Obisidian Black Mercedes C200 - Detailed (again) by Lawrence

[lawrenceSA]

I originally detailed this car at the end of July. The original write up is here ->http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/93822-obsidian-black-mercedes-c200-detailed-lawrence.html

The long and short of it is the car was being used by someone else who managed to scrape the rear door and quarter panel, and then took it who knows where to have it fixed/repainted, and returned the car figuring it looked good enough nobody would notice :crazy:

Like you wouldn't notice going from this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200/IMG_1071_zps3emdylnh.jpg

To this...

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1631_zps2e6ghbjf.jpg

And this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200/IMG_1089_zps4oarrh3m.jpg

To this

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1642_zpsbe4qwl0b.jpg

So obviously the owner contacted me to sort it out.

On arrival

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1559_zps8gtdoqa8.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1560_zps71xhuq0l.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1564_zps3mxlfjct.jpg

The first thing to do was get these cleaned up

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1565_zpszed5cfjz.jpg

The fender wells were HP rinsed and sprayed with Carchem APC @ 1:5 through a foaming trigger and left to dwell. The tires were then sprayed with Valet Pro Billberry Wheel Cleaner which was left to dwell while I cleaned the fender wells with various brushes. I then scrubbed the tires clean and HP rinsed the fender wells, tires and wheel. Then the tires were sprayed again and the cleaner left to dwell. The wheels were then sprayed with VP Billberry which was left to dwell while I gave the tires a second cleaning. Then I agitated the wheels and calipers with various brushed and HP rinsed the tires and wheels.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1570_zpshlcx9099.jpg

Then it was time to wash the car.

First a decent HP rinse to remove as much loose dirt as possible. Then I foamed the car with Valet Pro Advanced Neutral Snowfoam - remember to start from the bottom and work your way to the top so that each bit of paint receives 'clean' foam, not dirty stuff running down from above.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1574_zps7j9ybrlk.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1584_zpsmh3ccn54.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1592_zpsue3di2hj.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1606_zpsrx1n35dz.jpg

That was left to dwell then HP rinsed off again. I then sprayed the lower half of the car with Valet Pro Citrus Prewash through a pump sprayer, left it to dwell, then HP rinsed that off. With the 'pre-washing' out the way it was time to do a 2 bucket wash using Carchem Luxury Shampoo. The car was then rinsed and dried.

I perform a baggie test revealing almost no contamination so a decon was not justified.

Now it was finally time to get to the part I love - correcting paint...which as you can see was full of holograms and still had many of the deep scrape marks evident in the paint - what the person who 'fixed' this thought he was fixing escapes me....

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1631_zps2e6ghbjf.jpg

After an initial compound using the Flex 3401, Menzerna FG400 and a 6" Lake Country Blue Hybrid Pad, I could clearly see the deeper scratches.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1634_zps7bmu4dhu.jpg

The area was wiped down with Gyeon Prep and a 2 coats of the base color from the OEM Touch up kit from Mercedes were 'layered' in, followed with 4 layers of clear, using a hairdryer to speed up the drying in between each coat. I then levelled out the excess paint using 2500 grit sand paper. Here is a pic from during the process

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1637_zpsmqe1acjj.jpg

Then all the sanding marks were removed using the Flex 3401, Menzerna FG400 and a 6" Lake Country Blue Foamed Wool, and followed that with Menzerna SF4000 on a 5" Lake Country Black Hybrid Pad

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1641_zpshbn82eoo.jpg

The rear bumper had also been repainted and had some sanding marks left on it.

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1654_zpsssf6icma.jpg

After Flex 3401, Menzerna FG400 and a 6" Lake Country Blue Foamed Wool

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1655_zpseff3bpyd.jpg

And again

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1656_zpsohmzaxkb.jpg

Then all the paint was refined using Menzerna SF4000 on a 5" Lake Country Black Hybrid Pad

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1660_zpsr8xp3ayj.jpg

I then moved to the interior which was vacuumed out using a Flex Vaccum cleaner. The leather was then cleaned and protected using Collinite #855 Leather and Vinyl Wax. The plastics were wiped down using Autofinesse Spritz. The door rubbers were cleaned using Shield Heavy Duty Vinyl and Rubber cleaner and protected using Aerospace 303. The glass was cleaned using Glossworx Glass Cleaner.

I then finished up the outside plastics and rubbers and glass, and polished up the exhaust tip using Meguiars NXT All Metal Polish

Here are some after pics

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1671_zpsqooieill.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1673_zpsegsrzbii.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1669_zpsqklcqzhp.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1668_zpspskuiikj.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1667_zpsr5lc340d.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/20151101_151926_zpsp7d9zbx6.jpg

Here is the side that had the damage

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1665_zpspf8jhks3.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1664_zpslhrph91i.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1663_zpsopnzf8p5.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/IMG_1662_zps3yoixhus.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/20151101_151231_zpsplnphvqx.jpg

http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd393/polo_playa/Detailing%20-%20Meeshal%20Mercedes%20C200_2nd/20151101_151249_zpsse8aqvcw.jpg

Total time spent 18 hours

As always thanks for looking and any questions or comments are welcome.

