My black 5 series has picked up so many fine swirl marks and light scratches over four summers here that it looks grey in direct sunlight, which is depressing on a car I actually like. I've been quoted for a full paint correction and ceramic coating at a couple of places and the numbers vary wildly, so I'm trying to work out what's reasonable versus what's overpriced. A colleague sent me a page about luxury car care and told me to read more about what the process actually involves before agreeing to anything, which was actually helpful because I had no idea polishing was a multi stage thing. What I want to know from anyone who's had it done is whether it's genuinely worth the money on a daily driver that lives outside, or if I'm just going to be chasing the same swirls again in six months. Also, does ceramic coating actually protect against this heat or is that just sales talk? Would love to hear real experiences rather than the usual marketing lines.