Clear Bra vs. Opti Coat type products

[KJW Detailing]

Good Afternoon,

Unfortunately, my two year old car has super soft paint and in less than two years, has more solid paint chips than that of my moms 10 year old car. I plan on repairing the chips and then want to further protect my hood, either by a clear bra or opti coat type products.

I'm not worried about cost, I'm more concerned with superior correction as my wife and I bought this car and at the very least needs to last 4 more years. What are the pro's and con's between each.

Thanks!

[Twister]

OptiCoat will help reduce marring and scratches from normal washes on soft paint but if you want something to help reduce or prevent rock chips a clear bra will be the way to go.

Both are great products but they serve different purposes.

[KneeDragr]

Id get the clear bra, that new XPel one with the self healing layer.

[FUNX650]

-Good PPF ('clear bra/clear bra material') is generally between:
6-8 mils in total thickness.
How chip resistant is it?

-Most Coatings vary between:
0.7 to perhaps 5.5 microns in total thickness.
How chip resistant are coatings?

For example:
-XPel's PPF has undergone, and passed, various ASTM Standards Testing...
One of which is:
ASTM D3170---Standard Test Method for Chipping Resistance of Coatings (Gravelometer)...

-Coatings...There are many threads/posts regarding their chip-resistance---that being:
Not as well as PPF, (is what I've gleaned).


-I may be wrong...but according to Chris@Optimum one could:
1. Correct your paint to your expectations
2. Apply one of Optimum's Coatings to the corrected paint surfaces...
Then apply your PPF where you so desire. OR:
3. Apply the PPF to the corrected vehicle's surface-areas...
Then one of Optimum's Coatings.
4. One caveat: Cure-Times

And...Avi@CarPro, as I remember, states that CQuartz doesn't play well with most PPF's.

-I personally have only used the recommended cleaners/sealants,
under/on, my vehicles' XPel PPF...with great results.


Still your choice, though.




Bob

[Chris Thomas]

PPF for chip preventing, coatings protect from mother nature and improve mar resistance. You CAN coat PPF too.

[sohail99]

Hey! I was wondering if one could coat Xpel ultimate ppf?

The film has self healing layer of clear, so I thought coating would prevent that from happening, thats why I only sealed it! Can I OC that too?