Mercedes AMG SL55 - Complete Detail

[imported_detailbarn]

I am looking at buying a polisher/buffer. Does anyone have any suggestions. I like the dewalt, and the 6inch porter cable. Any suggestions. I will be color sanding my ride.

 

[Ron Ketcham]

You will need a "rotary" buffer with a variable speed setting, and a set of pads, etc.

Suggest you visit the web site and read the article written a couple of years ago with some information provided from testing done by SAE, and others regarding temperatures of the clear that may be generated, then the articles on micro marring (swirls,etc).

The site is http://www.autoint.com

The informative articles are under the Magazine Articles Section and then there are under the Tech Tips Section several photos and verbage that may aid you in further understanding the issues.

 

[David Fermani]

I did this 04 Mercedes AMG SL55 over a year ago and just came up with a few hours to do a write-up on it. Basically a complete detail with Stage 3 paint correction. Nothing too heavy, just a ~85% swirl correction, Interior & Engine Detail. Here?s what I did:

Befores:

Wash/Paint Prep:
Soaked the engine compartment down with Auto Magic Special Cleaner:

Hand washed with one of Phil?s microfiber?s:

Clayed with Blue Clay Magic & Body Shine:

Once the paint was free of topical contaminants, I used Micro-Surface?s 4000 grit sandpaper to flatten things out more. I used the idle setting(no pressure) on my Pressure Washer to allow for constant flushing of the surface:

Once the paint was clean & sanded, It was still beading water from the recent wax job. That had to go before I buffed so I used some special cleaner from Stone Soap Company to strip any remaining protection:

Beading before:

No Beading (50/50):

Removed certain trim & taped the rest:

This is one of the early rock hard Ceramiclear paints. Notice the ?C? in the paint code:

Before shots of the paint:

The entire front end had a Clear Bra & it was even swirled up:

Afters (pre-LSP):

After a healthy dose of Zaino:

Exhaust got sanded with Micro-Mesh 4000 grit:

50/50:

After:

 

[David Fermani]

Afters of the rest:

Before:

After:

All the seals got coated with 1Z Gummi:

 

[Tucson buffer]

David, great job:hurray::hurray: The engine looks like you could eat off the air filter!! What Zaino products did you use on the paint??

 

[Street Dreams]

Man Dave your really a hot shot, doing real correction work, where do you get off!

Something like that right?

Seriously excellent work!

 

[MB Fan]

Jeez I am surprised the Mercedes police didn't impound this car and charge the owner with willful neglect. That engine compartment looked like it was parked in the desert with the hood up :w00t:

Beautiful job on the turnaround - thanks for sharing the write-up! :thumbup:

 

[bmw5541]

Very nice job. I can't understand how owners of a car like that would neglect it the way this one was. Great turn around:notworthy:

 

[imported_Flash Gordon]

Hammered...I just looked it up on WIKI and the definition was a pic of that car

Those 'tips were the filthest things I've ever witnessed, I do beleive ut:

I notice your a big fan of micro-4000. Where do you get that stuff?

Amazing Transformation. You should be proud for that one 4 sure. Thanks for posting on Truth In Detailing

 

[imported_BretFraz]

Fantastic job, especially on the engine. You are a lot braver than I am to tackle engine cleaning on a car that expensive.

 

[Old Pirate]

Wow that engine was the pits,:scared: You got it perfect and the correction work is always awesome when you get ahold of them. It's a pleasure to see your work also my friend. I got a chance to try out that Micro-Surface?s sand paper and it blew me away! Great stuff!:thumbup:

 

[imported_Kevin Brown]

Great job!!

At least your customer ENJOYS the car by DRIVING it...

And apparently he is sharp enough to call in a PRO to clean it when it gets dirty! Good for him.

The fact that the paint still had protection on it tells me that he has been making some sort of effort to protect the car.

Nice write-up and pics, too. :clap:

 

[TimG]

A thorough and good job, indeed. Thanks for the share :thumbup:

 

[imported_Stokdgs]

Wow, beautiful job, David !!

The entire vehicle looks better than new !!

I like the idea of sanding it down before polishing it, this had to help get rid of all the scratches, etc., It doesnt look like it took enough to even harm the shine, from your pictures, that is really a cool plus!! Tell me more about this process, when you have time, ok? What compound did you use after then MicroSurface 4k ?

Also, which Zaino products and how much of each please ? AIO, Z-5, Z-2, ClearSeal ? I assume you ZFX'd them all, correct ?

Thanks again, for taking the time to post all this up - the customer had to be completely blown away !!!!!!

Hmmm, I see a pattern here - all you guys named David, are just killer detailers !!!!

Congrats !
Dan F

 

[bigpoppa]

85% correction my balls! It looks 99% perfect in the pics. :notworthy:

Awesome work and write up.

 

[EastsideAutoSpa]

Nice Work

wish i could still get auto magic products here.....

 

[imported_broker99]

Wow great turn around. That thing was a mess.

 

[Dave1]

Very fine work David........!


Excellent photos........

 

[gmblack3]

Great work David!

The red is glowing! :clap:

 

[imported_porta]

Great work, David :thumbup: