Gleaming Kleen- 1988 Merc SL300 Resurrected

[Gleaming Kleen]

The owner's wife of this Merc called me and said her husband had this vehicle and obslutley loved it but was too embarrassed to drive it because of the condition it was in.

Owners purchased this car in Hong Kong from new and when they moved back to UK they brought it back with them. This car is 21 years old and has only covered 50,000 miles but it has had a very hard life and been neglected over the years.


INTERIOR
All carpet flooring removed from vehicle and front/rear seating to allow me to thoroughly clean them. All upholstery cleaned with APC and an extractor. Plastic's/Vinyl cleaned with APC

Leather

Build up of dirt between stichings

As you can see very grubby

All leather cleaned and conditioned with Gliptone. In total I had given them 4 coats of conditioner to get them nice and soft.

Fronts seats were showing signs of cracking and badly faded so were reconditioned

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Brite work polished up using Brillant metal polishes.

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Interior complete

BOOT
The boot was given a thorough vacuum and upholstery cleaned also

Spare wheel removed and cleaned and given a coat of Zaino AIO for protection and dressed with Swissvax Pneu

CONVERTIBLE TOP
Hard Top was corrected then removed to enable me to throughly clean the soft tipRenovo soft top reviver was applied by brush and left to dry for 3 hours and then treated with 303 Fabric Guard. Plastic windows cleaned and protected using Swissvax Vinyl Clear set

The 50/50 below shows the rightside of plastic window restored

Plastic wax being applied

Convertible top compartment vacuumed, cleaned and then dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant

Short Vid of 303 Fabric Guard in action
YouTube - 303 Fabric Guard

EXTERIOR
Vehicle certainly seen better days

 

[Gleaming Kleen]

I started first by cleaning up all the panel gaps, door shuts, badges and crevices with G101

20 years worth of grime and grease cleaned using cotton swabs and degreaser and alot of patience

Vehicle was then foamed twice with a strong mix of degreaser and then washed twice to remove the build up of grime. After washing the car I then spent a good time claying the car using Sonus Grey as paintwork was rough like sand paper.

Paint readings were then taken which were showing readings of 110-130 throughout the entire vehicle. Whilst taking readings i found several panel edges had strike through.

After trying several combos I settled on using Megs 105 on a Megs Cutting pad knock back the heavy oxidation and defects. This was then followed up with Menz 3.02 and then 85rd.

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After

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Tight area's cut in by hand or by using 4in pad

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Vehicle was then given a IPA wipedown and given a coat oF Zaino Z3. Two coats of Swissvax Divine were also applied over 2 days
YouTube - Swissvax Divine

Total work time just over 50 hours

Thanks for looking

 

[flash gordon]

Great turn-a-round GK.I was just wondering this morning were you have been.Looks like its warming up over there(t-shirt):rockon

 

[RTexasF]

Resurrection is truly the correct word describing this fantastic work. You are a master in every area of detailing/renewal. I can't imagine the look on their faces when they first feasted their eyes on the "new" Mercedes.

 

[GearHead_1]

Why is the side trim present in some pictures and missing in others?

 

[Gleaming Kleen]

Why is the side trim present in some pictures and missing in others?

good eye..it was already lose from the bolts being broke from corrision so I removed trim to fit a new bolt...It wasnt till i was taking pics I remebered to refit it

 

[PerroneFord]

Absolutely brilliant work. First rate.

 

[9D4E420]

Now thats what I call true craftsmanship and pride in your work. Awesome job all around :rockon Those older Euro cars really test your skills

 

[89LXi]

Incredible. It looks like it just rolled off the assembly line. :rockon

 

[OCDinPDX]

My God, sir. Bravo!!! Reps to you!

Are you sure you didn't just replace it with a different car? I kid, I kid...:gotcha:

 

[RTexasF]

Resurrection is truly the correct word describing this fantastic work. You are a master in every area of detailing/renewal. I can't imagine the look on their faces when they first feasted their eyes on the "new" Mercedes.

Bristol, simply Bristol.

 

[RUBigDog05]

Great job. If you don't mind me asking, what do you charge for a job like that?

 

[RyansAutoDetail]

this is probably one of the best turnarounds i have seen since joining the site and should win some sort of forum award nomination for best detail of the year or something !!!

50 hours of work and even at $20 an hour labour would = $1000. but obviously you cant charge that for a detail in most places .. i wonder what and where the most expensive detail in the world is ??????

im sure for a job like this you could easily charge $500+

 

[Clean Dean]

Gleaming Kleen,

Spectacular job on one of my favorite Benzes. I have owned quite a few of these W107s over the years ranging from the early 1970's 450 SL to the later 560 SL which ended production in 1989. I never worked on a right handed model, and never saw a 300 SL here in the states.

Your attention to detail is amazing !!! That car increased in value by at least $5k-$10k in US value because of your work !!!

BTW, What dye did you use on the seats. I have done some respraying and use Fitzgerald's dyes.

 

[flash gordon]

Wheres the hard top?

 

[Bellydawg]

Thanks for the wonderful write-up. My folks have a 1981 380SL that I have tried to make corrections in the paint but the clear coat seems very hard. I may need to step up the pad or try a different polish with my random orbital. Seeing your outcome has encouraged me to try some different processes.

 

[dave40co]

WOW, just WOW!!! What a turnaround!