Mercedes CLK350 Detail with Rupes UHS System

RaysWay

Autopia Specialist
New client brought over a Mercedes CLK350 for a much needed one-step detail. She admitted to me that it was likely over a year since this Mercedes has been washed or waxed! :vomit:

We went over the car and decided a one-step coating detail would be best. Here's the car on arrival.

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Standard dirt and dust all over the vehicle.

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Swirls everywhere you looked.

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The notorious german brake dust would have to be dealt with.

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For wheels this bad, I knew I had to bring out the big guns - Sonax Wheel Cleaner Plus.

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Lots of agitation with a Speed Master Wheel Brush.

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Short Handle Wheel Brush for the face of the wheels.

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Can't forget about the lug nuts.

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Considering how these wheels looked before, a single application did an amazing job.

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But after closer inspection it looks like I missed a few spots. So a second light application was needed.

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This time I applied Tuf Shine Tire Cleaner too.

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I don't think I've ever seen more iron come off a set of wheels before.

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This Mercedes already looks 100x better with a clean set of wheels!

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Time to wash the exterior. Since this Benz was pretty dirty, I started with a foam presoak with CarPro Reset before a 2 bucket wash.

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Next, I clayed the car with a Fine Grade Nanoskin Autoscrub Towel.

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This was a brand new towel, so I broke it in on the glass before using it on the paint.

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Already looks much better.

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I pulled the CLK350 into the garage and the new garage lights do a great job of showing every defect.

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The entire car looked like this.

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I asked everyone here what you'd like me to use on this car and the majority of you voted for the new RUPES UHS System. So I brought my LHR 15ES and a few UHS pads/polish.

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Test spot was performed on the left side. 4 section passes on speed 5.

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Wipes off super easy.

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The UHS System did a great job.

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Although I was very satisfied with the results from the UHS System, I wanted to compare the UHS system with a polish I was more familiar with. So I grabbed a Blue Rupes pad and their Zephir Gloss Coarse Gel Compound for a comparison test.

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Right side: Blue pad/Blue compound. Left side: UHS System.

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One of the UHS System's biggest advantages became clearly evident after a few section passes. The UHS system does not dust.

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Comparing the two results on this Capri Blue Metallic, the UHS system removed slightly less of the imperfections but finished down much nicer. You can see how the left side looked "clearer" in this picture. In person, the difference was even more dramatic.

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Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Alright enough pictures! Time to crank up the music and finish this detail....

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Love my LED Headlamp. It saves me a lot of time.

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Interior was scrubbed with Pinnacle Signature APC in a Tornador.

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Then conditioned with BLACKFIRE Leather Conditioner.

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I have to say it took myself some time to learn the RUPES polishers. The technique needed to run a RUPES polisher is different than any other polisher on the market, but the results are amazing. I think the large orbital pattern on these polishers make them finish down amazing.

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Headlights showed slight oxidation, so I went over them quickly with a 3403 and Uber Compound.

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For the LSP, I went with DP Paint Coating.

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The owner was very happy with the results. We talked about future maintenance washes before she left. This might be back shortly for a wheels off wheel coating detail.

As far as the RUPES UHS System, I give it a 10/10. The fact that it doesn't dust and is super easy to wipe off makes it a 9/10, but it also cuts like a swirl remover and finishes down great. I could really see this system being used for the majority of details customers are willing to pay for.

Thanks for reading!
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Cool job

What did you use for clay towel lube (didn't say) and how did you prep before paint coating (or did you)?
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Great Job Ray! Looks awesome! Thanks for insight as well been waiting for a reason to use UHS more! You just gave it to me!
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Thanks everyone, sorry for the late reply! Busy day yesterday.

Cool job

What did you use for clay towel lube (didn't say) and how did you prep before paint coating (or did you)?

Thanks. Ya I didn't document every step or product used, it's just hard having to stop when I'm on a short deadline. Hopefully soon I'll be able to put a lot more time into details so I can document everything. For a clay lube I used the used Reset Shampoo and for a coating prep I used DP Coating Prep Polish by hand with a microfiber applicator.
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Thanks everyone, sorry for the late reply! Busy day yesterday.



Thanks. Ya I didn't document every step or product used, it's just hard having to stop when I'm on a short deadline. Hopefully soon I'll be able to put a lot more time into details so I can document everything. For a clay lube I used the used Reset Shampoo and for a coating prep I used DP Coating Prep Polish by hand with a microfiber applicator.

Thank you
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Are the UHS pads really stiff? I just received some and the seems really stiff and course . I want to make sure they sent me the right pads.
 
Re: Mercedes CLK350 Detail with multiple Rayviews

Are the UHS pads really stiff? I just received some and the seems really stiff and course . I want to make sure they sent me the right pads.

Yep, the UHS pads feel like very stiff cutting pads. That's completely normal. But don't worry, along with the UHS compound they finish down great. After the pads start to get saturated with product, they do get softer. But I noticed better performance while the pads were stiff, so I ended up using more pads than usual. I like how stiff pads like the blue coarse and UHS pads don't bog down the RUPES machines like the softer ones.
 
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