Mercedes SL600 AMG

[Jim@WD]

Hi all, it's been a while since my last report, but, here's one I thought might be of interest to a few of you..

Mercedes-Benz SL600 AMG

Another trip back to a friends' saw me tackle the Merc SL600 AMG that I hoped to complete last time. (due to time constraints, it wasn't possible)

After putting the BMW 1-Series through an Enhance & Protect style detail, it was clear to us that more was required on the Merc. A single pass with Menzerna 203s maybe?!

Product

• AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care
• AutoSmart G101
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoSmart Silver Screen
• AutoSmart Bio-Brisk
• Chemical Guys JetSEAL109
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• LTT Auto Ultra Cleaner
• LTT Auto Ultra Protect
• Meguiars All-Purpose Cleaner (APC)
• Meguiars Last Touch
• Meguiars Wheel Brightener
• Meguiars All-Season Dressing
• Meguiars Super-Degreaser
• Menzerna 203S
• Menzerna 106FF
• Sonus Green clay
• Victoria Red Concours wax
• ValetPRO Super-snowfoam
• Zaino Z8 grand finale


Two images I received of the Merc a few weeks back:

Sat on it’s Summer wheels.. This is a 503bhp monster doing a 0-60 in 4.6s. Wahey!!

Overall, this is a very well looked after vehicle. The owner has their own little collection of Swissvax kit and is fanatical about the upkeep of the car.

OK, so, a few pre-detail shots.

 

[Jim@WD]

Yep, the dogs are back!!

Since my last visit, the wheels had been swapped with the winter-set. These were cleaned and sealed last time, so, shouldn’t be too much trouble this time round.

Thankfully, the Merc had adjustable suspension which allowed easy cleaning of the arches (without having to take wheels off again)

First up was the door-shuts and engine bay – no photos here. Cleaned with a mix of G101, Super-degreaser and brushes etc.

Wheels and arches were cleaned with APC and Super-degreaser.

 

[Jim@WD]

Vehicle given a good rinse and snowfoam delivered to loosen any surface dirt.

Washed with Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild and a SV wash pad.

Previous protection showing through now:

This was stripped back though with the claying stage. Not bad in terms of containments, one or two stubborn built-up areas to deal with.

 

[Jim@WD]

Vehicle given a good rinse again and then water-sheeted over panels to aid the drying stage.

It’s ~midday now; quite windy and cold! Fortunately, building work had finished in the barn nextdoor, so, I packed up and manoeuvred everything over to go and greet Perno the horse. (My company for the next 13 hours)

Once set up, I took a few readings and assessed my plan of attack.

*eek!* pretty thin paint then! This was pretty much uniform throughout the whole car (minus the n/s front wing which read 200+)


Although in the end I achieved some 90% correction, some deeper scratches and marks had to be left; sacrificing already thin paint isn’t something I enjoy doing!


Opting for the small pad work first. A/C pillars and wing-mirrors polished with Menz 106FF giving good results.

Moving on to the boot lid however, there were a series of deeper scratches I wanted to knock-back/round-off, so, I stepped up to Menz 203s.

As said, at this point deeper marks remained. (not photographed)


o/s rear quarter before and after:

The bonnet looked to be in a bit of a mess..

Just underneath the strip-light in this reflection picture, you can see the 50/50 line. From grey to black.

 

[Jim@WD]

The edges of Merc bonnets are tricky; smaller Sonus SFX pad required here to ‘get in the groove’

Before/After:

Revisiting the boot-lid to complete the other side. (50/50 line left to show passers by that were on site at the time )

 

[Jim@WD]

A quick video showing the 50/50 devide: http://s566.photobucket.com/albums/...s SL600 AMG/?action=view&current=IMG_0168.flv


Bootlid front face before (forgot to snap a shot prior to dabbing on the polish)

After:

And that’s pretty much it for the first day! I’d worked round from the rear down the drivers’ side and completed the bonnet. Passenger side, bumpers and below ‘bump-strips’ to complete.

Early doors I’m out and continue where I left off.

 

[Jim@WD]

As said, the above wing (n/s front) had 200+ microns, but, I really struggled to shift the deeper marks (after various cutting pads and IP 3.02…), as though the marks were under the clear?

Quite a lot of dust collecting now!

Front bumper before/after:

 

[Jim@WD]

Looking good!

At this point it was time to take it back round to the wash area and remove the excess dust.

After more water-sheeting, only a few droplets were left that were collected by dabbing the Miracle Dryer around a few times.

Once back inside, Poorboys BlackHole was applied with a blue 3M finishing pad by DA.

Which was followed with Victoria Concourse wax.

Engine dressed with AutoGlym Vinyl Rubber Care.

Tyres with Megs endurance Gel.

Arches with Megs All-Season Dressing.

Exhausts with Autosol, Belgom ALU and wire-wool.

Alloys re-sealed with JetSEAL 109.


Now before moving on to some finishing touches and the interior, I took a gamble and put it back outside to catch the last of the daylight.

 

[Jim@WD]

Interior worked on with APC, LTT leather kit, and lots of different brushes etc.

 

[Jim@WD]

 

[Jim@WD]

A 10 hour day today, and, 9 hours on the first. What a lovely car! The mechanics on the hood were stunning; millimetre precision engineering!

A final walk-around video - http://s566.photobucket.com/albums/...s SL600 AMG/?action=view&current=IMG_0173.flv

I hope to receive a few ‘sun-shots’ from Andy in the next few days so, watch this space.

Thanks.

 

[Jim@WD]

and here are a few pics that I received from the owner last week:

(suspension raised again as seen in the above pics... (not sure why he does this..))

 

[jonjay]

Outstanding work as always Jim.

What product is
• LTT Auto Ultra Cleaner
• LTT Auto Ultra Protect

?? Any good?

 

[Jim@WD]

Outstanding work as always Jim.

What product is
• LTT Auto Ultra Cleaner
• LTT Auto Ultra Protect

?? Any good?

It's the leather kit, chap.

You've no doubt seen Judyb's posts over on DetailingWorld.

It's a great range.. all water-based so instead of having greasy balms, feeds and conditioners sat on the leather surface, it penetrates through and does the job intended.

Ultra Cleaner is a gentle cleaning foam - works very well.
Ultra Protect is a water-based spray protectant.
Ultra Maintain is, well, pretty obvious; a maintanance product that should be used every month or so.

 

[jonjay]

Ah yes I saw a live demo when I was at autofonesse show back in June.

It's very good