Car Detailing Dorset

Unfortunately, not in most cases. Main dealers are car sellers with zero interest in protecting your car. All they care about is number crunching, and even when they say they will chuck it in for free, it’s not.

The valeters at main dealers are not given the right amount of time to carry out such work to a high standard, and most are not even trained properly to apply ceramic coatings.

We would advise against having the dealer apply anything to your vehicle and recommend seeking a professional such as ourselves if you want a proper job carried out.

It is a common misconception that a brand-new vehicle is perfect.

The dealership’s usual practice is to do a “make ready” prep before handing the car to the customer. The problem with this is dealerships will always use the fastest and most cost-effective way to prep the car, which inevitably puts imperfections such as swirl marks and scratches into the paintwork.

In most cases, new cars need machine polishing to remove paint imperfections, such as machine buffer trails and sanding marks left behind from the production line, to bring the gloss and clarity to their full potential.

Car owners often choose between ceramic coatings and paint protection films (PPF) for automotive paint protection.

Both options offer robust protection for a vehicle’s exterior but differ significantly in their application, durability, cost, and the level of protection they provide. Understanding these differences can help car owners make an informed decision that best suits their needs.

Durability

Ceramic Coating: Known for its long-lasting protection, a high-quality ceramic coating can last anywhere from 2 to 9 years, depending on the product and maintenance. It chemically bonds with the vehicle’s paint, providing a durable layer that resists environmental contaminants and UV rays.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): PPF offers a physical barrier between the car’s paint and the environment. It’s incredibly durable and can last up to 10 years with proper care. Unlike ceramic coatings, PPF is a thicker, clear film that can absorb impacts from small rocks, road debris, and minor scratches, self-healing minor marks when exposed to heat.

Cost

Ceramic Coating: While the upfront cost can be significant, the investment is often justified by the coating’s longevity and the reduced need for frequent applications. Prices vary based on the quality of the coating and the size of the vehicle.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): Generally, PPF is more expensive than ceramic coatings due to the material cost and the labour-intensive application process.

However, its longer lifespan and physical protection capabilities can make it a cost-effective solution for those looking to protect their vehicle from physical damage over many years.

Level of Protection

Ceramic Coating: Provides excellent protection against chemical stains, oxidation, UV damage, and hydrophobic properties that make cleaning easier. However, it does not offer physical protection against dings, dents, or scratches.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): Offers superior physical protection, shielding the paint from chips, scratches, and stains. Its thickness serves as a barrier against various forms of physical damage. PPF also provides some level of UV protection but is primarily sought after for its ability to protect against physical impacts.

Aesthetic Appeal

Ceramic Coating: Enhances the vehicle’s appearance by adding a glossy, slick finish that makes the colour pop and the surface easier to clean.

Paint Protection Film (PPF): Maintains the original look of the vehicle’s paint by offering a virtually invisible layer of protection. Some PPF options also come with a glossy finish to mimic the aesthetic enhancements of ceramic coatings.

Utilising the best products and safest techniques, we can elevate paint in any condition to a new level of clarity and shine without compromising the paint thickness.

The scratch resistance and hardness of a ceramic coating are often exaggerated; a coated vehicle will still pick up scuffs, stone chips and scratches. Furthermore, improper car washing techniques or automated car washes will still induce marring and swirl marks on your vehicle’s surface.

A ceramic coating is not a substitute for paint protection film, which provides a more comprehensive form of defence against swirl marks, scratches, vandalism, stone chips, and other road debris damage.

Our combined ceramic coating and paint protection film services will provide the ultimate protection for your car!

Gives your car a fresh lease of life with rejuvenated paint:

Professional detailers know exactly how to remove or reduce existing etching, scratches, swirls and oxidation using machine polishing techniques. They make sure that your vehicle remains in great condition for a long time to come.

Stunning finish with quality detailing:

Look at any detailed car and you will certainly be impressed with the amazing finish. Even if you have been looking after your car regularly, there will be a marked difference and your car will look better after being through a professional car detailing service.

Ease of maintenance:

A car that has been detailed by professionals has a slick exterior that repels dirt and dust. The sparklingly clean exterior is a result of extensive protective treatments and decontamination procedures. This makes maintenance very easy as the car tends to stay clean for longer periods of time.

Keeps your car in immaculate condition:

By opting for professional car detailing services, you give your car long-term protection. Professionals remove contaminants that can damage areas like chrome, leather, paint and vinyl. They also seal the areas preventing further contamination and ensuring that your car remains in top condition.

Increases re-sale value:

In the pre-owned market, a well-maintained vehicle makes all the difference. Thus, if you happen to go for timely and regular detailing services, your vehicle will not only age gracefully but will also fetch you a higher resale value owing to its good looks and maintained finish.

Paint correction is a long and labour-intensive process which will remove defects and imperfections in paintwork such as swirls marks, scratches, buffer trials, sanding marks, oxidation and etching from bird droppings.

Utilizing the best products and safest techniques, we’re able to take paint in any condition to a whole new level of clarity and shine, without compromising the paint thickness.

We can usually guarantee full correction of > 95% of paint defects present (subject to paint depth and defect severity) with the process taking on average 20 – 40 hours to complete.

Paint correction can often eliminate the need for an expensive re-spray and often restore the paintwork to a level that is above the original factory finish.

After our paint correction process clarity will be restored and you will notice that light will be perfectly reflected and the colour of the vehicle is greatly enhanced leaving a breathtaking finish, in some cases leaving it in better condition than the day your vehicle left the factory.