What have you done to your CX-9 today?

[shawnee]

I finally had some free time as I didn’t have any exams to study for this week, so I went ahead and detailed my engine bay and did a paint correction. I bought my CX-9 back in 2019, and haven’t cleaned the engine bay since (mostly because I was afraid of messing up the electronics). I think for my first time ever doing an engine bay detail and paint correction, it came out pretty good!

 

[Agape_365]

Well I didnt do anything.
My 11 yr old daughter decided to update the plate cover, and to vacumn the car on her own.

The last one which was all black was covered in rock chips and showing bare metal.

Her theory is because its JDM and the cx9 is a she, she needed to be a little more feminine and less agressive looking.

 

[Agape_365]

I finally had some free time as I didn’t have any exams to study for this week, so I went ahead and detailed my engine bay and did a paint correction. I bought my CX-9 back in 2019, and haven’t cleaned the engine bay since (mostly because I was afraid of messing up the electronics). I think for my first time ever doing an engine bay detail and paint correction, it came out pretty good!

Looking sharp.

 

[Silly Wabbit]

@Agape_365 nice frame!

 

[sm1ke]

Installed the Sprint Booster and CorkSport intake from the 2018 onto the 2022, and upgraded the rear turn signal bulbs to LED. Also gave it a quick wash.

Here's my To Do list before the snow hits:

• Diff fluid drain and fill
• AT fluid drain and fill
• Engine oil and filter change
• Apply Cerakote ceramic trim coating to black plastic trim pieces
• Polish the paint
• Apply Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating
• Possibly get the front windows tinted

 

[N7turbo]

Apply Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating

How long do you plan on going with this? The reason I ask is because for someone who does a full paint decontamination and polish, you may as well finish the job with a real ceramic coating. All of the prep work is no joke and it's the same for both. Maximum bang for your time spent, you know.

Not saying there's anything wrong with that product, but it's more something I would throw on after a maintenance wash a few times per year.

 

[sm1ke]

How long do you plan on going with this? The reason I ask is because for someone who does a full paint decontamination and polish, you may as well finish the job with a real ceramic coating. All of the prep work is no joke and it's the same for both. Maximum bang for your time spent, you know.

Not saying there's anything wrong with that product, but it's more something I would throw on after a maintenance wash a few times per year.

I plan to use it at least until I run out. So far I've only applied it twice on my 2018, and it seems like I'll have enough for at least a couple more years. When it runs out, I'll reevaluate, but right now the spray and the occasional ceramic wash and wax from the same company have given me good results with the 2018.

 

[N7turbo]

Yeah the problem with these products is that a bottle lasts a long time since so little is used. I have the newer version, the Flex Wax, that I use on the Miata. I bought it nearly 2 years ago. I've taken to using it on shelves and tables around the house just to help get through it. The CX-5 is all-weather and got the Gyeon Mohs Evo coating. So far I'm pretty happy with how it's holding up after 1 year. I expect to get 1-2 more years out of it.

My thought process is that the prep work for best results is physically demanding and takes a whole day, so why not rest up and come back to it the following day and apply a ceramic coating instead. The outlay may be an additional $60-90 which isn't much for 2-3 years of protection. But especially because you don't polish the car that often, it's the perfect opportunity.

Anyway not meaning to push you, just wanted to explain the thought process I used the last time I did the work. I didn't polish the car though because I didn't feel it was needed—it will get a light polish next time. The paint on these cars is thin so I don't like the idea of removing any of it from a new car.

 

[sm1ke]

Yeah the problem with these products is that a bottle lasts a long time since so little is used.

I don't find that to be a problem, seems more like a nice benefit to me since one bottle goes a long way.

Believe me, I've gone over it in my head plenty of times, watched tons of videos on ceramic coating applications, detailing and paint correction. I know a true ceramic coating is the best way to go for long term durability. But I don't find the prep to be physically demanding, maybe because my paint's never been so bad that it needs multiple steps of correction. I usually just do one pass to get rid of the micromarring and that's it. I think I could knock out this car in 2-3 hours easy. Applying the spray sealant is really easy, no more difficult than hand drying the car after a contact wash.

We'll see though. This black paint could push me over the edge into a true ceramic coating.

 

[N7turbo]

Wash, chemical and physical decontamination with iron remover and clay towel, quick wash once more, that's already about 2 hours with the equipment set up and clean up. Then you have the polish process which is what, another hour if you're efficient. Then a panel prep wipe down of the whole car and it's finally ready for a coating. This makes it sound way easier than it really is but in reality, I'm usually not ready for the coating before 4-6 hours in. At that point I usually park it in the garage for the night and come back the next day to do the panel prep and coating. I'm not that old but I'm not getting any younger

 

[sm1ke]

Wash, chemical and physical decontamination with iron remover and clay towel, quick wash once more, that's already about 2 hours with the equipment set up and clean up. Then you have the polish process which is what, another hour if you're efficient. Then a panel prep wipe down of the whole car and it's finally ready for a coating. This makes it sound way easier than it really is but in reality, I'm usually not ready for the coating before 4-6 hours in. At that point I usually park it in the garage for the night and come back the next day to do the panel prep and coating. I'm not that old but I'm not getting any younger

Yeah I might do all that for a ceramic coating or PPF prep. However in my experience, I've only had to do an iron decon once, when the 2018 was first delivered. After that, no iron decon necessary (for my car). Clay bar/towel I didn't need to do often either, maybe once every 3 years? Possibly because I keep up with maintaining the spray coating and regular washes.

