2008 Mercedes C300 Detail - Dr. ColorChip & Opti Gloss-Coat

[FrankS]

2008 Mercedes C300 Luxury Edition detail using Dr. ColorChip for paint chip repair and Optimum Gloss-Coat paint coating.

Before Shots

Doesn't look too bad from here
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84118

Let's take a closer look - damage from a minor accident
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84129

Wheels need some attention
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84120

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84119

Interior

The interior was in good condition (no before and after shots).
Interior was thoroughly vacuumed, used DP Interior Cleaner and GG 3-In-1 to clean, condition and protect the leather using Lexol Applicator Sponges.
Like the leathery smell of the Griots Garage.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84137

Windows

Windows were cleaned on the inside and outside with Carpro Fast Glass Towels, no chemicals needed.

Wheels & Tires

Before shot again - brand new Michelin tires
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84121

Compared a couple of wheel cleaners - Sonax - Strong cleaner
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84122

Wolfgang - Like the foaming action
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84125

Speedmaster Wheel Brush - good for cleaning the barrel and behind the spokes (wear eye protection when using, has tendency to splatter)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84123

Professional Lug Nut Brush
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84124

Wheel Woolies Boars Hair Wheel Brush for the face of the wheels
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84126

Q-Tips to get into the tight places
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84127

Hydro2 to seal the wheels
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84135

Hydro2 working - easy application - just spray and then rinse off
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84136

Here's a shot of the wheels & tires completed.
Tuf Shine Tire Cleaner was used to clean the tires using the TS Tire Brush.
TS Tire Coating was used for the dressing - about 4 coats (the new tires really soaked up the dressing).
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84159

Exhaust Tips

Before
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84128

Speedmaster brush and Megs APC+ (4 to 1) to clean the inside
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84130

Steel Wool #0000 and Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish to further clean inside and out
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84132

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84133

Chemical Guys V07 for extra protection
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84134

After shot
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84131

Car Wash

1. Pre-wash - foamed with Chemical Guys Citrus Wash Clear and let dwell for a few minutes
2. Rinsed with pressure washer
3. Foamed again with CGCW Clear
4. 2 bucket method with CGCW Clear at 1 ounce per gallon
5. Rinsed with pressure washer
6. Dried with Master Blaster
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84138

Paint Decontamination

1. Iron X Spray Lemon Scent (no pictures)
2. 6 " Nanoskin Autoscrub Medium Foam Pad w/ Nano Shock as the lube.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84139

Paint Correction

Hard to capture the defects with a camera but there were minor swirls and scratches throughout.
The worst places were on the horizontal panels - hood, roof and trunk lid.
This car has been hand washed it's entire life.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84140

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84141

WG Uber Compound, 5" LC Orange Hybrid Pad with Flex 3401 was used on the hood, roof and trunk lid as the 1st step
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84142

Followed by Menzerna 4000, 5" LC White Hybrid Pad with Flex 3401 on the hood, roof and trunk lid as the 2nd step (no pictures)

The sides were done with a 1 step process using Menzerna 2500, 5" LC White Hybrid Pad and Flex 3401.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84143

The small tight areas were done with a PC with 3" Low Profile Orange Hydrotech Pads
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84144

Paint Chip Repair

This is what came with the Dr. ColorChip kit
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84145

Cleaning the paint chips first with IPA
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84146

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84147

Step 1 - Dab and smear the paint on the chip (Mike Phillips has a good write-up on this)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84148

Step 2 - Use the SealAct solution to clean the smear after about 5 minutes
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84149

Dr. ColorChip is designed for small chips but I used it on larger chips also.
Though it was not perfect on the larger chips it made the areas a lot less noticeable. The paint matched perfectly.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84150

This was the damaged area on the back bumper.
It's not perfect but it's not as noticeable as before after using Dr. ColorChip.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84163&size=1

Paint Coating

The paint was then cleaned with a 15% solution of IPA to remove all polishing oils.
Then Optimum Gloss-Coat Paint Coating was applied.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84151

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84152

Beauty shots

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84153

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84154

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84155

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84156

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84157

Did a 2-step on the pillars (not the dance -Im the MAN)
Step 1. Uber compound, 3" LC Orange Hydrotech pad on a PC
Step 2. Menzerna 4000, 3" LC Orange Hydrotech pad on a PC
And of course the Opti Gloss-Coat coating
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84160

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84161

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=84162

Optimum Gloss-Coat is easy to apply (just follow the instructions) and glossy...as its name implies.
Used about 5cc (half of the tube) and it was applied generously, more than just a few drops per panel :dblthumb2:

[jamesboyy]

Marvelous work on that Benz's you did outstanding work...keep it up

[toycar18]

Nice work....

That car is in some serious need for window tint

[OCDetails]

Very nice!

[campngolf]

Very nice. Both on the detail job and on the job of detailing the job.

[Tato]

Great work Frank!, liked the way you shared the process and some of what you've used.

Your 400/4000 on top - 2500 on 'bottom' procedure will enter in my book and I'll try to fit it on my next detail the coming week.

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Frank, hell of a writeup and documentation to go along with the picture taking. The Benz came out great. The format which you posted it was easy to follow along and not to much writing, getting right to the point. Thanks for posting and sharing. Beautiful job buddy.

[Sicoupe]

Awesome work!

[Moldavite]

Good job on the c class :)

[Moldavite]

This vehicle model is popular here
but I don't like the wheel cap which can be easily damage :(
Overall great car!!!

[FrankS]

Marvelous work on that Benz's you did outstanding work...keep it up

Thank you


Nice work....

That car is in some serious need for window tint

Thanks, I agree it could use some window tint


Very nice!

Thank you


Very nice. Both on the detail job and on the job of detailing the job.

Thank you


Great work Frank!, liked the way you shared the process and some of what you've used.

Your 400/4000 on top - 2500 on 'bottom' procedure will enter in my book and I'll try to fit it on my next detail the coming week.

Thanks for sharing,

Kind Regards.

Thanks Rafael


Frank, hell of a writeup and documentation to go along with the picture taking. The Benz came out great. The format which you posted it was easy to follow along and not to much writing, getting right to the point. Thanks for posting and sharing. Beautiful job buddy.

Thanks Chris


Awesome work!

Thank you


Good job on the c class :)

This vehicle model is popular here
but I don't like the wheel cap which can be easily damage :(
Overall great car!!!

Thank you. You're right about the wheel caps with the Mercedes logo, all of them were damaged to some extent.

[FUNX650]

It sure doesn't take a whole lot of total-cure-time before the Dr. ColorChip repairs can be sealed-up with a Coating!

Bob

[FrankS]

It sure doesn't take a whole lot of total-cure-time before the Dr. ColorChip repairs can be sealed-up with a Coating!

Bob

Bob, I applied the coating the next day after Dr. ColorChip. I would have preferred to give it more time but the car was to be picked up the day I applied the coating. Most of the chips were very small, just a few larger ones. I'm hoping it's not going to be a problem, if there is, I'll get the car back and fix it at no charge.

[SameGuy]

Nicely done!

To all those who use Dr. Colorchip: does it really produce results anything like all the marketing videos would have us believe? I got miserable results with the touch up pen from Automotive TouchUps on wife's dark green Accord, but near-perfect with the same type of pen on the Sandrift Corolla a week later. I hate doing touch ups, though, because they usually stand out like wart on a cleaned and polished car.

[FUNX650]

I'm hoping it's not going to be a problem, if there is, I'll get the car back and fix it at no charge.
^^^:dblthumb2:^^^

Bob