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The Art of Matte Paint and the Magic of STEK DYNOmatte Protection

lee@metropolitandetail.com (John Kleven) — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 18:37:38 GMT

Mercedes AMG E63 S Final Edition - Full Body DYNOmatte

In the world of automotive aesthetics, matte paint has carved a niche for itself, offering a unique and sophisticated look that sets vehicles apart. But what exactly is matte paint, and how is it applied to a car? Moreover, how can one protect this delicate finish? This article will delve into these questions and introduce you to the wonders of STEK DYNOmatte paint protection film.

The Making and Application of Matte Paint

Matte paint, unlike its glossy counterpart, does not reflect light, giving it a flat and non-shiny appearance . The secret to this unique finish lies not in the paint itself, but in the clear coating applied over it .

A typical car paint job includes primer, several layers of color, and a clear coat . For a glossy finish, the clear coat fills in any imperfections to create a smooth surface, which is then polished and waxed to reflect light and create visual depth .

Unlike a gloss finish where you can level imperfections and restore the finish you can't do this with matte paint.

However, for a matte finish, the clear coat creates small dimples in the final coating instead of filling and leveling the paint. This prevents the paint from reflecting light, thus creating the dull or matte finish .

The Pros and Cons of Matte Paint

Matte paint offers several advantages. It bestows upon your vehicle an extraordinary appearance, one that less than 1% of car owners can claim to have . It hides minor imperfections such as minor swirls, and opens up a world of customization possibilities . However, matte paint is harder to wash and maintain . Polishing to remove swirl marks and scratches will permanently damage the finish resulting in a muddled and uneven finish.

The Magic of STEK DYNOmatte Protection

While matte paint offers a unique look, it requires special care. This is where STEK DYNOmatte paint protection film comes in. This film offers hydrophobic and self-healing properties with the aesthetics of a smooth matte finish . It turns any car’s paint into a sleek satin finish, allowing the metallic flake in your OEM paint to still show through .

The primary purpose of DYNOmatte is to prevent rock chips and scratches from reaching your paint . It goes further than just stopping scratches, though, with a self-healing topcoat that allows light swirls and scratches to self-heal and level out . This is particularly beneficial for matte finishes because once your factory matte paint is scratched, there is no way to correct it or spot repair . In fact, a small scratch will many times end up with half or more of the car getting repainted in order to get the finish to match.

BMW M5 Competition - Full Body DYNOmatte

With DYNOmatte, you get to keep your OEM paint in perfect condition with less effort, all while enjoying the look and feel of having a matte finish . It is hydrophobic, self-healing, and puncture-resistant, and comes with a 10-year warranty manufacturer warranty.

When not performing a full body wrap in DYNOmatte we recommend applying a Ceramic Coating . At minimum we recommend protecting the front end and high impact areas with film. For the rest of the vehicle a ceramic coating can be applied. This will negate the need for wax, make the exterior paint hydrophobic and provide easier maintenance while helping preserve the factory matte finish without adding gloss.

From Gloss to Matte

DYNOmatte isn' t just for protecting matte paint but can also be used to change your glossy finish to a matte finish. This allows you to change your factory color to matte and protect the original paint at the same time. You also get the hydrophobic finish for easier maintenance. If you were considering the matte paint option for your vehicle you may consider a DYNOmatte wrap instead.

Rivian R1S Limestone - Full Body DYNOmatte

What you should consider before choosing matte paint for your car:

Pros :

It gives your car a rare and extraordinary look, as less than 1% of car owners have matte paint.
It hides minor imperfections such as swirl marks, as they are less visible on a matte surface.
It allows you to customize your car with different colors and effects, as matte paint can be applied over any base color.

Cons :

It is harder to wash and keep clean, as dirt and dust tend to stick to the matte surface more easily.
It is impossible to polish, as polishing would remove the dimples and make the paint glossy.
It is more expensive and less durable than glossy paint, as it requires more layers and special products to apply and maintain.

Cadillac Blackwing Electric Blue - Full Body DYNOmatte

The Protection and Enhancement of STEK DYNOmatte

If you have matte paint on your car, or if you want to achieve a matte finish without changing your original paint, you might want to consider using STEK DYNOmatte paint protection film. This film is a thin and transparent layer that covers your car’s paint, offering several benefits:

It protects your paint from rock chips and scratches, which are more noticeable and harder to fix on matte paint.
It has a self-healing topcoat that allows minor scratches to heal and level out by themselves, keeping your paint smooth and flawless.
It turns any paint into a satin matte finish, enhancing the appearance and feel of your car.
It preserves the metallic flake of your original paint, allowing it to still show through the matte film.
It is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water and dirt, making your car easier to wash and clean.
It is puncture-resistant, meaning it can withstand impacts and abrasions, keeping your paint intact.
It comes with a 10-year warranty, meaning you can enjoy its benefits for a long time.

Metropolitan Detail Paint Protection

Matte paint, with its unique look and feel, offers a distinctive aesthetic for car enthusiasts. However, it requires special care and protection. With products like STEK DYNOmatte paint protection film, maintaining the beauty and integrity of matte paint becomes a breeze, allowing car owners to enjoy the best of both worlds. Schedule your vehicle today!

Hand Wash vs Machine Wash?

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 22:42:38 GMT

A machine is fast, but is it good?

