Engine detailing (Classic Mercedes Guys) ....

[Clean Dean]

You are looking at 2 identical air filter covers from the W126 chassis Mercedes Benz cars from (380 SE/SEL 560 SE/SEL) 1981 through 1991. Obviously one is detailed for show and the other will be. Stay tuned (tomorrow) for the process….



Total time to detail (1 hour).

 

[Clean Dean]

 

[Accumulator]

OOOH....I'll be waiting to hear the details. Not only because I'm a W126 nut, but that's a big part of it



Q: at the risk of sounding critical, were those supposed to be smooth and polished? It's been a long time, but IIRC the ones on my W126 coupes weren't smooth and shiny but rather very lightly textured and satin silver :think: Don't think I have any pics around, at least that I can lay my hands on....and I'm sure nobody except the judges at StarFest would care anyhow, but it's piqued my curiosity.

 

[macfights]

definitely post some details... i am the proud owner of a euro spec'd w124 and am planning on doing a lot of detailing to the engine bay (i've only owned it for 2 months)

 

[Clean Dean]

The air filter covers either came in more a satin gloss, or covered in cosmoline.



I detailed a low milage w107 about 3 years ago, and the owner requested that I really polish up the air filter cover. I took it and hit it with a Baldor buffer, and the owner loved it.



I know the highly polish look is not exactly OEM standards, but I have had a great response from customers who request this look.



I owned 2 1986 560 SL (w107) both with slightly over 20k miles, and I kept the covers polished, but not as highly polished as this one, to keep the OEM look.



Pics/process coming soon...

 

[Clean Dean]

Finally the process…



First I remove any grime, cosmoline, sticker residue with an APC and 0000 steel wool…

Next I hand polish with Mother Aluminum polish and a clean piece of 0000 steel wool…

First buff on the Baldor Buffer with Tripoli Compound (see stages) …

Next buff with white rough, and don’t forget the outer edge …

Dirty work !!! Protective goggles, heat resistant gloves and an old shirt/smock is a must!!!



Remember these two filter covers were take off a salvage yard and were not clean dent and scratch and dent free examples.

 

[Accumulator]

Clean Dean- Thanks for refreshing my memory about the OE finish and, heh heh, can you tell I spend too much time around concours guys?



Thanks also for sharing your process. IIRC the Baldor runs at a speed that's just right for that kind of polishing so you can concentrate on doing the work and not on preventing damage from too-high rpms...any idea what the speed actually is?



Only need two grades of polish with it (after the initial hand work) huh? Sure turned out nice and shiny!

 

[Clean Dean]

Accumulator,



I believe the RPMs are 3600. The cover I used has some obvious burnt in deposits that I could not remove, but the finished product looks pretty cool on my bookself in my office. When you get a cleaner example the results are pretty astonishing. Not for the Benz purist, but some guys like to add their own touch of "bling" to their car.