Mothers CMX Ceramic Spray

Anybody here use this product yet? Read good stuff about it on Amazon. I’ll be washing my truck this weekend, using a clay bar, using McGuire’s polishing ultra cut compound to remove all the swirl marks, then finishing it off with this ceramic spray. Then I’ll just a quick detailed/spray wax every other wash to keep up on the ceramic coating.

Looking to see what you think if you’ve used it, thanks!

 

If you're using a compound for swirls you may wanna use a polish after that to knock down the micro swirls the compound will leave.
CMX isnt a true ceramic coating, it's a topper sio2 spray, it may have time titanium in it but it's no better than other sio2 sprays. It's good but there are better. I think carpro reload is one of the best.
I definitely think you should use the cmx, especially if you have it already but be prepared to apply it every 2-3 months, or use as a drying aid every other wash

 

Thanks for the heads up! I’ve aways just done the typical wash and wax stuff but I’m starting to get into how to properly detail a vehicle.

 

No problem. There are definitely a ton of products out there that are easier and quicker to use than the old soaps and waxes. Check out the forums and blogs at detailedimage and autogeek, a lot to learn.
If you're looking for a start I'd recommend getting 2 buckets, 2 grit guards, a few good wash mitts, quality soap, some microfiber towels, a drying towel (griots pfm), a synthetic clay like mothers speed clay or a nanoskin towel. The mothers cmx is fine for a sealant but will work much better after using clay. It all boils down to money and how deep into it you wanna get. I love carpro brand stuff so I use mostly their stuff but there are lots of good manufacturers out there, including mothers and meguires which can be found at walmart now

 

I just picked a mothers clay bar kit yesterday actually that I’ll use to prep the paint after I wash it and then take out swirls and seal it with the spray. I really appreciate it! I usually use a leaf blower to dry off my vehicles, a lot faster and my thought is maybe it leaves the soaps properties on the paint more than if I wiped it down?

 

If the leaf blower works for you then that's even better, less risk for scratches. With the cmx, for the first application use it on clean and dry paint and go heavy. then maybe once a month or 6 weeks use it as a drying aid.
What kind of soap are you using? For this one wash and mayne once a year before claying, you could use dawn dish soap to strip it clean. Then be sure to use a good soap from there on out.

 

I usually use chemical guys extreme body wash and wax when I do it myself. I do have a car wash membership as well when I don’t do it myself and I know they use harsher soaps and chemicals to get bugs and what not off so I think that helps strip it down and I’ll use some dawn soap. I’ll be cancelling my car wash membership though because after all the work I’ll do to remove the swirls it caused I won’t want to ruin it by going there afternoon I clean my truck.

 

Skip the dish soap unless the truck is covered in grease and really needs some help. And pretty much skip the thought of "strip soaps" for the most part as it's kind of a bullshit concept. Dawn is just not a good car soap, it leaves a film (thus giving the appearance of removing underlying sealants and waxes).

If you're doing something that seriously needs to be stripped, polish it.

 

This is my 3rd application of Mothers CMX ceramic coating spray and also my truck was ceramic coated last year . Very deep and reflective 17yr old OEM paint !!!!

 

I used it on my 2020 taco yesterday. Very impressive shine. I just hope it lasts.

 

Looks awesome! But we should also note that the underlying true ceramic coating makes a huge difference in both how good it looks and how long the topper will last.

 

Would there be any durability issue layering one manufacturer coating over another manufacturer coating?

 

I don't know for sure, but I think any durability issues would be over-shadowed by bonding issues.

 

Just general questions.

Would you think ceramic would bond to ceramic?

 

Maybe, maybe not. I know some of the early Optimum coatings did not bond well to themselves, so they reformulated it.

I think the bigger question starts to be; "How much coating does one really need on your vehicle?" We have people getting professional ceramic coatings, then topping them with traditional wax (which doesn't bond to it anyway), then topping that with spray on ceramic coatings to "maintain" the ceramic coating. Maybe it's just me, but I think that's a little over the top.

 

Does spray on coating have the same bonding issues as the hand applied coating? The one that needs a hand applicator to apply.

 

What do you mean about bonding issues

 

When I refer to "bonding issues," I'm talking about a product's ability to adhere to a surface or other product. For instance, paint will bond to a properly prepared surface, but try to apply that same paint onto a surface with a ceramic coating (or even a basic wax) on it, and it will not adhere (bond) properly.

 

I don't know the answer to that.

 

The top coating doesn't stick to the underlying coating. I notice with some spray on coating that the characteristic of the spray coating changes in a short period when getting wet, Meaning that the coating is degrading faster than expected or didn't bond well.