1998 Mercedes SL 500 detail...

Clean Dean · 03-28-09, 05:37

One of my absolute favorite cars of the late 1990’s was the 1990 through 2002 Mercedes Benz SL class (w129). These cars exemplified to me a sports/touring drop top with sophistication and class. I detailed this 1998 model this Friday in my favorite color combo for this car in black/tan.
The car needed some attention particularly the exterior, but was still a very fine driver:

The car was washed and then clayed early that morning and a buff with Menzerna’s SIP which cut through most of the harsh wash scratches. I finished the car off with 3M Ultrafina and waxed with Collinite’s Marque d’ Elegance. Then it was time for the interior.

I would be lying if I said the interior was bad, but there was a layer of grime on the leather and door skins that was no match for Meg’s APC 20:1 and the Eurosteam 1900 Vapor Cleaner. All leather was then treated with Lexol, and trim and dash cleaned then dressed with Stoners Trim Shine. All glass cleaned with old reliable Spray Away.

Before:

After:

I have been a Member of the Mercedes Benz Club of America, and belong to a few Mercedes Benz forums, and I get the feeling that the W129 SL Class has become a car that has lost its appeal to most enthusiasts. Most complain that the look is dated, and it is stuck between the classic lines of the W107 and the contemporary lines of the W230 SL. For me it still has a place in my heart, and hope to land one in my garage in the not too distant future.

michakaveli · 03-28-09, 05:52

Nice work. One of my fav MB models also.

Scottwax · 03-28-09, 08:36

Much improved, looks swirl free in the afters.

I used to do a ton of those SLs, now I hardly do any. Always liked that version.

Richie Carbone · 03-28-09, 08:37

Great save! If you had one of these back in the day you were ballin'

Auto Concierge · 03-28-09, 09:07

Super clean Dean!!! great swirl free finish as the sun pics tell it all

TSC17 · 03-29-09, 05:38

Very nice job, and yes, those are very classic rides for sure. I just did a 06 SL500 this weekend and couldn't find a single aspect that I didn't like about the car.

Sludge · 03-29-09, 05:42

You really brought that one back. Great looking car and excellent work.

Setec Astronomy · 03-29-09, 05:51

Great job Dean!

Jakerooni · 03-29-09, 07:35

Definatly one of the better cars to come out of the 90's. I'd rock it. Good job making it shine again. Hopefully it'll start turning some heads there again.

pampos · 03-29-09, 08:18

Looks great mate!!!Nice job...

96GreenPSD · 05-15-09, 07:21

Nice detail, but to me that's the ugliest most overpriced Mercedes ever made. We just got one in at work (98 AMG sport) which I'll be detailing soon. I honestly can't understand why anyone would buy that car other than to brag about how much they spent on it. Even used, I could think off a hundred other cars I would rather buy for the $15-20k those things bring.

dsms · 05-15-09, 08:22

Great work, correction really came out well! And judging by the interior recovery I may need to invest in a steamer.

Again excellent job Dean!