Detailed Elegance - 2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG

Yep, thats when I started to get crazy about those swirls and start to lose self-control. It's just detailing... and it's just an enjoyable hobby, I tell myself. Or maybe I'm too much of an unrealistic perfectionist.

I think Richard says it really well:

"Despite it all, I've visited less and less mainly because <strong class='bbc'>I just have other priorities in life. Detailing is fun, important, and engaging, but it doesn't rule my life.[/b] Also, the involved debates distracted me too much from enjoying detailing, so I just slowed down."

Well anyway, there is still no cure for compulsive detailing disorder. Yet.

:D
~bw




<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Don2000* [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Yes, very light swirls and or scratches are UNAVOIDABLE in my opinion. Just park your car in the right light and you will see very very light swirls. So just learn to accept the fact that you're going to have them. Laters [/b]</blockquote>
 
Today I did a detail on a 2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG. Once again, it was in the same shop that I have been working out of for the last few weeks, and once again, time was an issue. This car really needed a 2 day treatment, but I had a grand total of 7 hours to work some magic.:banghead: I can't wait till I have a customer who says take as long as you want.

Anyway, the car was pulled inside before I arrived, and it had been run through the swirl-o-matic, in order to save me time. This detail would be paint correction only. There is no interior, no trim dressing, just work on the paint.

I apologize in advance for the bad pictures. It was a tough day. As I was about 1/4 of the way done with the first polishing step, my halogen light blew, so the lighting was worse then usual. Then as I pulled the car outside for the afters, my camera battery died (I should have checked that).

Here is what I did.

Spray car with ONR from pressure sprayer, and wipe down.
Clay with Blackfire Poly Clay, and ONR as lube.
Multiple IPA wipe downs.
Started with M105 on a Surbuf, but that left a lot of marring, so I switched to M105 on a Hydrotech Cayan pad. That was followed with M205 on a Hydrotech Tangerine pad.
LSP - BFWD

On to the pics.

Here is the car as I arrived
http:/
http://
http://
http://
http://

As you can see the paint was in serious need of some attention.
http://
http://
http://

Micro marring after M105 on Surbuf
http://

Switched to H20 Cayan
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After M205 on Tangerine pad
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http://[IMG]http:/[URL="http://[IMG...541/2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG/016.jpg[/IMG]/i868.photobucket.com/albums/ab248/bschultz5541/2002%20Black%20Mercedes%20S55%20AMG/013.jpg[/IMG]"]http://
013.jpg
[/URL]
http://
http://
016.jpg
 
Continued

50/50 of the hood (sorry for the bad pics)
http://
http://[IMG]http://i868.photobucket...541/2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG/022.jpg[/IMG]cedes%20S55%20AMG/019.jpg[/IMG]"]http://
019.jpg
[/URL]

More 50/50 of the hood. The top right has been corrected
http://"]20.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
http://"]21.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
Hood after
[http://
022.jpg

/B]http://[IMG]http://i868.photobucket...541/2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG/025.jpg[/IMG]
http://
023.jpg


Before drivers side doors
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024.jpg


Left side done right side not
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Handle before
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026.jpg

http://[IMG]http://i868.photobucket...541/2002 Black Mercedes S55 AMG/027.jpg[/IMG]
Handle After
http://
027.jpg


Back door before
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Back door after
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Pillar before
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Pillar after
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Barry -

Incredible work with the time constraint, lighting issue, and way bad paint defects !

Your great work turned this mess into something beautiful !
I am sure the Client was ecstatic !

I dont know what kind of Halogen lights you have, but the ones that come with a tripod, and perhaps others, usually have a spare bulb in one of the handle ends. I always load one in there and take a couple more for back up, in case they go out, and they do. :(

I am so proud of you, my friend !

Dan F
 
Great job. Stuff happens (batteries, lights etc.) and the show must go on!

Good job. I know that clear is rock hard. Love black when it looks like this!
 
Great work again there Barry, the Benz looks great. At least you didn't have to squeeze in the interior in your 7 hour time constraint. Keep it up buddy.

