S550 ceramic coated

[2wookies]

Man this paint was straight sandpaper before I started. I had a fine grade clay towel that didn’t do anything, got a medium grit and that took care off the problem. Owner didn’t think I’d be able to get it right, glad I showed him wrong. He was blown away when he saw the car.


second time showing this video, but it was horrible. This is after I did an Iron X snow foam, heavy Iron X spray decon and reset wash.

https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/49868583566_d53ce12f83_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iYHwuW)Clay (https://flic.kr/p/2iYHwuW) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr






Now the fun pictures, this was done with Lake Country MF pad using Car Pro Clear Cut, followed with polishing pad and Reflect. Topped with Cquartz UK 3.0



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882620931_747568c664_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZXtjt)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZXtjt) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882091678_bf24bb9e8a_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZUKZq)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZUKZq) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882091848_c24c1768a6_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZUL3m)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZUL3m) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882927517_9e737c3dfa_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3sr)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3sr) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882935692_b86c60f70d_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ5To)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ5To) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882927577_a8c44ace8c_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3tt)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3tt) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882927582_b882023aed_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3ty)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3ty) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882927557_4605076179_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3t8)S class (https://flic.kr/p/2iZZ3t8) by John Wilkinson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/147341983@N08/), on Flickr



:)

[Mike Phillips]

Nice work. Nice photography work too.

Did this MB have the Ceramiclear paint system?



:)

[TTQ B4U]

Great job and beautiful work. Love the car too. Owner no doubt will fall in love with it again. Great combo of products too. Love me some CarPro Products.

[Willbeen]

Very nice work.

[2wookies]

Nice work. Nice photography work too.

Did this MB have the Ceramiclear paint system?



:)

It looks like that was a short lived paint code. I did reach out to a friend at the dealership to do a VIN code dive. He didn’t find anything, so I was looking and it looks like they stopped using it in 2012ish

Mercedes doesn't use Ceramiclear anymore? - MBWorld.org Forums (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/462360-mercedes-doesn-t-use-ceramiclear-anymore.html)

[Mike Phillips]

It looks like that was a short lived paint code. I did reach out to a friend at the dealership to do a VIN code dive. He didn’t find anything, so I was looking and it looks like they stopped using it in 2012ish

Mercedes doesn't use Ceramiclear anymore? - MBWorld.org Forums (https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w204/462360-mercedes-doesn-t-use-ceramiclear-anymore.html)






Thanks for the update and the info.


I really liked buffing on the Ceramiclear paints, two of the MBs I've owned both had it.


My real take on this paint technology is that for all practical reasons, it's a waste of time. The ONLY way it would have been a cool feature would have been if Mercedes-Benz would have included some kind of booklet with any car sold that had this paint system on it that explained what it is and then how to take care of it.

From what I understand, the outer portion was fumed mica and if anyone, the owner, the dealership or a detailer compounded it hard - this outer portion would be abraded off the clear layer of paint. Thus it would be pointless to have had it in the first place.

I think it's really difficult to educated the masses on detailed information like this and that's probably why Mercedes-Benz did not try to educate them and then as shared in the conversation on MBWorld, (of which I'm a member), it's old technology as of this year, 2020

BUT - for everyone reading this into the future, if you are asked to detail an older Mercedes-Benz, the first thing I do is check the paint code.


Ceramiclear Paint Code Location on Mercedes-Benz (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-expert-featuring-mike-phillips/76229-ceramiclear-paint-code-location-mercedes-benz.html)



:)

[fly07sti]

Great work. Did you find out what all that contamination on the paint was?

[2wookies]

Great work. Did you find out what all that contamination on the paint was?

Tree sap

[Sizzle Chest]

Nicely done...and glad you proved him wrong! Looks great!

[JDGolden]

Oh lord that sound in the video. So what ended up removing the sap?

The car looks beautiful now.

[2wookies]

Oh lord that sound in the video. So what ended up removing the sap?

The car looks beautiful now.

I used a medium grade clay mitt, the fine didn’t have enough bite.
Nanoskin AutoScrub Medium Grade Wash Mitt (https://www.autogeek.net/nanoskin-autoscrub-wash-mitt-medium-grade.html)

[Mike Moore]

Outstanding work!

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49882927582_b882023aed_k.jpg

[davet]

Nice job