Anyone worked on a Firemist Red MB?

M

matty north

New member
The Firemist Red color is available only on the Mercedes SL, CLK and SLK models. I'm having a hard time finding people with this color for opinions.



If you have this color MB, worked on this color or are just familiar with it....what wax or sealant product do you think does/would most enhance it?



Thanks,



Nancy
 
zaino, klasse, 3m, car polishes inc, meguair's, mothers, etc.....



You need to find which product you want to use and how much you want to spend. How much time are you willing to give your car.

NYD
 
I bought the car 4 months ago. I researched this and a couple of MB sites and figured Zaino was the way to go.



So I ordered it and within two weeks of purchase Dawn washed to remove the crappy dealer prep wax job. Then clayed and washed with Z7 followed by the Zaino sealant. I now have 8 layers of Zaino and wash weekly with Z7 followed by Z6. I started with 3 layers of Z5 then 2 layers of Z2. I thought the Z2 was giving it a silvery surface glow so put on 2 more layers of Z5 a couple of weeks later. My younger son and his friends used all my Z5 on their black cars so today, having only Z2 left, applied one layer of that. It looks better than I remember the prior layers of Z2 looking. I'll have to watch over the next few days.



What bothers me, and it may just be the paint color, is that I love the color in bright sunlight. What I don't like is the very burgundy look the paint takes on under some lighting conditions and I am wondering if the Zaino causes this or if that's just the way the paint is.



That's why I am curious as to what others who have this color or have worked on this color have experienced. Do some products make the color look less cool/burgundy and some more red/warm?



I really like the shine and durability of Zaino. I also LOVE its ease of use. But if something out there makes Firemist Red look its best, then I'd love to know to give it a whirl. But I am not into experimenting myself because of time constraints, so am looking for others' results.



Thanks,



Nancy



edited for typos
 
Nancy, I don't know if I can help, I have a black car and I am using S100 wax. The black looks so clear with a lot of depth and its easy on easy off. We have a autopian named Scottwax who to me has the best looking cars. He has a web site showing a lot of his cars, I think you will do yourself a favor looking him up.



Lots of luck,



Frank :)
 
The burgundy color you notice is probably just what the paint looks like when it is dark.

Zaino does not change the look or color of the paint, it just adds shine(or reflection or whatever you want to call it).

Some other waxes or sealents will change the look of the paint, for eg Klasse tints the paint slightly, but Zaino keeps the paint looking the same.



For what is best for the paint, that is up to you.

I would suggest trying to pick up some S100 wax and cleaner if you want to try something other than Zaino.

This is probably one of the best caranuba based waxes in terms of quality of shine.



After using the S100, decide what you like better, the Optical clarity of Zaino or the deep shine of S100 and go from there.
 
Here's where my inexperience hinders me. I don't understand the difference between the optical clarity and deep shine descriptions. The Zaino is indeed shiny...very shiny. How is a deep shine different?



I am not sure the Zaino is not changing the paint color, at least in darker light. I didn't notice this effect until after applying the Zaino. I don't remember it looking so burgundy out of direct sunlight before. Then again, the Zaino was applied only a couple of weeks after buying the car four months ago, so I could just remember incorrectly. Also, summer light and the now-aproaching winter light could be a factor.
 
fcmauro said:
Nancy, I don't know if I can help, I have a black car and I am using S100 wax. The black looks so clear with a lot of depth and its easy on easy off. We have a autopian named Scottwax who to me has the best looking cars. He has a web site showing a lot of his cars, I think you will do yourself a favor looking him up.



Lots of luck,



Frank :)
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Okay, I found his website. You're right...it's an impressive showing of cars. On the page below, the second car down is a similiar color (if indeed, not the exact same color) as mine and shows it was done with S100.



http://www.scottwax.com/shine.htm



Now THAT is what I would like my car to look like. So now I have questions about S100 or other carnauba waxes.



The best thing so far about the Zaino is that is looks consistently good. After each wash the shine does not diminish and it looks just as shiny as when first applied. How does the S100 do in this area? Will it look less beautiful after each wash, even the first wash?



Also, living in coastal Florida, UV and salt air exposure is a big concern. Should S100 be considered in these conditions?



How often will S100 need to be applied to keep it looking great (car is almost always outside) and just how easy on/off is it? As easy as Zaino?



And what's the best QD for use on a car with S100?



Thanks in advance.
 
My friend has a 2003 SL500 in firemist red, it's a great color. I'm sure it looks great Nancy.



S100 is a carnauba wax, the paint will shine differently with it on. It will only last about 4-6 weeks here in Southern California. You would need to rewax fairly often in this case. S100 is one of the easiest to use waxes, you simply wipe it on and then off. A good QD that works with both Zaino and S100 is Eagle One WipeNShine. If you want something just for S100, try Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl or One Grand Show Off.



S100 will have less mirror like qualities, but it tends to look warmer and more 3-D. Take a look at scottwaxes pictures of his own car, that will give you the idea.
 
Nancy, I live on the west coast of florida. S100 will last about 2 to 3 months and will get better even after you wash your car. I hear Zaino might last longer but I like to wax my car at least once within 2 months anyway. Scottwax recomended clearkote (www.clearkote.com) 1=888-626-2727 as a QD. I tried it and keeps my car looking great and it feels like glass. Some advice what ever wax you will use, a little goes a long way, also you might want to buy S100 cleaner polish and some mirco fiber towels. If you want to buy S100 products they are sold in Harley Davidson stores only. If you find it you can buy PS21 store which most people say it is the same wax. I hope this information will help you.