The 3 Most common automated Car Wash Types

Standard car wash machines are known by many as a "Swirl-O-Matic", this is a machine that uses a combination of detergents and high speed spinning brushes to rigorously wash away dirt and grime from your vehicle's body. The brushes are made from a stiff plastic like material so they stay clean wash after wash but they induce major swirls and scratches. Another problem with this type of machine is that the spinning brushes can't always reach contours and hard to reach spots well.

Brushless car wash machines work in the same manner, but the stiff plastic bristles are replaced with microfiber swabs spinning at high speeds. The brushless machine's microfiber swabs do not stay as clean as the bristles, but they are slightly less likely to scratch when they are clean. If you're planning on entering a machine and notice the vehicle in front of yours is extremely dirty, it may be worth a trip back at a later date. Brushless machines will also miss hard to reach spots.

Touchless car wash machines work by spraying large amounts of acids and extremely harsh detergents to loosen dirt and grime on cars. It's then blasted with high powered washers to remove dirt and grime. Ceramic coatings are very chemically inert and due to their hydrophobic nature, dirt and grime are released easily. If you don't have ceramic coatings applied, touchless washes can cause damaging effects on glass, trim, paint etc.

I can only use automated washes!

This can happen to some people as their busy schedules don't align with using our Express Center , and don't have the time to wash at home. If you're going to only wash from a machine, the best-case scenario is to have your vehicle fully ceramic coated and use a touchless wash. In this case, you will want to choose the most basic option as any additional sealants they offer will be far inferior to a quality and professionally applied ceramic coating. The next best option would be a brushless wash, but the trick is to visit them frequently. Sometimes you can purchase a monthly pass and visit them twice a week or more if you can make the time. The most important strategy when using this type of machine is to bring them a clean car. If you come in with a car that hasn't been washed in weeks, it's likely going to leave some marring, swirls, or scratches in the finish. You definitely don't want all of the dirt and grime that has accumulated on your vehicle's finish getting rubbed around at full speed. If you are regularly using an automated car wash then we recommend detailing your exterior at least once a year to help reduce some light swirling and re-enhance luster. If you have heavy swirling and scratching then you may need Paint Correction , a multi-stage polishing process for eliminating swirls and scratches.

What's the point of hand washing?

Hand washing is valued because it is gentle to the finish. Some people believe that hand washing is a great excuse to give your car a great scrubbing. However, this isn't the reason why car enthusiasts hand wash their vehicles. Hand washing gives you the opportunity to get your mitt into all the hard to reach crevices that would be missed by a machine, but most importantly it gives you the opportunity to clean your wash mitt as you are working so you're not spreading around the abrasive dirt that you're trying to wash off. Think about it this way, an automated wash is a one size fits all solution where as hand washing is specific to your vehicle. This is why we always perform a 2 bucket hand wash, this method consists of one bucket of body wash and the other with only water. Before dipping your wash mitt into a bucket for some more soap and water, the clean water bucket should be used to knock off debris and grime from your mitt before dipping into the other bucket for some clean soapy suds. We recommend washing the top of the vehicle first, then working around the vehicle and cleaning everything that is 12" above the bottom of the vehicle, saving the lower sections for last as they are typically the most contaminated. Wash small sections at a time and remember to rinse your mitt frequently. The only real downside to hand washing is time and labor. It takes more than five minutes and requires physical labor to get done.

What's the difference between hand washing and detailing?

A key difference to understand is that hand washing is the first step in detailing. If your car is very dirty or heavily contaminated your instinct may be to get your vehicle washed. Depending on the condition of the vehicle, a hand wash may not be the proper solution. Contaminants such as sap, hard water spots, paint transfer, and road tar will not come off with a gentle hand wash. A hand wash is for regular cleanings to keep your vehicle looking it's best. If you go for months without washing and let the car sit outside then the contaminants that land on your vehicle create a bond to your paint. This requires a decontamination whether chemically for ceramic coated vehicles, or mechanically for really tough contaminants. Additional steps after the wash may need to be taken. We recommend that before trying to scrub something off contact us. We can do our best to advise you and of course you can always bring it in for an estimate as well. Some issues you may want to leave to a professional.

Are there precautions that should be taken for a proper maintenance hand wash?

I'm so glad you asked. If you can spend the time to perform all of these steps, you'll be rewarded with a glowing paint job that won't need major paint correction work time after time. I recommend the following:

Rinse the entire vehicle to cool the surface and loosen debris.
Pre-Foam the vehicle with STEK Foam or CarPro Reset to loosen dirt and grime. Gravity will help lift dirt and grime from vehicle's painted surfaces.
Spray all wheels including barrels and brake calipers with STEK Wheel Cleaner .
Rinse foam away from the vehicle rinsing the wheels and brake calipers.
Move the vehicle forwards or backwards making sure to rotate wheels 180 degrees.
Spray all wheels including barrels and brake calipers with STEK Wheel Cleaner for a second time.
Rinse wheels and brake calipers completely.
Perform a 2 bucket hand wash. This includes 2 buckets with Grit Guards on the bottoms. One bucket with clean water and the other with clean water and STEK Shampoo or CarPro Reset . With a high quality microfiber Wash Mitt , hand wash starting on roof, wash small sections at a time, working around the vehicle and doing the lower sections like the rocker panels and wheel wells last. After a small area is washed, dip your wash mitt into the clean water, inspect for debris in the mitt and clean it off if necessary.
Rinse away from entire vehicle.
Towel dry with a plush Microfiber Drying Towel including all paint and door jambs.

When is the best time to wash your car?

