Our Accredited Auto-Detailing Location [JREK Autocare] recently installed 3M Pro Series Paint Protection Film to the headlights of a new VW Golf.  

​The premise of this post is to explain why this service was applied to headlights and its advantages over the life span of owning the vehicle from both a safety & financial standpoint.

Install for Safety means
Ottawa driving conditions vary drastically throughout the year.  As such, debris ranging from road salt, stones, sand, bugs and UV degradation all impact the manufacturers' UV coating on a vehicle's headlights.

Overtime all of these factors can cause the headlights to become hazy (as the UV coating degradates) and drastically reduce the effectiveness of the headlights, especially for night driving.
Applying a Paint Protection Film (such as 3M Pro Series) provides a tangible barrier of protection between the actual headlight and that of the elements impeding the performance of the headlight over time. 

​Considering that the 3M Pro Series has a 7 year warranty and the film is self healing offers proper peace of mind that night time visibility shouldn't be of concern during the ownership timeframe of your vehicle.

Install for Financial means 
Considering the minor outlay of under $150 for the headlight paint protection film install, the cost is drastically less then purchasing either a new headlight (several hundred dollars) or having a yearly headlight polish, which will also run into several hundred dollars over the vehicle's life span (should light visibility be of a concern to you). 

Secondly,  the 3M Pro Series film is removable, which means that when it comes time to sell your vehicle, removing the paint protection film will leave your once protected headlights still looking relatively new.  This offers a clear indication of a well maintained vehicle during the selling process.

If you're a dog lover, chances are you take your beloved one to and from their favorite off-leash destination by vehicle fairly frequently.  That's great, not only is your dog getting exercise but you as well, either by walking with your pet or chasing after them!

The downside (if there needs to be one) as it relates to your vehicle, dog and yourself is the eventual mess that builds-up as a result of transporting your dog.  Even with dog covers neatly placed in the vehicle, both dog hair, slobber and dander tend to make their respective way all over your vehicle in do time.  

Purchasing a vehicle, regardless if its pre-owned or new, is a major financial decision and commitment.  We've compiled three worthy questions to both ask yourself and the seller of the vehicle before making your choice.

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Are you in good financial order?  (Do you have enough good credit to have options in terms of either purchase financing, leasing or getting approved for a car loan from a bank)
2. What is the main reason for the vehicle? (Why are you thinking about purchasing a vehicle - will help in question 3)
3. What type of vehicle? (New or used and does it fit your current and near-term lifestyle requirements)

Driving down the road or maybe from numerous years of driving experience, you've noticed a variety of products intended to offer some form of paint protection to the front portion of a vehicle.  This post is intended to summarize the three most popular methods for front end vehicle paint protection.  

Paint Protection Film
Our accredited auto-detailing location (JREK Autocare) installs 3M Paint Protection Film (PPF), which is made from urethane film and virtually invisible when applied to the front portion of a vehicle.  It's benefits include the protection and prevention of scratches, stone chips and staining from bugs.  The specific 3M Pro Series film we use at our location also includes new technology that is "self healing".  Should a stone chip cause a "nick" in the film, simply pour warm water on the area and it will rejuvenate the area in question.  Additionally, PPF is computer cut specific to vehicle model type and trim level.  This means that additional areas of the vehicle maybe protected including: pillars, rocker panels and trunk strips. 

Bug Deflector
Typically made of rigid plastic, a bug deflector intentions are pretty much self explanatory to its name.  The plastic piece that is placed on the front edge of the hood of the vehicle offers a mechanism to deflect bugs and road grime away from the hood & windshield portion of the vehicle.  As these items make contact with the piece of curved plastic, they are in turn deflected over the hood and roof of the vehicle as it travels down the highway.  This method of paint protection is relatively cheap and cost effective.  It's available in our on-line store (click to view).  

Car Bra
Made from a mix of vinyl and leather, the Car Bra offers more protection to the front end of the vehicle then a bug deflector does.  Being cost effective, the Car Bra offers the advantage of a front end paint protection solution on a budget that is also removable.  The downside to the Car Bra is that unlike the bug deflector, it doesn't deflect any road debris (bugs, rocks, dust, etc) away from the hood and windshield.  Additionally, its advised to remove the Car Bra periodically to clean out any build up dust and grit from its inner portions.  If left, it may cause premature scratching to areas in contact with the vehicle paint.  This product is available in our on-line store (click to view).

If your shopping around for a new vehicle these days, the financial aspect of the decision can be a major part of the whole process.  In effect, there are three options when it comes to the financial aspect of purchasing a vehicle:

1. Cash purchase
2. Financing (monthly or bi-weekly)
3. Leasing

All have their own advantages and disadvantages depending on individual circumstances.  In this post we will look at the leasing option.  (We've inserted a video below which seeks to answer which is better, buying or leasing a vehicle?)

