Ceramic Coating lifespan

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Pull Ya

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IMHO I would stay away from a dealership "detail". Usually a walk around the lot will show what kind of detailing the dealership is capable of. New vehicles on the lot will usually be full of micro scratches and buffer marks. There may be some exceptions to this however I think that trained detailers and detail equipment are not on the top of the list of expenditures a dealer is willing to make. In most dealerships the "wash rack" is an entry level position with little or no training provided.
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jeffawats

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my mom just bought a 19 Lexxus UX 250h F sport,dealer wanted almost $900 to do ceramic! I am doing the coating today using Adams products.
 

chrisbh17

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my mom just bought a 19 Lexxus UX 250h F sport,dealer wanted almost $900 to do ceramic! I am doing the coating today using Adams products.
$900 for a coating job is not unheard of, especially if they are correcting the paint first.

Heck it might even be low. And as much as I like detailing my own vehicles, if I really look at the time I take to do it, it is worth paying a pro. I have enough projects on my hands that "pay" me less than minimum wage (cost of a pro vs how many hours of my time to finish the same job)

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jeffawats

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took me about 5 hours to do her car today.I didnt have to do any correction to the paint just clay bar the surface was actually very clean and free of contaminants . Hers is the 3rd car I have done the other 2 being my Ram last week and my wifes 18 Edge about 4 months ago.I personally would not pay someone to detail any of my rides but sitting in the garage cleaning is very relaxing to me ,love doing it
 
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Todd C

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@jeffawats - That is awesome! You need to post some pics! What color is the Lexus? I think that most people reading this thread would agree with you about enjoying detailing themselves! I paid to have my ceramic done for 2 main reasons. 1 - Paint correction was required and I trusted the professional that I brought it to to get that part correct (this is where your money is well spent IMO). 2 - I haven't worked with any of the ceramic products before and it is my understanding that improper application can lead to a bigger pain to fix. I'm sure the application of the product isn't rocket science but I didn't want to experiment with a big ass black truck.

You said this is the 3rd car you have done. Meaning this is the 3rd car you applied the ceramic to?
 

jeffawats

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@jeffawats - That is awesome! You need to post some pics! What color is the Lexus? I think that most people reading this thread would agree with you about enjoying detailing themselves! I paid to have my ceramic done for 2 main reasons. 1 - Paint correction was required and I trusted the professional that I brought it to to get that part correct (this is where your money is well spent IMO). 2 - I haven't worked with any of the ceramic products before and it is my understanding that improper application can lead to a bigger pain to fix. I'm sure the application of the product isn't rocket science but I didn't want to experiment with a big ass black truck.

You said this is the 3rd car you have done. Meaning this is the 3rd car you applied the ceramic to?
yes third car I have done ceramic on .The lexus color is called "redline" i think looks awesome with black chrome accents forgot to mention my mom is 80
 
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Todd C

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Where are the pics??

I did my first wash this past weekend. I just did a foam cannon rest rinse and dry and am pretty impressed with the results. I should be able to just do a foam cannon, rinse and dry every other week with a regular two bucket wash between. So, that will def cut down on wash time. Pretty happy about that!
 

mjf6175

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Full Disclosure....I am an old guy and have a severe case of OCD ( I make Felix Unger look like Oscar ) and have for years used waxes and sealants, many kinds and various brands through the years. But because my 2017 Ram 2500 (with a lift) cannot fit in my garage I decided to ceramic coat it. Having worked in my uncle's garage during high school and college i am pretty handy automotive wise, so I did my Ram myself. It was 2 months old when I did it. Power washed-then hand wash-then clay barred-followed by polishing using an orbital and Sonax Profiline Perfect Finish 4/6. Took me 2.5 days. Used GTechniq Crystal Light Serum with their EXO topcoat added. Came out amazing. 2 years have pasted and it still shines great, water beads off easily, and wash with a foam cannon. I was so impressed with the GTechniq that I just did my recent car purchase within days of getting it as well, doing all the very same steps. Some pics:

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Juniorss

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I know I am probably in the minority but I feel like "ceramic" coating is a lot of hype. While I know it does work, I think people believe it is a miracle product. I remember when it was first becoming popular there was a video of someone taking a key to a car and the key marks wiping right off. Also the ceramic coating itself isn't that much money, it's the paint correction that really costs the money. In my opinion a decent sealant goes a long way and I also "top" it with spray wax while drying the car off which also acts as a drying aide. I haven't sealed my truck since I bought and I am going on 3 1/2 years. I do have to do some correction in the fall and I will probably reseal it then. I will say I do have a bottle of "ceramic" coating (Cquartz UK) in my garage that I got on a 25% off sale at Autogeek which I am going to apply to the Gf's Audi and see how it does. Maybe it will change my mind but I doubt it. Both my car and truck bead water like crazy all the time with no sort of ceramic coating

