OPTICOAT review after 6 months, it is AMAZING!!!
11-03-14, 02:24 PM
#1
OPTICOAT review after 6 months, it is AMAZING!!!
My 2012 IS250 and 2006 IS350 have been opticoated for about 6 months now and I think this is the right time to put out a review. I highly recommend OPTICOAT especially on the new car to protect its paint for years to come.
Pros:
1. The water still bead and sheet like crazy even after 6 months so washing the car is so much faster and easier. Bottom line is, it is durable like a TANK!!!
2. The paint has always been glossy with the just-wax look after each regular 2-bucket car wash.
3. The car is less dirty than before. It repels dust better than wax/sealant I have used before.
4. Nothing can really stick to it. I can remove new or old bird bombs easily with just quick detailer.
5. It definitely has very strong chemical resistant because none of the bird bombs can etch through the coating. My blue IS350 parking outside on the street has been attacked by bird bombs on a weekly basis and sometimes the bombs are baked under hot sun in CA. So what, still no etching at all.
6. Great UV protection. My headlight on the 2012 IS250 are still sparkling new looking.
7. In heavy rain, if I drive over 40 MPH on the freeway, I don't really need to use windshield wipers because the water actually move upward and clear itself on the windshield. It is similar to the Rain-X product effect.
Cons:
1. It is not as slick as some quick detailer, wax or sealant.
2. It is not as glossy as some wax.
3. The paint is prone to finger prints. It is noticeable in a dark color car. However, you can clean them easily with any quick detailer.
4. Water or bird bombs baked under the sun can still give stain to the coating. The stain can really only be seen under bright light at a certain angle. This is not really a cons but I mention it so that people know it does not prevent stain. Nothing can really prevent stain lol. I can remove them with pure Vinegar. Recently I buy Carpro Spotless to dedicate to remove these stains.
pictures worth a thousand words so here we go
More pictures of my IS350 2006, and this is is more than 8 years old lol
It is me having fun pushing the car hard to the limit on autocross
Shiny, glossy, slick, wet looking paint
Pros:
1. The water still bead and sheet like crazy even after 6 months so washing the car is so much faster and easier. Bottom line is, it is durable like a TANK!!!
2. The paint has always been glossy with the just-wax look after each regular 2-bucket car wash.
3. The car is less dirty than before. It repels dust better than wax/sealant I have used before.
4. Nothing can really stick to it. I can remove new or old bird bombs easily with just quick detailer.
5. It definitely has very strong chemical resistant because none of the bird bombs can etch through the coating. My blue IS350 parking outside on the street has been attacked by bird bombs on a weekly basis and sometimes the bombs are baked under hot sun in CA. So what, still no etching at all.
6. Great UV protection. My headlight on the 2012 IS250 are still sparkling new looking.
7. In heavy rain, if I drive over 40 MPH on the freeway, I don't really need to use windshield wipers because the water actually move upward and clear itself on the windshield. It is similar to the Rain-X product effect.
Cons:
1. It is not as slick as some quick detailer, wax or sealant.
2. It is not as glossy as some wax.
3. The paint is prone to finger prints. It is noticeable in a dark color car. However, you can clean them easily with any quick detailer.
4. Water or bird bombs baked under the sun can still give stain to the coating. The stain can really only be seen under bright light at a certain angle. This is not really a cons but I mention it so that people know it does not prevent stain. Nothing can really prevent stain lol. I can remove them with pure Vinegar. Recently I buy Carpro Spotless to dedicate to remove these stains.
pictures worth a thousand words so here we go
More pictures of my IS350 2006, and this is is more than 8 years old lol
It is me having fun pushing the car hard to the limit on autocross
Shiny, glossy, slick, wet looking paint
Last edited by FSportIS; 01-09-15 at 03:45 PM.
11-05-14, 07:31 AM
#3
Thanks for the reminder...it's time for me to apply opti-coat again. A year ago, my company decided to paint the building but didn't tell anyone about it. My car received a 'special' white metallic overspray so removing it will most likely remove the opti-coat 
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11-05-14, 10:18 AM
#9
This new Gloss Coat product is supposed to provide up to two years of protection while offering a more visually appealing finish that is also slick to the touch instead of the tacky/grabby feel that Opti-Coat 2.0 had.
