3 times a year, blow it off with a leaf blower. I’ll occasionally “dry wash” some spots and use Rejen for that.

The other vehicle (truck) goes through a car wash probably 6-8 times a year. Both look flawless. The PPF / ceramic holds up great for both types of washing IMHO. As long as you are using non-petroleum based detergents it does fine. Most car washes these days have pretty strict guidelines for the detergents they use.


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where do you live...northern regions are notorious for using a stronger detergent because of winter salt etc. and crappy road conditions. Your are talking touchless ?
 
mountainears said:
I would disagree. I have two vehicles fully PPF and ceramic coated. One has had it in place for over 6 years now, other over a year.

The 6 year one I hand wash with water about 2-3 times a year, blow it off with a leaf blower. I’ll occasionally “dry wash” some spots and use Rejen for that.

The other vehicle (truck) goes through a car wash probably 6-8 times a year. Both look flawless. The PPF / ceramic holds up great for both types of washing IMHO. As long as you are using non-petroleum based detergents it does fine. Most car washes these days have pretty strict guidelines for the detergents they use.


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I’d agree most don’t. But That’s not a chance I’m willing to take for the ones that do. 3 vehicles in PPF and ceramic and they all look perfect following the process approved by the warranty.
 
Vdrsnk said:
I’d agree most don’t. But That’s not a chance I’m willing to take for the ones that do. 3 vehicles in PPF and ceramic and they all look perfect following the process approved by the warranty.
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What of what I described violates the warranty of the product. XPel does not say you cannot use a car wash. Petroleum based products are the main issue.


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Pleased with my Xpel PPF. Going on 2 years now.
Had tow hooks powder coated red and they have a lot of small rock chip marks while the truck body shows none at all.
In hindsight, I wish I had left the tow hooks black.
 
I’ve had great results with ceramic coating and PPF , totally worth it if you care about keeping your ride looking clean and protected. I always go to my trusted spot, tint company in Clinton Township. They do awesome work and know their stuff.
 
What I love about ceramic and PPF is just when I think I'm a pig for not washing the truck some rain or snow come along and cleans it for me. With the ceramic it comes clean as a whistle in most cases just with rain.
 
So I have the opposite experience. I was a big fan when I first had the Ceramic coating done and PPF installed on the full front and rockers. I paid for the 5 year stuff and it started to deteriorate after about 3 months, and don’t get me started on the “maintenance” services for the ceramic coating, total waist. My installer had a list of things I should not do to make sure the Cermic coating lasts, use special soap/car wash, use three buckets, hand was only, use a cannon…..Well if I did all those things I wouldn’t need Cermic coating. If I had to do it all over again I would do full PPF and dump the Ceramic. Total waist of my money…
 
unclelala said:
What I love about ceramic and PPF is just when I think I'm a pig for not washing the truck some rain or snow come along and cleans it for me. With the ceramic it comes clean as a whistle in most cases just with rain.
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Your are lucky. I paid for XPEL and it is crap. Was great for the first 90 ish days.
 
Not sure if its the brand or not but I have had my PPF and ceramic since Sept 2021 and its still impressive, not familiar with XPEL but my detailer used MODESTA (not cheap)...and no beef up treatments either. Its been almost 4 years and the truck still looks wet and shiny on a bad day.
 
unclelala said:
Not sure if its the brand or not but I have had my PPF and ceramic since Sept 2021 and its still impressive, not familiar with XPEL but my detailer used MODESTA (not cheap)...and no beef up treatments either. It’s been almost 4 years and the truck still looks wet and shiny on a bad day.
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Yeah. I don’t know but I was hoping for the same experience you are having.

Good to know it is working for some folks.
 
unclelala said:
Not sure if its the brand or not but I have had my PPF and ceramic since Sept 2021 and its still impressive, not familiar with XPEL but my detailer used MODESTA (not cheap)...and no beef up treatments either. Its been almost 4 years and the truck still looks wet and shiny on a bad day.
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Same experience here. I have it on my truck and my RS6 for a few years now, mine is XPEL brand and the entire vehicles is covered in it. The truck was PPF coated with ceramic, the RS6 is PPF with ceramic in it already.
 
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