New Car Ceramiclear Paint Detailing Suggestions

C

Chris 45971

New member
Hello everyone. First I would like to thank everyone here for all of the great information that I have acquired at this magnificent board.



I have an 05 SL 500 with ceramiclear brilliant silver paint. After extensive research, I have determined that I am going to go with the Menzerna product line for my car's paint. I ordered the Menzerna Kit and it should be here later this week. Currently, my car is a month old and I am very happy with the appearance of the paint; but of course, I would like to make it look better.



My question is; what do the professionals here at Autopia think I should do given my above mentioned circumstance? Should I polish out the already existing exceptional shine, use the glaze, then FMJ or should I simply clean the the surface with a cleaning spray and apply the FMJ? I am concerned that if I polish, I might somehow "hurt" the ceramiclear paint or whatever Mercedes put on the car at the factory. I am anxiously awaiting the new ceramiclear products.



Currently, after very close inspection in various light, there are no imperfections that my eye can detect on the paint. The only thing that I can find wrong is "slight graininess" when I run my hand in a sandwich bag on the paint (contamination). There is not the slightest swirl or scatch.



I am new to this and would appriciate any information that the pros here can give.



Thanks to everyone who responds.
 
Welcome to Autopia Chris



Congrats on your new car , that's a beautiful car! You made a good choice with the Menzerna their polishes are my staple product for all the german cars I detail. I would suggest giving the SL a good bath first and then clay the entire car. Being in NJ myself I can tell you there is quite a bit of fallout on the finish already. After you've done those two steps I would polish the car with Menzerna Final Polish and then apply two coats of FMJ , it will look stunning. Here is a picture of an Audi I detailed that has FMJ on it.





4717audi-med.jpg
 
If it was my car I would just wash , clay, Klasse AIO and than Klasse SG. Since as you say the paint is in great shape you may not need any more polishing.
 
Menzerna as well as Autoint/Valugard make a polish specifically for Ceramiclear. I dont think Menzerna sells that specific polish retail but you could inquire at http://www.menzernausa.com . The Valugard stuff is called Cerious Polish
 
I think Doug is right. A good wash and clay, then FP and the topper of your choice. The CC paint is pretty tough stuff, I have a customer with a black '04 S500 and like your car is spider swirl free. Now if I could get him to stop leaving it in the driveway and letting the sprinklers hit it.....
 
Thanks again for all of the advice. I will be doing the detail this weekend. I'll let everyone know how it turns out when I am done
 
Chris 45971 said:
Thanks again for all of the advice. I will be doing the detail this weekend. I'll let everyone know how it turns out when I am done
Click to expand...



In addition, let us know about every 6 months how the paint is holding up scratch, scuff, spiders swirl-wise.
 
I have decided to simply wash the car, QD it and then FMJ it. I am concerned with removing/disturbing paint that is already visually spectacular. Shortly after I see blemmishes/scratches, I will do the entire thing (Menzerna Final Polish II, the Final Touch Glaze then FMJ). Who knows, they might have special polish for Ceramiclear by that time.



Yesterday, I washed the car with Menzerna's wash, dried it real good and used Mother's QD spray (CA Gold Showtime). Right now, the car looks better than when I took delivery on it 5-weeks ago. This morning, I am going to apply the FMJ. I am very excited to see how that car will look when I am finished.



I plan on layering the FMJ using the same process that I mentioned above. However, I was thinking about using Zaino's Z-6 after the wash instead of Mother's Showtime. Everything I read on Z-6 says that it is great for use on top of other Zaino products. Has anyone here used Z-6 on top of FMJ? Can it be harmful? I'd like to know before I go pick some up (there is a Zaino shop 10 minutes down the road from me in Howell, NJ).



As it stands now the whole car is beautiful. However, there is a 2 foot by 3 inch spot on the driver's side door that continues to be rough/grainy to my touch. From a look standpoint, it looks the same as the rest of the car. The rest of the car is glassy smooth and makes no noice when I lightly run my finger across it. The spot I am talking about makes a grainy/sandpaperish sound when I lightly run my finger accross it. The Mother's Showtime for some reason cannot remove the rough/grainy feel. Does anyone know what this could be? It seems like contamination that is too tough for the detailing spray?



Thanks again for the advice everyone. I hope to bring you good news (the fruit of your advice) when I am finished.



Enjoy Christmas everyone! :)
 
detailbarn said:
Welcome to Autopia Chris



Congrats on your new car , that's a beautiful car! You made a good choice with the Menzerna their polishes are my staple product for all the german cars I detail. I would suggest giving the SL a good bath first and then clay the entire car. Being in NJ myself I can tell you there is quite a bit of fallout on the finish already. After you've done those two steps I would polish the car with Menzerna Final Polish and then apply two coats of FMJ , it will look stunning. Here is a picture of an Audi I detailed that has FMJ on it.





4717audi-med.jpg
Click to expand...



:up
 
Don't use a polish on that if it's that new please. Paint cleaner like P21s then FMJ. Zaino 2 is really good on light cars. I'm a huge menzerna fan but the new Z2 is making waves. I don't think you'll have any problems using z6 on FMJ, just dilute 50/50 with water to make it last and get good value. Whatever you chose, pease don't use a true polish thinking that's going to improve your shine. Cleaner/Sealant that's it, at the most you would want to clay first. Cleaners may shorten the durabilty of your sealants, but they also make them achieve that mirror shine.
 
Why not? FP2 has very light abrasives in it. If used with a PC you won't hurt the ceramiclear at all. FP2 / PC is excellent for prepping before a sealant.
 
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