Here goes nothin'...

J

jajoesparza

New member
So Santa listened this year and dropped off some detailing supplies for my Black 2003 MB E320. Got the PC and pads from CMA, some Platinum cleaner and UPP, 3M SMR for Dark, a lambskin mit, a mf mit, A2Z, an absorber, Cali mini duster, clay, and I am awaiting my shipment from PakShak. I soooo anxious to get started, but want to wait for my MF's to come in first. I've got my plan downpat, but I'd like some critique. So, here's the idea, let me know what you think.



I've got a Black/Charcoal debadged 2003 MB E320 with 20% tint all the way around. Since I bought the car off the lot, the dealer had already had time to swirl the car before my purchase. The swirls are light, but the black shows EVERYTHING. I plan on...



wheels at the begining, of course. 2 bucket wash.

1. Dawn washing to remove most of the wax that is there. Lambskin mit everywhere except the bumpers and very bottoms of doors.

2. Drying with Absorber and MF's.

3. Clay.

4. SMR with the PC (what speed????) buff with MF

5. Platinum Cleaner with the PC (again, speed??) buff with MF

6. Layer Platinum UPP (1 per 24hrs) using PC (speed?)



So, someone, anyone... please let me know if this is the correct steps/process. Too many searches on this have me a little bit confused, but I think I'm ready to go now.



Thanks in advance!!!



Nick
 
UNC Nick said:
So Santa listened this year and dropped off some detailing supplies for my Black 2003 MB E320. Got the PC and pads from CMA, some Platinum cleaner and UPP, 3M SMR for Dark, a lambskin mit, a mf mit, A2Z, an absorber, Cali mini duster, clay, and I am awaiting my shipment from PakShak. I soooo anxious to get started, but want to wait for my MF's to come in first. I've got my plan downpat, but I'd like some critique. So, here's the idea, let me know what you think.



I've got a Black/Charcoal debadged 2003 MB E320 with 20% tint all the way around. Since I bought the car off the lot, the dealer had already had time to swirl the car before my purchase. The swirls are light, but the black shows EVERYTHING. I plan on...



wheels at the begining, of course. 2 bucket wash.

1. Dawn washing to remove most of the wax that is there. Lambskin mit everywhere except the bumpers and very bottoms of doors.

2. Drying with Absorber and MF's.

3. Clay.

4. SMR with the PC (what speed????) buff with MF

5. Platinum Cleaner with the PC (again, speed??) buff with MF

6. Layer Platinum UPP (1 per 24hrs) using PC (speed?)



So, someone, anyone... please let me know if this is the correct steps/process. Too many searches on this have me a little bit confused, but I think I'm ready to go now.



Thanks in advance!!!



Nick
Click to expand...



Nice car you have there, the new E is beautiful. My MB dealer also swirled my car from new, so I was in the same boat as you.



The speed in which you use the PC is really a matter of preference, so I'll lay out mine. For the swirl removal step (I used Meguiars #9, even more mild than SMR), the PC was set to speed 4. I went a little higher to speed up the process. Some people go all the way up to speed 6 for this step, but I felt like keeping it a little lower at some points. Speed 6 seemed to be causing slight marring. Then I used Klasse AIO instead of Platinum cleaner, on speed 3.



What pads are you using? I used a yellow for my SMR step and a white for my cleaner step. Be sure to start with a white pad, and go up from there. The white pad did not cut it.



BTW, are you on MBworld.org? It is a great MB forum and we have a detailing section there if you have any MB specific questions.
 
UNC Nick said:
So Santa listened this year and dropped off some detailing supplies for my Black 2003 MB E320. Got the PC and pads from CMA, some Platinum cleaner and UPP, 3M SMR for Dark, a lambskin mit, a mf mit, A2Z, an absorber, Cali mini duster, clay, and I am awaiting my shipment from PakShak. I soooo anxious to get started, but want to wait for my MF's to come in first. I've got my plan downpat, but I'd like some critique. So, here's the idea, let me know what you think.



I've got a Black/Charcoal debadged 2003 MB E320 with 20% tint all the way around. Since I bought the car off the lot, the dealer had already had time to swirl the car before my purchase. The swirls are light, but the black shows EVERYTHING. I plan on...



wheels at the begining, of course. 2 bucket wash.

1. Dawn washing to remove most of the wax that is there. Lambskin mit everywhere except the bumpers and very bottoms of doors.

2. Drying with Absorber and MF's.

3. Clay.

4. SMR with the PC (what speed????) buff with MF

5. Platinum Cleaner with the PC (again, speed??) buff with MF

6. Layer Platinum UPP (1 per 24hrs) using PC (speed?)



So, someone, anyone... please let me know if this is the correct steps/process. Too many searches on this have me a little bit confused, but I think I'm ready to go now.



Thanks in advance!!!



Nick
Click to expand...



One small time saving tip - if you can wash out of the sun or inside a garage - there is no need to dry before claying. In fact - I find it easier to leave the car wet, and use a spray bottle to load up the surface with a mix of soap and water. Of course - don't even think about doing this in sunlight (especially on black) - your finish will be covered in water spots and streaks. :scared
 
Thanks for the replies and tips guys! Justin, I am a member of MBWorld, same screenname, too- UNC Nick. I'll be using the white pads for all applications, except for the UPP application, where I'm planning on using the grey pad. I went with the slightly more aggressive SMR instead of the #9 for this reason. I'm a little hesitant about using a cutting pad on the car.



DS- I really appreciate the tip. I'll do just that for claying. It'll save some valuable time!



Nick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top