New car paint protection suggestions

[Dad of Two]

I could use some advice.

I’m picking up my new 2025 X5 in a few weeks and want to start off on the right foot taking care of the paint.

Any recommendations on what to do when I get it?

I’m considering taking it somewhere for ceramic coating but, short of that, what can I do myself? I’ve read a bunch and it is all over the place. From starting with a clay bar then polishing and waxing to “just wash your car.” I’ve read alot about ceramic spray which sounds pretty good and the difference from professional ceramic being durability and longevity.

This is going to be my daily driver so not looking to make this a show car but I do want it to look nice.

Thanks all.

[icj_45e]

Depends on your expectations, your OCD level and how much time you have. And your budget! Ceramic coating is a great idea. Lasts a couple years, looks great and makes future maintenance easier.

If you're a little handy and interested, you can do it all yourself. Spend a few hours on youtube researching different processes and products. Otherwise find a mobile detailer or detail shop and let them set you up.

I like products from Carpro, Gyeon and Adam's, but most brands are good enough for the average person. I like AutoFiber towels and applicators. I have a cheap Amazon pressure washer with upgraded nozzles/fittings/hoses.

Decon Wash (Carpro Lift or Gyeon Restart)
Wheels and Tires (Adam's Wheel + Tire Cleaner)
Iron Decon (Adam's Iron remover)
Clay Decon (Autofiber clay towel)
Polish (Carpro Reflect) (assuming brand new car in decent shape)
Panel Prep wipe (Gyeon Prep)
Ceramic Coat (Gyeon MOHS EVO)

Maintenance Washes (Carpro Reset)
Drying Aid (Carpro Elixir or Gyeon Detailer)
Tire/Plastic Trim/Interior (Carpro Perl at different dilution rates)

Good luck!

[Dad of Two]

Thanks. Good info.

Have you ever heard about waiting 30-90 days for new paint to offgas before sealing? Some say that only applies to repainted cars at a body shop and not to brand new cars painted at the factory. I can’t tell if I need to wait a few weeks to do anything on my new X5 when I get it.

[John in VA]

If you can get the dealership to skip "prepping" the car for delivery you might be better off! They often induce swirls & defects that will have to be addressed if you decide on a ceramic coating or PPF.
Where in VA/which dealer?

[Dad of Two]

I bought from Passport BMW

[tracer bullet]

If your cars tend to get a lot of rock chips along the hood, around where things get kicked up by the tires, on the bumpers, and so on you might consider the PPF films to guard against that. If you'd like it to stay a little cleaner and shinier is when you look at ceramic coatings. And of course you can do both. Some of it depends on how many miles you think you'll put on, if you park in your own garage indoors or a shared lot outside, how long you'll keep the car, etc. and as mentioned how much work you like to do or not. Some more info along those lines might help too. There's no one answer for everyone.

[Dad of Two]

The last few cars I’ve had I keep about 4 years and put about 13000 miles in per year. It will be parked in my own garage. Not a ton of rock chips and debris on the road in VA (at least where I drive) but there is some.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by Dad of Two

The last few cars I’ve had I keep about 4 years and put about 13000 miles in per year. It will be parked in my own garage. Not a ton of rock chips and debris on the road in VA (at least where I drive) but there is some.

PPF would be more bang for the buck - quite a few good installers here in northern VA. There are some good DIY sealants & ceramic products to keep the car shiny & easier to clean..

[BruinMan]

Originally Posted by icj_45e

Depends on your expectations, your OCD level and how much time you have. And your budget! Ceramic coating is a great idea. Lasts a couple years, looks great and makes future maintenance easier.

If you're a little handy and interested, you can do it all yourself. Spend a few hours on youtube researching different processes and products. Otherwise find a mobile detailer or detail shop and let them set you up.

I like products from Carpro, Gyeon and Adam's, but most brands are good enough for the average person. I like AutoFiber towels and applicators. I have a cheap Amazon pressure washer with upgraded nozzles/fittings/hoses.

Decon Wash (Carpro Lift or Gyeon Restart)
Wheels and Tires (Adam's Wheel + Tire Cleaner)
Iron Decon (Adam's Iron remover)
Clay Decon (Autofiber clay towel)
Polish (Carpro Reflect) (assuming brand new car in decent shape)
Panel Prep wipe (Gyeon Prep)
Ceramic Coat (Gyeon MOHS EVO)

Maintenance Washes (Carpro Reset)
Drying Aid (Carpro Elixir or Gyeon Detailer)
Tire/Plastic Trim/Interior (Carpro Perl at different dilution rates)

Good luck!

Excellent and Perfect advice. You need to do the above for a Paint Correction before you seal your car with Ceramic coating.
Application needs to be done in your garage. If your aren’t a DIY, then expect to pay the average of $850

If you plan on hand washing your car. Get the EGO Power+ LB7654 765 CFM. The water will repel off with the leaf blower for an easy wipe off.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

If your cars tend to get a lot of rock chips along the hood, around where things get kicked up by the tires, on the bumpers, and so on you might consider the PPF films to guard against that. If you'd like it to stay a little cleaner and shinier is when you look at ceramic coatings. And of course you can do both. Some of it depends on how many miles you think you'll put on, if you park in your own garage indoors or a shared lot outside, how long you'll keep the car, etc. and as mentioned how much work you like to do or not. Some more info along those lines might help too. There's no one answer for everyone.

In a perfect world the OP would do both PPF and ceramic coating or get the more expensive PPF offered by some of the better brands that has a hydrophobic top-coat. Needless to say, the decision depends on his budget.

[tracer bullet]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

In a perfect world the OP would do both PPF and ceramic coating or get the more expensive PPF offered by some of the better brands that has a hydrophobic top-coat. Needless to say, the decision depends on his budget.

