Perma Plate

c615586 · 09-13-2011, 07:45 PM

I just took delivery of my new (to me) 2008 Z4M Roadster. I bought the car site unseen from a dealer in Utah. Aside from what I know from Carfax, the previous history is pretty minimal. The dealer I bought it from picked it up at auction.

The car is pristine as best I can tell and has had a clear bra placed on it by the previous owner. It only has 3000 miles on it-- I'm guessing it must have been like the 5th or 6th car in someone's collection.

It looks like it must have had Perma Plate protection done at some point (there's a Perma Plate sticker on the driver's side window). Unfortunately, I have no idea when it was done. There is a receipt for the clear bra, but no perma plate docs are in the car.

Couple of questions:
1. Can I wash and wax the car as I would any other car?
2. Do I need to periodically reapply the perma plate once it's been done?
3. Is there any way of tracking down when or where the perma plate was applied? This is a stretch, I know.

Thanks in advance.

Silververtu · 09-13-2011, 08:04 PM

Congrats on your new ride!!! Don't forget to post pics when the car arrives. After reading the perma plate website, it's similar to ResisAll, which you can wash the car as normal. In addition, I think you should be able to track when and where perma plate was applied by the VIN number. just my 2 cents

c615586 · 09-14-2011, 08:37 AM

Thanks for the tips! I'll give the perma plate folks a call.

Hawkeye · 09-15-2011, 12:51 PM

What is perma plate?

Kgolf31 · 09-15-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

What is perma plate?

Com'on dude...google

http://permaplate.com/cms/

Nikki · 09-15-2011, 01:08 PM

that site has many products and isn't very detailed on exactly what they are.

is it a clear bra? or does it cover the entire vehicle? does it peel off?

Silververtu · 09-15-2011, 01:31 PM

It's more like a special protective coating, similar to ResisAll and Simoniz

Kgolf31 · 09-15-2011, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikki

that site has many products and isn't very detailed on exactly what they are.

is it a clear bra? or does it cover the entire vehicle? does it peel off?

Essentially it's a super polymer sealant, essentially.

http://permaplate.com/cms/index.php/...aintguard.html

I'm not on board with these types of products yet, I'm more up for regular wax and sealant

Finnegan · 09-15-2011, 04:46 PM

Perma Plate is a add-on item used to boost dealer profits. Think "Tru Coat" from the movie Fargo. Just like other protectants, sealers, interior treatments, and so on, it's a great way for dealers to make money. Supposedly these things "protect paint" or whatever, but you'll see the warranty covers what would never happen with a halfway decent modern paint job during the warranty period anyway.

Best case it does nothing for the car; worst case it causes swirls and requires a good detailer to remove the swirling done by the "application". Every car I've seen with Perma Plate has swirls gallore as some kid at the dealership typically applies this stuff and makes a mess of things. (I never let the dealership wash my car for this very reason as well....)

My advice is to forget about it using it and use good quality detailing products instead. Wash the car with the two bucket method (always a good practice) and/or a foam gun; strip the existing stuff off (Chemical Guys or a host of other methods); clay bar the car using a quality clay and lube; apply a good cleaner (I like Klass All-In-One); and then use a good quality polymer product (like Menerna FMJ) and possibly a good wax like Dodo Juice or Collinite (carnuba). Collinite is great if there's a lot of road grime, salt, or winter muck to deal with or consider.

If there are swirls and they bother you, a good paint correction and detailing will easily clear that up (a good detailer can work wonders, and it's something I always do with a "new" used car anyway). I've been able to find a really good detailer who performed work that was almost unbelievable for a couple hundred bucks. If you do several of the steps yourself and just have a good detailer do the correction you can probably erase any swirls or small scratches (common on a used car, no matter how nice) for less than that.

Lots in the detailing section here on this stuff and plenty of opinions--bottom line being you can do much better than this stuff and it's better for the car's finish and value long-term.

c615586 · 09-15-2011, 11:09 PM

Thanks, I've used Klass products before and like them quite a bit.

I don't intend to have the product reapplied, but I still want to contact the Perma Plate people and try to find out how long ago the stuff was applied. I assume it was done after the clearbra was put on, but I don't know. I also want to find out if the previous owner had any of their interior protection stuff applied.

I wonder if anyone on the forums has experience with this company.