-Kody-
 
Looks awesome Barry considering the time pressure. I hate those jobs too but you corrected that black Benz beautifully and probably beyond the customer's expectations!
 
Stokdgs said:
Barry -

Incredible work with the time constraint, lighting issue, and way bad paint defects !

Your great work turned this mess into something beautiful !
I am sure the Client was ecstatic !

I dont know what kind of Halogen lights you have, but the ones that come with a tripod, and perhaps others, usually have a spare bulb in one of the handle ends. I always load one in there and take a couple more for back up, in case they go out, and they do. :(

I am so proud of you, my friend !

Dan F
Click to expand...
Dan,
Thank you for all the kind words of encouragement. I will look in the handle to check for a spare bulb. I guess I need to have a few backups for situations like this.
JSFM35X said:
Great job. Stuff happens (batteries, lights etc.) and the show must go on!

Good job. I know that clear is rock hard. Love black when it looks like this!
Click to expand...
Thanks Jeff.
I know stuff happens, but all on the same job?:redface: I should have checked all this before hand. The clear on the MB is rather hard, but I got it about 90%, which is waht I was looking for under the time constraints.
kakeuter said:
Great work again there Barry, the Benz looks great. At least you didn't have to squeeze in the interior in your 7 hour time constraint. Keep it up buddy.

-Kody-
Click to expand...
Thanks Kody.
I was very happy when the customer told me not to do the interior.:D I never would have been able to get it done in time.
Puckman said:
Looks awesome Barry considering the time pressure. I hate those jobs too but you corrected that black Benz beautifully and probably beyond the customer's expectations!
Click to expand...
Thank you very much. If nothing else, I guess these time tables are testing my skills.
Flash Gordon said:
Nice work Barry :-B
Click to expand...
Thanks Flash.
I always appreciate your compliments!
Ron-M said:
Looks really nice now, big improvement. I bet you didn't take many breaks.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ron.
Many breaks? Actually, I don't usually take any breaks. I want to get the job done, and in this case, who had the time?:scared:
 
Wow, what turnaround in a short period! You had to be very beat from that Barry! Looks great from your shots!
 
zoomzoom mazda5 said:
Wow, what turnaround in a short period! You had to be very beat from that Barry! Looks great from your shots!
Click to expand...

Thanks Angelo!!
I wish you could have seen it in person. I really need to work on my photography skills.
I can't even tell you, how tired I was when I got home. I am so sore right now, but I have a few more jobs coming up from this group. The woman who's GMC Terrain I did a few weeks ago, already wants to schedule another full detail for April.:hurray:
 
Barry
you're indeed the man

nothing could able to stop you

not the halogen light, nor camera nor time

truly "If there is a will there is always a way"



Thanks for sharing yr struggles, hardship & VICTORY

Cheers to the real detailer


Now we have every reason to avoid hick up


Thank you
 
Wow Barry, that's A LOT to get done with one person in that low amount of time. You must have really been busting your butt hustling around that car. Its one thing to work on the perfect car in the perfect place with all the time in the world, and another thing to make the most out of what you have. Keep up the hard work!
 
kc's said:
Barry
you're indeed the man

nothing could able to stop you

not the halogen light, nor camera nor time

truly "If there is a will there is always a way"



Thanks for sharing yr struggles, hardship & VICTORY

Cheers to the real detailer


Now we have every reason to avoid hick up


Thank you
Click to expand...
Thanks KC.
I appreciate that very much. Perseverance is a must since you never know what can happen.
muttgrunt said:
Wow Barry, that's A LOT to get done with one person in that low amount of time. You must have really been busting your butt hustling around that car. Its one thing to work on the perfect car in the perfect place with all the time in the world, and another thing to make the most out of what you have. Keep up the hard work!
Click to expand...
Thank you Marc.
That means a lot coming from you. You know how much I admire your work, and it really feels good to get a compliment from someone with your skills. It really was a test to see how much I could get done in that short amount of time. I would kill for the perfect environment to work in with no time limits.
 
Fantastic job Barry! That is a BIG car and you 2-stepped it with great results in just 7 hours!! WOW! Looks great.
 
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