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JSou
11-18-2013, 11:36 AM
Vehicle: 1999 Mercedes Benz C230 W202 with Custom Paint

Defects: Minor orange peel. overspray, dried compound residue, holograms, and typical swirls from improper washing.

Plan of attack: The owner wanted to wet sand the surfaces of the "gritty" feeling as he explained it. Upon inspection of the vehicle, we agreed for spot repairs and a complete polish to get rid of the holograms installed by the body shop.

The car was to receive a presoak, foam, hand wash, iron decontamination, clay bar, wetsand in certain areas, and a 1 step polish.

Tools & Products:

Exterior
- 50/50 mix Dawn Ultra Concentrated with Meguiar's D103 All purpose cleaner for presoak
- BlackFire Wet Diamond Conditioning Shampoo
- Carpro Iron X
- BlackFire Poly Claybar
- 3M Wet or Dry 2000 grit sandpaper
- Optimum No Rinse as sanding lubricant
- Griot's Garage Washing Pad
- SM Arnold Large Vent Brush
- SM Arnold Long and Short Handle Wheel & Fender brush
- Wheel Woolies Angle, Straight in variety of sizes
- Wheel Woolie Wheel Brush 1.25 size
- Daytona Wheel Brush

Interior
Griot's Garage Polisher
BlackFire Interior Cleaner
SM Arnold Interior & Vent brushes
Upholstery brush
Carpet Brush
Rigid WD4070 Vacuum
Bissell Little Green Machine
McCullough Steam Cleaner

Paint Correction
Rupes LHR21ES Polisher
Griot Garage's Polisher
Lake Country 3.5 Backing Plate
Meguiar's M105 with 5.5" & 3" Meguiar's Microfiber Cutting Pads
Meguiar's M205 with 3" Lake Country HydroTech Tangerine Pads

LSP
BlackFire Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection

Final thoughts:
Overall the paint was very soft to correct which was a nice change of pace to the OE Ceramiclears we are used to on these cars. Really surprised at how much contamination the vehicle had as it was painted a month prior. A great experience and we hope to work on more one off projects like this in the future. Enjoy the pics.

Interior before we started.

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/6682ad277932903.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/6682ad277932903)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/cb80a7277932925.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/cb80a7277932925)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/a1f4a0277932947.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/a1f4a0277932947)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/fe06a9277932991.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/fe06a9277932991)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/6355f4277933009.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/6355f4277933009)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/3f31f1277933027.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/3f31f1277933027)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/ee9fd2277933072.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/ee9fd2277933072)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/cd217d277933079.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/cd217d277933079)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/355567277933043.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/355567277933043)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/17a1d8277933054.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/17a1d8277933054)

We started by steaming and brushing the vents and dashboard.

http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/62f8e6277933092.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/62f8e6277933092)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/862ff5277933167.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/862ff5277933167)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/eabe0c277933108.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/eabe0c277933108)

Then Vacuum.

http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/f237d8277933081.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f237d8277933081)

Setting up for a test spot.

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/b42a40277933120.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/b42a40277933120)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/269fbf277933125.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/269fbf277933125)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/ba818e277933132.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/ba818e277933132)

The little brush didn't cut it, so we had to bring in the big weapons.

http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/fb1c87277933135.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/fb1c87277933135)
http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/c9b254277933139.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c9b254277933139)

Accumulated dirt.

http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/cae77b277933141.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/cae77b277933141)

Test spot done.

http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/f17131277933144.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f17131277933144)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/aef55a277933147.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/aef55a277933147)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/5a9cc4277933154.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/5a9cc4277933154)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/467598277933159.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/467598277933159)

Overkill, but a little steam once over for assurance.

