Mercedes c-63 restorative detail

[autoconcierge]

Recently completed comprehensive detail with the help of Daniel from Car Connoisseur coming up from So.Cal once again, this vehicle is a daily driver that sits outside 24/7 and had never been detailed as far as I could tell. The wash/decon steps would take over three hours to complete and many hours after that to restore the vehicles cosmetic appearance once again.



Vehicle condition upon arrival.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new001.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new002.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new005.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new007.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new009.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new012.jpg



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new014.jpg



During the wash portion, sometimes pics will show the LSP being stripped off with no surface tension on the finish................... in this case there was no LSP(Wax/sealant) on the finish to strip off.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new010.jpg



Arm & shoulder workout completed......................no need for the gym today during the clay step.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new021.jpg



Just a little amount of metal particulate............................



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new019.jpg



Now to the corrective stages, defects like this everywhere on the car.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new023.jpg



The hood had acid rain damage, hard water etch etc........................ this was going to take deep leveling of the finish and there was enough paint to work with to accomplish the goal.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new025.jpg



Initial 50/50 pic.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new032.jpg



Gloss and clarity restored on the hood.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new035.jpg



Marring and scratches.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new038.jpg



Deep cutting of the defects, note hazy reflection of the Halogen bulb.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new036.jpg



Defects removed, reflection of the Halogen light defined with more clarity.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new040.jpg



Same area after medium polishing step was carried out, metallic flake is coming through now.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/old010.jpg



After first fine polishing step, utra fine polishing step would follow after this.



http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/old011.jpg

[autoconcierge]

Utilizing the very capable Rupes LHR75 on the tight spots.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-01-12%20C63%20NS/004.jpg





This would be a "Wheels off" task as the wheels, wheel wells were as bad as you want.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/018.jpg





Built up crust, road tar, grease.......................





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/019.jpg





During cleaning.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/021.jpg





Tore up brake assembly.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/011.jpg





On the road to recovery........................





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/015.jpg





BAD.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/001.jpg





Better.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/001.jpg





All better.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/11-29-12%20C63%20NS/005.jpg





Not cleaned in a long time.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new015.jpg





After much effort.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-03-12%20C63%20NS/new018.jpg





Remember the rear bumper area with the spotting and deep marring..........................





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/new001.jpg





B pillars before.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/006.jpg





After compounding.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/008.jpg





No part of the car escaped, even the center caps were tore up.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/001.jpg





Superclean now.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/005.jpg





Side by side comparison.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/003.jpg





Rubber trim dry and UV damaged, 50/50 showing the rubber stripped for dressing later.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-04-12%20C63%20NS/new003.jpg





Remember this area from the first pics in the write up?, same area cleaned and dressed.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/014.jpg





Mercedes star on the front grill was looking bad, plastic on the inside was dry and possibly damaged with a strong APC when it was washed a LONG TIME ago.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/009.jpg





During cleaning.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/011.jpg

[autoconcierge]

Engine bay crust...........................





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/008.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/007.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/006.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/002.jpg





Removing " Pine tree " droppings from the cowl.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-06-12%20C63%20NS/013.jpg





Engine bay after.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH010.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/new014.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH009.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH008.jpg





Interior was of course just as bad.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/new002.jpg





After.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/new007.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/new006.jpg





Daniel handling the fine details.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH003.jpg





Everything as it should be now.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH024.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH016.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH019.jpg





Just before the LSP was applied.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH035.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH036.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH033.jpg

[autoconcierge]

Daniel and I were delivering the car to the city in the evening, so no sun pics..................... Led in the shop and at a local AM/PM with strong overhead LED lights would have to show off the corrected finish.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH030.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH029.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH028.jpg





Outside of the one deep RID that due to the paint depth I could not correct, the B pillar was looking nice.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH027.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH052.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH049.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH044.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH045.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH046.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH047.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH048.jpg





On the way back to the shop Daniel and I took some pics from Twin Peaks as it was a clear night and SF is Beautiful from this vantage point.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH061.jpg





Golden Gate Bridge.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH063.jpg





Bridge and Cow Hollow district.





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH056.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH058.jpg





http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp172/autoconcierge/997%20Porsche%20RandD%20Project/12-10-12%20C63%20NS/DH054.jpg

[maxepr1]

Nice work Bob! Paint is super wet under the light at the gas station! This is what a "Restoration" should look like!

[Nitax]

Superb work!

[DeanSweet]

Your attention to every detail is simply amazing...

[JohnKleven]

Now that is how it`s done!!! Great work gentlemen!

[sulla]

Now...That is cutting edge detailing....Always loved how you deal with the crevices and hard to reach spots

[Jokeman]

Great work, great write-up.