Cilajet ceramic coating?

[chicagox7]

We are contemplating a ceramic coating and the dealer is pushing ‘Cilajet’ for about $1,700 on an X7. It sounds more like a warranty than a true ceramic coating (offeres 10 yr guarantee on exterior and 5 yrs on interior). They also said they’d likely reapply after about 5 yrs (so think they recognize the 10yr guarantee sounds far fetched).

Curious if anyone has done this before and how it works for you. If you’ve done it- did it impact the comfort of the seats at all (or feel like a film was on them?). We got the merino leather to ensure maximum comfort- would hate to make a decision that impacts that (would also hate to ruin them shortly after we get it as we have 2 little ones who’ll be in back).

Also open to other suggestions (we’re in the city of Chicago; so location is important Also- it makes it very difficult to try and do something ourselves).

Thanks for any insights/suggestions.

[Game]

PM’d.

[malvern_man]

Just Google 'is cilajet worth it'....the first answer you get is this...

It's a absolute scam. I have worked for dealerships for 20 years selling this and other products. It is just a polymer wax that takes 30 minutes to put on. They wash the car apply a wax like paste, wipe it off and done.

If the dealers in the US are anything like UK dealers then you'll be charged for it and it won't be applied, it's a well known scam here in the UK. Those who actually do apply it don't even prepare the paintwork properly so it only lasts a few washes. Save your money and pay a professional detailer to apply a proper ceramic coating.

[LivingInSalt]

There is no car protection done by/through your dealership that will be “worth it”

[malvern_man]

Originally Posted by LivingInSalt

There is no car protection done by/through your dealership that will be “worth it”

How very true your statement is 👍

[chicagox7]

Originally Posted by malvern_man

Just Google 'is cilajet worth it'....the first answer you get is this...

It's a absolute scam. I have worked for dealerships for 20 years selling this and other products. It is just a polymer wax that takes 30 minutes to put on. They wash the car apply a wax like paste, wipe it off and done.

If the dealers in the US are anything like UK dealers then you'll be charged for it and it won't be applied, it's a well known scam here in the UK. Those who actually do apply it don't even prepare the paintwork properly so it only lasts a few washes. Save your money and pay a professional detailer to apply a proper ceramic coating.

Thanks. I saw that as well and figured I’d see if others may have used it and agreed with that statement. Appreciate the feedback and input.

[chicagox7]

Originally Posted by Game

PM’d.

Thanks. Good info. I’ll look into that. Appreciate it!

[Blueboxer]

Complete scam, and some dealerships will tack it on as a dealer prep fee for extra profit by actually selling it at full price or by using it to discount the purchase price to make someone think it’s a good deal. I had to fight pretty hard to have the full amount refunded to me. Surprised BMW dealerships still stoop so low.

[Limegrntaln]

Trash

[boozoo]

Really appreciate all the comments re: Cilajet. I was tempted to go with it, primarily to protect my new Cognac interior. I've always had black interiors before, and am a bit nervous about all the things that could potentially damage the Cognac (food/drink spills, jeans, pen marks, etc.). So if not Cilajet, what is the best way to protect my new interior? And being that it's a brand new car, isn't the factory paint job a good protectant for the exterior (better than having Cilajet applied)? Thanks for all your experience & expertise!

[John in VA]

Use something like https://gyeonusa.com/products/q2-leather-shield for the interior.

The brand new factory paint probably has no surface protection.

[MADBMWX5MC]

^Interesting, I may try that. Have you used it? Any feedback?

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by MADBMWX5MC

^Interesting, I may try that. Have you used it? Any feedback?

Yes - seems to work as advertised.

[MADBMWX5MC]

Nice, thanks for the reply. I also found a quick, good video about the product.

[Autoaddict]

My dealership also threw me this pitch (among others)…flat out said no. They still kept telling that when it wears off or something they will reapply it for free. My neighbor who recently got a X3M, fell for it. He liked their pitch about, reapplying it for free. My wife then asked don’t you think we should do this? I told her about it and why we would take it to a professional detailer that would correct the paint, get a PPF and then put on true ceramic coating(GTechnik). The M3 looked stellar afterwards and still does.

[chandler]

One of my buddies work at a dealer - I asked him about this. Pretty much echoing the rest of everyone's response here; ceramic coating is a scam, the only thing you're paying for is the warranty, so I would be sure there's one included with the "coating" and validate what all is included in it before making a decision. Personally I skipped the ceramic coating option and opted for an extensive warranty to do painless dent removal, replace run-flat tires and curb rash tires/wheels.

[Nettles]

Originally Posted by chandler

One of my buddies work at a dealer - I asked him about this. Pretty much echoing the rest of everyone's response here; ceramic coating is a scam, the only thing you're paying for is the warranty, so I would be sure there's one included with the "coating" and validate what all is included in it before making a decision. Personally I skipped the ceramic coating option and opted for an extensive warranty to do painless dent removal, replace run-flat tires and curb rash tires/rims.

Ceramic coating isn't the scam. It's whatever crap product dealerships are putting on the car that's the scam. They claim it's ceramic and there's a 99% chance most dealers are not using anything. Their detail guys are typically minimum wage kids. THey are not doing decon/polishing/ceramic work lol