Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

[jcarli]

Picked up my '06 Odyssey Touring 3 weeks ago, and the dealer was trying to sell me on Xzilon protection on my vehicle. The website on the brochure is granitize.com.
[Edited for commercial link; 2hotford]

Anyone know about this system?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey jcarli

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Most dealerships offer some type of 'paint protection package' and to be very honest, I have not found one of them that was any better than using a product like Meguiar's #21 Synthetic Sealant, #20 Polymer Sealant or NXT Tech Wax. Most of the time, the dealership product costs an exhorberant price and must be "touched up" with a refresher type of product applied of course by the dealership.

Here are some links that may help with your new car. I would suggest claying your car and follow up with Meguiar's 5 Step Paint Care Cycle:

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain

How To Clay Paint


I hope this helps!

Tim

[Setec Astronomy]

The things that I have heard about these dealer protection "systems", besides what 2Hotford mentioned about them not being any better than any other high-quality paint protection product (or maybe worse)...wait! you say...how can they not be any better when they have a 5-year warranty?!?

From what I understand, your answer is in the fine print. There will either be a clause that you have to bring the car back every 3 or 6 months for a "maintenance" application of the product, which of course will void your warranty if you miss one, or, the warranty fine print will basically exclude every condition that you could claim against.

[Magic]

Also keep in mind, the dealer is compensated for selling this product, even if they believe it's the best product or not.

$$$$$$$$

[steveo3002]

i worked at a dealer that pushed a similar package, the sales guy gets a huge bonus out of the price, its only a paint sealant

id strongly advise you to spend a few $$ on some quality products and then detail your car as often as you can...or find a good detailer and let them do it

[showtime]

I'd really like Mike to write a tech article on "paint sealant" so you can show it to the saleman, F&I manager and ask them to explain it.

[Marvinj]

Toyota sells their "toyoguard" damn stuff is 20 dollars a bottle!! and for what??? LOL

[dmillerj]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

Here's some info on Xzilon. I can tell you that it works. I use it and have for about two years. My company installs the program in dealerships. In 29 years my agency has never been interested in any type of "Mop & Glo" program because honestly they just didn't live up to their claims. And the limit of libility on most of these products have been to simply "detail" the effected area and this will not "REPAIR" paint that has been etched by bird droppings, acid rain, tree sapp, love bugs or any number of enviormental or natural hazards. Break dust no longer sticks to the wheels. Bugs no longer stick to front of the vehicle. If little Jessica spills Grape juice on the back seat it is not going to clean out. Xzilon will replace the stained material if it cannot be cleaned. All of this for 5 years on a new and 3 years on a used. I saved the best for last. They also include interior coverage for Rips, Burns, & Tear's.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

Here's some info on Xzilon. I can tell you that it works. I use it and have for about two years. My company installs the program in dealerships. In 29 years my agency has never been interested in any type of "Mop & Glo" program because honestly they just didn't live up to their claims. And the limit of libility on most of these products have been to simply "detail" the effected area and this will not "REPAIR" paint that has been etched by bird droppings, acid rain, tree sapp, love bugs or any number of enviormental or natural hazards. Break dust no longer sticks to the wheels. Bugs no longer stick to front of the vehicle. If little Jessica spills Grape juice on the back seat it is not going to clean out. Xzilon will replace the stained material if it cannot be cleaned. All of this for 5 years on a new and 3 years on a used. I saved the best for last. They also include interior coverage for Rips, Burns, & Tear's.

Sounds interesting enough, but what's the fine print? If they cover a new car for 5 years, what sort of maintenance do you need to do during that time, and at what cost (this is actually what I am most curious about)? Your average car owner runs their car through an automatic wash every week or two, and it's virtually impossible to avoid swirls and fine scratches in the paint doing so. Does Xzilon prevent swirl marks that would be instilled via your typical automatic car wash? Have you seen a 4 year old that was Xzilon treated when new and is swirl free? Can you describe what you mean by "bugs no longer stick to the front of the vehicle" - can you just wipe them off with a damp towel? Can you wipe them off with a damp towel 4 years after application of Xzilon?

Please understand that I am not calling BS on you here. But as a consumer and detailing enthusiast I am skeptical of such claims, especially when their interior coverage includes rips, burns and tears. Surely they don't claim their product will make fabric or leather tear proof? If you look around this site you will see many, many photographs taken of various vehicles during a detailing process. The photos often show the before/after image of badly swirled finishes, even on quite new and very expensive vehicles. If Xzilon actually prevents these swirls from happening, then they've got one amazing product on their hands. But, knowing the dynamics of what causes swirls and scratches, I am not convinced. I am opened minded though, but I require proof for such claims.

