My neighbor's 1993 Mercedes 300SE

Since getting into detailing a few months ago, I`ve been eyeing my neighbor`s black (I think 1993) 300SE as a detail project. Since both of my cars are relatively new and in great shape, I`d never had a chance to see what I, the PC and some products could really do. So I offered to detail their car for free.



I`d never taken a close look at their car, and when I did I thought to myself, "What have you gotten yourself into?" The paint was in terrible condition. I immediately wished I had some stronger products and/or a rotary. I knew I wasn`t going to be able to get the car as pristine as I initially wanted to, but I thought I`d at least be able to get it looking better.



Overall I was pretty happy with the results. And fortunately my neighbor was blown away with the results!



Looking back, I wish I had had at least 2 additional cutting pads (the two I have got very tired after just a short while), and something stronger than the SSR 2.5 I used. I also wished I`d had more time than the approximately 7-8 hours it took. Finally, I didn`t realize how big this car was until I started into it, the thing is huge! Anyway, here`s the process I used...



Four Star Gel Wheel Cleaner

Wash

Clay

Wash

SSR 2.5 Orange Pad via PC @ 6

SSR 2.5 White Pad via PC @ 6

AIO

EX-P

Optimum tire dressing



I was initially thinking of finish polishing with SSR 1 or FPII, but there was still swirling and other defects upon close inspection, so I didn`t think it would`ve done much good. For the interior I just did a very quick wipe with 303 and some Pinnacle leather conditioner. The interior really needs a complete detailing of its own.



Wheel before:



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17...heelBefore.jpg





And after using Four Star gel cleaner:



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17...WheelAfter.jpg





Before shots:



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/Before3.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/Before2.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/Before1.jpg



Check out their kid`s footprints on the hood!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/Before5.jpg





And after:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17...g/After1-2.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/After2.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/After3.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/After4.jpg

Looks excellent!

Very nice work!

Looks great. :bigups Your neighbor must be happy. Tell him to keep his kids off the car. :angry

Awesome turn around!



Do you have any pics of the swirls? I want to see exactly how aggressive SSR2.5 is. Im thinking about ordering some.



Great detail, hes GOTTA be happy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by evenflow

Awesome turn around!



Do you have any pics of the swirls? I want to see exactly how aggressive SSR2.5 is. Im thinking about ordering some.



Great detail, hes GOTTA be happy.

---

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!





Here`s a pic after one pass of SSR 2.5 with the PC @ 6. You can see just how poor the condition of the paint is. I did 2 - 3 more passes and it improved some more, but some of those major blems (etchings?) just needed something more aggressive. In certain cases the paint was just too damaged for anything other than repainting. You`ll also notice the micromarring in the flash. SSR 2.5 can tackle those, but because the paint was SO bad, and I only had limited time, I decided not to try to get every last one out, but rather focus on the major problems and try to get the car looking better as a whole.



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/dwargg/Hood.jpg

sevenrd,



You should be proud. Excellent work, great results.



Sludge :bounce

he better tip you



what did you do to the tan greyish body panels? same as u did the black?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by the0ne

he better tip you



what did you do to the tan greyish body panels? same as u did the black?

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Well, the husband`s a carpenter on the side. So he (actually his wife!) offered his services if needed. I declined for now. It was really just something I wanted to do as a challenge for myself.



Yes for the lower side panels. SSR 2.5, AIO, EX-P

By the looks of it, the SSR2.5 seemed to tackle MOST of the swirls. Think im going to have to try some out :xyxthumbs

I think you did great on this Benz.

Much, much improved! Looks terrific in the after shots!



...and yes, an S Class Mercedes is pretty big!

Excellent transformation! :bigups



I`m not sure if I would let a kid walk on paint that is that dirty! JK



Jorge.