I have used Gloss Coat, and it was certainly easier to apply than 2.0 (which is already easy), and it did look great and have a slick feel to it as well.
This M3 underwent an extensive paint correction and was then coated with Optimum Gloss Coat. You can read the full write up by clicking here. I will also have a more in depth review of Gloss Coat on the Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog in the near future.
11-05-14, 11:44 AM
#11
Yes, Opti-Coat Pro is still available to authorized professional installers, however it comes at a steeper price and with mandatory warranty coverage.
Opti-Coat 2.0 was discontinued largely for the reason that it was often being confused or falsely advertised as just "opti-coat" which led many unknowing consumers to believe it was the same as the professional version that was being offered at a higher price through authorized installers. Many of us Pro installers were being undercut by others claiming to have "the same thing" when in fact it was just 2.0. Also, while 2.0 was said to be 'permanent' keep in mind that it is common for the hydrophobic properties to diminish mostly after a couple of years in most cases. It may be permanent in that the coating is still present on the surface, but in reality, it truly should have been marketed as a 2ish year coating like most other consumer based coatings.
Gloss Coat can be thought of as an evolution of 2.0 in that it still provides great protection, but is marketed appropriately as a 2 year coating. It has also improved the ease of application, gloss, and they have eliminated that tacky feeling that was notorious of 2.0. The major downside of the new Gloss Coat product is the price. Gloss Coat somes in a 10cc syringe at $59.99 while 2.0 came in a 20cc syringe for $79.99.
11-05-14, 02:05 PM
#12
According to Dr. G:
"10.-Assuming its kept indoors in 65-78 degrees what is the shelf life of Opti-Coat 2.0 before being opened by the consumer?
Opti-Coat 2.0 has an infinite shelf life as long as moisture is not introduced into the product."
Not like it matters though. I bet most people used up their 2.0 by now. I think I still have enough to apply 2 more cars. My tiny S2000 doesn't take much. lol
"10.-Assuming its kept indoors in 65-78 degrees what is the shelf life of Opti-Coat 2.0 before being opened by the consumer?
Opti-Coat 2.0 has an infinite shelf life as long as moisture is not introduced into the product."
Not like it matters though. I bet most people used up their 2.0 by now. I think I still have enough to apply 2 more cars. My tiny S2000 doesn't take much. lol
11-05-14, 02:32 PM
#13
According to Dr. G:
"10.-Assuming its kept indoors in 65-78 degrees what is the shelf life of Opti-Coat 2.0 before being opened by the consumer?
Opti-Coat 2.0 has an infinite shelf life as long as moisture is not introduced into the product."
Not like it matters though. I bet most people used up their 2.0 by now. I think I still have enough to apply 2 more cars. My tiny S2000 doesn't take much. lol
"10.-Assuming its kept indoors in 65-78 degrees what is the shelf life of Opti-Coat 2.0 before being opened by the consumer?
Opti-Coat 2.0 has an infinite shelf life as long as moisture is not introduced into the product."
Not like it matters though. I bet most people used up their 2.0 by now. I think I still have enough to apply 2 more cars. My tiny S2000 doesn't take much. lol
If we wash it with 2 bucket system and touchless dry it with metro blaster every week and top it off with Carpro hydro2 sealant everything month. I believe the Opticoat will last many many years. The slickness, water beading/sheeting will still be super good with the addition of the sealant.
11-06-14, 07:13 AM
#14
I think the Opticoat will last a long time if it is maintained properly and if there is no abrasive polish apply to it and such.
If we wash it with 2 bucket system and touchless dry it with metro blaster every week and top it off with Carpro hydro2 sealant everything month. I believe the Opticoat will last many many years. The slickness, water beading/sheeting will still be super good with the addition of the sealant.
If we wash it with 2 bucket system and touchless dry it with metro blaster every week and top it off with Carpro hydro2 sealant everything month. I believe the Opticoat will last many many years. The slickness, water beading/sheeting will still be super good with the addition of the sealant.
