SL500, Mountaineer, 996 Carrera

Scottwax

New member
2003 Mercedes SL500. Last detailed in late April using Optimum Polish, Werkstatt's Prime and Acrylic Jett Trigger x 2 (to ensure complete coverage). I was glad to see he had run it though the wash at the gas station so it didn't have sand (from the recent ice/snow) all over the sides like everything else I cleaned this past week.



The horizontal panels felt a little rough, so I used Mother's Clay as I washed it with Optimum No Rinse. This is how AJT x 2 looked after nearly 9 months (plus it was still beading lightly) after an ONR wash and claying:



2003_Mercedes_SL500_washed_clayed.jpg




With the above as a base, there wasn't room for a huge improvement! Plus, it was partly cloudy and getting the same lighting for each shot proved impossible.



This is after using Optimum Poli-Seal using a white LC polishing pad:



2003_Mercedes_SL500_washed_clay_OPS.jpg




And then after topping with Werkstatt's Acrylic Jett:



2003_Mercedes_SL500_washed_clay_OPS_AJ.jpg




A different angle, again Poli-Seal only first, then P-S topped with AJ:



2003_Mercedes_SL500_washed_clay_OPS2.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_washed_clay_OPS_AJ2.jpg




Whole car shots-sorry some came out a little dark, the owner had left and I didn't have the keys to move it to a better spot.



2003_Mercedes_SL500_front1.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_frontend1.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_frontend2.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_wheel1.jpg
 
A few more shots of the SL500:



2003_Mercedes_SL500_rear1.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_side2.jpg




The interior was cleaned with my Woolite/water mix and dressed with Optimum Protectant Plus. I have no idea what that stain is on the passenger side mat is, this is the 3rd time I have detailed this car and haven't been able to remove it.



2003_Mercedes_SL500_interior1.jpg




2003_Mercedes_SL500_interior2.jpg




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2003 Mercury Mountaineer. This belongs to my brother's wife and I did an exterior detail for her birthday present...plus because I have been using it this week because she backed into my car a couple weeks ago and my car is at the body shop. I'd much rather be driving her Mountaineer instead of renting some little $hitbox.



The paint was actually in decent shape so it got Optimum Poli-Seal using a white LC polishing pad and topped with my 80/20 blend of Meguiars #16 and FK's Pink Wax.



2003_Mercury_Mountaineer_front1.jpg




2003_Mercury_Mountaineer_frontend1.jpg




2003_Mercury_Mountaineer_side1.jpg




Yeah, I know the exhaust tips look like crap and the running boards aren't dressed but I had about 15 minutes of daylight left to get the pics and I didn't want to run out of light before I got these. The tire and fenderwell are obviously done though. ;)



2003_Mercury_Mountaineer_wheel1.jpg
 
2002 Porsche Carrera (996). Referral from another Porsche customer who also posts on Rennlist. I tell you, the internet gets me more business than the Yellow Pages ever did!



The owner had just bought this car from someone in New York who only drove it around 6000 miles a year but apparently had no clue how to wash it. Looks like they used a brush on the sides or ran it through a brush car wash. Moderate spider swirls too. I started off with Optimum Polish using green Propel Cyclo pads and while it added depth and shine, it was slow go on the swirls and scratches. I switched to a 50/50 mix of the old versions of Optimum Compound and Hyper Compound and the green Cyclo polishing pads (which are a touch more aggressive than the Propel pads). I didn't want to go to a cutting pad on solid black Porsche paint since it is very prone to hazing/micro-marring. Didn't have to, this combo did the trick and left very minimal hazing. I then stepped back down to the Propel Green Cyclo pads and Optimum Polish, followed by Poli-Seal using my PC and a white LC polishing pad and finished with my #16/PW blend wax.



I only had 6 shots left on my camera, so I didn't take any before shots even though he had a nice halogen light in his garage that I used to check my work. I did take an after shot using the halogen but for some reason I got massive grain in the picture but I think you can make out a 99% defect free finish:



2002_Porsche_Carrera_noswirls.jpg




Finished shots...and they really don't give justice to how the car looked in person. My customer took a few with his digital camera, hopefully his turned out better-and he sends them to me.



2002_Porsche_Carrera_front1.jpg




2002_Porsche_Carrera_frontend1.jpg




2002_Porsche_Carrera_frontend2.jpg




2002_Porsche_Carrera_rear1.jpg




2002_Porsche_Carrera_side1.jpg
 
Scottwax said:
Finished shots...and they really don't give justice to how the car looked in person. My customer took a few with his digital camera, hopefully his turned out better-and he sends them to me.



turned out better? those pics are pure insanity. I didn't know a car cool look so liquid.
 
gmblack3a said:
Very nice work on all Scott. The black porsche is sweet.



Did you ask if he wanted the front tag removed?



He only had the paper dealer tag in the back, so he will probably swap out the front dealer plate when he gets his regular plates.
 
I had to touch my screen to see if I could feel how wet that Porsche's paint is!!!! :2thumbs: :bow My gawd man!!!
 
Very nice Scott. I remember you telling me about that Porsche. Looks a mile deep now. Mountaineer looks better than new. The SL, just a superb detail.
 
As I was reading through the posting, I thought the SL500 looks fantastic already but when I come to the 996 Carrera, O...M...G the black paint looks flawless, amazing depth with a super watery wet look :bow :2thumbs:
 
1 Clean WS6 said:
I had to touch my screen to see if I could feel how wet that Porsche's paint is!!!! :2thumbs: :bow My gawd man!!!

I had to wipe my screen with Kleenex after seeing that Porsche. :2thumbs:

Scott, that is the most amazing finish I've ever seen. Is that water cold because it sure is deep!

Do you have a friends or relatives in the Chicago area you would like to visit and then do some side work? Please, please, please?
 
Thanks, Scott, for some "breakfast entertainment," as I sip my coffee and get ready to head to school (2-hour delay for -15 windchill).



I agree with everyone else on the Porsche. Words can't explain the job on that car!
 
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