An Aston Martin DB11 collected two days earlier -- already carrying dealer wash marks and scratches around the door handles. Polished out and sealed with Fireball Butterfly 5-year ceramic coating before the owner had even cleaned it himself.
This Aston Martin DB11 is two days old. The owner took delivery, brought it straight to us, and hasn't cleaned it himself yet. Gary could already see wash marks and light scratches -- particularly around the door handles, where dealer prep cloths catch the edges. Nothing serious, but on a car like this, not good enough.
We see this regularly. A new car is not polished at the factory -- it leaves the production line coated in self-levelling paint, which most people think looks shiny enough. From there it gets a protective plastic film or transport wax for the journey to the UK, which the dealer's contract detailer removes on arrival. Then it gets washed, waxed, and possibly washed again a few more times while it sits in the showroom. By the time you collect it, the car may have been washed four or five times without ever going anywhere. That is how you get wash marks on a two-day-old car.
Polish First, Then Coat
We stripped the wax, washed it down with alcohol, and went over the paintwork with an orbital polisher. Light scratches like these only need minimal work -- polishing removes a fine layer of paint, which is enough to level out surface marks. The door handle area came back clean. Once the paintwork was perfect, there was nothing left to do but seal it.
Fireball Butterfly -- 5-Year Ceramic Coating
After polishing this DB11 was treated with Fireball Butterfly, our 5-year ceramic coating. The nano-coating cures harder than the original lacquer, forming a glass-like shell that is slippery enough to stop dirt bonding to the surface. The car stays cleaner for longer, is easier to wash, and the coating absorbs the micro-scratches that would otherwise build up in the paintwork over years of cleaning.
The case for coating a new car immediately is straightforward: the preparation is minimal because the paintwork is already in the best condition it will ever be, which means the cost is lower than on a used car. The sooner you seal it, the less there is to correct first.
See our full ceramic coating range to find the right product for your car.
Share this video