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The car I’m getting supposedly has a graphene coating called Cilajet that is already applied and compulsory I guess. I actually don’t mind and I was able to negotiate down the high price they originally tried putting on the term sheet.
Anyone have any experience with this? Anyone know if a dealer caddy applied this or if it was actually professionally applied with paint correction?
I never pay for that stuff. Had a dealer try and charge me for LoJack once, not a word about it until I went to pick up the car. I refused it, they refused to sell unless I paid. So, I walked. About a week later they called saying they would accept if I paid half of it. I refused. A few weeks later they agreed to give my the LoJack for free.
Couple problems with that: If my car is stolen, I don't want it back. And... I had found one a road trip away and it was already in my garage.
There are lots of cars and lots of dealers selling them. They know that and will usually cave on vanilla cars. The fancy stuff not so much but this car isn't that. IMO you don't need to take this scam on a car like the S Class; there are plenty on the lots.
Huh? Who said so?
It is especially notorious when someone comes down on you and imposes his value on you as if it is universal truth.
Car coatings are not all equals. And it must be applied properly to have the benefit. If not, it is worse than before.
And quite frankly, even if the coating was applied professionally, if the dealer actually used a ''compulsory'' attitude, I would walk away in a sec.
Yeah he made it sound like they apply it to every car they get before it sells. It wasn’t even disclosed until I asked about some cryptic item on the term sheet. I then pressed more and he showed me that sheet. At first I’m like alright, it’s a ceramic coating and the price they were charging was good. That’s why I asked the question who applies it?. But after researching it more, it’s just a typical, fancy stereotypical money-grabbing sealant
I’m going to refuse it and will walk if they don’t rescind it off the contract.
I have it actually on a Land Rover and got it voluntarily as they discounted it so heavily at the time to push it. I wouldn't endorse it but also wouldn't say I am unhappy with it. Only done it once though. I wouldn't be afraid to walk though, there are a lot of these cars around right now and checked all the dealers you would be willing to purchase from...
'23 S580 Manufaktur and '21 GLE 53 Coupe (Past MBZ: 2020 GT63, S65, S63, E55, CL65, S550, C32)
Originally Posted by Frenetic
Yeah he made it sound like they apply it to every car they get before it sells. It wasn’t even disclosed until I asked about some cryptic item on the term sheet. I then pressed more and he showed me that sheet. At first I’m like alright, it’s a ceramic coating and the price they were charging was good. That’s why I asked the question who applies I it?. But after researching it more, it’s just a typical, fancy stereotypical money-grabbing sealant
I’m going to refuse it and will walk if they don’t rescind it off the contract.
@Frenetic My understanding was Cilajet was applied to all new cars at my dealership as well. I did not ask too much about it as I declined it but my 580 still had the Cilajet sticker on the window. I asked my friend who owns a high end detail shop about it. His input was that there is no paint correction done prior and it's a single coat, Not a multiple day job which is light or thermal set. Way different than the Ceramic Pro I had placed. I had paint correction and then 3 (I believe) coats of Ceramic Pro all in a no dust environment which took him 2 days.
Yeah they told me it was already on but they ended up discounting the price off of MSRP and kept it on the contract, so whatever, I don’t mind. It sure doesn’t feel like a “real” ceramic coating, though.
Any ceramic coating should be done after a paint correction, for a brand new car at a minimum a one pass. CilaJet from what I can tell is junk, Ceramic Pro is what I have on all of my cars. Like another posted said here its a multiple day job
Here it is, coating and all. Graphite Grey Metallic with 20” wheels. I’m really digging the color. My last four cars were white, so it’s a nice change for me…except I couldn’t completely escape it as the white made its way into the interior. It looks nice and fancy but I’m more of practical person who isn’t looking forward to trying to keep that interior clean.
'23 S580 Manufaktur and '21 GLE 53 Coupe (Past MBZ: 2020 GT63, S65, S63, E55, CL65, S550, C32)
Originally Posted by Frenetic
Here it is, coating and all. Graphite Grey Metallic with 20” wheels. I’m really digging the color. My last four cars were white, so it’s a nice change for me…except I couldn’t completely escape it as the white made its way into the interior. It looks nice and fancy but I’m more of practical person who isn’t looking forward to trying to keep that interior clean.
That's a great looking car, and a great angle/lighting, congratulations.
Originally Posted by Frenetic
Here it is, coating and all. Graphite Grey Metallic with 20” wheels. I’m really digging the color. My last four cars were white, so it’s a nice change for me…except I couldn’t completely escape it as the white made its way into the interior. It looks nice and fancy but I’m more of practical person who isn’t looking forward to trying to keep that interior clean.
Congratulations!!! I hope it treats you better than the GLE. If I wind up with a 223 when the lease is up on my 222 this winter thats the color I want.
Its an incredible car. 2 years in I still feel special driving it, and I've had a lot of really nice cars like you have. Looking down the hood at that three pointed star is a special experience.
Its an incredible car. 2 years in I still feel special driving it, and I've had a lot of really nice cars like you have. Looking down the hood at that three pointed star is a special experience.
There is some snob appeal driving this thing that the GLE just didn’t posses. I feel like Al Bundy’s neighbor who would take drives around the peasants with their Mercedes counting their cash, lol. No, I’m not that vain, but this car easily feeds into vanity. I can understand why people buy these things regardless of any quality issues. Pride and vanity. “Pride before the fall, the haughty spirit before destruction.”
In any case, I’m actually enjoying myself with this car.
No man, it's a bit of an experience, nothing I've owned coddles so much and I've definitely spent more. Mrs Crab just loves the thing; there's some win in that as well.
All I can say is wow while driving this at night. The ambient lightning is absolutely insane. It’s gaudy but it doesn’t seem as disco as my GLE. It’s tasteful gaudy and epic. Amazing driving this thing at night.
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