Faraday Boxes & New Car Paint Protection
Discussion
My new car arrives next Thursday, F-Pace SVR (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=2001695)
Comes with comfort access as standard, so keen to get a Faraday box or similar. Can't seem to see much in the way of reviews - anyone got experience of them? Any recommendations?
Also - this is the first time in 15yrs I've paid cash for a new car (previously leased or PCP) so want to protect it, plus it's black so keeping it clean/shiny is a challenge. Any recommended paintwork treatments? Friend mentioned ceramic coating?
Thanks
Comes with comfort access as standard, so keen to get a Faraday box or similar. Can't seem to see much in the way of reviews - anyone got experience of them? Any recommendations?
Also - this is the first time in 15yrs I've paid cash for a new car (previously leased or PCP) so want to protect it, plus it's black so keeping it clean/shiny is a challenge. Any recommended paintwork treatments? Friend mentioned ceramic coating?
Thanks
These definitely work:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
Ceramic coating gives a nice, tough barrier to your paint work and it'll be easier to remove things like tree sap, tar spots and other fallout debris that can ingrain itself into the paintwork. Another option might be getting PPF installed at the front and long the flanks to minimise any stone chipping. Maybe find yourself a local car detailer who is highly rated and ask for their opinion.
Can't comment on faraday boxes.
Can't comment on faraday boxes.
Baldchap said:
These definitely work:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
I've got something similar and it definitely works, so that would be more than suitable.https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
As for protecting the paint you have a number of options with varying degrees of cost/complexity.
1) Machine polish & ceramic coat - the sooner you can do this the better/cheaper it will be, ideally get it done ahead of collection. It will help with cleaning etc but you'll still get stone chips, deep scratches if there is anything too abrasive.
2) The above & PPF - PPF certainly on the front will provide stone chip protection, I have extended PPF on mine, front end, A-pillars, wings, sills, wheel arches and boot lip. Or you could have the entire car done but this will be £££. Some/most PPF will self heal also with sun/heat so minor scratches/chip will "melt" away, but there will be some minor areas like corners of panels may be exposed due to the nature of wrapping your car in plastic.
3) No. 1 and PPS, which is a spray coating, I guess like a rubberised lacquer although I'm probably a million miles away with my description. It can suffer from stone chips but is full coverage. And if you so desire you can change the colour of the car through this process.
Or you just put in the hours and polish, seal etc etc.
A decent routine of snow foam, 2 bucket wash (grit guards), multiple wash mitts, cleaning in straight lines to reduce swirls etc etc will help.
Plenty of info on YT, you could lose yourself for days frankly with the volume of information out there.
Ceramic coating is definitely worth it in my opinion.
Makes washing the car a lot easier, quite often I can wash the car simply by pressure washing it (not blasting it) with snow foam + rinse, without having to get out buckets and wash mitts at all).
PPF can be worth it, I've got an extended wrap on my car but typically picked up a scratch on a door just above the PPF, so even though mine cost a fair whack to have installed it sortof feels like it was wasted money, even though it isn't. If I was doing it again I'd either do the full car (which costs several thousand if done properly) or just the front.
Ultimately though all of this stuff is only useful if you're going to respect it afterwards. If you're just going to put it through automated washes or even the guys doing it at the side of the road, with harsh chemicals, then I'd say don't bother.
Makes washing the car a lot easier, quite often I can wash the car simply by pressure washing it (not blasting it) with snow foam + rinse, without having to get out buckets and wash mitts at all).
PPF can be worth it, I've got an extended wrap on my car but typically picked up a scratch on a door just above the PPF, so even though mine cost a fair whack to have installed it sortof feels like it was wasted money, even though it isn't. If I was doing it again I'd either do the full car (which costs several thousand if done properly) or just the front.
Ultimately though all of this stuff is only useful if you're going to respect it afterwards. If you're just going to put it through automated washes or even the guys doing it at the side of the road, with harsh chemicals, then I'd say don't bother.
Regarding Faraday punches:
My advice would be to avoid the ones that permanently attach to the keys. I've heard of cases where the pouch covered the keys whilst in the car and the car locked itself.
Then a month or so later, my brother-in-law came around with his new Q5 and wanted my help in fitting his roofbars/my roofbox. He left the keys on the passenger seat and the pouch covered the keys and the car locked. Fortunately we managed to rock the car a little so that the pouch uncovered the keys sufficiently for it to be recognised.
My advice would be to avoid the ones that permanently attach to the keys. I've heard of cases where the pouch covered the keys whilst in the car and the car locked itself.
Then a month or so later, my brother-in-law came around with his new Q5 and wanted my help in fitting his roofbars/my roofbox. He left the keys on the passenger seat and the pouch covered the keys and the car locked. Fortunately we managed to rock the car a little so that the pouch uncovered the keys sufficiently for it to be recognised.
Re faraday pouches, I would suggest on with press stud closing rather than velcro, as I found velcro either goes nasty with the pulled look or just stops working.
Also check that the faraday pouch work after 6 months or so as many just stop working after this time. I've found cheaper ones work just as well as more expensive ones.
Also check that the faraday pouch work after 6 months or so as many just stop working after this time. I've found cheaper ones work just as well as more expensive ones.
One other thing I'd mention about PPF - speak to your insurers first.
Some won't cover it because they classify it as a "wrap" - which it is, but not in the sense that one usually thinks of. It complicates repairs - paint shops are rarely equipped or skilled to do wraps and vice versa, before you consider that you can't (or shouldn't) wrap a freshly painted car anyway, etc which means complications, additional costs, etc.