Frank:)
 
JustinTRW said:
My friend has a 2003 SL500 in firemist red, it's a great color. I'm sure it looks great Nancy.



<snipped>

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Justin,



Having seen the color, do you think S100 or Zaino is better suited to it? I know this is subjective, but I would like your opinion.
 
fcmauro said:
Nancy, I live on the west coast of florida. S100 will last about 2 to 3 months and will get better even after you wash your car. I hear Zaino might last longer but I like to wax my car at least once within 2 months anyway. Scottwax recomended clearkote (www.clearkote.com) 1=888-626-2727 as a QD. I tried it and keeps my car looking great and it feels like glass. Some advice what ever wax you will use, a little goes a long way, also you might want to buy S100 cleaner polish and some mirco fiber towels. If you want to buy S100 products they are sold in Harley Davidson stores only. If you find it you can buy PS21 store which most people say it is the same wax. I hope this information will help you.



Frank:)
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West coast of Florida here too. (Tampa).



I don't think I could go even two months. But I do like knowing that while I do add another layer of Zaino, I don't *have* to do it.



I already have a supply of MF towels I use which I got from Neat Items. But about the cleaner polish....do I just start using it over the Zaino or do I have to remove it first? I have this Zaino system down pat and have great results but I would like a different shine to the car. But, since I do have good results already, I don't want to screw up the last few months work and be back to scratch! So I am approaching this cautiously. I don't want to give up the Zaino shine. I just want it wetter. The really does look at times as if it's wrapped in Saran Wrap. At other times and in other lights, it's pure perfection. Decisions, decisions.



Hey...being from the west coast of Florida, do you know any great detailers, mobile or otherwise, in the area?
 
NHW said:
Justin,



Having seen the color, do you think S100 or Zaino is better suited to it? I know this is subjective, but I would like your opinion.
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It's really hard to say because the paint was "bare" so I haven't seen either product on it. I may have seen this color on a SLK32 which would help me visualize it better. If you were to go the S100 route, I'd probably put a layer of swirl free polish on it first, then top with S100. Personally I think route might look slightly better. However, I'd keep your Zaino on because it isn't worth the effort to remove it all. Zaino lasts a lot longer and still looks great. Another option is to top your Zaino with S100 on the hood or trunklid and see how it turns out. If you like the change, then do the entire car without removing the Zaino. The Zaino should hold up underneath the S100, even after the wax is gone.



For what it's worth, I had S100 on my black C32 and then switched to Zaino because of longevity. I haven't had to use Zaino (other than washing and using QD) for about 2 months. I would reapply S100 every three weeks beforehand. The shine was more mirror-like with Zaino, but S100 shimmered more.



The last thing to keep in mind is that the look of S100 gets better after it has been on the car for a day or so.
 
Nancy, like Justin said try S100 over zanio and see what happens, it's not going to hurt it. Nancy, Classic Motoring Assesories are in Tampa (1-800-628-7596) they might know a good detailer. The one I know locally is Driving Expressions in Sarasota 941-922-2711. It seems you are doing a great job by yourself.



Frank:)
 
fcmauro said:
Nancy, like Justin said try S100 over zanio and see what happens, it's not going to hurt it. Nancy, Classic Motoring Assesories are in Tampa (1-800-628-7596) they might know a good detailer. The one I know locally is Driving Expressions in Sarasota 941-922-2711. It seems you are doing a great job by yourself.



Frank:)
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It occurred to me to check with CMA for a detailer, especially one familiar with Blackfire. That's why I asked who made the stuff in another thread a week or so ago. I thought they were in Tampa, right where I am.



If I do say so myself, I have done a great job on this car. Not even a parking lot ding yet (knock on wood) and no water spots or anything else trapped under the Zaino sealant. It looks perfect 80% of the time. Deep, shiny, slick...beautiful. Not bad for a girl, huh? I wish I could take credit for it. I actually just lurked like crazy on this and a couple of MB boards as soon as I got the car. Picked Zaino, having never heard of it before nor things like claying, based on recommendations of you pros, and then proceeded to follow yours and Zaino's instructions to the letter. How can you go wrong with advice like you get here?!



The other 20% of the time is when the light just makes it look just plain weird. It looks very shiny but the shine is extremely superficial and has this weird lavendar/silver like glow to it. Very odd looking over the deep red metallic paint. That's why I want to consider using something else. But I've done so well with the Zaino and it does look great 80% of the time, that I am very hesitant because I fear I will end up with it looking great LESS than 80% of the time.
 
How come the firemist red is not listed as a paint option on the MB website? I am interested in what it looks like for I have a '02 S-class in Titanite red......Zainoed.
 
has this weird lavendar/silver like glow to it. Very odd looking over the deep red metallic paint. [/B]
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I think that Mercedes adds a pearl to the clearcoat which is maybe why the paint reflects like this under certain conditions. If this is the case, you have to learn to love it. Your car sounds awesome. Please post a picture.
 
Viking said:
How come the firemist red is not listed as a paint option on the MB website? I am interested in what it looks like for I have a '02 S-class in Titanite red......Zainoed.
Click to expand...



maybe try checking with a dealership?
 
The silvery shimmer you speak of I believe is an effect of the Z2. I can definitely see it on my black car, and I personally really like it. If you've been blessed enough to get your Z down with no flaws underneath, I would think very hard about removing all your hard work to switch systems. If you don't like the type of shine you're seeing, I think switching back to Z5 will give you more of the look you want. I sometimes alternate between the two depending on my mood, but I usually come back to the Z2 :up.
 
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