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Pull Ya

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One of the things that is attractive to people is the longevity of ceramic coatings. While I believe they do protect better than waxes and sealants, they are not a "silver bullet" You still have to maintain the the paint with regular washing. It may be easier and fewer things might stick to the surface, but it still needs to be maintained. Even with a ceramic coat you can still scratch the surface if you run your truck through the tunnels of destruction(car washes with swirling brushes)or hand wash and dry it improperly. Some people don't use ceramic coatings because they like to wash and wax/seal their vehicle. Garage time is important to them and they have the facilities and are physically able to hand wash and wax their vehicle. To each their own----
Jay
 
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Todd C

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@mjf6175 - Your results look fantastic! Glad to hear you are still happy after 2 years (gtechniq is what is on my truck too). Do you use a "booster" from time to time? If so how frequently and what do you use? BTW...that car looks really awesome!

@Juniorss - I think your comments are pretty spot on. Ceramic isn't a miracle barrier that will protect your paint against all that is evil. As @Pull Ya mentioned, the longevity of the ceramic is what attracted me to it. I have used traditional methods on my car for years and you can certainly keep a beautiful ride with traditional methods as your pictures prove. For me the ceramic really has simplified the wash process and if it stays as long as its supposed to then I'll be a happy camper
 

chrisbh17

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To me, the difference between a good sealant along with a topper and a ceramic (or whatever) coating is the durability.

If you wash a vehicle that just had a sealant on it with anything harsh, kiss at least some of the sealant goodbye. Yet I can wash my coated truck with pretty much anything and it will stand up just fine.

Beading is just one measure of a product, and in fact when beading disappears from a coating, most of the time the reason is actually just built up contaminants and not the actual coating being gone.

I agree they are not the be all end all, but a good coating will far outlast a good sealant while also being easier to take care of.
 

mjf6175

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@mjf6175 - Your results look fantastic! Glad to hear you are still happy after 2 years (gtechniq is what is on my truck too). Do you use a "booster" from time to time? If so how frequently and what do you use? BTW...that car looks really awesome!

@Juniorss - I think your comments are pretty spot on. Ceramic isn't a miracle barrier that will protect your paint against all that is evil. As @Pull Ya mentioned, the longevity of the ceramic is what attracted me to it. I have used traditional methods on my car for years and you can certainly keep a beautiful ride with traditional methods as your pictures prove. For me the ceramic really has simplified the wash process and if it stays as long as its supposed to then I'll be a happy camper

Todd...thanks for your comments. Yes I did a topcoat this year using GTechniq EXO. So 2 years from when I did the full ceramic application. Figured its always outside in the elements and here in NJ/NY area they use a good deal of salt and brine on the road during the winter. Easier to keep up periodically than wait a longer period.
 

IndyDon

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My take on ceramic coatings, great for wheels and glass. Paint I prefer wax. I do my best to keep my truck looking good. But, I also abuse her during winter(road salt) and summer(hitting bugs at 90 mph). I already know by pay off time it will need repainted. I already see factory paint defects. If you do put a coating on it. You can use beadmaker after every wash to enhance the gloss and Chemical Guys Swift Wipe does good at enhancing gloss.
 

BruBaker19

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I added the ceramic coating to my 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. Too big to get into the garage and plenty of time now with the virus going around. My neighbor works in detailing and traded me some coating for some bourbon. He said it was the good stuff. It better be, because I gave him Basil Hayden which is the good stuff too. When he washes his truck it really makes a difference. I am interested to see how long the coating will last. I only put on 1-coating.
 
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I added the ceramic coating to my 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. Too big to get into the garage and plenty of time now with the virus going around. My neighbor works in detailing and traded me some coating for some bourbon. He said it was the good stuff. It better be, because I gave him Basil Hayden which is the good stuff too. When he washes his truck it really makes a difference. I am interested to see how long the coating will last. I only put on 1-coating.

What is the name of the ceramic coating? and what was the application process? Really depends on the brand you used ...

But most ceramic coatings will last you 3-5 years if you do it correctly and you wash your truck correctly ... a lot of people think just because their vehicles are ceramic coated that they can just wash them however they want .... you can still end up removing the ceramic coating if you scrub your rides the wrong way ..

Make sure you are only using microfiber towels to wash and dry it ... if you do that you can extend the life of the coating over 5 years ... don't go weeks without washing it and you can still use another hybrid ceramic coat on top of that as a quick detailer instead of buying some ... use something like meguiars hybrid wax and make your own detailer with it ... it will last you a long long time
 
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