In the PNW, your vehicle tends to get the most dirty during the winter and rainy seasons. Maybe not the most ideal times to go outside and wash your vehicle, but it's probably the most critical time of year. You want to keep it clean as grime accumulates quickly from rain and standing water kicked up from your tires. Summertime is a great time to wash your vehicle as everyone wants to look good during this time. However, it's critically important to avoid washing your vehicle in direct sunlight this will cause your soap and water to evaporate quickly leaving deposits all over your car that can lead to hard water spots, stains in the clearcoat, and potential marring from attempting to remove these contaminants. Sooooo...... around 5am or nighttime is ideal ;)

Our trusted staff at Metropolitan Detail Express is available 52 weeks a year to properly hand wash your vehicle for you while you explore Redmond Town Center, grab coffee or a bite to eat.

We love making your car look amazing!

We are even more rewarded when we see the results of our protective products applied on your car, and your proper care keeping it in it's best condition possible.

Paint Correction... What you need to know!

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 22:24:58 GMT

Paint Correction takes time, skill and precision.

Detailing is a trade with a low cost of entry. A dual action polisher, an array of polishing compounds, pads, towels, a plethora of cleaners and wash mitts can be had for $2k or maybe less. This is all it takes to be a "YouTube Certified" master detailer. This is not a good thing for consumers or our industry as a whole - someone who watches a few YouTube videos can claim to be masters of a trade that can take years to master. Paint correction in particular is an area where a detailer can really do the wrong thing and potentially cause damage to a vehicle's finish. It's really important to be doing business with a company that can stand behind the work in case there is ever an issue that needs to be repaired.

When do you need paint correction?

There are several reasons paint correction may be applicable. A black car, overspray, hard water spot removal or restoring original factory paint on your much loved car. This really depends on how scrupulous of a car owner you are. Brand new cars come with defects in the finish including sanding marks, debris in paint, clearcoat runs, machine swirls and much more. If you want your car in the best condition possible so you can maintain it's finish, a paint correction is for you. If you are not completely concerned about perfection and would like the car to look good but can live with some swirl marks and defects in the paint, then a standard single stage polish may be just what you're looking for. It's always best to schedule an estimate and have us take a look at your paint for the best way to proceed. A paint correction is a costly venture and probably not worth spending the extra money on if its not for you. If you have a newly acquired older car and want to see it's full potential, invest in a paint correction and a ceramic coating. It will open your eyes to how nice we can make the finish and also

enhance it's resale value. You can always tell when a car has been well cared for and those cars demand the most money when it comes time to sell.

There are two different approaches to paint correction.

Dual Action polishing versus Rotary, both can provide great results but there are caveats of both. A random orbital polisher can be learned very quickly and doesn't have to be mastered to get a decent result, however, as you can see by the images below, its movements are rather clumsy and not accurate. A dual action polisher does drag the polishing pad (to some extent) across the surface and can leave some haze in the finish. The Rotary polisher has a steeper learning curve, but it's a much more accurate machine, works faster where heavy paint correction is needed and finishes better. With either machine, you can cause damage without proper instructions and if you are using a wrong polishing compound and pad combination, it can leave a hazy or swirly finish. As a professional shop, we perform most of our paint correction services using a rotary polisher, saving time and money for our clients. It's important to not only have the right tools for the job but to know when to use what tool and how. This formula is developed with experience.

Multiple stages of polishing.

Polishing is much like sanding a wooden table - you start with an aggressive sandpaper, and work your way in stages to a lighter sandpaper until you have achieved the smooth finish you desire. Paint correction is very much the same, the different compounds and polishing pads work in stages from most aggressive to the least which creates the best finish possible. Using a rotary polisher, we will typically perform a 3-stage polish.

If you invest in correction, you should also invest in protection!

The heavy cut and medium cut stages of a paint correction alone will typically take about 8-12 hours to complete. During this time, we are removing a large amount of defects in your paint's finish. The best way to preserve a freshly paint corrected finish is proper protection and maintenance. Ceramic coatings will not only enhance the gloss and luster of the finish, but it will also protect it from environmental staining like bird droppings, insects, lye deposits and much more. Ceramic coatings will also make your hand washes much more easy and enjoyable as the hydrophobic performance shoots droplets of water off the finish at maximum velocity. Also, you won't have to spend the extra time hand waxing your car regularly as a Ceramic Coating can last on a vehicle for years. Just proper hand washing and decontaminating when needed will keep your vehicle looking excellent for years to come. We also set your vehicle up for reminders of when you may be due for service and we are always here to help answer any maintenance questions. To learn more about Ceramic Coatings read our blog: Ceramic Coatings. What do they do?

I hope this article helps you understand what true Paint Correction is and helps you decide on what's best for you and your vehicle. Don't be fooled by pillow talk, it's always important to know what steps are being taken to best care for your baby.

- John Kleven

Tesla Model Y: The biggest game changer yet?

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 22:47:28 GMT

The FIRST mid priced SUV with some real world range...

At a quick glance, it looks kind of like a Model 3 and a Model X had a baby. The Model Y actually shares about 75% of it's components with the Model 3. This creates a lot of cost savings for Tesla and puts the Model Y at a very fair price. With 316 miles of range and a 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds. All of this in an SUV package with gobs of storage space, a full glass roof and soon will be available in 3 rows of seating. I think the new Model Y will handily outsell the Model 3 simply based on it's usability. America loves it's SUV's!

You now know that you want one, what's the next step?

Get your order in...

