Ceramic Coating Archives - XPEL Little Rock

Why getting your car ceramic coated from a car dealership is a terrible idea.

December 18, 2023March 21, 2023 by sunstop

Have you ever noticed how car dealerships always have a “special offer” for getting your car ceramic coated? It may seem like an attractive proposition, but the truth is that there’s no such thing as a free lunch – and in this case, the “special offer” comes with hidden costs that far outweigh any potential benefit. In this blog post, we’ll explore why getting your car ceramic coated from a car dealership is not only more expensive than it needs to be; it also puts you at risk of shoddy service and overpriced products. Keep reading to find out what really goes on behind closed doors when it comes to these dealership services!

The Pros and Cons of Car Ceramic Coating from a Dealer

Despite the fact that ceramic coating your car at a dealer may seem like the easy way out, it is actually fraught with peril. On the one hand, ceramic coating at a dealer may work out cheaper in the short term, as they are only motivated by profit and not concerned with quality. On the other hand, ceramic coating from a dealer usually means you’re making more of an investment in maintenance than you should be. (dealer coatings don’t last.) Unless you want to shell out more money in the long run for repairs due to poor ceramic coating – something only your pocket will regret – you’re better off going for ceramic coating from a trusted brand that offers quality service and guarantees its workmanship.

Beware the Upselling Pressure From Dealerships

When it comes to ceramic coating for your car, beware of the upselling pressure from dealerships! Sure, they may try to tempt you with what looks like a good deal in the beginning – but these deals aren’t always what they appear. Don’t be fooled by the glossy promises; remember that for a dealership, profit is always their primary goal. To them, it may be just another number on their checklist – “How much can we charge without raising any concerns?” Any respectable ceramic coating provider should prioritize quality – not just how much money they can make. So think twice before taking the bait at a dealership!

Low-Quality Materials = Poor Results

If you’re considering ceramic coating your car at a car dealership, think again. That’s like expecting the hairdresser at the fancy spa to give you a fresh home-style trim at an affordable rate. Most likely, they only have one goal in mind: profiting as much as they can while making as little effort possible – and that often means brushing off quality materials that produce long-lasting ceramic coating results. Best way to ensure your ceramic coating isn’t cheap, low-quality, and won’t get worn away easily? Do your research, read reviews, and try to find an experienced ceramic coat provider who is genuinely dedicated to giving you premium results without taking advantage of your pocket!

Tips for Finding a Reputable Ceramic Coater Near You

If you’re looking for a ceramic coater, don’t make the mistake of trusting your local car dealership – they only care about their own profits. Your best bet is to find an experienced provider with a quality track record of customer satisfaction. To get started, ask friends and family if they know any ceramic coaters that they trust and have used before. You can also look online to check out customer reviews for Autbahn Window Tinting and other ceramic coating companies near you – it’s always a good idea to do your research! With a bit of research and effort, you’ll be able to find a ceramic coater that you can trust to give your car the protection it needs without putting too much strain on your wallet.

It is easy to be tempted by the convenience of getting a car ceramic coated from a dealer, but in reality, this is not a good idea. Not only are you likely to receive low-quality materials and poor results, you are also likely to experience intense upselling pressure. Before making any decisions, it’s definitely worth your time to decide if car ceramic coating is right for you. If it is, make sure to research reputable companies in your local area who will provide the best service and quality products. Ready to take the plunge? Get a free estimate online today! Ceramic coating your car can be a great investment – just make sure you avoid dealerships and do your research first so that your beautiful car stays beautiful!

The Benefits of Ceramic Coating for Car Rims

December 18, 2023March 17, 2023 by sunstop

Are you looking to enhance your car’s look while protecting it from the elements? If so, ceramic coating your vehicle’s rims are a great way to go. Not only will ceramic coating give your car’s rims an eye-catching shine and sparkle, but it will also protect them from corrosion and other environmental damage. At Autobahn Window Tinting in Little Rock, Ar, we specialize in ceramic coating applications for vehicle rims. Our ceramic coatings are durable and easy to maintain, saving you time and money in the long run.

Introduction
Benefits of ceramic Coating Your Vehicle’s Rims
How ceramic Coating Protects Vehicle Rims
Ceramic Coating Services at Autobahn Window Tinting
Conclusion

Benefits of Ceramic Coating Your Vehicle’s Rims

Ceramic coating is an ideal solution for car owners who want to protect their vehicle from corrosion and other environmental damage while giving it a sleek, eye-catching shine and sparkle. Ceramic coating not only offers superior protection to your vehicle’s rims but also helps preserve the paintwork underneath. Ceramic coatings provide an extra layer of protection against dirt and grime, as well as UV rays which can cause fading over time. Ceramic coatings are also more resistant to scratches and scuffs than regular paint, ensuring your car retains its pristine look for longer.