:hi:

[Zubair]

As always top work!

[Mp0wer]

Wow nice save, the body shop really butchered that paint, I would've been pissed if I picked up my car and it looked like that :mad:

[johnpingol]

Paint and body shops = paint correction job security,
Great work, both times.

[Sicoupe]

Fantastic job as always my friend:)

[lawrenceSA]

As always top work!
Thanks Zubair


Wow nice save, the body shop really butchered that paint, I would've been pissed if I picked up my car and it looked like that :mad:
Thanks - yeah I agree - I absolutely dread ever having to deal with a body shop for my own personal vehicles.


Paint and body shops = paint correction job security,
Great work, both times.
Thank you very much. And yes, whilst the body's shops inability to do quality work does offer some job security for those of us who correct paint, it is still quite sad to see how little pride they take in their work.


Fantastic job as always my friend:)
Thanks Kyle

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Top notch work as always Lawrence! Beautiful save. Thanks for the thorough documentation on the repair of the affected areas. I really enjoy seeing these kinds of repairs in our artwork. I didn't catch the LSP.

Hopefully the owner won't let anyone else touch the Mercedes but you.

Thanks for sharing.

[lawrenceSA]

Top notch work as always Lawrence! Beautiful save. Thanks for the thorough documentation on the repair of the affected areas. I really enjoy seeing these kinds of repairs in our artwork. I didn't catch the LSP.

Hopefully the owner won't let anyone else touch the Mercedes but you.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Mike - appreciate you taking the time to read and give your comments. I thought I had included the LSP but it must have slipped my mind.

The LSP was Soft99 Fusso Coat Dark which was applied everywhere except the repainted panels, which I left unprotected whilst the paint outgasses.... the owner was advised and will apply his own LSP when the time is right.

[haris300]

Back to new again! Excellent work touching up those scratches. Thanks for documenting and sharing.

[SPIROS ANTONIOU]

I Always wondered 2 things how they could delivered a car in this condition
and second we you polish the car if dont know how.

Amazing jop my friend

[Paul A.]

Top notch repair and save, Lawrence! I also picked up on one of the pro approaches i use often...

You showed one attempt at correcting a panel with FG400 and your blue cutting pad. The result? Looked much better but not there yet. Ok, another hit with the same pad/product and voila! After all, it was working well. That is exactly what i do to level paint only to a point of "just flat enough" to remove the scratches. So many see the results of your first pass and reach for something even more aggressive thus removing more paint than is necessary...i used to do that as well! Not anymore and you showed the pro approach right there.

Thanks for sharing that with us. I LOVE the black jobs!!!

[DapperStyle]

You should've removed that AMG badge while you were at it!!!

Would you mind detailing how you went about filling in those scratches? A car that didn't understand how Stop signs and right of way are supposed to work scraped the front of my car (MB C300) ever so slightly. I got out all but 2 deep scratches using FG400 on an Orange pad (most aggressive combo I have at the moment) on my GG6. I have 2500/3000 grit sandpaper, Cyan hydrotech pads and the OEM touch up paint is on it's way.

[lawrenceSA]

Back to new again! Excellent work touching up those scratches. Thanks for documenting and sharing.
Thank you very much.


I Always wondered 2 things how they could delivered a car in this condition
and second we you polish the car if dont know how.

Amazing jop my friend
Thank you


Top notch repair and save, Lawrence! I also picked up on one of the pro approaches i use often...

You showed one attempt at correcting a panel with FG400 and your blue cutting pad. The result? Looked much better but not there yet. Ok, another hit with the same pad/product and voila! After all, it was working well. That is exactly what i do to level paint only to a point of "just flat enough" to remove the scratches. So many see the results of your first pass and reach for something even more aggressive thus removing more paint than is necessary...i used to do that as well! Not anymore and you showed the pro approach right there.

Thanks for sharing that with us. I LOVE the black jobs!!!
Thanks very much. As Mike always says 'least aggressive method first".



You should've removed that AMG badge while you were at it!!!

Would you mind detailing how you went about filling in those scratches? A car that didn't understand how Stop signs and right of way are supposed to work scraped the front of my car (MB C300) ever so slightly. I got out all but 2 deep scratches using FG400 on an Orange pad (most aggressive combo I have at the moment) on my GG6. I have 2500/3000 grit sandpaper, Cyan hydrotech pads and the OEM touch up paint is on it's way.

I cleaned out the scratches
Then tried to get as LITTLE of the base coat (color) into the scratch - do not try and fill it.
Then let that dry (hair dryer or heat gun will accelerate)
Repeat to ensure you have nice even coverage of the base
Then switch to clear and keep building up layers until you build up a little 'mountain'of paint (in comparison to the surrounding OEM paint).
Then level the mountain (something like a unigrit block would work well, but I don't have one, so I used normal paper on a small little block
The higher the grit you finish out at, the easier it will be to remove the sanding marks.
IME the cyan pads should easily remove the 2500 grit sanding marks with FG400

Do you own a paint thickness gauge? I wouldn't want to be taking the sanding / heavy compounding approach without one, especially on OEM paint.