If you haven't ordered a Tesla before, you're in for a treat. The process of test driving, purchasing, scheduling services and even owning the car are so unique compared to any other brand of vehicle I have ever owned. The test drive will definitely get you excited, normal vehicles just don't offer this type of smooth yet drama free acceleration. The purchase is straight forward, no silly games like they play at the other dealerships pulling out a 4 square sheet of paper trying to sell you on a monthly payment. You just order the car you want, the way you want it on the website. If your Tesla ever does need to be serviced or a warranty repaired, their friendly staff will give you a loaner car for the day, and sometimes they'll just come straight to your home or work and fix it on the spot. Here comes the best part.... Owning a Tesla is amazing. It doesn't hit you on the first day or even the first week. It takes some time to get a feel for the car, learn all of it's tricks and luxuries that are disguised under it's elementary looking interior. The real pleasures and luxuries of this car are the software that makes everything work just right. The autopilot, one pedal driving and incredibly intuitive touch screen display are just a few that come to mind.

What do I need to know for my delivery?

When taking delivery, it's critically important to inspect the vehicle for damages, defects in the paintwork and panel alignments. The good news is that this is a service that we provide at zero charge to you, learn more here New Car Delivery Inspection . Once you have a delivery date and time set, simply give us a call and I can meet you for your delivery and make sure everything is in good order. This can save us both a bunch of time and headaches in the case that we find defects that need to be repaired prior to any protection applied.

What should I protect on my new Model Y?

Tesla has long proven themselves to have some of the softest paint in the business. Paint Protection Film is the very best protection that can be applied. STEK DYNOshield's revolutionary HYDROphobe topcoat is not only incredibly hydrophobic, but also self healing against light surface scratches and has amazing clarity and gloss.

The front end of the vehicle is definitely a high impact zone, this includes the full hood, full fenders, front bumper, headlights foglights and mirrors. When installing this film, we work vigorously to hide as many seams as we can by wrapping the film around the edges of the hood, fenders and bumper. When you don't see the seams, you really don't notice the film on the car. What you will notice is how nicely your front end will look even after years of service.

The rear bumper is also a high impact zone as debris kicked up from the rear tires and also unforgiving parallel parkers can sometimes cause nicks and bruises.

If you're looking for the ultimate protection, a full body wrap is the very best as it will not only protect all of the exterior paint from chips and damage, but you can fully take advantage of the film's self healing and hydrophobic properties. This is the easiest to maintain finish that can be applied to your car.

Did you know we can also protect your center console with DYNOshield, DYNOmatt or DYNOcarbon? The factory piano black finish on your Model Y is very susceptible to scratching. By applying paint protection film, you can be confident your console will look great for years.

What about a ceramic coating?

We fully support ceramic coatings. Ceramic coatings will provide you with a tremendous gloss, a super easy to clean and maintain finish and great protection from environmental staining such as bird droppings, insects, etc. Instead of a full body wrap, a lot of people will protect the most high impact areas of the vehicle with paint protection film to protect against rock chips and debris that is kicked up and damages the paint. A ceramic coatings can go over all of your film and paint to create an easy to clean and maintain finish. Ceramic coatings can be a stand alone product also but don't provide real world protection when it comes to rock chips and scratches.

What are the benefits of window tint?

Your Model Y comes with some factory applied tint on your rear doors and all of the rear glass on the car but not the two front window. We can tint just your front two doors for a more uniform look which is much less expensive than tinting the entire vehicle. This will provide you some level of privacy and provide UV blocking. UV will not only fade the interior of your vehicle, but it will also harm your skin. If you're looking for heat protection, we offer an array of window tints that can provide major heat protection even with little shade at all.

You have done all of the right steps!!!!

Your Model Y has been properly ordered, delivered, inspected and protected. You can confidently drive away with peace of mind knowing that you have protected your investment with the best available products on the market installed by the pros at Metropolitan Detail. I hope you will love your new Tesla as much as I love mine!

Paint Protection Film, do I need this?

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 01:30:30 GMT

"I have seen clear bras and I hate how they look"

While , modern paint protection films have become so clear and glossy they literally look like they disappear onto the paint when they're applied correctly. You can get a clear bra that's fast and cheap, or you can pay a proper price for a good installation to get something that lasts. Many installers choose to use a computer templated pattern that is designed to easily "fit" on whichever vehicle you choose. This is the fastest way to have film installed. However, this does not offer any real level of hand tailored design or installation and the edges of the film, however, are also different story. Paint protection film is a three-dimensional object, although thin and transparent, you will still notice edges. How can an installation be so much different? It's much like how a properly hand-fitted suit will, of course, fit light-years better than something ordered online with hopes that it follows your exact body shape. I always recommend to have precision fit protection! So, if you like how your car looks like when it's new, you'll definitely appreciate a clear bra when it's old. Paint protection film is truly the only way to have a barrier of protection where nothing actually touches your paint.

Where does my car need protection?

The most obvious answer is the front end . The front bumper is typically a flat and brunt impact zone, not to mention the paint on a plastic bumper does not bond as properly as it does on a metal hood or fender. Also, even though most damage will occur on lowest parts of the car, the hood and fenders are right in the line of sight where anyone can pick out rock chips as they are easy to see. You don't want to forget your lights though, modern headlights typically don't break from a rock impact, but they sure get pitted and paint protection film is the only solution. Where are the flying rocks and debris coming from you ask? They are kicked up from people's tires typically in front of you.

