A Honda Stepwgn imported directly from Japan. The owner had a water leak sorted first, then brought it in for a seven-year ceramic coating -- three coats. Gary explains the "pop" that the coating gives to metallic and pearlescent paint. A stripe specialist was also called in for the body stripes.
A Honda Stepwgn -- this one came from Japan. The owner bought it there and brought it over, and once it arrived in the UK he brought it straight to us. It had already had a water leak sorted; this visit was for the ceramic coating.
The Preparation
We do not know what the dealership in Japan put on the car, so we strip everything off first. The goal is to get back to a surface that is as close as possible to how it left the factory before anyone put anything on it -- then apply our own preparation and coating on a clean base. The process: soap wash to lift the surface products, buff to remove any remaining compound and light oxidation, alcohol wipe to strip everything, then the coating goes on.
This car's paintwork was fairly rough underneath -- slightly oxidised and not as bright as it could be. A good buff and three coats of seven-year ceramic brought it back. Gary also called in a stripe specialist to assess the body stripes and advise on whether they could be restored, and recommended new wheel centres.
The Pop
Once the coating was on, the metallic pearlescent in the paint really came through -- what people in the trade call "the pop." Gary admits it is not his terminology, but describes it accurately: the metallic fleck seems to move and catch the light at different angles, the colour looks deeper, and the overall effect is a finish that looks newer than new. He looks at it and says: "it looks like new new."
This video was filmed with the original Fireball range. The current seven-to-ten-year product is Fireball Dok Do Dual Titanium. See our full ceramic coating range.
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