[QMark]

Has anyone else opted for this paint & interior protection treatment, as part of their package? It was a £500 extra, and lumped with various insurances. I lost the will to live half way through the options process, but discover that I do have this, on my invoice. It's supposed to last 5 years, allegedly.
I see a lot of people are discussing polishes etc, but the G3 website says that using polish can compromise the glasscoat finish, and that the car should only be washed with ceramic shampoo?

 

[GoKart7]

Has anyone else opted for this paint & interior protection treatment, as part of their package? It was a £500 extra, and lumped with various insurances. I lost the will to live half way through the options process, but discover that I do have this, on my invoice. It's supposed to last 5 years, allegedly.
I see a lot of people are discussing polishes etc, but the G3 website says that using polish can compromise the glasscoat finish, and that the car should only be washed with ceramic shampoo?

Er - they can't put it on without telling you asking you if you want it!

 

[QMark]

To be fair, I am sure they followed the process, but I was way more interested in the bells and whistles. Now that I have this G3 stuff, I don't want to compromise it: there seem to be some serious detailing specialists on here, so I am just looking for some feedback: particularly from Solar Red, as I also have a Blazing Red Cooper.

 

[GoKart7]

To be fair, I am sure they followed the process, but I was way more interested in the bells and whistles. Now that I have this G3 stuff, I don't want to compromise it: there seem to be some serious detailing specialists on here, so I am just looking for some feedback: particularly from Solar Red, as I also have a Blazing Red Cooper.

QMark

It isn't process - it's a sell that they slip in - they charge you £500 for a job that's not even worth £50 and even then they don't do it properly!!!

You don't need to be a specialist detailer to make your car look new and clean - just follow simple rules about washing drying cleaning polishing waxing and touching up and you're done yourself - anyone can do it - blimey my next door neighbour she did it all by herself and didn't even know what a two bucket method was until I told her!!!

 

[kenl]

I totally agree. The amount dealers charge for this sort of process is obscene.

...but since you have it already I would ask the dealer who supplied it what they recommend, if you don't you might not get your money back when it comes off and stops beading water etc.

 

[MintMark]

I've got the glasscoat and I chose it because I wanted to protect the bodywork from new and (hopefully) keep the car looking good and easy to maintain for a few years. Yes I know it was probably a rip-off and I fell for the spiel, but let's all get past that bit, OK?

Now for QMark's question. They give you a kit of cleaning supplies that includes some shampoo (and some glass cleaner, and some waterless wash spray and some bird poo remover etc), so that will get you started.

The gen3 web site says you can use any mild shampoo (online shop menu > after care questions)... now, the detailing sites often describe products in terms of whether they will strip off a wax or sealant layer, the gen3 site goes on about how much stronger it is than wax or sealant, so it seems to me that anything that is safe for wax or sealant won't affect the glasscoat.

Basically, I would avoid products described as polish (because it's abrasive) and there's no need for wax.

Let's see if it's as good as the sales pitch... :|

 

[MintMark]

BTW it's probably worth mentioning that the glasscoat people are called gen3 and not to be confused with another range of car care products called g3. Apparently gen3 used to be called g3 and it actually was confusing

 

[kenl]

Or gen3 as in the the third generation MINI.

 

[QMark]

I didn't get a hard sell, but my Mini rep said it would last 5 years. If it does, then it's good value. And if the Blazing Red is more susceptible to fading, which some here seem to think, then even more worth it. I hadn't realised that it wouldn't need polishing, so I have a garage load of supplies, and a fair few weekend afternoons that I wasn't expecting. Thanks for the feedback, MintMark.

 

[Solar red]

BMW /Mini paint does not fade. Only Vauxhall.

 

[N16k]

any ph neutral shampoo will do id imagine. I'm currently using juicy-details apple bomb which is ph neutral and works really well as well as smelling amazing too.

 

[Wicket]

I got them to just to put the finish on my car for free to seal the deal... And he said yes

 

[jeremybingham]

I said no .our dealer does a glaze . Got on eBay and bought for £8 Inc pp. I got a screen treatment leather and cloth spray and a bottle of paint preparation and sealer all for that all in !!!!!. The fabric seal just spray on and leave to dry aka scotch guard. Leather wipe on dry buff off same with the glass and same with the paint. Bit of labour then as you polish the car twice. Looks lovely but it did any way. Glass beads well.. Bonus in diy is I have lots left so when my wife got a scratch I t cut it out and 're coated it. Not worth £500!

 

[olliesgrandad]

Definitely don't buy the Glasscoat. I have used Chemical guys fabricguard protectant on the upholstery and carpets of several cars and it is just as good as the stuff you pay to have put on ( and for £10 is great value). My 4 year old grandson has tried to defeat it several times and has failed thankfully
I have tried a number of external treatments from detailing companies and the easiest to apply and renewI have found is again from Chemical Guys and called Blacklight. It is a surface sealant and gives an excellent wet look finish. Their matte finish external trim dressing is also very good for the arches and front spoiler and I have been using their interior trim cleaner for several years as it gives a nice natural matt new car finish to the plastic trim.
I use Meguirs glass cleaner for my windows and Tardis for removing tar spots and adhesive marks. These are all products designed for professional use and are definitely better than normal retail products.

 

[Wicket]

Checkout gtechniq crystal serum on YouTube. This stuff is amazing!

 

[jeremybingham]

Bang on Right solar red paint is really good now esp mini and it won't fade. Often it has a clear coat on it an y way which stops the oxidisation but even fading vauxhall can be brought back with a gentle t cut and polish..

Gokart is also bang on you are paying for the Labour for what is quite a good product if you can't be bothered to look after your car but don't belive all the hype .Bird poo still attacks the paint if you leave it and you don't get more resale. We've had it on a couple of cars. Our dealer does aglaze lincoln, supa guard Nottingham. I found an a glaze pack on eBay for £8 and glazed mine myself. . Basically it's a preparing treatment rubon and off then a sealer coat rub on then off.wash it with the pack they give you but if you scratch car and can t cut it out the coating is gone !

Autoglym life Shine is the same. Lots on eBay. You also get a glass treatment which does bead water nicely and a carpet.cloth spray that coats the fabric and seems like scotch guard. Also I got a leather,vinyl coating which is just rubbed on. Very easy. I would definitely say diyy but if they have done it negotiate a BIG discount on it.They are always keen to do that since when they prep the car they have to clean and polish it. If you have the a glaze you are paying them to do it !!!!!!

 

[SimonT]

Thanks for the info on this everyone, I called the dealer and took it off. All they do is wash the car use a degreaser and apply the glasscoat, there is no paintwork correction and nothing is applied to leather. I then did some research afterwards and found Paul Dalton at Miracle Detail. I went down to see him and had a chat I ve taken the plunge and booked in my MCS (when it arrives !) its isnt a cheap process but his price is comparable to the Mini Dealership and by the looks of all the videos on Youtube he is highly. When the car arrives and is finished I ll post my pictures

 

[jeremybingham]

Fab don't blame you although I'll bet money on your dealer dropping the price a lot had you used it as a bargaining tool. We refused it in a mini cabrio but it was in the showroom and had already been applied .they just wouldn't give us the certificate!

 

[Sootylove]

I got them to just to put the finish on my car for free to seal the deal... And he said yes

That was cunning, wish Id thought of that!
Now that Ive paid the deposit it might be a little late for playing coy.

 

[jamesahy]

BMW /Mini paint does not fade. Only Vauxhall.

My mum's 'mellow yellow' mini has faded quite a bit, you could see it when the vinyl decals were removed... awk