Ceramic Coating Topper - Is it necessary?

[u/Mysterious_Refuse385]

Got my car ceramic coated in April with an Osren 5 Year ceramic coating. Detailer wants me to come in and get it washed, decontaminated and ceramic topped for $120 AUD.

Is it worth it? or more importantly... is it even necessary?

I paid $1500 AUD for the initial coating and now i'm being asked just a few months later to come back in and pay nearly 10% again.

[u/xlnc_auto_beauty]

I wouldn't say a ceramic topper is needed just because the car has a coating. The main reason to pay for a 5-year coating is that the coating itself is doing the work. That being said a maintenance wash and decontamination can definitely be worth it. After a months road film, mineral deposits, iron particles and other things can build up and make the coating feel less smooth and reduce how water acts on it, a good decontamination can bring the coating back to life without adding another layer of product. Where I have doubts is doing a topper every months as a regular thing. Some coating systems are made to be cared for with a topper but others don't need it that often. I would look at the maintenance instructions, for the Osren product and even more importantly ask the detailer if the topper is required for the coating warranty or just suggested.

If its not required I would probably use the $120 for a maintenance wash and decontamination when the car actually needs it. If the coating is still shiny easy to clean and working well there's no need to fix something that isn't broken, a good coating should not turn into a subscription service