Detailed: 2005 Mercedes E55 AMG

[justin_murphy]

I received a call from a close friend of mine last week asking if I could a car for a friend of his. I've been actually trying to land a deal with this new client for about a year now. He told me they were thinking about maybe selling/trading in their Mercedes and that they wanted it completely detailed as soon as possible. He set up the time and date for me and warned me. He warned me that they smoked, had a dog, and lived on a long, gravel road. I told him not to worry......it couldn't be that bad...........

Here's the details.......

Arrived at their house at 7:45. It was a warm 29* outside!

Here's the befores....
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures016.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures017.jpg
Frosty!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures018.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures013.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures011.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures010.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures012.jpg
Ok. Now for some of the interior......
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures001.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures002.jpg
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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures005.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures007.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures009.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures006.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures020.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures022.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures021.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures023.jpg
Oh yeah......I think there might be a motor in here somewhere!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures026.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures027.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures028.jpg

[justin_murphy]

Interior:
I actually did the interior first on this one. Main reason.....everything was frozen! I used Purple Power 4:1 on everything.......carpets, leather, and all panels. I then protected the leather with 2 coats of Wolfgang's Leather Conditioner. The panels and dash got coating of DP's Interior Protectant. It just kept sucking this stuff up. The pet hair came up pretty easy. I simply sprayed the carpets with a mix of Downy Fabric Softener (20:1) and then used my blue, nitrile gloves to push it up and into the vacuum. Wash Cycle: (Foamed 3 times with NXT/Purple Power Degreaser mix) Here's the first of 3 cycles of the foam gun.....
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures037.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures038.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures039.jpg The wheels then got a dedicated washing with Pinnacle's Wheel Gel. This stuff not only worked well but smelled good to. I then clayed the hood and to my surprise it lifted only a marginal amount of grime. Maybe my washing took care of it. Who knows. Paint Correction: (Menzerna's Intensive Polish via rotary & LC Orange Pad) Well I've been practicing quite a bit with my HF rotary and this was a PRIME chance to what I've learned. There were deep dog nail scratches that I knew would not come out without wetsanding. I just wanted to make them better. I quickly found out just how hard Mercedes paint could be. Here are a few shot while working...... Car's condition....http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures040.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures041.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures042.jpg Taping up....http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures055.jpg Some of the 50/50's that we all like so much!http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures057.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures058.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures059.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures063.jpg Nice before and after of the rear deck lid.....http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures065.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures066.jpg Paint Polishing: (PB's PwS & APO60 50/50 mix via UDM & black generic polishing pad) I really love this mix. It lays down some good protection and really finishes out the the surface. It adds depth and gloss. On some of my bi-weeklys, I'm noticing some really good durability. I know it also simply cleans up the paint of any polishes that were left behind. Final Paint Protection: (Souveran X2 applied with Wolfgang foam applicator) I did one panel and removed the wax before drying. I simply worked my way around the car and then did it all again. Been awhile since I've applied anything by hand. I have to say, it was well worth it. The wheels got a coating of Souveran too. If you notice, the driver side rear wheel isn't chrome like the rest. The customer is waiting a new wheels for it. The tires got a coating of Pinnacle's Black Onyx Tire Dressing.

I finished up at 2:15PM. I didn't stop once. I'm beat!

[justin_murphy]

Interior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures043.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures045.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures044.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures046.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures047.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures048.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures050.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures052.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures054.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures112.jpg
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http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures110.jpg
Here's the mats. I put them in the garage to finish drying overnight.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures093.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures094.jpg

[justin_murphy]

Exterior:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures070.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures071.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures073.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures074.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures075.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures076.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures077.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures078.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures079.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures080.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures081.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures082.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures086.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures087.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures089.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures090.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures091.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures099.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures102.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures103.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures105.jpghttp://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures108.jpg

[justin_murphy]

Oh yeah.......found the motor!!!
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures069.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures068.jpg
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/justin30513/2005%20E55%20AMG/Pictures067.jpg

[Jimmie]

Those befores are something. You made it look great. Still really enjoy your details and still think WWJD when doing mine.

[justin_murphy]

Those befores are something. You made it look great. Still really enjoy your details and still think WWJD when doing mine.

LOL! WWJD aka What Would Justin Do?

Thanks Jimmie.
Made my evening bro!

[blk45]

They should be shot for letting that car get into that condition! Nice turn around Justin.

[shadybreal]

Turned out really nice. That's probably your best transformation yet. The owners need a good kick in the arse for letting such a nice car get that bad. I would love to be able drive that everyday. After the detail of course!

[budman3]

Wow, great work indeed! Got to love Pooroby's PwS!! Have you tired PwS with the rotary yet? Talk about nice, it doesn't dry up, it corrects more defects and is super slick (maybe slicker than with a DA) The durability may be sacrificed a little but it is quite practical for a professional, especially with an Opti-seal or spray wax wipedown after the fact.

[Kelso]

why do people do that to such amazing cars! nice turnaround, looks way better

[2001MineralGrayStang]

Nice car, nice job. AMG's are pretty bad ass.

[The Skillmaster]

Those exhaust pipes don't look like they received any of your magic. Don't tell me your slacking off! But seriously, excellent work.

[HAN]

you're the man! Awesome work, as always. Are you still using AA foam as your engine dressing?

Pete

[m4gician]

First off, good combination of PwS, I plan to try XMT360 with Optimum, 50/50 to see if that has a similar effect, I feel I apply it with a white pad.

Second, how did you heat up the water enough to make it usable, and how did you prevent freezing?