Need tip for a special area on MB 560SL

[Slik560]

I have a 6" random orbital (a Griot's Garage version of the Porter Cable) and my question is whether to use it on the ribbed lower body panels on my 560SL:

To get to the ribbed areas I would have to use the edge of the pad. I have considered getting a 3" orbital and also doing these areas by hand.



Any suggestions on how to polish this type of textured area would be appreciated. Thanks as always.

 

[Accumulator]

I have a 6" random orbital (a Griot's Garage version of the Porter Cable) and my question is whether to use it on the ribbed lower body panels on my 560SL:

To get to the ribbed areas I would have to use the edge of the pad. I have considered getting a 3" orbital and also doing these areas by hand.



Any suggestions on how to polish this type of textured area would be appreciated. Thanks as always.

Unless they've changed their stuff, Griot's machine polishes, used with their orange pads, are all pretty gentle.



IME while the paint at the top of the ridges does get the lion's share of the polishing effect (and will thus thin quickest), it's usually not a huge issue. Any technique you can use to minimize this would be a good idea (like using the edge of the pad to fit down into the ribbing).



I sometimes use a larger pad, with more overhang, for jobs like that; I use the overhanging edge of the pad to fit in the grooves.



I don't *think* the 3" orbital would really be a solution but then again I've never used one and you never know...and, heh heh, it does sound like a good excuse to buy yourself that polisher (I'd kinda like one of those myself).



IF/when the paint starts to get thin there, you really *might* want to just do them by hand (and do the minimum correction you can live with).



Is your SL single stage? MB switched to b/c paint round that vintage, with the solid/non-metallic colors being the last to get b/c paint. It's been *forever* since I did a W...W...oh what is it..a W116? Eh, I just can't remember My mother had a '80 450SL in Sahara Biege (IIRC that's the name) with ss paint and I've always liked those cars.

 

[Slik560]

This one is a R107 chassis and it does have single stage paint, with a couple of areas that were resprayed for some rust repair that I had done. Autopian Totoland Mach put the paint gauge to it for me and confirmed single stage original on most of the car. I've been using Megs #83 on the more swirled areas like the hood and trunk lid as well as the fenders. Life is too short to try to remove swirls with the Griot's polishes. Good stuff, but as you say, not aggressive.



On the ribbed areas shown I have just used clay and no polish as yet. The one thing that did the car a world of good was following up with #7 show car glaze after the #83. I topped it with NXT 2.0 but should have used #26. For no larger than these areas are, I may just polish them by hand with a good microfiber applicator pad.



Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Accumulator]

karburn- Ah, yeah...R107. Sheesh, I've forgotten a lot since my Benz days



Here's somehing you might try- After the #83, but before the #7, use some milder polish. #83 doesn't really leave that nice a finish IME, but it can be hard to tell on colors like white. Glossing things up a bit with a finishing polish and *then* using the #7 oughta make for a nice improvement.



If you those lower areas by hand, be sure to work work work the #83, it takes forever to break down by hand.



And I dunno if the #26 would be better than NXT v2.0. On some colors the NXT is quite nice (nicer than I'd expected before I actually *tried* it for myself) and on white I'd kina lean towards that instead of the #26 (not like I don't like carnaubas on white, I used to use Souveran on it).



What year is your SL? I'm trying to figure out how late MB used ss paint..I know they still used it in '86 but I'm curious about the later years and when they finally phased it out.



Oh, and heh heh...good luck with those wheels, I *still* remember what a job it was to clean them on my SEC

 

[Slik560]

There has been a lot of effort put into determining just when Benz started clearcoating and there is no definitive answer. White was one of the last colors to be changed over to the new methods and this happened sometime between 1988 and 1990 - depending on whom you ask! :scared:



I almost wish my 87 had some clearcoat - I always hesitate to really get after it with an aggressive polish - even with an orbital. The really hard part for me is being able to tell when the polish has broken down sufficiently on that WHITE finish. Toto tells me to look for some mild dusting as an indicator.



Thanks again for the tip about using a milder polish after the 83. I probably do need to refine it some more. I've been using the Griots orange pad first, then a LC white pad, then the LSP by hand. I also have LC red and black finishing pads, so maybe I will try those with one of the milder Meg's polishes, or, maybe this is a way to use up the Griot's #3 that I still have.

 

[Accumulator]

There has been a lot of effort put into determining just when Benz started clearcoating and there is no definitive answer. White was one of the last colors to be changed over to the new methods and this happened sometime between 1988 and 1990 - depending on whom you ask! :scared:

Heh heh...yeah..that's all I'd been able to determine too- between '88 and '90 (I have a thing for the W126s of that era). I'd thought that if yours was, say, a '90 we'd have a better clue

I almost wish my 87 had some clearcoat - I always hesitate to really get after it with an aggressive polish - even with an orbital.

Actually, I like of *like* high-quality ss. It's nice and thick and even if you do overdo it and thin it too much (or even cut through) it holds up well as long as you take good care of it.



The early MB clears where this thin, soft lacquer stuff that you had/have to be careful with; yeah, I'd really rather have the ss. I'd just try to keep it out of the sun as best I could so it doesn't oxidize too much.

The really hard part for me is being able to tell when the polish has broken down sufficiently on that WHITE finish. Toto tells me to look for some mild dusting as an indicator.

Yeah, that can be tricky. I find that some just-right lighting helps a lot...maybe try changing that around. I.e., I *hate* doing correction under fluorescent light, but it can help you see some things (things other than swirls ).



Oh, BTW, lucky you having Totoland Mach involved with the car :xyxthumbs

Thanks again for the tip about using a milder polish after the 83. I probably do need to refine it some more. I've been using the Griots orange pad first, then a LC white pad, then the LSP by hand. I also have LC red and black finishing pads, so maybe I will try those with one of the milder Meg's polishes, or, maybe this is a way to use up the Griot's #3 that I still have.

Yeah, that's the thing about white...you *think* it's OK until you see it polished *better*



I'd expect your paint to be pretty hard; ss white usually is. The Griot's orange pads always finish quite well for me (even though they are so firm), right up there with the LC white, maybe even *better*.



Hmm..how would I approach this :think: That MP3 is some very mild stuff IMO and might not be *enough* for what I'm thinking of after the #83. Worth a try though..MP3/Griot's orange after the #83...I'd see what that does. But I'd sure try to break down the #83 completely first...if it leaves any "#83 hazing" I doubt the MP3 will clear it up.

 

[Slik560]

Maybe it's time to shelve the MP3 and invest in some Meguiars 205, unless that's too abrasive for this. Maybe their #2 fine cut cleaner?



Not that I'm totally committed to Meg's stuff...I'm just one of those that thinks that the products from one manufacturer work best together. If I was using Menzerna, 3M, etc., then I'd use a variety of their polishes.



Richard (Toto) is not too far from me at all, but he is busier than the proverbial one-armed paper hanger, so I try not to pester him with too many questions. It was he that suggested starting with #83 for the rock-hard s/s Benz white paint. If I ever give up the DIY effort, I'll be getting on his waiting list. :chuckle: