Meguiar's Ceramic Wax Vs Mothers Spray Ceramic Coating (CMX)

Is there a cheap solution to Ceramic Coatings?

The answer may be yes. Recently, Meguiar's and Mothers each released their own spray ceramic products, each with their own selling points. These products main focus appears to be that they are user-friendly and give you similar results without the need for professional installation. And at 4% the price of even a cheap professional ceramic coating, this would be a game-changer.

But do they work? And how do they compare to a traditional ceramic coating? That's what we are going to find out.

Ceramic Coating Basics

A ceramic coating is a type of sealant treatment which is supposed to give a glossy shine like wax while providing extremely long lasting protection. Quality ceramic coatings often give an estimation of a 1-3 year useful life depending on weather and storage environment. 

How do they last this long? Coating brands will tell you it's because of some "nanoparticles" they use. Don't be fooled, in reality, is simply a mixture of chemicals creating a very strong and hydrophobic protective film over your car. By using extremely fine solid particles they are able to "fill the pores" in your paint much like a wax, and then the chemicals in the coating form a semipermanent bond with whatever surface it is applied to.

But Does It Work? 

The short answer is Yes. Ceramic coatings are very effective protection and they can last as long as they claim. While harsh weather and storing your car in poor conditions will significantly reduce its useful life, it will still last longer than any traditional wax or sealant. The main trick to a long-lasting ceramic coat is to have a perfect surface during application. The glass-like finish of perfectly smooth paint allows the coating to bond stronger and therefore last longer.

Meguiar's Ceramic Spray Wax Vs Mothers CMX

CMX Ceramic Spray Coating (24oz)

Mothers CMX is very reminiscent of a traditional ceramic coating. The instructions tell you to shake before use, apply in small sections to a clean and prepped surface, and to wipe away once a slight haze begins to form. This application of watching for haze and wiping away is similar to traditional wax, sealing, and ceramic coating methods, and it is not the most effective system. The users of a ceramic coating product, including CMX, need to be very careful not to let the coating dry too much, or it becomes extremely difficult to remove. Much like a wax that is never wiped and buffed, a poor application of ceramic coating will leave streaks and hazyness all over the place. 

Mothers has this description on their website - 

"Introducing Mothers CMX™ Ceramic Spray Coating, an affordable, user-friendly, professional grade, ultra-durable, super-hydrophobic protection formula. Just spray on and wipe off, with this game-changing SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide) and TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide) blend. This powerhouse combo provides ultra-long-term protection from the elements and relentless water beading, without sacrificing true optical clarity, extreme depth, and that signature ceramic glass-like liquidy-gloss appearance. Use as a stand-alone product, or as a booster over your existing sealant or ceramic coating. Washing and caring for your vehicle has never been easier."

Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax (26oz)

The Meguiars Hybrid Ceramic Wax us a very different story. Contrary to tradition ceramic coating application, this is used like a spray wax, and applied during the car wash process. The directions tell you to shake well and spray all over the car after washing and rinsing. The bottle says that this product builds up layers over time, and should be used regularly to maintain protection. This suggests that the coating holds up to a standard car wash, and that the product can technically last forever as long as you wash your car regularly. But the goal of a traditional ceramic coating is to supply long term protection, and traditional spray waxes usually fade after a week. 

Meguiar's website gives this description -  

• EASY TO USE: Just spray on, rinse off & dry! It’s that easy! 
• LESS EFFORT & MESS: No rubbing, curing, buffing or mess 
• HYBRID CERAMIC WAX PROTECTION: Advanced SiO2 hybrid technology delivers ceramic wax protection 
• MORE THAN A WAX: Protection & durability beyond conventional wax
• PROTECTION: Ceramic wax protection with extreme water beading action

Put to the Test

So far we have only tested the Meguiars Hybrid Wax and we are impressed. It feels really awkward to apply but the results are there. Given a few hours to bond the coating does add a fair amount of shine to the paint, and it does have water beading qualities, but we didn't expect it to last. 

I applied it to 2 of our cars which sit outside 24/7 with no cover. The constant sun and weather usually wear down any standard wax or sealant in two weeks or so, but the hybrid Ceramic Wax keeps pushing on. 2 weeks after applying it rained for an entire afternoon and you could still watch the water beading off the cars with the Ceramic Wax. 

We are hoping for 5 weeks of protection from the Meguiar's Ceramic Wax as the car usually gets a wash at least once a month, and that would mean it would keep being applied before it full wore off. Continuous protection is the goal after all. And how much of the bottle did we use? to do 2 cars, one small and one midsize, only about 20% of the bottle. For less than 20$ you should get around 8-10 washed out of a bottle, and that's not bad at all for a continuous ceramic coating. I would happily pay 2-3$ a month to keep my nicer cars protected. 

Let us know how your results have been? and which do you like better?