I'm of the opinion that factory paint sealants are a rip off, but I'm wondering what your opinions are. I'm getting ready to purchase a 2005 Max SE, and the salesman is already "planting seeds" about how great their paint treatments are.

I live in Seattle, WA and we do not use any salt on the road. Additionally, while it does rain all the time, our car environment is considered to be one of the friendliest in the Country. Little or no snow, mild temperatures, and not a lot of high intensity UV exposure.

I'm thinking that I'd be better off passing on their paint treatment, and putting that money towards a $700 3M clear bra install. I baby my cars anyway, and the only issues I've had to deal with over the years are chips and dings. The paint on new cars is applied too thinly, but overall the quality is superb. Thoughts???

 

Don't bother with the dealership paint sealants. They are a ripoff, and you can get the same or better results by applying a sealant yourself. You can get a good sealant for $15-$30, and the bottle will last you for dozens of applications.
The 3M clear bra is a good idea. Are you planning on getting the whole front end and mirrors wrapped, or just the front of the hood?

 

I haven't decided yet. The first quote I took was for $699, which sounds very high. I've been driving my 2001 Maxima SE for over 4 years, and upon examination of her, the rock chips only seem to occur on the hood and the 1/2 way mark. I'm not sure how the 3M seam will look on a dark color like Smoke, but it's nearly invisible on Silver. For sure I'll get the mirrors and at least 1/2 of the hood done. Honestly, the bumper chips on my 2001 aren't that big of a deal. I don't like them, but it's the bumper. Chips are bound to happen, but at least the 3M protects you from the masses.

What do you suggest?

 

I usually charge $650ish for my customers to have this installed.

 

So honestly Infinity...How good is the stuff? On paper, it makes a Hell of a lot more sense than any paint sealant or fancy protectant. How does the stuff look after 30, 60, 90K miles?

 

If I had a 2K1 or 2K5, I would get the mirrors, hood, and front bumper done. That's probably because I like my car to look as perfect as possible all the time. I guess it all depends on how much you are concerned with tiny defects on the car.

 

The dealership treatments will run around $400 or more and then you have to refresh them every 6 months at anywhere from $75 and up (The price I heard from one is $150).

A bottle of Klasse All In One and Sealant Glaze will set you back $40 or (literally) 1/10 of what you'd pay a dealer for their "sealant."