This 2023 Audi RS3 Quattro was a unique job we had the absolute pleasure of completing during our most recent training for a loyal customer. This beautiful Kemora Gray Quattro absolutely leaps from 0 mph to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, and had a sizable Youtube following back in the day. Now the Audi is looking for an advanced ceramic coating to preserve its look for another 10 years, and we’re happy to help.
During the event, our candidates applying for Master Installer status were taught how to apply coatings using the Quattro, meaning that this coating was installed by the newest class of certified Master Installers, an elite detailing group representing the top of their field. In this article we’ll give you an inside look into the coating process at our training center. Let’s dive in.
Before installation could begin, we needed to decontaminate and paint-correct the vehicle. Fireball’s inspection sheets allowed our trainees to recognize multiple areas of concern, which we treat with appropriate products. On the Audi we used Wheel & Tire to clean the wheels, and Wax Off to remove the previous coating.
Wheel & Tire or a similar decontamination product is essential in any detailing shop. Wheel & Tire is a thorough and fast-acting alkaline cleaner and degreaser. One of the best features of Wheel & Tire is its multiple uses and scalability. You can dilute Wheel & Tire down to the point where it acts as a gentle cleaner, or use it undiluted to clear up heavy grease and congealed road grime. Wheel & Tire can even be used on trim and plastics, making it a favorite for cleaning engine bays. On the Audi, we used wheels and tires to clear up the wheels, rims, tires, and brake rotors, and to degrease the engine.
When working with cars owned by aftermarket enthusiasts, a tool like Wax Off is extremely important. Wax Off is a universal pre-treatment that completely removes old waxes, sealants, and some ceramic coatings. Wax Off uses its unique formula to create a clean slate to work with by breaking down protective products on the microscopic level. This makes it the perfect one-step solution to remove protection of all kinds, an indispensable tool for detailing and body shops. Wax Off is safe on paint and PPF, and can also be used to renew faded exterior plastics and trim. We used Wax Off to remove an unknown ceramic coating, which broke down over the course of about 10 minutes.
After the decontamination was completed, we moved into washing. We selected Snow Foam for this wash, and used our custom Fireball Blizzard Cannon to coat the Audi, including the engine bay, in a layer of thick acid-neutral foam. We then worked the foam into the vehicle, spreading it into hard-to reach areas with hand-wash mitts. Once the wash was complete, we hand dried the Audi, leaving it primed and ready for paint correction.
Paint correction is an incredibly important step in ceramic coating. Paint correction was slow going, as our experienced partners Auto Appearance KC and other certified Fireball Installers showed our trainees the exact amount of pressure needed to buff out the defects, swirls, and water spots.
With paint correction completed, we finally got started on coating. The Audi RS3 is this year’s vehicle for training our new installers how to install DokDo, Fireball’s ultra strong ten-year ceramic coating. DokDo is rated above 9H on the mineral hardness scale, meaning that it’s tough enough to resist any and all micro abrasions and minor scratches that come its way. DokDo is also our most hydrophobic coating, meaning that debris, dust, and contaminants of all kinds will need to work extremely hard to try to stick to the smooth, ultra slick coated surface. As mentioned, DokDo is rated to last a full decade, providing 10 years of full protection, so the owner won’t have to worry about erosion, water spotting, discoloration, or paint defects for a long, long time.
Installing DokDo is a rite of passage for Fireball Installers. As Fireball’s only 2-layer coating, DokDo presents a unique challenge. Our trainees had to prove their mastery of the installation process in front of our instructors in order to be certified. In this training, all of our new installers passed and were certified; previous classes haven’t been so lucky.
Installing a coating onto vehicles can present several challenges, one of the greatest being high spots and applicator hardening. As it dries onto the block, the ceramic coating begins to stiffen and make applying much more difficult – risking scratches on freshly corrected paint if an Installer doesn’t switch in time. Our installers had to switch applicators for every large body panel in order to avoid ruining all their hard work. Our team coated the entire vehicle from bumper to bumper, from under the running boards to the middle of the roof.
Because of the extreme challenges presented by DokDo, We had our installers check for highspots and coating defects using a bounce board and a pen light to ensure the quality of the coating.
Once the coating was set, and our instructors were satisfied with the quality, our renovation of the RS3 was complete.
All of our installers have been factory trained in an environment much like the one outlined above, so when you come to a Fireball Installer, you know they’ve been properly and thoroughly trained. You’ll get a thorough, top-to-bottom inspection and correction like the one outlined here, and your detailer can help talk you through our product lineup to find which coating is best for your specific vehicle. If you’re looking for a ceramic coating, don’t wait, choose Fireball for a company who delivers quality in every detail.
