Today we are looking at the Drexler company. We saw an advertisement circling around on social media and read a bunch of good reviews about this specific product, so we decided to buy it and test it out ourselves!
Just to clarify - we are not sponsored by Drexler or any other manufacturer of Paint Protection products, and we will test and review the product as it is in real-world conditions. We will follow the manufacturer's instructions during the application process, and we will prepare the surface to ensure the best finish and best adhesion possible. We are leaving an affiliate link to all our review products but in case the product turns out to be of low quality or not as all as advertised, we leave a warning to all our readers, and the quality of the product will always be reflected in the grade we assign to it at the end of every review. So if you do not want to sit through all of this text, you can scroll down to the Average Grade and read our Final Thoughts to get a general idea of what the product is all about.
Get your Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/30TGsDk
Ok, so what are we getting with this product kit?
professional ceramic coating kit with unique two-coat formula
crazy good shine
last 3 - 5 years depending on if 1 or 2 layers
easy application
self-cleaning effect
9H hardness
extreme heat resistance
weather, UV, and chemical resistance
So, what does all this mean, and most importantly - is it true? Well, let us find out.
We will prepare the car for the Ceramic Coating application.
Then we will apply the product onto the car as per the manufacturer's instructions and then we will do a torture test on it to see how Drexler Ceramic Coating will perform under some sped-up real-life conditions.
Check the following article if you're looking to find out how to clean your car properly and want to learn everything there is to know about preparing your car's paint for Ceramic Coating or any other form of paint protection.
Let's go!
So what do you get in this 30ml + 50ml kit? What does that mean exactly? We have to say that this is among the nicer box sets we have seen so far among its competitors, and it does give the whole experience up to a kind of professional atmosphere level. That is both very nice and more perhaps more intimidating for the average consumer. Because you would have this feeling that this is much more serious and much harder than it actually is and you will feel more pressure to not make a mistake because of it. It is both good and bad at the same time. But our opinion is to better pack products like this because it does give the brand more authenticity.
What do you get?
Drexler Ceramic Coating Base Coat 30ml
Drexler Ceramic Coating Top Coat 50ml ( spray )
applicator block
2 suede applicator towels
microfiber towel ( for buffing )
Since the surface of the car is now ready to be Ceramic Coated, we will proceed as per the manufacturer's instructions. We will coat the entire car. We will also separate the hood of the car in half using masking tape and have one side coated twice to see if there is a visible difference during and after the test.
Drexler Ceramic Coating instructs its users to apply 1 base coat and 1 top coat on it to get a 3-year lifespan of the coating. If we wish to extend this to 5 years, we are told to apply 2 base coats and then 1 topcoat instead.
The obvious thing we noticed when preparing for the application process is the applicator block. Its length is longer than the applicator suede towel's length, and you will end up getting a squeaky sound when applying the product. It is also a question of whether there is more than just squeaking and whether the naked block might be interfering with the final quality of the finish when applied this way. If you want to avoid that, we suggest using a standard microfiber applicator or simply cutting the applicator block to the proper length and then doing the procedure.
We aren't sure if that is intentional or not, but it is the first time we have seen something like this.
Ok, once you are ready to start, if you are a beginner, we suggest you check our article about the Ceramic Coating application process. Otherwise, take the block, and wrap the suede towel around it. Take the 30ml base coat bottle and get a few drops onto the application towel at its full length to ensure maximum coverage when working. Pick a panel to start working with and start applying in a crisis cross pattern, top to bottom in a straight line, the whole panel, then from left to right, again covering the full panel. You can then move to the next panel doing the same thing, or you can wait for the Ceramic Coating to reach its flashing point, at which point you will use the microfiber towel you've got with the kit ( or any other microfiber towel ) to wipe off the excess coating and level it by buffing it to a glossy, slick finish.
If you want to apply two base coats of the product before applying the topcoat, then we suggest waiting for about 30 minutes before applying the second base coat.
Depending on the humidity and the temperature, the product usually flashes at around the two-minute mark on average, but you will clearly see the rainbow streaky pattern that most Ceramic Coatings leave when they are ready to be buffed. When you are wiping the panel, the surface will be slick pretty much from the get-go, unlike some coatings that are tacky and grippy at first. This one, on the other hand will get a bit tacky to the touch after it has been sitting for a bit instead of staying slick.
We are instructed to wait for about 2 hours before applying the topcoat. Make sure the car doesn't get dirty or wet during the waiting period.
Once the base coat has been applied and more than two hours have passed, we will apply the topcoat. Simply spray it onto the panel and wipe it off. You want to cover the whole surface, from corner to corner to make sure everything has been covered with the topcoat. It will be sticky and hazy while you are wiping. Continue to wipe until you get a clear, glass-like finish.
That is it! Now all you need to do is wait for 24 hours for the coat to harden and make sure the car does not come in contact with water in that period. Drexler Ceramic Coating will cure in about 1 week, after which period we suggest you do the first wash of the vehicle, not before.
For the test, we will let the car sit in the sun for the next two weeks, outside be harassed by the elements, as most cars would. For that two-week period, we will be driving the car every day through town and a bit on a dirt road as well. We will give the car a total of 10 washes using regular car shampoo that is not pH balanced because most people will be using such a shampoo. We will also wash the car using more aggressive chemicals to simulate a larger amount of washes than the car actually got. We will also be testing the hardness of the coating and its resistance to scratching using an abrasive sponge.
And after two weeks...
Our verdict on this product:
product lifetime when applied: B
resistance to elements: B
resistance to damage: B
resistance to chemicals: A
application difficulty: D
hydrophobic properties: B
gloss / shine: B
Average grade: B
Cost: 66.96$ / 1 fl oz
2.26$ / 1 ml
Our final thoughts on Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit?
How did Drexler Ceramic Coating perform during the torture test? It definitely isn't among the best Ceramic Coatings we have used, but we would definitely rank it high among the top Ceramic Coatings in the business, at least of all the ones we have used and tested ourselves. It can be applied to all types of surfaces on the car except glass. Now Drexler has another Ceramic Coating product that is specifically designed to be used on a glass surface because they claim that it is prone to streaking when used on glass.
The half of the hood that had 2 base coats definitely lasted longer during the testing and retained its hydrophobic properties more than the rest of the vehicle. But even after the 2 weeks of abuse, the Ceramic Coating held up very well, and it seems possible that it could go for as long as they claim.
You can always make sure that the Ceramic Coating lasts to its full potential by maintaining the coating properly.
We found hardly any scratches or swirl marks after a thorough inspection. The area that we used an abrasive sponge on suffered some damage. But that is to be expected. It takes a really amazing product to prevent that type of damage.
Do we recommend this product? Well, considering its cost, if that price point is your top budget, we say go for it. It is a bit more advanced to apply because of the two base one topcoat method, which we definitely recommend you go for if you are using this product, but it is worth the money you invest in it. Also, the mirror-like finish was a bit diminished after the two weeks, but we believe that is because the topcoat might have been eradicated. The paintwork was still glossy, nevertheless.
Get your Drexler Ceramic Coating Kit on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/30TGsDk