So I just picked up an LS400 and the outside is in near mint condition, which for a Minnesota car is a miracle! Anyways, I'm looking into ways to protect it from the elements. One thing I should note is that I don't currently have a garage to park it in, so it will be exposed probably 90% of the time. My first question is would it be worth it to buy a paint coating to put on it to protect it, or is that just a waste of time considering its going to be outside all the time? If it is worth it, what do you guys recommend? I read a few threads saying that 22ple and opti coat were decent choices (22ple being the better option). I don't plan on driving the car much in the winter, but if I were to and I ran it through a touch less wash, would that strip the paint coating? Just thought I would throw these questions out there, I know a lot of people on the forums here are from Cali, so they don't have much to worry about. As for me, Minnesota is about as bad as it gets as far as harsh weather is concerned.

 

It sounds like your vehicle may be a great candidate for a paint coating. Nano coatings make perfect sense for vehicles that are driven regularly and need maximum protection from the elements, and for owners who cannot commit to waxing or sealing their vehicles several times a year. A coating will have considerably better, more durable protection and it will make maintenace quicker and easier. I love having a coated vehicle

There are MANY great options out there for paint coatings.

Do you intend on doing this yourself? Or are you going to take it to a professional?

EDIT: Have a look at the sticky thread "Everything you need to know about paint coatings"

 

I do intend on doing it myself. Paying someone else to do it would be too much of an expense for me, plus I've had lots of detailing experience under my belt so it only makes sense. In looking for cheap options I found a few on amazon that I might try:

I did find that thread you mentioned a couple days ago, very helpful! I'm likely going with the cheaper option of these paint coatings i have listed. Also, I already asked this, but would a automatic touch less car wash strip the paint coating? I know it strips wax without a problem.

 

Of the 3 you listed, CQuartz is the most well known and has a great reputation. CarPro is one of the pioneers in the nano coating industry, and CQuartz is a very well known name in this industry.

You might also want to consider GTechniq Crystal Serum Light. It is my current favorite consumer grade nano coating.

Initial Impressions: Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light (CSL) by Zach McGovern


Automatic touchless washes will not remove the coating, however their strong chemicals/cleaners may effect the surface tension and result in a reduction or elimination of water beading over time.

 

Thanks for the info! I won't be washing it much in the winter as I won't be driving it a whole lot, but good to know. I ordered the Mckees 37 MK37-200 paint coating since it was the cheapest and actually has a pretty good reputation over on the Autogeek forums:https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...rbo-miata.html

Once that comes in I'll get to work and maybe upload some before/after pics of the results. If the product doesn't work out for some reason, I'll try out the ones you listed.

 

Finally got around to getting the car coated. I forgot to take pictures before I did it, but the difference is so subtle anyways. I think the polish made the biggest difference in how it looks, but Mckees coating added a bit of a deeper shine. Here's the pics:

 

I would really get rid of that roof deflector, it will abraid and ruin the paint up there.

 

I'm considering removing it. It was there when i bought the car, but I think it looks nice. How would it damage the paint exactly?