Opti-Coat 2

[mis3]

I was quoted for a detailing job including Opti-Coat 2 for $500CAN. He said he would polish the car to ensure 100% swirl-free before applying Opti-Coat.

My car is silver, smooth and shiny. It has been well-maintained by Meguiars products since the car was new. Yes, I have swirls, lots of them, but since my car is silver, they don't show at most angles. I am not sure if I want to spend the money.

I reviewed the instructions and they are not too complicated. Maybe I should just buy and apply myself. Does anyone here have the DIY experience?

There is a thread in this forum about applying Opti-coat on wheels.

[Cypresswill]

It's not difficult to apply, I'm sure you can do it yourself. How about those swirls though? Can you correct the paint yourself? You want swirls out of the paint before applying any permanent coatings.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Opti-Coat 2

the actual application of the product isn't hard but your first time doing it you might mess it up. Someone who does this regularly will defiantly apply it correctly.
BUT, any paint defects will be magnified so making the paint 99% corrected take talent and a lot of time. Again, someone who does this for a living will do it better. Not that you can't but it's going to take you some time.
Once you apply OC it takes a long time to break through it to correct the paint under it.

Try polishing your paint yourself you might surprise yourself.

[jarred767]

Like others have said, applying the Opti-coat isn't that difficult, it's the prepping the paint part that takes time and skill. The key is, if you opti-coat over the swirls, they're there for good, or at least until you spend a lot more time and money buffing through the opti-coat. The price sounds about right (if anything a little on the low side) for a full paint correction and opti-coat treatment.

[mis3]

Re: Opti-Coat 2

Sorry to say that I have given up on swirls. For me, this is a battle I cannot win. Good that my car is silver and they don't show at most angles.

I am now concerned that Opti Coat may magnified the swirls and any paint defects.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Opti-Coat 2

Swirls are inevitable, but you should be able to minimize them with proper care of the car, proper washing techniques. Perhaps you may want to do some review with the experts here on how you maintain your car. Not saying you are doing it wrong, but you just might want to review with your peers. I hate to see someone who cares about their car give up on keeping it looking great.

Once you put Opti Coat on, the only way to remove it is to polish it off. You must have the paint completely swirl free and do an IPA wipedown before applying Opti Coat. There must be nothing on the paint in order that the Opti Coat will bond properly. If you decide to apply it, there are a number of videos online with great instruction. Chad on this forum has had lots of experience with OC and also has an excellent video online, just google Opti Coat and you will find it.

[Garage Troll]

Re: Opti-Coat 2

I'm a little late to the party here, but, $500 for a full correction and OC 2.0 sounds very fair to me.