How do Ceramic Coating Protect Vehicle Rims

Ceramic coating is one of the most effective ways to protect your vehicle’s rims from corrosion and other environmental damage. Ceramic coatings are durable and provide extra protection against dirt, grime, and UV rays. Ceramic coatings also help protect the paintwork underneath from fading due to UV exposure. Ceramic coatings are also more resistant to scratches and scuffs than regular paint, ensuring your car retains its pristine look for longer.

Ceramic Coating Services at Autobahn Window Tinting

At Autobahn Window Tinting, we provide ceramic coating applications for vehicle rims. Our ceramic coatings are designed to protect your car’s rims from corrosion and other environmental damage while giving it a sleek, eye-catching shine and sparkle. Our ceramic coatings are durable and easy to maintain, saving you time and money in the long run. Our ceramic coatings are also more resistant to scratches and scuffs than regular paint, ensuring your car retains its pristine look for longer.

Conclusion

Ceramic coating is a great way to protect your vehicle from corrosion, dirt, and grime while giving it an eye-catching shine and sparkle. Ceramic coatings provide an extra layer of protection against UV rays, scratches, and scuffs, ensuring your car retains its pristine look for longer. At Autobahn Window Tinting, we specialize in ceramic coating applications for vehicle rims. Our ceramic coatings are durable and easy to maintain, saving you time and money in the long run. Contact us today to find out more about ceramic coating your vehicle’s rims!

The Differences Between Ceramic Coating and Paint Protection Film

December 18, 2023December 1, 2022 by Jesus Garcia

Protecting the exterior of your car is probably a priority for you, at least on some level. After all, the paint job is the first thing people see when they look at your vehicle– and in some ways, isn’t a person’s car a reflection of them as a person, or at least of their priorities?

It’s hard to keep a paint job looking fresh, though. No matter what kind of climate you live in, there are environmental factors that can cause major damage over time. If you live in a temperate area, your car faces potential damage from ice, road salt, and UV exposure from the sun!

What can I do to protect my car’s paint job?

Getting a new paint job every few years isn’t feasible for most of us, but unless you never drive your car, it’s likely to incur some damage over the years.

Fortunately, there are some options available to you for protection.

One of these options is paint protection film.

As you might be able to guess, paint protection film (for brevity, also known as PPF) is a clear film that’s applied to the surface of your car in order to protect the paint.

It’s a pretty good option to keep your car’s paint protected from things like road debris and fading from UV exposure. After all, it’s a physical material that creates a barrier between your car’s paint and the outside world.

The second option is ceramic coating.

It’s also a clear material that’s applied to the exterior of your car in order to protect its paint job, and it does a great job protecting your car from the elements for years.

How does paint protection film compare to ceramic coating?

Both paint protection film and ceramic coating are popular options for protecting your car’s paint job for a reason, but how does one compare to the other?

Both options are great for keeping your car safe from road debris and even acidic and chemical contaminants– these can include things like acid rain, bugs, bird droppings, and tree sap.

The major difference between the two lies in the material they’re made from. A PPF is simply applied to the exterior of your car– while a ceramic coating is made from a material that bonds with your car’s paint job on a molecular level. That means it’s creating a true bond between the paint and the coating to both protect and strengthen it.

While both can protect your car from the elements, the chemical bond created by the ceramic coating is generally more effective.

As an added bonus, ceramic coating makes your car hydrophobic– which means that water will bead off of your car, further ensuring your paint job’s protection from the elements.

How long does paint protection film last on a car?

It depends greatly on the quality of the material and the quality of the installation itself. A professional paint protection film installation should protect your car for up to five years.

How long does ceramic coating last on a car?

Ceramic coating is a more permanent option than PPF just because of its chemical makeup. It’s bonded to the paint of your car rather than just applied to it.

In fact, a quality ceramic coating for your vehicle can last up to ten years.

The longevity of both PPF and ceramic coating depends on the amount of harmful environmental factors your car is exposed to. Obviously, if your car experiences heavy debris, tree sap, bird droppings, and UV exposure on a daily basis for years, its protective coating will wear out more quickly regardless of which option you choose.

Should I get ceramic coating for my car?

One of the reasons why people opt out of ceramic coating for their vehicles is the cost– a high-quality professional ceramic coating application can cost a bit more than people are prepared to spend on a protective measure for their car.

However, applying ceramic coating will ultimately protect your car’s paint for years! Since the paint color and quality of your vehicle are the biggest factors in resale value, it makes good sense to ensure that they look great!