Typically, if you want to wrap all of the high impact areas on your car, we recommend to treat the rest of the vehicle and additional protection and gloss on top of the film with a ceramic coating. If you are wanting to add more protection than the high impact areas, we will recommend to completely wrap the vehicle. The amazing performance benefits of STEK DYNOshield include a nano coating that is infused into the film during the manufacturing process making it extremely hydrophobic and also stain resistant. DYNOshield is also self healing against light surface scratches. This makes STEK DYNOshield the easiest to maintain, glossiest and most durable material on the market and is unmatched by any type of aftermarket ceramic coating.

Should Metropolitan Detail do my wrap?

Why would you have a brand new suit tailored? The one they sell on Amazon that fits.... right?

Not all paint protection film is tailored the same . Installing paint protection film requires a lot of stretching and manipulating of the film in order to allow this flat roll of film to conform to the 3 dimensional shape of an automobile. In order for the film to provide the best protection it can't be stretched to it's limitations, the idea is to have it as relaxed as possible. Not tightly wound like a stretched out rubber band that can be cut with a butter knife. Our customized installation method allows us to wrap the edges that need to be wrapped and our years of experience guides us to not wrap what shouldn't be wrapped.

We install our film to LAST . Our goal is to provide an installation that not only looks great when you pick up your car, but also looks great years down the road. A lot of inexperienced installers try to wrap or cover too much or overstretch the film causing distortions or peeling edges that look unsightly but may not show themselves until weeks after the installation.

Our detailing and film installation center was a 3.5 year design and build project . We actually designed every square inch for our exact needs. To better service our clients, we decided to not pull out any stops. Eighteen in-ground German made scissor lifts are flush mounted into the ground. This not only allows us great access to every square inch of your vehicle, but it also creates much less fatigue on our employees. Happy and less fatigued employees will provide better quality work and be more efficient. Our polished cement floors are cleaned daily and you will immediately appreciate our structure and organization as soon as you enter our shop. This is the very best place to leave your valued vehicle for any level of service.

Why STEK DYNOshield over the others?

STEK has a very unique and highly quality controlled method of manufacturing their paint protection films. All of the DYNO family of products have a very unique nano topcoat that provides it's self healing abilities and also a hydrophobic and stain resistant function. Since DYNOshield is infused with this technology during the manufacturing process, it is extremely durable and will never cause a conflict of interest, in the case that a warranty claim needs to be made. All films benefit from a nano coating applied to itself as PPF is a very porous material and these sealants can help protect the film from staining and yellowing. The issue lies when you install brand X film and brand Z ceramic coating on top. If there is a warranty issue, who is to blame? Will the film company deny a claim since you had an aftermarket product applied on top? You can trust that Metropolitan Detail and STEK will both stand behind your installation.

Enjoy your car....

You will have a much greater peace of mind knowing that your new car is protected with the best. Things happen in life, but by having it protected with DYNOshield you have done the very most possible to protect it from unwanted damage. Now you can take that thing out of the garage and start putting miles on it. Cars are meant to be driven!

John Kleven

Author

New Car Delivery Inspection - Metropolitan Detail

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 16:57:40 GMT

The wait is over, your new car is FINALLY here!

You have been waiting for months to drive your new car. You arrive at the dealership and realize after speaking to your sales person that you actually know way more about your new car than they do. Countless YouTube videos have been watched, some more than once on reviews, shootouts, acceleration tests and the Top Gear test track of course. When you get into the finance office, you're sweating at the palms with anxiety and willing to sign anything they put in front of you in order to finally get in the driver seat and enjoy your car. Here is where we sometimes need to step back, take a breather and realize that if there is a problem with your car, guess what? More cars will be made and you can pass on this car. Car purchase opportunities happen every day on some amazing vehicles. Make sure the car is EXACTLY how you spec'd it and in the exact condition a new car should be in.

How do I know if there's a problem with my new car?

You probably wouldn't ever know. But I would. Why? Because I'm a professional, and I have professional equipment to inspect and test for such defects. I have been to hundreds of new car inspections for clients at every brand of vehicle on the market. What am I looking for? Paint defects, damage, improper assembly and undisclosed repairs. Why would new cars have these issues? Paint is never perfect so defects can happen. Your car may be new to you but those keys may have been in 20 people's hands from the time it left the factory to possibly a transporter, a vessel if coming from another country, more transporters, lot attendants at the dealers and possibly sales people running on test drives, so damage definitely happens. Some car manufacturers suffer from poor panel alignment with pinched gaskets and other issues that can not only cause problems over time but also look very unsightly. Unfortunately, not every transporter or dealership is as honest and upfront as the rest of us. I have seen on several occasions where a transporter has damaged a vehicle during delivery and had an area repaired while on the road without ever telling the dealership of the damages. I have also seen car dealerships cover up damages made on their lot with a quick repair that they think nobody will ever notice. Rushed repairs may look ok in the short-term but can eventually fail, DO NOT WORRY!!!! I will notice this. I will also provide a detailed report of my findings for the great price of ZERO DOLLARS.

Why do I inspect cars for free?

