Mercedes S55, Chevy 2500HD, Mazda3, Escalade, new Werkstatt stuff tested

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 08:33

2002 Mercedes S55. Interesting story on this one. Same owner as the Ford GT, obviously this man has excellent taste in cars. In the summer of 2002, he went to Park Place Mercedes looking to buy a silver on black S55. Turns out there were only 2 new ones left in the US. One in Beverly Hills, the other in Tucson, AZ. He made an offer on the one in Beverly Hills (through Park Place) on a Friday, finds out on Monday it was sold that weekend. He then focuses on the one in Tucson, only to find out that he was competing with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys who wanted a silver S55 for Roy Williams of the Cowboys (part of his signing package, I guess). Anyway, he ended up outbidding Jones and got the car. He admitted overpaying but it was what he wanted. Oddly enough, for the next 3 1/2 years, he hardly drove the car (he took his F-250 to job sites) and only recently started putting some miles on it...and yet it still only has just over 15,000 miles on it! Absolutely mint condition. Only some light tar on the lower panels.

Polished with Werkstatt's Prime and a blue Propel Finishing pad and sealed with Acrylic Jett by hand. I had to take the pictures under the covered parking because it started raining just as I finished.

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I ended up getting some Acrylic Jett Trigger along with a few other new JW products so I put it to the test on a couple of vehicles today. AJ-T is ridiculously easy to use! Spray, spread, wipe, flip towel for final wipe. If you can use a QD, you can use AJ-T. The claim is that it should be very close to regular Acrylic Jett in durability so it can be used as a stand alone LSP. I think this would give it an edge over Zaino Z8, which isn't intended as a true LSP but does seem to be more than just a QD. Doesn't smell as good as Z8 (really not much smell at all) though but just as easy to use, and IMO, even wetter looking. Plus, it is $5 less.

Anyway, I used it on this 2005 Mazda3. No polishing, could use some but he just wanted a wash initially, told him I had a new sealant spray that I'd charge him an extra $10 to apply. Extra 5 minutes of time, I get $10 more and his car should have some decent protection and definitely looked better.

Sun in the first pic only, then the clouds moved in.

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 08:41

This ought to show what I mean when I say Acrylic Jett Trigger looks wet. 2003 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. Regular wash customer, last detailed about 5 weeks ago (Menzerna 106FF, Poorboy's EX-P) but for some reason, his brother washed it using Ivory liquid earlier this week. It didn't kill the beading but slickness was down. Towels didn't drag though and it didn't seem to have any marring from the wash. I went ahead and used AJ-T on it after an Optimum No Rinse Wash right where it sat, in the sun. Probably in the low 70s, sides were just fine, hood and roof were pretty warm, so I worked smaller sections at a time. Anyway, I was really happy at the noticable increase in gloss and wetness.

I see this truck every week (although his soon to be delivered Porsche 997 might change that!) so I will monitor how the beading, slickness and appearance hold up.

Notice how much darker the paint looks on the shade side...

-KGB- · 04-21-06, 08:41

I dont know why someone would want to compete for that Mercedes, I just dont think it looks like anything special. Great reflections though.

I been having a hard time with AJ so tonight I emptied out a 4 oz eye glasses cleaner bottle, cleaned it and dumped in about 2 ozs of AJ. I did half the car with the microfiber wipe on wipe off the other half I used a PC with a blue finishing pad. Both turned out great. I guess I just have a mental block with the WOWO I feel like it is not getting time to cure.

I am thinking about applying Z2Pro, Z8 and or UPP over the AJ to see what that looks like.

Scott how did you like the prime strong compared to regular prime? I love the PS

BigAl3 · 04-21-06, 08:44

nice work, scott!

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 08:49

2005 Cadillac Escalade. Weekly wash customer but I hadn't waxed it since August (PwC and Natty's Blue) because not one hour after I finished, she was hit by a daycare bus when picking up her kids from school. 90 days to wait for the paint to cure but winter and early spring's sunsets weren't giving me enough time since I couldn't start on it until after she picked up her kids from school. Now that we are on daylight savings time, I could finally get to it.

Paint was still pretty good, so I polished it with Werkstatt's Prime Carnauba using a white LC polishing pad. PC definitely has a somewhat richer, softer look than regular Prime, seems perfect for black. I then finished off with Carnauba Jett...and despite the longer days now, I still didn't finish until around 7:30 pm!

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 08:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by -KGB-

I dont know why someone would want to compete for that Mercedes, I just dont think it looks like anything special. Great reflections though.

He said he just had to have silver on black.

Quote:

I been having a hard time with AJ so tonight I emptied out a 4 oz eye glasses cleaner bottle, cleaned it and dumped in about 2 ozs of AJ. I did half the car with the microfiber wipe on wipe off the other half I used a PC with a blue finishing pad. Both turned out great. I guess I just have a mental block with the WOWO I feel like it is not getting time to cure.

Honestly, if you just wipe over the panel with your applicator and knock down any high spots you see, you can let it dry and it wipes off with ease.

Quote:

I am thinking about applying Z2Pro, Z8 and or UPP over the AJ to see what that looks like.

Z8 works well over AJ.

Quote:

Scott how did you like the prime strong compared to regular prime? I love the PS

I didn't order Prime Strong. Maybe next time.

-KGB- · 04-21-06, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

He said he just had to have silver on black.

Honestly, if you just wipe over the panel with your applicator and knock down any high spots you see, you can let it dry and it wipes off with ease.

Z8 works well over AJ.

I didn't order Prime Strong. Maybe next time.

Sorry its late and my ambien is kicking in, what do you mean by kick down the high spots?

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by -KGB-

Sorry its late and my ambien is kicking in, what do you mean by kick down the high spots?

When you apply AJ, look down the panel and if you see it is thick in any areas, go over it again with the applicator pad (without applying more product) and then the whole panel should wipe off with ease, even if you wait a while.

If you want incredible ease of use, assuming the Trigger version is even half as durable as the regular version of AJ, I'd give Trigger a try.

-KGB- · 04-21-06, 09:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottwax

When you apply AJ, look down the panel and if you see it is thick in any areas, go over it again with the applicator pad (without applying more product) and then the whole panel should wipe off with ease, even if you wait a while.

If you want incredible ease of use, assuming the Trigger version is even half as durable as the regular version of AJ, I'd give Trigger a try.

Ok thanks, I will try that. I have the non trigger version but I made it into trigger with a sprayer from an small bottle of eye glasses cleaner.

gmblack3a · 04-21-06, 09:53

Scott, as always excellent work.

I got some trigger coming from another member, now I'm gonna have to order PC as well.

Are or did you use the foam pads from JW? They seem to be very nice for applying AJ.

What is your latest method for applying CJ?

Corey Bit Spank · 04-21-06, 10:26

Aha! I figured out my Prime problem. I applied it by machine last time, which seems to keep it from forming a glue. Is this what you have found, Scott?

I really like that Mazda 3. Very clear looking.

And chrome wheels on an Escalade that I actually like! :tup:

Scottwax · 04-21-06, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmblack3a

Scott, as always excellent work.

I got some trigger coming from another member, now I'm gonna have to order PC as well.

Are or did you use the foam pads from JW? They seem to be very nice for applying AJ.

What is your latest method for applying CJ?

I use foam hand pads to apply AJ. I use mf towels to apply CJ. Spray, spread, continue to spread until it mostly clears out, flip the towel for a final wipe.

Corey-like with AIO, a little goes a long way. Cut back on the amount you are using and go over any thick spots with the PC again before moving on to the next panel.