Yep, for some people they won't ever realize the benefit, either because they don't notice or care or in some cases there's basically no benefit to be had.

If the vehicle is traded in, then any PPF or ceramic is probably not going to be much of a factor, if any, no bonus value from it. Then it's just for the owner's satisfaction. I might lean towards a spray coating applied to an applicator then to the car, with a microfiber wipe-off afterwards. Skip the paint work before-hand if there's nothing obvious. Make the car easier to have the car look good, keep clean and have water bead up on it and such. Apply once or twice a year. Enjoy the car and then after 4 or whatever years turn it in for another.

[mwarsh]

On my last car (Tesla) I had ppf put on front bumper, half of hood, and behind tires where rocks kick up. I also did a 5 year ceramic coating and tinted both front side windows and windshield with ceramic film.

Tomorrow I pick up my x6 and plan to do similar with the main add on being that I plan to put film on all windows and sunroof that will provide both UV protection and heat resistance. My Tesla had a huge window on top and the heat was insane. I ended up purchasing a large screen to help. This time I want to get ahead of things and just do the window film everywhere.

Like mentioned, all depends on ocd level, time planning on retaining vehicle (because it doesn’t seem to add to resale) and the climate/conditions your car will be exposed to.

[David70]

Originally Posted by Dad of Two

Thanks. Good info.

Have you ever heard about waiting 30-90 days for new paint to offgas before sealing? Some say that only applies to repainted cars at a body shop and not to brand new cars painted at the factory. I can’t tell if I need to wait a few weeks to do anything on my new X5 when I get it.

Especially with sealing, I think if you look at the actual manufacture date until you actually get the work done that it ends up being over 30 days.

[QDawg12]

Anybody know or recommend a good place in the Tampa Florida area to get your car prepped, PPF and ceramic ?

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

Yep, for some people they won't ever realize the benefit, either because they don't notice or care or in some cases there's basically no benefit to be had.

If the vehicle is traded in, then any PPF or ceramic is probably not going to be much of a factor, if any, no bonus value from it. Then it's just for the owner's satisfaction. I might lean towards a spray coating applied to an applicator then to the car, with a microfiber wipe-off afterwards. Skip the paint work before-hand if there's nothing obvious. Make the car easier to have the car look good, keep clean and have water bead up on it and such. Apply once or twice a year. Enjoy the car and then after 4 or whatever years turn it in for another.

I will admit that there is a direct correlation between my having OCD and installing PPF + ceramic coating mainly because I had rock chips on the hood of my old Mercedes and looking at them would drive me crazy.

So when I purchased my Z4 and discovered a rock chip on my front bumper with only a few hundred miles on the odometer I immediately had the PPF and ceramic installed.

[David70]

Originally Posted by QDawg12

Anybody know or recommend a good place in the Tampa Florida area to get your car prepped, PPF and ceramic ?

This is a poor place to find out about getting work done locally as you would be lucky to get one recommendation. I'm not a fan of FB for most things but I am in a local car group to my city, it has 32k members, most are some level of enthusiasts (average person doesn't care enough about cars to search out a group to discuss them) and when I want to know about ppf, car repair recommendations or whatever I get 20-30 recommendations in a day.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by QDawg12

Anybody know or recommend a good place in the Tampa Florida area to get your car prepped, PPF and ceramic ?

There is a Florida regional section of the forum - you might ask there:
https://www.2addicts.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=561

You could also check with the BMW Car Club chapter in that area - they have a Tampa representative that might know a place: https://fscbmwcca.com/

Here's the list of the chapter's advertisers - one close to you might have a suggestion:
https://fscbmwcca.com/fsc-independen...ir-facilities/

Good luck!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by John in VA

There is a Florida regional section of the forum - you might ask there:
https://www.2addicts.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=561

Unfortunately that forum receives very little traffic and is not the greatest place to post a question like this.

[On1]

Hi BruinMan, I see you have Tanzanite Blue Metalic, and I just picked up my 2025 X4.
Any suggestions on keeping it looking good?

[sean2648]

You're a bit far from us I believe On1, but if you want to make the drive we can help take care of your vehicle protection options.

My shop specializes in PPF, ceramic coating, and window tint. And as a BMW owner and fellow forum member, would love to take care of ya.

Let me know. You can look us up if you would like. Inspire Detailing LLC in williamsport, MD.

We offer pickup and dropoff as well and are insured to do so if that is an option you need

[jwmFcreek]

Congrats on the new x5 … have a new xm frozen black paint here . Loved the advice don’t let the dealer prep it good advice .

I don’t let my dealer wash my car .

I was in a whirl wind of how to protect my paint what I learned is besides the PPF on the hood and front I needed to leave it alone . I only foam cannon and keep my own hands off it as much as I can .

I would test whatever your going to use be cautious test on your inside door first in a small spot . Myself I don’t feel comfortable with long term products on my car incase I don’t like it . I didn’t PPF the whole because I like my paints look first .

Good luck

[Dad of Two]

Well…..I’m a little over 2 months into my new X5 and I have an OCD problem. After hours of you tube videos and reading posts on this site…..I have a problem. I let my son (who just started driving) drive the X5 yesterday and he hit the windshield washer/wipers. “Hey man…..now I have to clean the whole car again!”

Anyway, I bought all the stuff….mini detailing operation in my garage. I didn’t ceramic coat nor did I PPF. Now that I am more comfortable with the car and detailing in general, I may try to ceramic coat myself in the future. I already bought the DA and all the polish.

I will say tho, rinse less wash and all the spray ceramic/detailers do an awesome
Job. I do like my foam cannon and bucket wash but rinse less is so easy and quick. Some drying aid and good microfiber….leaves it looking good.