Leasing a vehicle is very much similar to renting, you don't own the vehicle and the monthly payments are very similar to rental payments.  Most lease terms are around the 36 month area and can provide the option to buy out the remainder of the vehicle value at the terms end.  

The upside to this option is the ability to get in and out of a new vehicle every few years.  This is great if you like change or don't like the potential hassle of vehicle maintenance once the years and mileage start to build up.

The downside is the lack of ownership, those monthly payments don't equal any personal equity into the vehicle.

Additionally, the leasing option can be an ideal fit for business use as portions of the monthly payment can be differed as an expense to the business in question (seek professional accounting advice before proceeding with this option).

Our Accredited Leasing Location (Import Auto Leasing) offers a variety of vehicle options to suite lifestyle and/or functionality with varying leasing terms.   

If your like most people, you drive your vehicle year round and through all four seasons.  The downside to Canadian driving is the effects that the elements can incur on the paint of your vehicle.  While to some, keeping your vehicle's paint in good condition is mere esthetic appeal, there a few reasons to debunk this assumption:

1. Re-sale value: all used vehicles have a market range for selling price, one area to enable your vehicle to fetch the higher range of the market price is to keep-up with the "curb appeal", including maintaining the exterior paint quality.
2. Surface Rust: maintaining a level of paint protection (wax, paint sealant) throughout the year creates a barrier between the elements and your vehicle's paint.  By having a continuous layer of protection, your vehicle's paint is less prone to oxidization and the spread of surface rust through stone chips and road salt.

The picture above (right) is a split-view of a high-speed buffing treatment completed on a hood of a vehicle.  To the top of the hood, oxidization to the paint has occurred as a result of numerous years with out the proper application of some form of paint protection (wax or paint sealant).  As a result of neglect, applying any type of paint protection to the oxidized paint is worthless at this point.  The only service to resolve this problem is through paint correction.
​ 
The paint correction process involves the use of a high speed buffing machine that has a revolution per minute range far faster then that or a typical orbital used for applying paint protection.  

Depending on the level one seeks for correction, you can utilize the high speed buffer at a low cut in-speed that doesn't remove clear coat and corrects minor blemishes (such as snow brush marks - image on left - found at our Accredited Location JREK Autocare's express buff service).  Alternatively, if oxidization removal is required then the cut-in speed will be a lot higher to heat up the paint and manipulate the surface to correct.  At this speed, clear coat will be removed as a result.

It's almost mid-November and we're very close to receiving our first snow fall.  While most motorists don't realize, when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius on a consistent basis, your summer or all season tires performance declines and Winter Tire usage becomes ideal & safer. 

Stone Chips
Regardless if your driving on a secluded dirt road or a busy four hundred highway, your vehicle will always be in contact with various forms of debris (rocks, sand, dust & even pieces of other vehicles); all of which can result in the form of "stone chips" to the front area (hood, bumper, fenders, mirrors, rocker panels) of your vehicle.  

While this is considered typical "wear & tear" from normal vehicle operations, it does promote the acceleration of surface rust on areas of the vehicle paint other than the bumper.  (Since most modern day vehicle's bumpers are made from plastic, stone chips in this area create "pitting" to the surface area, not rust.)  

Stone Chip Protection
To reiterate, stone chips can cause surface rust if left untreated and treated with either a touch-up pen or applying Paint Protection Film once you've purchased your vehicle (or shortly there after - usually not after 20,000 KM).  If your in need of touch-up paint, the easiest area to obtain a "touch-up pen" is at your local dealership.  (On the inside door jamb on the driver side door should be the paint code to provide and receive a proper match.) 

If your interested in long term protection, our accredited location (JREK Autocare) installs 3M Paint Protection Film at their location and offers this service to the hood, fenders and mirrors (standard 5 piece package).  The image below from 3M illustrates all areas of the vehicle where 3M Paint Protection Film can be installed.  

Getting your vehicle winter ready is a priority during the late fall, so that your not taken off guard once the weather changes and in turn the driving conditions.

So far, we've talked about the need to check/replace windshield blades and the application of silicone spray; two product benefits that can make winter driving more bearable.

Windshield Repellent (commonly known as Rain-X or Aquapel) is a chemical applied (in spray form or applicator) to your vehicle's windshield that enhances visibility against rain, sleet, snow and ice.  

In its simplest form, Windshield Repellent acts like wax on the paint or your vehicle - it provides a barrier between the elements and the surface (in this instance) of your windshield or window. 

Below is a video created by our Accredited Auto Detailing location (JREK Autocare) that demonstrates the application of Rain-X to the windshield of a Toyota Tacoma.

Depending on the product type (Rain-X or Aquapel - examples) you purchase, re-application can vary from one to several months.  Purchase options for this product can be obtained at most common big box department stores (Canadian Tire, Walmart, etc.).

Next week, we'll look at the benefits of winter tires compared to all seasons.