I'd like to think I kept my paint in excellent condition even without a "proper" coating and extensive prep. I'll keep doing what I've been doing while it continues to work for me and my situation.

 

[sm1ke]

My Redtiger F17 Elite dashcam came in yesterday. Time to start working on the review. I've set it up with the 12v socket powering it for now, just to test it out. Video quality looks great, better than my old Viofo A129 Duo. I ran the rear dashcam cable and now I just need to install the Dongar mirror tap kit.

I remember when @K3vonn, the builder of the Dongar adapters, first applied to be a vendor here in 2019. Great to see that his business is bigger and better than ever!

 

[N7turbo]

Clay bar/towel I didn't need to do often either, maybe once every 3 years? Possibly because I keep up with maintaining the spray coating and regular washes.

And you don't live in Bug City, USA. That makes a difference.

 

[Agape_365]

My Redtiger F17 Elite dashcam came in yesterday. Time to start working on the review. I've set it up with the 12v socket powering it for now, just to test it out. Video quality looks great, better than my old Viofo A129 Duo. I ran the rear dashcam cable and now I just need to install the Dongar mirror tap kit.

I remember when @K3vonn, the builder of the Dongar adapters, first applied to be a vendor here in 2019. Great to see that his business is bigger and better than ever!

Nice I havent been contacted yet

 

[sm1ke]

Nice I havent been contacted yet

Maybe reach out to them via DM or email? I know they're having shipping/supply issues with the VC70 cam and had to push it back.

Once I did get contacted for this cam, they sent the ship confirmation the next day, and it was delivered a couple of days after that.

 

[Agape_365]

Maybe reach out to them via DM or email? I know they're having shipping/supply issues with the VC70 cam and had to push it back.

Once I did get contacted for this cam, they sent the ship confirmation the next day, and it was delivered a couple of days after that.

I sent them an email they will ship mid October now.

 

[Fawiek]

I sent them an email they will ship mid October now.

The VC70 can was shipped out to me, though later than expected. I'm going through reviewing it, but the early marker suggests outstanding video quality. Will post the official review on this forum.

Do we have a place in the forum to post the review @sm1ke ?

 

[sm1ke]

The VC70 can was shipped out to me, though later than expected. I'm going through reviewing it, but the early marker suggests outstanding video quality. Will post the official review on this forum.

Do we have a place in the forum to post the review @sm1ke ?

That's great! Did they also send you a hardwiring kit?

I think the best place to post the review here would be in the Redtiger subforum. You can find it by clicking on Forums at the top, then scrolling down to Redtiger. Any short video clips can be uploaded here directly, but it would probably be ideal to upload video to YouTube and then just post a link here. That's what I plan to do.

 

[sm1ke]

Dashcam is all set up. Really happy with the clean install, but man, this cam is like 3x the size of my Viofo. I much prefer the small size of the Viofo cams, but this Redtiger also has a much bigger, nicer screen, and also has an in-cabin cam. Should be worth the tradeoff, but it'll take a bit of getting used to. A proper review is in the works. I'm really happy with the cable routing to the rear cam - this time around, I put in a little more effort and fished the cable through one of the rubber boots. Looks much, much cleaner.

I also applied a coating of Cerakote Ceramic Trim Coat to the black plastic trim pieces on the exterior - bumper trim, fender trim, door trim, side mirror trim, windshield trim, and roof rack mounts. The last time I applied this product on my 2018, the product tended to streak and leave an uneven finish. This time, I had a small foam brush handy, and I used it to level the area I had just applied the coating to. It worked great! Here's a before and after of one spot. I just want to keep the trim from getting worse with age.

 

[Fawiek]

Dashcam is all set up. Really happy with the clean install, but man, this cam is like 3x the size of my Viofo. I much prefer the small size of the Viofo cams, but this Redtiger also has a much bigger, nicer screen, and also has an in-cabin cam. Should be worth the tradeoff, but it'll take a bit of getting used to. A proper review is in the works. I'm really happy with the cable routing to the rear cam - this time around, I put in a little more effort and fished the cable through one of the rubber boots. Looks much, much cleaner.

View attachment 344458

View attachment 344459

I also applied a coating of Cerakote Ceramic Trim Coat to the black plastic trim pieces on the exterior - bumper trim, fender trim, door trim, side mirror trim, windshield trim, and roof rack mounts. The last time I applied this product on my 2018, the product tended to streak and leave an uneven finish. This time, I had a small foam brush handy, and I used it to level the area I had just applied the coating to. It worked great! Here's a before and after of one spot. I just want to keep the trim from getting worse with age.

View attachment 344456

View attachment 344457

Very clean install!

The black trim looks amazing, I'll need to do mine!