Model 3 Ceramic Detailing

[epictetusguy]

Hey everyone,

My model 3 will be delivered in the next week or so and I live in Michigan where the weather is not friendly.

A local and well reviewed detailer has priced a ceramic coating at $400 rated for 5 years. It takes about 5 hours to do.

Is there any reason not to do this considering I'll have this car for 3-5 years? I'll also avoid car washes as well and wash it by hand.

It's not a lot to spend considering the overall cost of the far. But I also don't want to throw good money at bad.

 

[mmm21]

Hey everyone,

My model 3 will be delivered in the next week or so and I live in Michigan where the weather is not friendly.

A local and well reviewed detailer has priced a ceramic coating at $400 rated for 5 years. It takes about 5 hours to do.

Is there any reason not to do this considering I'll have this car for 3-5 years? I'll also avoid car washes as well and wash it by hand.

It's not a lot to spend considering the overall cost of the far. But I also don't want to throw good money at bad.

Just got mine done today and can tell a big difference. Will see how well it holds up. If you are only keeping for 3-5 years it may not be worth it. The 5 hours seems concerning. Most require 5-6 hours for wash, degreaser and first coat then at least 8 hour cure before the top coat.

 

[corners]

Just got mine done today and can tell a big difference. Will see how well it holds up. If you are only keeping for 3-5 years it may not be worth it. The 5 hours seems concerning. Most require 5-6 hours for wash, degreaser and first coat then at least 8 hour cure before the top coat.

How much did you spend and how has it held up since March?

 

[merciless3p]

It won't feel like 5 years it actually won't feel like more than a couple months. Don't let the industry fool you, you're going to have to wash your car the same way you did before the ceramic if you want to keep a clean car. Wash, wax and ceramic your car as you feel comfortable but there is not much of a difference at all between a so called ceramic, graphene and a regular clean and wax you can do for pennies on the dollar and still have to do anyway with ceramic. I learned the hard way just passing along info to a fellow enthusiast.

 

[likkuid]

For that price and that quick of a time it’ll be a very low end coating and will definitely not last five years. Also ceramic coating is mostly about the maintenance so if you’re not versed in that, I’d estimate months, not even a year.

 

[phaheem]

It won't feel like 5 years it actually won't feel like more than a couple months. Don't let the industry fool you, you're going to have to wash your car the same way you did before the ceramic if you want to keep a clean car. Wash, wax and ceramic your car as you feel comfortable but there is not much of a difference at all between a so called ceramic, graphene and a regular clean and wax you can do for pennies on the dollar and still have to do anyway with ceramic. I learned the hard way just passing along info to a fellow enthusiast.

I agree with this. I think ceramic may have some benefits over a traditional wax, but I don’t think the benefits are that much better than regularly washing and waxing your car to justify the added cost/effort of a ceramic coating.

I think most people on this forum get excited when they see pics of a freshly-coated Tesla with ceramic, but that shine can be achieved with a proper clay/wax that costs significantly less

 

[enemji]

I got one with a 5 year warranty from CeramicPro. It even shows up on my carfax report. Lets see how long it lasts. Cost me $800

 

[Cho22]

That price seems oddly cheap for a 5yr protection plan. In comparison, I spent $450 for 2yr basic protection for ceramic coating