Anyone do Opti-Coat 2.0 themselves???
 

I bought it and am ready to give it a try and apply it myself. I've read as much as I could find and looked at a bunch of videos.

Has anyone else done it themselves and not had it done by a professional? If so, how did it go????

I had mine done by a pro. Was afraid to mess up given the durability and permanence of the opticoat. Although, I think the actual application takes less skill than the actual prep work beforehand. Paint correction is key to remove any scratches and swirls that may be on the paint (mainly from the dealer). You can probably give it a go if you're handy a polisher prepping the paint.

I did it myself 2 days after I picked up the car. I asked the dealer to not wash/prep the outside of the car so there was minimal paint correction required. The key to it all is prep as indicated above though. Once you put the OC on, it will cover up any water spots or imperfections and they will always show. The only choice at that point is to buff out the OC, correct the imperfections, and reapply OC.

The steps are pretty much the same as a detail job. Wash, dry, inspect, clay (if necessary), perform any paint correction required, IPA wipedown, apply OC. You can see when the OC flashes over once you apply it. It's kind of like doing windows. If you see any streaks after you have applied the OC and waited for a couple minutes, just knock it down with a light wipe with a microfiber towel.

I can't hate on the DIY mentality (thats how I got started) but be thankful only minimal correction was needed. I've seen near perfect paint on brand new cars and also WTF happened here paint on new cars. All depends how many times the dealer washed it before you came into the picture

I had the DA ready if the paint required correction (minor or extensive). I've done body work and paint work previously so it's not my first rodeo so to say. I detail all my cars myself. . have been doing so for over 15 years now. It's really a shame what a lot of new cars go through when the dealerships "wash" them. No new car that I purchase will ever leave the lot washed by the dealership. :D

My car arrived in Nov in great shape from the dealer. I have been using Zanio since taking delievery. My trick is going to be to be sure that all the Zanio is gone before I apply the optic-coat.

Any amount of polishing will remove zaino. You will be fine.

I did it this past weekend and it came out great. 48 degress in the garage. Although it is not suggested to go over a section twice, I did a second coat on the hood and front bumper 40 min after the first application. Wanted to be sure I have extra protection on the area that gets the most abuse.

What I learned is that it is very helpful to quickly go over each section lightly with a micro-fiber towel right after the application to smooth out the opti-coat and prevent high spots.

Although not necessary, I plan to apply Zanio in 30 days after the opti-coat fully cures to give it extra shine and protection.:thumbup:

Didn't Zaino just come out with their own paint sealant? I used 3D Nitro and like the results.

They have a long lasting sealant that last a few months, but nothing that is permanent. Unless something brand new has come out. I have been using their Z2 for years.

How necessary is it to clay your car before opticoating? My FRS is less than a month old and not really sure it's necessary. Also where does one buy the 15% IPA wash?

Proper prep is the KEY to coating a car. Claying and removing the contaminates are absolutely needed, even with a brand new car.

Its a 15% IPA wipe down.

Remember Paint is porus. Clay will not remove particles from the pores. Only a Chemical Decon will do that.

To be honest I just did a dawn wash and made sure the car was bone dry and perfectly clean before I applied the opti-coat.

I am sure the results would be best with all the suggested steps but I am happy with my results

Sun finally came out today after 10 days of cloudy weather and the paint looks great. I did noticed I missed the area on the inside of the side mirrors and just applied some leftover to that area today.

Dawn wash as in dish soap?