Aside from the fact that we work incredibly hard to provide an amazing customer experience from beginning to end, we also find it saves us both a bunch of time, headaches and money. We can't always squeeze in a paint protection film wrap for your new car, we never rush jobs for “good enough” results and we won’t let cars “leapfrog” other scheduled installations, this is why we schedule our services by appointment. If you take delivery of your new car and have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment, you probably don't want to risk your virgin paint getting chipped up from driving it on public roads, so you might be pretty upset if we put the car up on our lift to start installing film and we find damage, defects or other issues that need to be repaired before we begin our process. If any damage is found during the delivery, your next step is to get ready to battle with the dealership to fix your issues. Whether the dealership agrees to pay or deny your claim, it will still need to be fixed even if the money comes out of your pocket. Immediately, you’ll have to schedule an appointment at a local quality body shop, but good shops tend to be weeks out for an appointment. Once the paintwork is finally finished, you will need to allow it up to 30 days or more to cure as recommended by the paint manufacturer. Wrapping your car before this cure time has elapsed could cause a void in your aftermarket paint's warranty. In conclusion, inspecting your car at the time of delivery can help alleviate any issues in a more timely manner, so it won’t be two car payments and 90 days before you can finally enjoy your repainted and protected NEW car.

John Kleven

Author

Ceramic Coatings - What They Do - Metropolitan Detail

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 15:45:17 GMT

Wax is dead

People have busy schedules these days. Busier than ever. Waxing your car for the weekend to take it to the drive in on Saturday night isn't usually feasible for most people. Wax makes your car look nice and glossy, but the protective properties are pretty weak and the lifespan of a wax job is typically a few days or until the next car wash. Most people are now looking for something that not only offers better performance and gloss but also lasts much longer than a few car washes. With the advent of nanotechnology, ceramic paint coatings have quickly become the preferred method of protecting your vehicle's clearcoat. It makes a lot of sense to invest in protection to protect your investment.

Nanotechnology, what's this?

Car wax doesn't actually bond to your vehicle's clearcoat in any way, it merely sits in the pores of the finish. Car wax is not just wax, it's a complex mix of silicones and oils as carnauba wax is actually hard like a rock and could be thrown through a glass window. What's the problem with this? When you wash your car, you are using a detergent. Detergents are used to break down grease ie oils, waxes, silicones and by cleaning, it will also clean away your beautiful glossed up wax finish. Nano coatings however are covalantly bonded to the clearcoat surface, this means it actually becomes part of the clearcoat by sharing electrons and is not easily removed unless if it's polished or sanded off. For this reason, ceramic nano particles will not be washed off the vehicle and will continue to shine, protect from uv damage, repel dirt, grime and water for a year or more.

A cross-linked covalent network created by an SI02 based Ceramic coating bonding with the paints surface.

Hydrophobic vs Hydrophilic?

That is the question! What is hydrophobic? Technically it's a fear of water. In scientific terms, it means that water does not have the ability to easily stick to a surface. I definitely find it satisfying to watch a hydrophobic finish throw water beads in every direction as I'm rinsing a car. The measure of how hydrophobic a surface performs is it's contact angle. Some ultra high performance coatings like CQuartz Finest Reserve will offer a contact angle of 115 degrees, this creates such tension that the water really wants to run off of the car. What's the other benefit of hydrophobic coatings? As you're rinsing your vehicle, these beautiful beads of water will help to pick up some dirt and debris and carry it away from your car. This makes it so you are cleaning a cleaner surface and minimize the opportunity to induce wash scratches into it's finish. As you continue on to your OCD foam cannon rinse, followed by a two bucket hand wash with grit guards and drying with plush microfiber towels, you will be rewarded with a ultra glossy finish that would impress the best of detailers.

What is hydrophilic? The lover of water. Think of Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Why? Because he is one of the world's best performers in the water. Hydrophilic coatings are considered by many as the gold standard of coatings, but they definitely lack in certain departments where hydrophobic wins. Hydrophilic sheets water instead of repelling it like hydrophobic. In certain parts of the world including Asia, hydrophobic coatings are no longer popular as they can lead to hard water spotting issues if there is acid rain or just heavy pollution. Water droplets left to dry with heavy contamination will leave deposits on the paint finish that can cause damage if not properly cleaned. Hydrophilic coatings such as STEK FORMULA Quartz will provide extreme anti contamination properties, amazing water spotting protection but lack the self cleaning and ultra high gloss properties of a hydrophobic coating. So what would you choose? In the Pacific Northwest, our rain is typically clean and doesn't cause an issue, but if you're parked by a nearby sprinkler and that tap water bakes in the sun you may have a major problem on your hands. No matter which option you choose, proper care and maintenance are rewarding to keep your car in it's very best condition.

Short-wave infrared curing dramatically accelerates cross-linking within the ceramic coating.

Is the most expensive ceramic coating the best?

It may be the best for gloss, hydrophobics, protection and durability, but that doesn't always mean it's the best coating for your needs. There is a lot of technology that goes into these robust coatings so the cost of a top of the line coating can be substantially more than a lower priced option. Many other variables should be considered when choosing a coating including maintenance. How do you maintain your vehicle? Is it hand washed every week, even in the winter? If so, you would be a great candidate for a top of the line coating, this will not only make your maintenance much easier, but you will be rewarded with a coating that offers years of good service. And yes, you must wash your car during the winter, this is actually the time of year that your vehicle gets the most dirty. Ceramic coatings don't like to be dirty, they like to be clean and will perform their best when nothing is clogging it. If you're not the OCD maintainer of vehicles and your car is getting daily driver duty, we will usually recommend one of our entry level or mid grade ceramic coatings, this will cost less money up front and you will have set a proper expectation that you want to maintain your vehicle but it's better to bring it back every year or even every 2-3 years to have the finish polished again and a new application of ceramic coating applied. Having ceramic protection is great, but if you don't maintain the finish at all it could be wasted money.

Ferrari 812 Superfast wearing CQuartz Finest Reserve and DLUX on the wheels and calipers.