[dmillerj]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

I'm not attempting to convince anybody. This is information that I know to be factual. My agency has, in 29 years, never promoted or installed a "paint protection" product in any of aprox 200 accounts that we deal with. Until this product. The first reason we we became interested was the repaint/replace warranty. Then we found that the stuff actually worked. Don't get wrapped up in how the bugs come off the front of the vehicle. That's not what your paying for. Xzilon protects the paint. The fact that bugs that would ordinarily be very difficult to remove now seem to come off with far less effort is a side benefit.
No fine print. No maintenance required. I have seen the Boeing memos from the various test. 1300 hours salt spray. 450 degrees 500 hours. Xzilon passed them all.
Swirl marks...does not apply. Goes on wet with a soft cloth and is removed before it dries. Small section at a time. By hand.
Rips, Burns, & Tears....Can add up to $200 to the coverage. The only fine print, if you wnat to call it that, is damage is limited to 6" rips or tears. When was the last time you ripped a hole in your interior? I'm sure it's just a matter of numbers and their betting on coming out ahead. Simple math arrived from actuaries.
I personally don't know what will happen in 4 years. My experience only goes back 18 months. However, I can spray paint the hood of my 4-Runner and it will come right off using the tip of my finger. I would not have done this but a friend recently did. I had no choice but to find out.
I can't tell you that this means a lot in regards to paint protection but I can tell you that the stuff is still on there after about 18 months and many, many, car washes.
One more item. It is becoming more common for a customer to purchase Xzilon on a new vehicle purchase and at some point return to inquire about having it applied to other vehicles he/she already owns.

[buda]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

There is nothing particularly unique about this product, the molecular adhesion they are speaking of is nothing more than the amino-functional silicone in the product that is cross-linking and curing. Every paint sealant that uses amino functional silicones does the same thing.

As for fabric protectant, this technology was developed by the giant 3M, again nothing here that is revolutionary other than the Marketing Names used by this company.

For anyone in the detail business and for all you car enthusiasts and your car buyers do not be sucked into these wild claims. You can buy a good paint selant yourself as well as a fabric protectant , both for less than $50 and apply them yourself for long lasting results.

Regards
Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[mnaines]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

I am getting the same results using Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax, but for only about $18 per bottle, and all that is required is a monthly maintenance under normal conditions. Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax uses synthetic polymers that bond with the paint/clear coat, similar to how Krylon Fusion bonds with plastic. That is both good and bad, though...Its good because it lasts longer than Carnauba wax and its bad because the stuff is next to impossible to strip off if you're trying to repaint the car. I do not know all that Xzilon does compared to Meguiar's; Meguiar's provides UV protection by reflecting the sun's rays, weatherproofing to guard against nature's elements (including temperature extremes; heat will destroy carnauba wax), protection from bug splatter, tree sap, road grime, bird droppings (they seem to always target cars that have just been cleaned), and also providing a deep-gloss metallic "wet look" shine, something most ordinary waxes cannot do.

[buda]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

Send an email to Commercial E-mail Link Removed and request that she send you the Cokmparative Study of Automotive Paint Sealants and Waxes which will give you a comparison of several different products (25 tested) in terms of shine (before and after application); shine loss after 12 washings and durability to salt water corrosion.

Regards
Bud Abraham
DETAIL PLUS SYSTEMS

[ProDetail]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

Xzilon claims to be approved by Boeing....it only meets Boeing specifications & has only been tested on the inlet lipskin cowl...which is a metal ring....in the Service Letter that xzilon shows dealerships...the dealers are not reading what is actually in it...they see boeing & assume it is approved....A service letter is only issued when there is an issue with a product. The letter they show also says "revison removed caution about applying xzilon to paint". It also states on the first page that "it is only a temporary solution" for the inlet lipskin cowl...not the paint surface of a plane. The second letter in the Dealer packet says that "based on visual inspection" from Goodrich. What kind of test is "visual test" The truth is that xzilon is a petroleum based product....Yes, spraypaint rubs right of off it...but that's only because it's Petroleum! It is labor intensive, you have to apply it in 2x2 sections...because it dries so fast....alcohol in it.! Which basically means it is not good for paint & a friend of mine who works at Boeing has confirmed all of this. Dealerships just believe the horse & pony show that Xzilon reps show due to they are tired of Perma Plate which absolutely doesn't work.

[mose]

Re: Xzilon Molecular Adhesion?

I have a friend that got that on his car and I cut on him everytime I see him. But the thing that I do like about it is the gaurantee that comes with it. His girlfriend has a cheapie leather jacket that left black staining on his tan leather seats. Now the dealer has to either fix that or replace the seats. I could fix it with Mr. Clean Eraser but that's not the point. My question is: What if I detail his car? I will undoubtedly strip all of that stuff off and the car will be more protected than when he got it (let alone look better!!) but will the gaurantee still be valid? The dealer really has no way of knowing what is on the paint as far as protection is concerned but ya never know.