Well, l clean mine with a hose, and a bucket and sponge

l use a spray on/wipe off finishing wax called "Demon Shine" which repels water, and that's the limit of my car washing process

 

As the one who started the post wanted to give a quick update. One of the responses on this thread was the Gtechniq product line and coatings which I researched heavily and decided to go with. I found a company in Dallas, TX (Ten Flat Detailing https://www.tenflatdetailing.com) who is a GTechniq dealer and put a 9yr Ceramic coating on my 2023 Defender.

To back up a bit, I vetted this company and 2 others prior to choosing TF. Even though I spoke to one of the premier car dealerships in the Dallas area who they are the preferred provider and had not but great things to say, once I pulled into the garage area and met the team I was sold. Such a different vibe than others in the space. Beyond professional and this company cares deeply about their service. I know not all are in the area but thought I would at least share that experience for those that might be.

The ceramic coating is amazing. I just picked it up 2 days ago so haven't had a chance to test the hydrophobic properties the look on it is striking. Honestly this is what I expected my car to look like from the Land Rover Dealership but that is another story. Needless to say I purchased a ton of Gtechniq cleaning products after being educated by TF and studying on Youtube.

I would highly advise anyone to get a ceramic coating and ASAP because I certainly learned that even coming out of the lot or after your first wash there can be the need for paint correction. The longer you wait the more expensive. Very satisfied!

 

Allegedly, what product are you using to ceramic coat your wheels? Also, bought some CarPro Perl based on your post and absolutely love it. Love that it is not sticky or leaves an oily residue.

 

Oh man, happy to hear about PERL. It's like, where was this all my life. Everything from floor mats to the engine bay.

For ceramic, I used three coats total with two different products, but you definitely do not have to do that if you're just coating the wheels. You can use one or the other.

UK 3.0 It's probably a slightly longer lasting product and it's geared more toward cold to moderate weather. SiC was what I used as a top coat because they tell me that bug juice, bird droppings and some other things that were deeply affected by here in Florida are better repelled by that product.

UK 3.0 is easier on anything black. It does not leave any residue at all and you really don't almost have to be that careful.
SiC adds a warmer shine and some depth but it was a little harder to buff off the Narvik gloss.

Probably most people would be better with the UK. 3.0 if using just 1 product. Do 2 coats though. It's super easy on wheels as long as they start clean.

 

Just want to throw this out there as another opinion/experience.

I went down the ceramic coating rabbit hole. I even did an M3 I owned myself. Took 2.5 full days to complete. The results were amazing and the labor was back breaking. It only cost me about $300 in parts so there was the motivation over paying someone else $1,000.

Since that experience, I’ve gone back to traditional wax. I get my car professionally buffed now once a year for like $150.

Then after most washes I do a spray on wax and it takes me maybe 20-30 minutes to wipe down the entire car.

a couple times a year I wax the hood and doors for an hour or two.

my car feels just as clean (after it’s washed) as when my prior vehicle was ceramic’d. true I have to scrub a little more, but it’s just not a deal breaker for me.

way less cost, way less time when spread out, get a little exercise in too. Also the cancer warnings and fumes with the ceramic solution just didn’t sit well with me.

 

You're right. I feel the same .
A good clean, some scratch remover first on some places. Then just wax it.
I do use now this liquid ceramic wax, results are satisfying and very good water repellant.

 

when I get my car buffed in a month or so I plan on applying a chemical guys ceramic spray on too.

 

You're killing me I rinse my truck and the wife's Taycan with a pressure washer maybe every 3 weeks and they always looks clean.

 

Thanks for the info, Allegedly. Need something for the Love bugs coming soon here in S Florida. Want to be able to just spray them off the bumper and grill.

 

Oh yeah, 2 or 3 quick coats of SiC (no need for UK 3.0) on the front end should be as good as it gets. I even put it over the plastic on the headlights. If the love bugs don't bake in the sun for 3 days after you splat em, you can usually just rinse them right off. Once they get a chance to set on, you'll have to wet it, let it soak for a bit, and then rinse it off. No soap no wipe. I really wish I could find a product for my windshield that did anything like that and everything I've tried kind of sucks.

If your paint is already good, prep it with 50% isopropyl and wipe that stuff on. The first coat will be a little rough because your paint won't be very smooth. That second and third coat will be ridiculous though. It'll feel like hot butter. Seriously, you'll just be out there rubbing your car for a while the way this thing feels.

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