The increased resale value on your car is likely to make up for the initial cost of ceramic coating application.

If you’re ready to get your car looking shiny and gorgeous for years to come, choosing a ceramic coating is a solid choice. Give the experts at Autobahn a call today to schedule your appointment!

How Ceramic Coating Can Increase the Value of Your Car

December 18, 2023December 1, 2022 by Jesus Garcia

Over the years, your car naturally goes through some wear and tear. If you’re driving every day, all year round, it’s inevitable that your car will experience some damage from UV exposure, snow, ice, salt, road debris, and more.

When it comes time to sell your vehicle, though, you’ll probably be looking at your car with a more critical eye than ever before. After all, the condition of your vehicle has a direct impact on its resale value. A vehicle that needs repairs, even just cosmetic repairs to the exterior, will have a lower resale value than a car that’s in pristine condition– that’s just how it works.

What lowers a car’s resale value?

There are two major factors that come into play when determining your car’s resale value. The first is its accident history, which can be looked up through the car’s VIN number.

When a car is in an accident, its value is diminished even if all necessary repairs have been made. While this can seem unfair, the diminished value is determined by aftermarket parts that have most likely been used to make the repairs.

However, even if you’ve gotten your repairs done at a dealership with all of the correct parts, you will still experience some loss in value. The quality of repair is a major determining factor in resale value as well.

The other major factor when determining resale value is current condition. Even a car that’s never been in an accident can have a disappointing resale price if there’s damage or visible wear and tear. For example, if your car’s paint job is faded, scratched up, or otherwise damaged, it’ll fetch a lower resale price.

How can I increase the resale value of my car?

The first piece of advice we can provide when it comes to ensuring the maximum possible resale value for your car is to seek quality repairs if you ever get into an accident. While you might save money in the short-term by getting repairs from a local garage, you might be stuck with lower-quality aftermarket parts that could give you future troubles and bring down your resale value.

When at all possible, you should go to a dealership for car repairs.

Our second piece of advice: detailing! If you detail your car before you sell it, the resale value will increase. Please note that detailing means more than a quick car wash and interior vacuum– it’s essentially examining your vehicle with a magnifying glass to address everything that needs to be cleaned, repaired, or restored.

A detail may also include repairs to the paint job, fixing cosmetic issues like scratches. You should know that a car’s paint quality and condition is one of the biggest factors in resale value– which makes sense, because it’s the first thing people see when they look at the car!

What else can I do to improve my car’s paint quality for resale value?

Ceramic coating is a great option for keeping your car’s paint looking like it’s brand new, even if your car is several years old.

Essentially, ceramic coating is a clear polymer coating applied over the car’s paint that does a great job protecting it from the elements and from daily wear and tear. Not only does it cover the paint, it’s chemically formulated to bond with the car’s paint to greatly increase the level of protection. As an added bonus, it adds a layer of shine, too!

Ceramic coating is a great way to increase the resale value of your car because it makes the paint look incredible– and lasts for years. It protects the paint job from virtually everything you can think of, from road debris to UV exposure to corrosion.

Can I apply ceramic coating myself?

This is an important question– and the answer is no. There are some DIY “ceramic coatings” available for home application, but ceramic coating is something that absolutely should be left in the care of a qualified professional.

If you want your car looking great when it comes time to sell it, ceramic coating is a no-brainer. For qualified professionals to apply a ceramic coating to your vehicle, look no further than the experts at Autobahn. Give us a call at 501-708-0903 to schedule your appointment today!

How To Protect Your Car’s Paint From The Elements

December 18, 2023September 13, 2022 by Jesus Garcia

Your car is a big investment, and you probably rely on it for many aspects of your life. That’s why it’s incredibly frustrating to discover paint damage on it, like fading from the sun, scratches, or even corrosion from wintertime road salt.

But if you frequently park outside, or often drive on highways where debris can hit your car at high speeds (which you probably do!), it might seem like there isn’t much you can do to protect your car’s paint.

At this point, you might have even resigned yourself to believing that paint damage and fading is simply normal wear and tear on your vehicle.

Fortunately, we’re here to let you know that it’s not– it can be avoided!

What causes paint damage?

One of the major causes of paint damage on vehicles is pretty unavoidable: the sun.

You already know that the sun’s harmful UV rays can put people at increased risk of skin cancer and can cause sunburns and lots of other problems. But you might not realize that UV rays are bad for your car’s paint job, too!

In fact, if your car’s been exposed to the sun for an extended period of time, you might notice oxidation on your paint job.

