Diamondbrite

[malkymoo]

I am looking a buying a two year old car, and the dealer is very keen to sell me something called Diamondbrite, which is a paint protection system which claims to stop (among other things) UV damage to paint finishes. As the car is non-metallic red and I tend to keep cars for a long time UV damage is a consideration. The cost of the treatment is £300, which no doubt gives the dealer a hefty profit margin, I am always suspicious of extras pushed at point of sale.

Does anyone know if the treatment is worth having, and if it is would I be better getting it done at a specialist car valeting firm.

[staffordian]

I am looking a buying a two year old car, and the dealer is very keen to sell me something called Diamondbrite, which is a paint protection system which claims to stop (among other things) UV damage to paint finishes. As the car is non-metallic red and I tend to keep cars for a long time UV damage is a consideration. The cost of the treatment is £300, which no doubt gives the dealer a hefty profit margin, I am always suspicious of extras pushed at point of sale.

Does anyone know if the treatment is worth having, and if it is would I be better getting it done at a specialist car valeting firm.

As I understand it, Diamondbrite is ok, but nothing special, and the materials cost is probably single figure or low double figure pounds.

Like most finishes, preparation and application are key.

Most garages do neither well, which rather negates any benefit. They will get the spotty yoof who hoses the cars down to splash it on, so labour costs are zilch and the profit is large.

I suspect a specialist valeter (not the East European types which seem to be everywhere) will charge something similar but do a professoonal job. I understand ceramic finishes are "the thing" but I know nothing about them.

My main objection to these treatments is that unless you are obsessively fastidious in cleaning your car, and having this sort of treatment redone regularly, any initial treatment is probably not worth having.

Staffordian

Edit. For far more than you ever wanted to know, see this site, and in particular, the thread I've linked to...

https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/ ... amondbrite

[DrFfybes]

It does have a slight effect, but if the car is outside all the time then it deosn't last that long for UV protection.

We had the lights on the Z4 cleaned and polished ofr an MOT and coated with one of these finishes - 12 months later they are misting.

However it must be applied to a clean, smooth surface (which is where most of the cost comes in) and if done properly makes cleaning a car very easy for 2-3 years.

Best bet is to go to a valeter (there will be lots in your area, some better than others) and get them to do it. Gtechniq make a good range of waxes and coatings, but there are other ranges.

This is worth a watch...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGXMeY-jsUw

Paul

[bungeejumper]

I don't think red paint is prone to fading in quite the way it used to be, but the bitter memory lingers on, and the showroom salesmen are still trying to turn a profit on it. I really wouldn't know what a ceramic paint finish was, but I'd be bothered about the problems it would presumably create for the bodyshop if my paintwork needed work after a scrape.

That said, I did allow myself to be talked into some kind of a (fluid-based) paint protection system when I bought my (silver) car four years ago, because it also came with Scotchgard protection for the seats and some snazzy floor mats. (I know, I know..... ) And a few other bits.

The dealer (main Toyota dealership) wanted £400. I offered £120. They sighed, and agreed. We'd already agreed on the price of the car before that, so it wasn't as if they were trying to bundle the paint system into the deal, it was just a last try at extracting some extra cash from me. I decided what it was worth to me, and that was what I offered.

It does annoy me, though, that a customer who didn't like haggling, or who didn't know much about cars, or who just looked susceptible (female, older driver, anything else?) would probably have been rushed into the £400 deal as if it was "the normal thing to do".

BJ

[malkymoo]

Thanks for the replies.

I went ahead and bought the car without the Diamondbrite and the other insurances being pushed, much to the salesman's disappointment. On thinking about it I would guess that much of the dealer's profit (and the salesman's commission) comes from the extras sold at point of sale.

My suspicion about the inflated price of the Diamondbrite was confirmed when after the deal had been concluded the salesman offer me the treatment for £200 rather than the £300 originally quoted.