How long before I can drive my car after ceramic coating?

[james1138]

On Friday I had my local BMW dealership put a ceramic coating on my car. I already have PPF on the car. The dealership said that I could keep the car there overnight but I chose to take it home because it was going to be raining all day the next day. So after having the car coated I drove it half an hour home. It’s been sitting in my garage. It’s been over 24 hours, how long do I need to keep my car in my garage before I take it out? I heard 24 hours is the time it takes for the coating to cure. Is that true? Or should I wait longer?

Thanks!

[Pentland]

When I had mine coated, the detailer kept the car indoors for 24 hours for the ceramic to cure. Sounds like, if you are likely to compromise the coating, the damage (if any) is done.

Humour me, what’s the point of ceramic coating PPF?

[james1138]

I figured driving it home was the lesser evil than driving it home in the rain the next day.

[LivingInSalt]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Humour me, what’s the point of ceramic coating PPF?

Same as the point of ceramic coating a non-PPFed car

[james1138]

I miss read that post as “what’s the price of ppf”…

[malvern_man]

Originally Posted by james1138

On Friday I had my local BMW dealership put a ceramic coating on my car. I already have PPF on the car. The dealership said that I could keep the car there overnight but I chose to take it home because it was going to be raining all day the next day. So after having the car coated I drove it half an hour home. It’s been sitting in my garage. It’s been over 24 hours, how long do I need to keep my car in my garage before I take it out? I heard 24 hours is the time it takes for the coating to cure. Is that true? Or should I wait longer?

Thanks!

When I had my X5 PPF'd and ceramic coated the installer cured it with infrared lamps.

Can I ask why you had your local BMW dealership apply the ceramic coating, wouldn't a proper car detailing company have made a far better job of applying the coating.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by LivingInSalt

Same as the point of ceramic coating a non-PPFed car

So you put PPF on to protect the paint and ceramic to protect the PPF. Seems like over kill to me.

[dudley@07726]

I use Optimum Spray Wax over my PPF, Good enough for me.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Pentland

So you put PPF on to protect the paint and ceramic to protect the PPF. Seems like over kill to me.

You probably should take an afternoon and call around to all the PPF dealers in your area and tell them how they don’t know what they’re doing. If you really want to drive that point home, you should call the manufacturers of PPF and Ceramic Coat and tell them the same thing.

[Chappers 71]

I had the bonnet on the G31 2 stage polished & ceramic coated Friday morning, the detailer did it at my home in my garage. He advised me not to drive or get it wet for at least 12 hours in order for the cc to cure, as it was I didn’t use it until late Saturday morning.
With you having driven it before the cc had fully cured it will have picked up some shit from the road which will now be imbedded with your cc coating, although with you having had cc applied over ppf I don’t suppose it matters too much to the paintwork.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by LivingInSalt

Same as the point of ceramic coating a non-PPFed car

It costs a shop far less money to put ceramic on a car that already has PPF because all of the clay bar/ color correction work was supposed to be done before the PPF was applied and was included in that cost.

Regarding the time needed after ceramic is applied, my shop recommended 24 hours.

[LivingInSalt]

Originally Posted by Pentland

So you put PPF on to protect the paint and ceramic to protect the PPF. Seems like over kill to me.

Ceramic doesn’t protect paint from chips and scratches

[P1]

I can understand putting PPF on a car. But why would you ceramic coat a layer of plastic?

[james1138]

I had planned to just to do the PPF but the dealer pretty much threw the ceramic coating in for very cheap so I decided to do it. I did some research and it does protect the rest of the car that does not have PPF on it and plus it has a seven-year paint warranty from BMW. So I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t cheap and rolled into the financing.

Now granted, I didn’t know anything about having to wait 24 hours for it to cure and I didn’t have a back up plan to leave my car there, so that’s why I’m asking the question.

Hopefully, the drive home didn’t mess up my car.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by P1

I can understand putting PPF on a car. But why would you ceramic coat a layer of plastic?

Exactly. But apparently we “probably should take an afternoon and call around to all the PPF dealers in your area and tell them how they don’t know what they’re doing. If you really want to drive that point home, you should call the manufacturers of PPF and Ceramic Coat and tell them the same thing.”

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Patton250

You probably should take an afternoon and call around to all the PPF dealers in your area and tell them how they don’t know what they’re doing. If you really want to drive that point home, you should call the manufacturers of PPF and Ceramic Coat and tell them the same thing.

Why would I do that?

I asked a legit question, you clearly dont. know the answer as you didn’t give one.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Why would I do that?

I asked a legit question, you clearly dont. know the answer as you didn’t give one.

Everyone knows the answer. Well,,,,, most everyone.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by LivingInSalt

Ceramic doesn’t protect paint from chips and scratches

PPF does (to some extent) I agree but I’d imagine if PPF can protect against those things, it should protect against swirls and road contaminants so no need to ceramic coat.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Patton250

Everyone knows the answer. Well,,,,, most everyone.

3 of us here clearly don’t.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Pentland

3 of us here clearly don’t.

Well I then suggest you use google since you apparently don’t believe the members here.

There are MANY threads here on the subject concerning the benefits and reasons for ceramic coating PPF.

[dreamingat30fps]

Originally Posted by Patton250

You probably should take an afternoon and call around to all the PPF dealers in your area and tell them how they don’t know what they’re doing. If you really want to drive that point home, you should call the manufacturers of PPF and Ceramic Coat and tell them the same thing.

No need to do all that. I'll give you the answer...

The reason you apply ceramic to your ppf is so all the above mentioned groups can make some $$$$. PPF costs $$... ceramic costs $$... ceramic coated PPF costs $$$$. They need to feed their families too!

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

No need to do all that. I'll give you the answer...

The reason you apply ceramic to your ppf is so all the above mentioned groups can make some $$$$. PPF costs $$... ceramic costs $$... ceramic coated PPF costs $$$$. They need to feed their families too!

I figured you were pretty ignorant on the subject however, I’m afraid I underestimated you. You’re extremely ignorant. No need for us to continue this conversation and I suggest you stop trolling.