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/0f0c55277933113.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/0f0c55277933113)

Completed interior.
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/d874fa277933285.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/d874fa277933285)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/711bd2277933289.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/711bd2277933289)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/b874eb277933276.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/b874eb277933276)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/f6f98d277933281.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f6f98d277933281)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/e17b38277933270.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/e17b38277933270)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/6288fb277933267.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/6288fb277933267)
http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/ded0b9277933259.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/ded0b9277933259)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/639f5a277933261.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/639f5a277933261)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/42be6f277933250.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/42be6f277933250)
http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/486a90277933253.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/486a90277933253)
JSou
11-18-2013, 11:37 AM
On to the exterior. Here it is untouched.

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/921eec277932591.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/921eec277932591)
http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/713f8f277932577.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/713f8f277932577)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/707840277932585.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/707840277932585)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/7b7666277932656.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/7b7666277932656)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/25e75e277932670.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/25e75e277932670)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/29d640277932686.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/29d640277932686)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/81af29277932697.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/81af29277932697)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/58aa0e277932708.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/58aa0e277932708)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/484013277932714.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/484013277932714)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/b308c9277932728.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/b308c9277932728)

Presoak foam, handwash, and drying.

http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/371a35277932814.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/371a35277932814)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/3e85fa277932827.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/3e85fa277932827)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/0f0eb2277932821.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/0f0eb2277932821)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/8a2902277932829.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/8a2902277932829)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/4ee2a6277932836.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/4ee2a6277932836)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/1c430e277932839.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/1c430e277932839)

Iron Decon

http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/cffbae277932758.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/cffbae277932758)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/2b9d72277932729.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/2b9d72277932729)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/fd5a9a277932770.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/fd5a9a277932770)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/7e7c3b277932777.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/7e7c3b277932777)
http://thumbnails106.imagebam.com/27794/2ffeaf277932798.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/2ffeaf277932798)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/a57179277932805.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/a57179277932805)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/a73670277932810.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/a73670277932810)

Claying:

http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/64bfd3277932886.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/64bfd3277932886)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/685051277932889.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/685051277932889)

Prep for correction:

http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/1fcbfc277933183.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/1fcbfc277933183)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/c78340277933179.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c78340277933179)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/f43c57277933176.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f43c57277933176)

Swirls in paint:

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/c1687c277932847.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c1687c277932847)
http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/df074c277932841.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/df074c277932841)

Pillars:
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/5d5e3f277933186.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/5d5e3f277933186)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/055d4e277933192.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/055d4e277933192)
JSou
11-18-2013, 11:38 AM
No pictures of the actual correction process or test spot (DANG IT! I had a nice 50/50 test spot too!) as I was trying to get it done before client pickup but here are some outdoor shots.

http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/0d77a8277933227.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/0d77a8277933227)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/c1dee7277933208.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c1dee7277933208)
http://thumbnails108.imagebam.com/27794/75c24c277933231.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/75c24c277933231)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/b17e42277933238.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/b17e42277933238)
http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/920829277933243.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/920829277933243)
http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/7596da277933195.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/7596da277933195)
http://thumbnails104.imagebam.com/27794/1a5de6277933199.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/1a5de6277933199)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/de5772277933204.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/de5772277933204)
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
11-18-2013, 12:07 PM
Very nice work. Car looks great now.

Was that the way the car sat normally with the rear end up or was it on air?
JSou
11-18-2013, 12:13 PM
Very nice work. Car looks great now.

Was that the way the car sat normally with the rear end up or was it on air?

Thanks Mike. I appreciate that.

This car is on Air. The owner also has booked his AMG E55 that's on Air too. I hope to create a write up for that one soon.

I don't know how these guys ride it like this. Getting the tire residue off the front door and rear bumpers killed me as I was so cautious to not harm the paint.
Mike Phillips
11-18-2013, 12:40 PM
Excellent work and very nice write-up!

To me, these shot really show the process and the results...


http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/fb1c87277933135.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/fb1c87277933135)

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/c9b254277933139.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c9b254277933139)


http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/f17131277933144.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f17131277933144)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/aef55a277933147.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/aef55a277933147)






:dblthumb2:
Mike@DedicatedPerfection
11-18-2013, 12:44 PM
Thanks Mike. I appreciate that.