Have read many cases where people have absent mindedly got PPF on their cars and then been surprised when their insurers say that they can't cover them.
Some won't cover it because they classify it as a "wrap" - which it is, but not in the sense that one usually thinks of. It complicates repairs - paint shops are rarely equipped or skilled to do wraps and vice versa, before you consider that you can't (or shouldn't) wrap a freshly painted car anyway, etc which means complications, additional costs, etc.
Have read many cases where people have absent mindedly got PPF on their cars and then been surprised when their insurers say that they can't cover them.
Baldchap said:
These definitely work:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
Thanks!https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
parabolica said:
Ceramic coating gives a nice, tough barrier to your paint work and it'll be easier to remove things like tree sap, tar spots and other fallout debris that can ingrain itself into the paintwork. Another option might be getting PPF installed at the front and long the flanks to minimise any stone chipping. Maybe find yourself a local car detailer who is highly rated and ask for their opinion.
Can't comment on faraday boxes.
Thanks. Contacted a few....but a minefield! Range from £500 to over £2kCan't comment on faraday boxes.
Freakuk said:
Baldchap said:
These definitely work:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
I've got something similar and it definitely works, so that would be more than suitable.https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
As for protecting the paint you have a number of options with varying degrees of cost/complexity.
1) Machine polish & ceramic coat - the sooner you can do this the better/cheaper it will be, ideally get it done ahead of collection. It will help with cleaning etc but you'll still get stone chips, deep scratches if there is anything too abrasive.
2) The above & PPF - PPF certainly on the front will provide stone chip protection, I have extended PPF on mine, front end, A-pillars, wings, sills, wheel arches and boot lip. Or you could have the entire car done but this will be £££. Some/most PPF will self heal also with sun/heat so minor scratches/chip will "melt" away, but there will be some minor areas like corners of panels may be exposed due to the nature of wrapping your car in plastic.
3) No. 1 and PPS, which is a spray coating, I guess like a rubberised lacquer although I'm probably a million miles away with my description. It can suffer from stone chips but is full coverage. And if you so desire you can change the colour of the car through this process.
Or you just put in the hours and polish, seal etc etc.
A decent routine of snow foam, 2 bucket wash (grit guards), multiple wash mitts, cleaning in straight lines to reduce swirls etc etc will help.
Plenty of info on YT, you could lose yourself for days frankly with the volume of information out there.
RicksAlfas said:
normalbloke said:
How old is the car? You may not need a faraday thingymajig.
Good point. Check with the dealer, it might have keys which go to sleep.I keep mine in a biscuit tin.
Great choice of car by the way OP!
Durzel said:
Ceramic coating is definitely worth it in my opinion.
Makes washing the car a lot easier, quite often I can wash the car simply by pressure washing it (not blasting it) with snow foam + rinse, without having to get out buckets and wash mitts at all).
PPF can be worth it, I've got an extended wrap on my car but typically picked up a scratch on a door just above the PPF, so even though mine cost a fair whack to have installed it sortof feels like it was wasted money, even though it isn't. If I was doing it again I'd either do the full car (which costs several thousand if done properly) or just the front.
Ultimately though all of this stuff is only useful if you're going to respect it afterwards. If you're just going to put it through automated washes or even the guys doing it at the side of the road, with harsh chemicals, then I'd say don't bother.
I've bought a Karcher with the intention of self-washing!Makes washing the car a lot easier, quite often I can wash the car simply by pressure washing it (not blasting it) with snow foam + rinse, without having to get out buckets and wash mitts at all).
PPF can be worth it, I've got an extended wrap on my car but typically picked up a scratch on a door just above the PPF, so even though mine cost a fair whack to have installed it sortof feels like it was wasted money, even though it isn't. If I was doing it again I'd either do the full car (which costs several thousand if done properly) or just the front.
Ultimately though all of this stuff is only useful if you're going to respect it afterwards. If you're just going to put it through automated washes or even the guys doing it at the side of the road, with harsh chemicals, then I'd say don't bother.
Durzel said:
One other thing I'd mention about PPF - speak to your insurers first.
Some won't cover it because they classify it as a "wrap" - which it is, but not in the sense that one usually thinks of. It complicates repairs - paint shops are rarely equipped or skilled to do wraps and vice versa, before you consider that you can't (or shouldn't) wrap a freshly painted car anyway, etc which means complications, additional costs, etc.
Have read many cases where people have absent mindedly got PPF on their cars and then been surprised when their insurers say that they can't cover them.
Hadn't thought of that! Favouring the ceramic route anyway. Some won't cover it because they classify it as a "wrap" - which it is, but not in the sense that one usually thinks of. It complicates repairs - paint shops are rarely equipped or skilled to do wraps and vice versa, before you consider that you can't (or shouldn't) wrap a freshly painted car anyway, etc which means complications, additional costs, etc.
Have read many cases where people have absent mindedly got PPF on their cars and then been surprised when their insurers say that they can't cover them.
Baldchap said:
These definitely work:
https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
These work very well. I have the exact one shown, however they degrade over a relatively short time. Maybe 6 months where the repeated folding of the material stops the pouch blocking the signal. Just make sure you buy several to renew every time it stops working.https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B07B3R5FLG?psc=...
Not using £3 hand wash places is your best bet. Either regular wash and polish or a decent ceramic by a detailed and annual top ups.
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