Cilajet sealant - Anyone else have it on their vehicle?
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Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 160
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From: TX
GLC300
Cilajet sealant - Anyone else have it on their vehicle?
This month, I bought a 2011 CPO E350. In the top corner of the windshield is a sticker with "Cilajet" on it. Never heard of it. 
Did a Google search and found this: Cilajet
Turns out, this is pretty amazing stuff. My paint feels smooth as glass. A few bird droppings are removed with a dry paper towel, with one swipe.
I don't know what it cost to apply, but I am very impressed so far.
Anyone else have experience with this?
Did a Google search and found this: Cilajet
Turns out, this is pretty amazing stuff. My paint feels smooth as glass. A few bird droppings are removed with a dry paper towel, with one swipe.
I don't know what it cost to apply, but I am very impressed so far.
Anyone else have experience with this?
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 311
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2004.7 C180 Kompressor, BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro LT, Mercedes S, Cesna 152.
Taken from a BMW Forum...
"Had cilajet applied to my new BMW. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!! Totally ruined my car. I waited months for my new car to come from Germany, I picked it up at the dealers all nice and shiny. They talked me into cilajet, I PAID 1,300. Two days after it was applied I had it outside in the rain. When it dried big white spots appeared all over my car, windshield and windows. There is also white residue on the inside door sills and white streaks are running out of the grill and down the side of the car. It took 3 people washing the car to try to get the white spots off. Only problem, every time it rains the white spots appear again making it impossible to wash off. I paid 50,000 for my new dream car only to have a car that looks horrible and I'm embarrassed to drive".
If you Google Cilajet problems, you will see two things... "problems" & "huge variation" in prices, anything from $350 - $1500...looks like Stealers / Dealers dream!!!
"Had cilajet applied to my new BMW. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!! Totally ruined my car. I waited months for my new car to come from Germany, I picked it up at the dealers all nice and shiny. They talked me into cilajet, I PAID 1,300. Two days after it was applied I had it outside in the rain. When it dried big white spots appeared all over my car, windshield and windows. There is also white residue on the inside door sills and white streaks are running out of the grill and down the side of the car. It took 3 people washing the car to try to get the white spots off. Only problem, every time it rains the white spots appear again making it impossible to wash off. I paid 50,000 for my new dream car only to have a car that looks horrible and I'm embarrassed to drive".
If you Google Cilajet problems, you will see two things... "problems" & "huge variation" in prices, anything from $350 - $1500...looks like Stealers / Dealers dream!!!
Last edited by mercedes4ever; Feb 19, 2014 at 03:17 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2009
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
All sealants and glazes depend on the quality of the surfaces they are put on. Most dealers are incapable of properly prepping a car so whatever product is put on starts looking bad very quickly.
Cilajet is not known to be a quality product but if frequently hawked by dealers as the best thing since sliced bread. The product generally costs about $25 and should take about a full day to prep and apply, but most dealers will do it in a few hours. Accordingly, the cost to the dealer is well under $100 for the product and labor. The cheapest I've seen it for is about $600 - so a minimum of $500 pure profit.
There are other products (OptiCoat or aQuartz) that are far superior to Cilajet.
A bit of a warning. Even a paper towel will scratch a finish, coated, sealed or waxed. Bird droppings have a very high sand content and that will scratch your paint in a heartbeat.
ALWAYS use a wet cloth to remove bird droppings as soon as possible.
I keep a roll of paper towels in my car for this purpose. I soak a folded sheet in water and place on the stain. Once well soaked (about 10 minutes or so), I "pinch" the droppings off to not drag the sand over unaffected paint.
Cilajet is not known to be a quality product but if frequently hawked by dealers as the best thing since sliced bread. The product generally costs about $25 and should take about a full day to prep and apply, but most dealers will do it in a few hours. Accordingly, the cost to the dealer is well under $100 for the product and labor. The cheapest I've seen it for is about $600 - so a minimum of $500 pure profit.
There are other products (OptiCoat or aQuartz) that are far superior to Cilajet.
A bit of a warning. Even a paper towel will scratch a finish, coated, sealed or waxed. Bird droppings have a very high sand content and that will scratch your paint in a heartbeat.
ALWAYS use a wet cloth to remove bird droppings as soon as possible.
I keep a roll of paper towels in my car for this purpose. I soak a folded sheet in water and place on the stain. Once well soaked (about 10 minutes or so), I "pinch" the droppings off to not drag the sand over unaffected paint.
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 138
Likes: 16
2010 E350 Luxury 4Matic
I've seen a Cilajet MDX that after 5yrs, I was impressed the pillars were beading and sheeting very well, but the rest of car, not so much. The paint did not look particularly good but this MDX I know has been abused and not reguarly cared for - too bad.
I agree with CEB, it's all in the preparation of the surface to achieve the best results.
Unless your dealer has the means and technique to properly do it, you're better off at a reputable detail shop unless DIY.
I currently have 2 coats of Carpro CQuartz UK / topped with Reload - so far so good, it beads and sheets better than any sealant or wax I've ever used.
I agree with CEB, it's all in the preparation of the surface to achieve the best results.
Unless your dealer has the means and technique to properly do it, you're better off at a reputable detail shop unless DIY.
I currently have 2 coats of Carpro CQuartz UK / topped with Reload - so far so good, it beads and sheets better than any sealant or wax I've ever used.
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From: North California
02 C32 AMG, 05 SL55 AMG, 09 SL63 AMG, 14 E350, '18 G550, 92 300ZX & 15' GL63 AMG
interesting, mine was done through Mercedes Benz of Rocklin, hopefully they did what they were supposed to do as far as proper prepping...anyhow, well see how this cilajet holds up.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Northern VA / DC
CLK 320 (2001) and 2015 GTR
I have it on my car and its AMAZING
My friend used to work at Ferrari Lambo dealer In VA, and to apply one coat , it was $1000.
Before he left, he got me a full bottle for $500... Had the bottle for 2 years and going into my third year..
I can ask him if he still have access to it.
My friend used to work at Ferrari Lambo dealer In VA, and to apply one coat , it was $1000.
Before he left, he got me a full bottle for $500... Had the bottle for 2 years and going into my third year..
I can ask him if he still have access to it.
Last edited by big_mike1979; Oct 14, 2014 at 05:03 PM.
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From: East coast
2010 E550 4M P2 Distronic, CLK550 Cab P2
I have cquartz finest on both of my cars and love it. As Ceb said, its all about the prep. I had a full paint correction done on both cars before the application. Was a day plus work for each car...
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Newbie
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 7
Likes: 1
From: Nor Cal
2016 s550 sprt
Stained my window
My 2016 s550 is getting a new car dealer installed window due to cilajet The rest of the car is amazing ! The driver door window was so badly streaked the Mbz dealer ad no other option but to replace. Buyer beware