09-13-2011, 07:45 PM	#1
c615586 Private 8 Rep 61 Posts Drives: '89 325is, '13 Carrera 4S Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Upper Arlington, OH iTrader: (0)	Perma Plate I just took delivery of my new (to me) 2008 Z4M Roadster. I bought the car site unseen from a dealer in Utah. Aside from what I know from Carfax, the previous history is pretty minimal. The dealer I bought it from picked it up at auction. The car is pristine as best I can tell and has had a clear bra placed on it by the previous owner. It only has 3000 miles on it-- I'm guessing it must have been like the 5th or 6th car in someone's collection. It looks like it must have had Perma Plate protection done at some point (there's a Perma Plate sticker on the driver's side window). Unfortunately, I have no idea when it was done. There is a receipt for the clear bra, but no perma plate docs are in the car. Couple of questions: 1. Can I wash and wax the car as I would any other car? 2. Do I need to periodically reapply the perma plate once it's been done? 3. Is there any way of tracking down when or where the perma plate was applied? This is a stretch, I know. Thanks in advance.
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09-13-2011, 08:04 PM	#2
Silververtu Major 231 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 50i M Sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US of A iTrader: (5) Garage List 2019 Porsche Cayenn ... [10.00]	Congrats on your new ride!!! Don't forget to post pics when the car arrives. After reading the perma plate website, it's similar to ResisAll, which you can wash the car as normal. In addition, I think you should be able to track when and where perma plate was applied by the VIN number. just my 2 cents __________________ 2019 Cayenne Turbo Gone but not forgotten: 2006 2.0T A4 Avant, 2007 Z4 Roadster 3.0si, 2006 M Roadster, 2013 550i M Sport, 2015 Cayman S, 2015 X5 50i M Sport
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09-14-2011, 08:37 AM	#3
c615586 Private 8 Rep 61 Posts Drives: '89 325is, '13 Carrera 4S Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Upper Arlington, OH iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the tips! I'll give the perma plate folks a call.
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09-15-2011, 12:51 PM	#4
Hawkeye Brigadier General 2070 Rep 4,365 Posts Drives: '07 Z4 Coupe, '21 X3, '16 GMC Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Iowa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 GMC Sierra SLT [10.00] 2008 Yamaha R6 [9.00]	What is perma plate? __________________ 2007 Z4 3.0si Coupe • 6 MT • Black Saphire Metallic • PP • SP 2016 GMC Sierra SLT Z71 Premium Plus 4x4 2017 Harley StreetGlide • Denim Black • V&H Tune 2021 BMW x30i • Phytonic Blue Metallic • Fully loaded
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09-15-2011, 01:08 PM	#6
Nikki Major General 990 Rep 6,381 Posts Drives: Sepang Z4MC Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: LA iTrader: (9)	that site has many products and isn't very detailed on exactly what they are. is it a clear bra? or does it cover the entire vehicle? does it peel off? __________________ Nikki
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09-15-2011, 01:31 PM	#7
Silververtu Major 231 Rep 1,066 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 50i M Sport Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US of A iTrader: (5) Garage List 2019 Porsche Cayenn ... [10.00]	It's more like a special protective coating, similar to ResisAll and Simoniz __________________ 2019 Cayenne Turbo Gone but not forgotten: 2006 2.0T A4 Avant, 2007 Z4 Roadster 3.0si, 2006 M Roadster, 2013 550i M Sport, 2015 Cayman S, 2015 X5 50i M Sport
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09-15-2011, 04:46 PM	#9
Finnegan Dog Listener 704 Rep 7,850 Posts Drives: Z4M/. Z3M, E36/46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Teaching the dog to slalom iTrader: (22)	Perma Plate is a add-on item used to boost dealer profits. Think "Tru Coat" from the movie Fargo. Just like other protectants, sealers, interior treatments, and so on, it's a great way for dealers to make money. Supposedly these things "protect paint" or whatever, but you'll see the warranty covers what would never happen with a halfway decent modern paint job during the warranty period anyway. Best case it does nothing for the car; worst case it causes swirls and requires a good detailer to remove the swirling done by the "application". Every car I've seen with Perma Plate has swirls gallore as some kid at the dealership typically applies this stuff and makes a mess of things. (I never let the dealership wash my car for this very reason as well....) My advice is to forget about it using it and use good quality detailing products instead. Wash the car with the two bucket method (always a good practice) and/or a foam gun; strip the existing stuff off (Chemical Guys or a host of other methods); clay bar the car using a quality clay and lube; apply a good cleaner (I like Klass All-In-One); and then use a good quality polymer product (like Menerna FMJ) and possibly a good wax like Dodo Juice or Collinite (carnuba). Collinite is great if there's a lot of road grime, salt, or winter muck to deal with or consider. If there are swirls and they bother you, a good paint correction and detailing will easily clear that up (a good detailer can work wonders, and it's something I always do with a "new" used car anyway). I've been able to find a really good detailer who performed work that was almost unbelievable for a couple hundred bucks. If you do several of the steps yourself and just have a good detailer do the correction you can probably erase any swirls or small scratches (common on a used car, no matter how nice) for less than that. Lots in the detailing section here on this stuff and plenty of opinions--bottom line being you can do much better than this stuff and it's better for the car's finish and value long-term.
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09-15-2011, 11:09 PM	#10
c615586 Private 8 Rep 61 Posts Drives: '89 325is, '13 Carrera 4S Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Upper Arlington, OH iTrader: (0)	Thanks, I've used Klass products before and like them quite a bit. I don't intend to have the product reapplied, but I still want to contact the Perma Plate people and try to find out how long ago the stuff was applied. I assume it was done after the clearbra was put on, but I don't know. I also want to find out if the previous owner had any of their interior protection stuff applied. I wonder if anyone on the forums has experience with this company.
	Appreciate 0 Quote