Are nano coatings just for paint?

Absolutely NOT. Durable nano coatings are designed to be used on pretty much every surface or finish on a vehicle. We have a high temp nano coating that works great for wheels and brake calipers. This makes them much easier to clean and also helps protect from corrosion damage and fading. Another coating is used for plastic trim to prevent it from fading, another product is used on the glass, this dramatically improves visibility when driving in the rain. Interior coatings make cleaning a breeze and provide you with antimicrobial properties. We literally have coatings for pretty much every surface and if you can afford to have it applied it's a cleaner way to live!

John Kleven

Author

Tesla Model 3 Protection

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:37:24 GMT

Driving the best car EVER!

Sitting in traffic Is no longer a stressful chore. Tesla Autopilot truly improved my quality of life. Zero emissions helps to justify my constant giggling at the full throttle acceleration from light to light. You really can't buy a better car. Tesla leads the way in battery tech, and awareness of going green when it comes to vehicle choice. BUT… They are very much infants when it comes building cars and it shows……

Delivery Day: What to expect?

It's NEW so it should be PERFECT right?

Paint has not been perfected by ANYONE. Bentley, Rolls Royce, Porsche, and Ferrari all can suffer from defects in their painted finishes. Tesla is not alone in this battle of using EPA friendly waterborne paint while combating degradation, erosion, corrosion, and still creating an aesthetically pleasing finish to our eyes. Waterborne paint is definitely the best finish to conserve our environment without harmful solvent emissions escaping into our atmosphere, but its durability is definitely not what would have come standard on a premium automobile in the '60s or '70s.

Inspecting your Tesla for defects in its delicate finish is critical as their 72-hour policy for reporting defects can quickly change from "Manufacturer's Defect" to "Wear and Tear." You don't want to try to argue wear and tear to a company that hasn't shown a consistent profit since it's Palo Alto founding in 2003. Paint scratches, debris in the paint, sanding scratches, poorly done after-the-fact paint repairs, unacceptable levels of orange peel in the finish, runs in the clearcoat, overspray, fisheyes, and many more defects -- I've seen them all..... Let's not get started on panel gaps; I could have sworn that someone had accidentally switched front and rear bumpers on one of the Model 3's I saw as the fitment was so far off. Check out this thread on Tesla Motors Club pertaining to Model 3 Paint Issues. All of these defects can be spotted during delivery with a comprehensive inspection done by yours truly. NO CHARGE

Why do we inspect new cars for free? You have a busy schedule, we have a busy schedule as well. If you want to have your Tesla's delicate paint protected when it's new you may have to wait for an opening in our calendar. If we find defects in Elon's finish, we may need to notify Tesla or possibly a body shop to try to get a repair made before protection is applied. This back and forth between our shop, a body shop and Tesla can cause weeks and even months of delays before you can truly enjoy your new Tesla.

Ceramic Coatings or Paint Protection Film?

Ceramic Nano Coatings are a modern approach to properly protect your vehicle's finish from environmental staining, bird droppings, and bug etchings. Ceramic coatings out perform traditional paste waxes by a huge margin, they also look better so there is no need to keep wax products in our shops anymore. Ceramic coatings also make cleaning and maintaining your vehicle much easier and more rewarding with their ultra glossy finish and hydrophobic water shedding abilities. We recommend ceramic coatings on everything. Your paint is of course the obvious choice, but you may also consider making your wheels and brake calipers easy to clean with our high temp wheel coating, improve your visibility and safety with Glassparency on your exterior glass and our interior protection packages protect your interior from stains and wear.

Do ceramic coatings need maintenance? You bet they do, they like to be clean. Ceramic coatings act like a germophobic barrier on your car's finish, they like to repel dirt, grime, and water like a non-stick frying pan but they have limitations. Road grime, tar, brake dust, oils and even car wax can clog your beautiful ceramic finish lessening its performance but a proper decontamination service can have your Tesla glowing again like it was new with its hydrophobic properties returned.

Why would I want PPF if I have a ceramic coating? Ceramic coatings are typically about 2-4 microns thick and create a hard and durable membrane. STEK DYNOshield PPF is an over 200 micron thick thermoplastic polyurethane material, a soft membrane that is great for absorbing shocks and deflecting debris kicked up from the roads and self-healing light swirls or scratches. STEK DYNOshield is also infused with a nano coating making it incredibly hydrophobic and easy to clean, very stain resistant, and glossy. When wrapping your entire Tesla, we do not offer a ceramic coating on top, but if you are wrapping the most critical parts of the car, we do recommend a ceramic for the rest of the car and for added gloss and protection on the DYNOshield film. If you had to have one, the PPF is by far the best protection you can apply but the price is many times more.

What happens if my paint protection film is damaged? The beauty of paint protection film is that it's a sacrificial product designed to take the wear, abuse and damage before your factory-applied paint is touched. Many times have we seen a fender or a door get damaged from another driver or a parking pole that jumped out of nowhere causing non-repairable damage to the film, but a simple removal and replacement of a single panel is all that was necessary to get the car back on the road. No mixing paint and hoping to have the right color, no blending into adjacent panels to fool your eye that the color is indeed correct as applied at the factory. Major collisions, however, will of course require paintwork and film replacement.

I want paint protection film, but what should I cover?

Teslas suffer from soft paint? What does this mean? EPA-friendly paints chip and scratch easier so the need for paint protection film has never been greater. You wouldn't carry the latest smartphone without a screen protector, so why drive your $50K vehicle without protection?