This car is on Air. The owner also has booked his AMG E55 that's on Air too. I hope to create a write up for that one soon.

I don't know how these guys ride it like this. Getting the tire residue off the front door and rear bumpers killed me as I was so cautious to not harm the paint.

Beats riding around on coils that sit lowered all the time.

Mmmm. AMG E55.... Please do share.

My BMW is stanced but only very minor. Some wouldn't even call it stanced. Point is I run a bit of negative camber on all wheels (camber is still within BMW specs so it's nothing major) that gives incredible handling and steering characteristics. Downside is that now with fatter rubber under the arches that protrude past the side of the car road film is always plastered down the side of the car.

It's a trade off, incredible handling and stability and a bit of road film or normal handling and hardly any road film. Which would you prefer? I prefer the handling.
JSou
11-18-2013, 01:45 PM
Excellent work and very nice write-up!

To me, these shot really show the process and the results...

:dblthumb2:

Thanks Mike! Means a lot coming from you.


Beats riding around on coils that sit lowered all the time.

Mmmm. AMG E55.... Please do share.

My BMW is stanced but only very minor. Some wouldn't even call it stanced. Point is I run a bit of negative camber on all wheels (camber is still within BMW specs so it's nothing major) that gives incredible handling and steering characteristics. Downside is that now with fatter rubber under the arches that protrude past the side of the car road film is always plastered down the side of the car.

It's a trade off, incredible handling and stability and a bit of road film or normal handling and hardly any road film. Which would you prefer? I prefer the handling.

You're right. I'd prefer handling, hands down. I respect these builds though. May not be my taste but people do their research, spend their money, and build something they like.

Airbags were nice though. I raised them up to get into the wheel wells...even though you won't see them being lowered all of the time.
iron_worker
11-18-2013, 02:47 PM
Excellent work and very nice write-up!

To me, these shot really show the process and the results...


http://thumbnails101.imagebam.com/27794/fb1c87277933135.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/fb1c87277933135)

http://thumbnails102.imagebam.com/27794/c9b254277933139.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/c9b254277933139)


http://thumbnails103.imagebam.com/27794/f17131277933144.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/f17131277933144)
http://thumbnails107.imagebam.com/27794/aef55a277933147.jpg (http://www.imagebam.com/image/aef55a277933147)






:dblthumb2:

Where would I get one of these brushes for the DA? I'd like to get one for my 3" GG DA if possible. I also have a 6" GG if that would work better.

Thanks,

IW
JSou
11-18-2013, 03:05 PM
Where would I get one of these brushes for the DA? I'd like to get one for my 3" GG DA if possible. I also have a 6" GG if that would work better.

Thanks,

IW

It will work with either machine.

These are the ones that I have.

Grey Ultra Soft Upholstery Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/grulsoupbr1.html)

White Standard Carpet Brush (http://www.autogeek.net/whstcabr1.html)
iron_worker
11-18-2013, 05:17 PM
Much appreciated!

IW
SON1C
11-18-2013, 06:05 PM
excellent writeup jake!
Klink10
11-18-2013, 07:49 PM
Very nice work. I am curious though, those brushes appear to be on the Griot's 3" and a perfect fit. AG doesn't say that their brushes are SM Arnold and the ones I got seem to be larger and more suitable for the bigger Griot's. Am I thinking wrong or not seeing something?
JSou
11-18-2013, 08:07 PM
Very nice work. I am curious though, those brushes appear to be on the Griot's 3" and a perfect fit. AG doesn't say that their brushes are SM Arnold and the ones I got seem to be larger and more suitable for the bigger Griot's. Am I thinking wrong or not seeing something?

They are actually "Cyclo" carpet and upholstery brushes. These were on the GG6. The SMArnold brushes are the ones I used on the exterior by hand.

Could you take a pic of yours and post it up?
LuxuryAutoSpa
11-18-2013, 08:43 PM
sometimes i put the rectangular head on my steamer and steam the seats or use my cyclo with the soft brush both work well....Good Job Man