This weekend I will be getting me '12 Graphite Shadow coupe paint corrected, detailed and ceramic coated with CQuartz. Picking it up Sunday. Will post pictures upon completion. Very excited.

 

Excellent!

Make sure you get your maintenance routine dialed in afterwards to keep the paint looking its best!

How To Properly Wash and Dry a Car by Todd Cooperider
Maintaining Your Paint Coating by Zach McGovern


Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
Attention to Detailing - Peoria, IL

 

Regarding maintenance can you please opine on these questions:

1. Due to the hydrophobic properties of the coating, it will repel most if not all contaminants and dust particles. If I want to "clean" my vehicle, can I simply use a garden hose and dry it with a microfibre chamois and or air dry it with a leaf blower (how I always dry my vehicle before I use a chamois)

2. If I want to wash the car, can I use a mild solution lets say 1 part soap, 10 parts water of a generic car wash solution (meguires, mothers etc) and a microfibre sponge? Will this be even necessary?

3. When I bring my car to service at Infiniti, they always wash the car afterwards. I have not observed their process, but I have been told it is a straightforward handwash. That being said, I do not know what type of soap solution or drying process they use (I infer semi-clean terry towels, hence all the swirls I have). Will their wash process damage the coating?

 

#1 isnt going to work, water hosing will remove 90% of dirt, you will still have to soap/clean it for the rest of 10%.

#3 My rule is, I don't ever let the dealer wash my car. they destroyed my detailed paint twice on two different cars. I wont even try now lol.

for #2, i use several microfiber towels and garry dean's detail juice detailer. (I dont have to use soap) I spray the detailer on a panel vigorously and drag gold standard microfiber towel with light hand and then wipe it off using a waffle weave.
you cannot prevent swirls for ever, but this process will get you through two years before you come back and do a full step cquartz coat again.

 

My detailer said that he would guarantee free foam washes whenever I like post application. With good maintenance (assume foam wash once a month), this CQuartz should last longer than 2 years, no? Car will be garage kept

 

No - please never do this regardless of what type of protection is applied to the paint. A simple rinse or even a pressure wash will not remove all of the loose contamination from the surface, therefore when you go to wipe the car dry you have a much higher risk of scratching the paint because there will still be dirt on the surface.

Either do a traditional wash as I had outlined above, or utilize a rinseless washing procedure with a product like Optimum No Rinse.

If you use a traditional washing process, for the final rinse, sheet the water off of the car with free flowing water from the hose, then blow it dry as you mentioned. This is quite easy due to the hydrophobic properties of the coating.


Yes, traditional washing is necessary when your car gets dirty...

All shampoos will have various dilution ratios which should be followed. Each shampoo has directions that the manufacturers develop for optimal performance. CarPro Reset has been designed specifically to work with CQuartz coatings without leaving behind waxes or gloss enhancers and the effective ratio is approximately 1:500 (shampoo : water). Fill a wash bucket with 3 to 4 gallons) of water and add approximtely 1 to 1.5 oz. of Reset.

It is my professional opinion that you should NOT allow them to touch your car. I have yet to see or hear of a dealership who utilizes proper washing techniques and products. Chances are your car will be damaged in as little as just one poor car wash, which means the money you just spent on having the vehicle corrected and coated will be for nothing as new swirls will then be instilled into the coating and paint. The coating will still perform as intended even if it gets swirls in it, but it is always best to avoid anything that will introduce unnecessary swirl marks.

Here is a fine example: The Real Cost of a “Cheap” Car Wash by Zach McGovern

I would recommend you purchase or make a sign to hang in your car which states "DO NOT WASH CAR". I personally have 4 signs on my car when it goes to the dealership for anything: 1 hanging from the rear view mirror, 1 taped on each of the front side windows, and one placed on the dash. I also instruct my service manager that they should not wash or detail the car in any way.

Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
Attention to Detailing - Peoria, IL

 

The hydrophobic properties of the coating can exceed 2 years with good maintenance, especially if you top the coating with something like CarPro Reload.

However, most every vehicle can benefit from a polish every 2-3 years to remove any light swirls or marring that may have been introduced. The polishing process will degrade or remove the coating, and therefore the car will need to be recoated. This is all part of keeping it looking perfect.

Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
Attention to Detailing - Peoria, IL

 

Thank you sir for the fast response! I will purchase carpro reset and apply your delicate handwashing procedures. Will my detailers' delicate foam wash suffice as well? Should Carpro reload be applied annually or to which frequency?. Also, can I use generic instant detailer (meguires, mothers etc) and a microfibre towel for emergency cleanings such as bird bombs?

 

Surely your detailer knows how to properly wash & dry a car safely, and they should also be very familiar with how to maintain the coatings. Speak with them about it as well.

You can use Reload or any other quick detail spray that adds some protection. My personal favorite is Meguiar's D156. It is not as durable as reload, but it is much quicker and easier to use. I use it after each car wash. Simply mist it onto a panel while it is still wet, then dry it off.

Reload can last up to 6 months, but for maximum protection I would recommend using it at least every 2-3 months. One bottle will last you a long time as a very little bit goes a long way.

Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
Attention to Detailing - Peoria, IL

 

Here is a final pic. The paint is smooth as butter, no imperfections, swirls etc. Looks showroom condition. My detailer did an amazing job. Going back in 2 weeks for reload application.

 

Looking good!

-Zach