Should I PlastiDip or not? Opticoat, cquartz, modesta?

[xnfsx]

Hi Guys,

I live in NYC where in the winter time, if there is snow, there is salt. Salt + paint = bad.

I just picked up a clean e90 m3 with roughly 8000 miles on it so the paint has very very light swirls and a few small rock chips on the hood. I'll be getting a full paint correction soon and full front clear bra. I was wondering if its best to also plastidip the rest of the car. I was thinking of going towards the Xpel Stealth for the whole car but....$5,500 is extremely steep for me at the moment. I was thinking of doing a clear plastids to give it the matte blue look (my car is interlagos blue). Any thoughts? Negatives about PlastiDip? I heard from a forum member talk about doing Modesta, cquartz, or opticoat. What are the different advantages and disadvantages between plastidip and modesta/cquartz/opticoat?

Thanks guys!

[JEllis]

I would do the front half of your car in Xpel Stealth if I were you.

(Hood, bumper, front fenders, mirrors, arches, edges of door)

[xnfsx]

Why in xpel stealth? and then plastidip? If i take off the plastidip it would look awkward with half gloss and half stealth.

[Amirsm3]

Plastidip the whole car correctly (you can youtube this. Get the kit from dip your car dot com) and wait until you can afford or find time (I don't know your financial situation) to ceramic coat the paint and then clear bra the front half of the car

If you're handy at all with a heat gun, you can buy clear bra in bulk and do it yourself.

[JEllis]

I have venture shield which I like but Xpel Stealth really is nearly invisible.

I am not a big of plasti-dip.

Get a good paint correction. Install a quality clear bra and call it good.

[Amirsm3]

Oh and to touch upon opticoat and plastidip differences, Opticoat is a more "permanent" application of paint protection. It's more or less a polymer/ceramic/compound shield that bonds to your paint. Plastidip is by no means as durable as opticoat or any of those polymer/ceramic paint treatments.

Negatives of plastidip are pretty obvious:
doesn't last as long
hard to remove if sprayed onto car incorrectly
discolors depending on the climate you live in
etc. etc. etc.

[xnfsx]

Is it bad to do a full paint correct including opti coat, apply full front clear bra, and then plastidip the whole car? triple the protection! LOL

[beyondM]

Why not wrap the car? You can change the look of the car while protecting the paint. Just did my roof and now considering doing the whole car.

[xnfsx]

Originally Posted by beyondM

Why not wrap the car? You can change the look of the car while protecting the paint. Just did my roof and now considering doing the whole car.

Vinyl wrap doesn't protect against rock chips. clear bra does for sure and that's why I want to protect against any impact areas (I.e., front hood, fenders, bumper).

I'm considering plastidip because I can remove it in the summer after winter is over to protect against the salt and grime.

[xnfsx]

Does anyone know if Plastidipping the car would be bad after a paint correction, opti coat application and full front clear bra application? I am thinking of dipping the car in clear plastidip after all of that to protect against the winter grime.