Let's start with the obvious: The full front end of the vehicle should be covered, this includes the full hood, the full fenders, front bumper, headlights, foglights, and the forward-facing side of the mirrors. These areas need coverage as stones and debris kicked up from other drivers will damage your beautiful finish. If you have a dual-motor Model 3, you will also damage the inner part of your front fenders from debris kicked up from your front tires.

A little less obvious: You WILL become addicted to the amazing, effortless and exhilarating acceleration of your Model 3. Trust me on this! Your rear tires will also kick up a bunch of debris causing chipping on your rear bumper as it wraps into the wheel wells. Covering the rear bumper is multi-functional as we wrap the film into the trunk jamb providing protection when you're loading and unloading your trunk if anything is drug across or dropped on the bumper cover.

What else? The rocker panels and the lower sections on the Tesla get heavily chipped up over time. The problem, however, is that there is no CLEAN way to cover these without hugely visible and unsightly seams. If you want more coverage than the front and rear bumper, we recommend to wrap the whole car. Why wrap the whole car? This allows you to take full advantage of STEK DYNOshield's amazing hydrophobic performance and self healing function. Once you have a full-self healing car, you will likely never NOT have a full self-healing car, it's the only way to keep your car to an incredibly high standard without a visit to your detail shop twice a week.

What does paint protection film look like? We go to great lengths to hide seams and edges. With over 300 Tesla full-body wraps under our belts, we can assure you that our custom-fitted installations are the cleanest, clearest and most durable available on the market ANYWHERE. STEK DYNOshield has industry-leading gloss and clarity to match your factory clearcoat so there is little distinguishable difference between a protected and unprotected panel.

Does my glass need protection?

Construction on 405 and 520 seem to be never ending. We offer two types of protection for glass.

Windshield Protection Film

Glassparency

Windshield protection film is an actual film that is applied to the outside of your windshield to provide protection from rocks and debris that could potentially chip, pit or crack your windshield. Do I recommend this for a Tesla? 99% of the time I say NO. If you haven't noticed, it tends to rain here fairly frequently. This causes you to use your wipers to clear your vision. Wipers dragging across windshield protection film will cause marring and scratching that will eventually cause a lot of glare in your windshield. So why offer windshield protection film? Classic cars, exotic cars with uber expensive windshields need protection. On most of these cars, we could probably remove their windshield wipers since they are only used on sunny and dry days. If your Tesla is a daily driver like 99% of them are, we recommend Glassparency.

Glassparency is a safety product. By quickly shedding water from your vehicle's windows you will see clearer and have much less glare. It's also fun to watch the rain bead up into little pearls and fly off your windscreen when driving down the freeway at 60 mph. We found that Glassparency is also the only windshield product on the market that does not cause chatting wipers on the Model 3.

My Model 3 handles like a sports car.

This is definitely true . You know the drawback to this? Low sports cars don't handle steep driveways, parking curbs, or speed bumps like an SUV. For this, we can install Scrape Armor , a precision fit skid plate that protects your plastic bumper cover from curb rash and cracking.

How do I protect my vehicle's interior?

The Tesla Model 3 has a LOT of glass. This means UV and infrared are entering the vehicle like a greenhouse. UV will cause your interior to fade in color and infrared light creates a lot of heat inside the vehicle. Both wavelengths are harmful to your skin so blocking them is of great benefit to the vehicle, your vehicle's range and yourself. We offer a few different lines of film, but our STEK NEXseries film stands out as the true performance winner. STEK NEXseries not only offers amazing optical clarity but also class leading heat and UV protection for your Tesla's cabin. NEX is the only film on the market using graphene. This is an ultra-fast thermal conductor which keeps your interior cool even when you choose a light shade. Dark films and heat protection don't go hand in hand when it comes to highly advanced films, so your Tesla doesn't need to look like a limousine to stay cool.

The center console on the Model 3 is a whole other issue. Its simple yet elegant design just screams modern and functional. The piano black finish, however, can be quite cumbersome to maintain. For this, we install STEK paint protection film. You can keep the gloss finish and have a self-healing finish or we can swap it out for a more toned down matte finish which makes fingerprints and smudges much less visible. If you prefer a high-performance look we also offer carbon fiber finishes for that sporty touch and feeling. Whichever style you choose, you will definitely appreciate the clean and easy to maintain film on your console.

If you want to protect your seats and carpets from spills or stains, we have an answer for that. Your Model 3's vegan leather is actually infused with a coating from the manufacturer. Just like other coatings, it will wear. Your driver's seat is probably the area of your car that is abraded the most with constant getting in and out of your vehicle and moving around to get comfortable. We expect the factory coating to wear away in about 6 months and we recommend to bring the car in for interior protection at that time. We can, however, treat the carpets if you like but you also really can't go wrong with a set of 3D MAXpider mats. You can find those on Amazon.

Can I finally drive my car?

YES! You waited for your car when you ordered it, as soon as it arrived you sent it to us to get protected and the day is finally here to enjoy your car. You have one of the world's best forms of transportation and now that it's wearing the very best protection on the market. It's ready to enjoy.

I have a Tesla Model 3 Performance myself and after just over a year it has traveled over 18K miles and counting. I can say without a doubt in my mind that you have made the best decision ever to get a Model 3 and you'll never look back. If you haven't ordered a Model 3 yet and enjoyed my article, please use my referral code when ordering and get a bonus from Tesla.

John Kleven

Author and Tesla Model 3 Performance Owner