If you have a new car on order, then you are probably thinking about your options to keep it looking as new as possible, for as long as possible. Investing in a professional car detailing service and ceramic coating offers numerous benefits for brand-new cars, and it’s actually the best time to do it. Not only will it enhance the finish even more, but it will also help to preserve it for many years to come. In this post, we’ll explain why detailing a new car is worth it.
Benefits of New Car Detailing
The main benefits of detailing a brand new car are:
- It deep cleans the paintwork after it has collected contaminants on its journey from the factory to the dealership.
- Machine polishing will remove clear coat imperfections which are inflicted at the factory and dealership.
- Having high-quality protection applied to the car will keep it looking newer for longer and make it easier to maintain.
- A professional detailing service can help preserve the future resale value and desirability of the vehicle.
Let’s take a look at each of these benefits in some more detail.
It Deep Cleans the Paint
You could be easily forgiven for thinking that a brand-new vehicle that’s been freshly prepped for collection is completely clean, however this is not usually the case. Most vehicles travel for several thousands of miles from the factory to the dealership, and this journey can take several months. During this time, the car may be transported via railway or sea, and sit for weeks at a time on carparks near ports and railways.
This exposure causes the paintwork, wheels, trim and glass to pick up contamination such as mineral deposits, iron fallout (usually from railways) and chemical stains (from bird droppings – common near shipping ports). These contaminants cause the paintwork to feel rough and cannot be removed by a basic wash – which sadly is all the vehicle is likely to receive when it’s prepped for collection.
Instead, the car needs to be both chemically and physically decontaminated to make the surface feel smooth again, and prevent these contaminants from etching the clear coat. This process is carried out during a professional detailing surface and involves using an iron fallout removal spray to dissolve embedded contamination, and a clay bar treatment to remove any remaining bonded contamination.
It Removes Clear Coat Imperfections
Following the decontamination process, the paint can be machine polished to remove clear coat imperfections. You may be wondering why a brand-new car needs polishing, as in theory it should have perfect paint, however unfortunately this is almost always not the case.
Clear coat defects can come in a range of forms, here are some of the most common on new cars:
- Chemical etching – usually caused by bird droppings baking onto the unprotected paintwork during the vehicle’s journey from the factory to the dealership.
- Sanding marks – typically inflicted at the factory when the vehicle is being prepared following painting.
- Swirl marks – these are generally caused by poor wash technique at the dealership when the car is prepared for collection.
The most common defects on a new car are swirl marks and light clear coat scratches which are inflicted when the car is washed at the dealership. Due to time constraints, the dealership valeters will often skip essential stages of the wash process such as the pre-wash, which dramatically increases the risk of inflicting scratches. They also usually use harsh sponges and brushes which cause swirl marks and marring.
We always advise that you ask for your brand-new vehicle not to be washed before you collect it. The sales associate will likely give you some push back as they need to tick that the car has been washed before collection, but stand firm and insist you don’t want this service. This reduces the chance of inflicting more damage, but does not guarantee a perfect finish as you unfortunately can’t control what goes on before the car gets to the dealership.
It Protects the Finish
The final part of a car detailing service is the protection stage. Here you have the choice between a wax, paint sealant or ceramic coating. Although all three are designed to offer some form of protection to the paintwork, the level of protection varies considerably.
Waxes and sealants are easy to use, but provide very limited protection and typically only last for a few months at most. Ceramic coatings on the other hand, when professionally applied can last for up to 10-years. They also offer several other benefits including:
- Hydrophobicity and slickness – to make the car easier to clean and keep it cleaner between washes.
- Chemical resistance – to shield the paintwork against environmental contamination.
- Enhanced gloss – to deliver a truly exceptional finish.
Alternatively, paint protection film (PPF) can be applied. PPF is a transparent polyurethane film which can be applied over the paintwork to protect it against environmental contamination, stone chips, and light scratches. It offers far better protection against abrasion compared to a ceramic coating, and is the pinnacle of paint protection in the automotive industry.
A well protected and maintained vehicle will stay looking newer for much longer compared to an unprotected car. If you want to maintain the “newness” for as long as possible, having your brand-new vehicle professionally ceramic coated or protected with PPF is the way to go.
Preserves the Resale Value
Investing in a new car detailing service can also help to preserve the resale value and make the vehicle more desirable when it comes time to sell it. The benefits of a ceramic coating can be appreciated by a prospective owner, and is also a good sign that the vehicle has been well looked after. Keeping a record of the detailing service is a good idea as it may be a nice selling point when you sell the vehicle in future.
Dealership Protection vs Professional Detailing Services
When you purchase a brand-new vehicle, the dealership will typically try to sell you their protection package. This can either be used as a negotiation tactic, or as an upsell. However, the quality of dealership applied protection can vary massively and in the vast majority of cases isn’t to the same level of a professional detailing service.
Unfortunately, the valeters at most dealerships are under serious time constraints to prep a lot of vehicles for collection, this means that your car may not receive as much care and attention as it deserves. The level of protection applied is also inferior to a true ceramic coating in most cases, and often behaves more like a basic wax or sealant.
Here at Gleem Services, we provide warranty-backed ceramic coating protection from an industry-leading supplier. We’re accredited installers, and have years of experience meticulously machine polishing and applying ceramic coatings to ensure the best possible finish and durability. Instead of taking a chance on the dealership protection package, get your vehicle booked in for a premium detailing service and truly experience that new-car feeling.
What Packages Are Available for New Car Detailing?
We offer various ceramic coating packages for brand-new vehicles. We give you the choice of a 2-year, 5-year or 10-year ceramic coating, giving you the flexibility to choose the most suitable option for your budget and requirements. Our ceramic coating packages include:
- A thorough exterior deep clean and decontamination.
- Light enhancement machine polish to boost gloss.
- Application of a Wax is Dead® professional-grade ceramic coating.
Please visit our ceramic coating service page for more information.
Alternatively, the vehicle can be protected with PPF for maximum shielding against stone chips and scratches. Please visit our PPF service page for more information.
Book a New Car Detailing Service in Leeds
If you’re interested in having your brand-new vehicle professionally detailed, get in touch with our team. Our detailing studio in Yeadon, Leeds offers the perfect environment for optimal coating application by our fully-trained technicians. We cater for clients in the West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire areas including Leeds, Ripon, Ilkley, Harrogate, Wetherby, Bradford, Skipton, Bingley, and Keighley.