This means that the clear coat that covers your car’s paint has been damaged, which can majorly fade the paint color and make your car look a lot older and more beat-up than it actually is.

The sun isn’t the only cause of potential paint damage, though. Things you might not expect can also really mess up your paint job!

For example, if you park under a tree, you might get tree sap on your vehicle– which, over time, can damage the clear coat and become nearly impossible to remove without causing further damage.

Other potentially damaging things include brake fluid and gasoline, insects, and bird droppings.

What can I do to protect my car’s paint?

Although it might be hard to avoid the sun, and things like tree sap and bird droppings, you don’t have to resign yourself to a faded or damaged paint job.

Fortunately, there is a solution that can protect your car from all of the above, keeping your car’s paint job looking as shiny and fresh as the day you got it.

DYNOshield paint protection film is a clear film that protects your car from the elements.

You can choose to apply it over your entire vehicle, or simply choose the parts of your car that are the most likely to receive damage, like your bumpers.

Paint protection film is designed to stop UV rays from damaging the clear coat of your vehicle, keeping the color of your paint looking fresh and vibrant. It also provides an added layer of protection between your car and things like gravel, insects, tree sap, and bird droppings.

One of the best things about paint protection film is that you can’t see it! It functions a lot like a vinyl wrap, but doesn’t change your car’s appearance– simply providing protection and some added gloss.

Who can install paint protection film on my car?

When seeking out a professional to apply protective film to your car, you’ll want to find someone who’s highly experienced at installation. Improperly applied film with bumps or bubbles can leave your car susceptible to the elements or even trap moisture underneath!

At Autobahn, we’re experts at applying protective film to keep your car looking amazing. If you’re ready to protect your car’s paint today, just give us a call!

Paint Protection VS. Ceramic Coatings

December 18, 2023August 4, 2019 by sunstop

Paint Protection film can resist rock chips

Paint Protection Film is thicker than Ceramic Coatings. Moreover, Paint Protection Film has a chemical composition that allows it to self-heal; that is, it returns to its original form after receiving an indentation or abrasion. These qualities make Paint Protection Film able to absorb rock chips, small scratches, swirl marks, and hard water spots without being permanently disfigured.

Ceramic coating cant resist rock chips

A Ceramic Coating does not have that ability. Despite the wild claims of some manufacturers and installers, a Ceramic Coating does not eliminate the risk of rock chips, scratches, swirl marks, and water spots.

They each have their strengths

However, Ceramic Coatings do have their strength, particularly
in terms of the hydrophobic surface they create. Some Paint
Protection Films are equipped with a hydrophobic clear coat,
but they often do not perform at the same level as a full
Ceramic Coating. Moreover, when you apply a Ceramic
Coating to your vehicle you get the benefits of its hydrophobic
properties on every surface without having to apply film to the
whole vehicle.

What are the Benefits of a Ceramic Coating?

December 18, 2023July 29, 2019 by sunstop

KEEPS VEHICLE CLEANER FOR LONGER

A quality Ceramic Coating, like Ceramic Pro, creates a permanent hydrophobic surface over your vehicle’s factory clear coat. This hydrophobic surface makes it more difficult for dirt, mud, and grime to bond with your car’s paint. As a result, your car stays cleaner for a longer amount of time.

MAKES VEHICLE EASIER TO WASH

The hydrophobic surface created by Ceramic Pro also means that when the time does come for a wash, your car will be easier to clean. Water will pick up dust or dirt and sheet off your paint.

PROTECTS FROM CHEMICAL STAINS AND ETCHING

Ceramic Pro is about 100 times thicker than traditional wax. That means it provides substantially more protection than a normal sealant. The chemically resistant surface helps mitigate stains and etching caused by environmental contaminants like bird-droppings or bug-splatter. After applying Ceramic Pro, it is still important to remove naturally acidic contaminants from your paint as quickly as possible. However,
your layer of Ceramic Coating will minimize damage and help protect the factory paint and clear coat underneath.

PROTECTS FROM UV DAMAGE

Another potential danger for your paint is oxidation caused by UV exposure. This results in a faded look to your paint. Ceramic Pro is UV resistant, meaning that your paint will be protected from fading.

ENHANCES GLOSS

The ultra-smooth surface that Ceramic Pro creates enhances the reflective properties of your car’s paint. The result is that your car will really pop with gloss and shine. Especially after a fresh wash, your car’s paint will have that beautiful just-been-waxed kind of look, without having to spend time applying wax!

A LONG-TERM SOLUTION

A Ceramic Coating does all of this with just one application! Unlike a traditional wax or sealant, Ceramic Pro does not wash away or break down and does not require repeated application every few months.