Anyone else find the W204 difficult to wash?
#26
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E63 Black on Black
Buy one of these, a Gilmour Foamaster foam gun to pre-soak the car with car wash, then rinse and do your normal 2-bucket method. Detailers Domain is a forum sponsor and gives 10% off to MB World:
http://www.detailersdomain.com/gilmo...eriiquart.aspx
A picture of my car pre-soaking with the foam gun:
http://www.detailersdomain.com/gilmo...eriiquart.aspx
A picture of my car pre-soaking with the foam gun:
http://www.amazon.com/Gilmour-75QGFM...7G1ZK5DW0CS6QJ
#27
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I've had GLK for almost 2 years now and it's very easy to wash. I use Nufinish Once a Year Was (which is not really wax) in spring after winter, summer and in the fall. The dirt comes of very easily. The surface stays new without any micro scrtaches.
I only wash it myself, but don't do any crazy detailing besides Nufinish stuff.
I only wash it myself, but don't do any crazy detailing besides Nufinish stuff.
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2008 C300
I'm amaze that it take you 3 hour just to wash your car.. It only take me 15 minute to wash the whole car but then again my goal is to take the dirt off. After washing I would just clay bar the whole car which remove the sand and dirt "stuck" on your paint. Takes only 30 minute if your use to it; same with wax.
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
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E550 4MATIC
I'm amaze that it take you 3 hour just to wash your car.. It only take me 15 minute to wash the whole car but then again my goal is to take the dirt off. After washing I would just clay bar the whole car which remove the sand and dirt "stuck" on your paint. Takes only 30 minute if your use to it; same with wax.
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
#31
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2008 C300 Sport 6MT X-Pipe
I'm amaze that it take you 3 hour just to wash your car.. It only take me 15 minute to wash the whole car but then again my goal is to take the dirt off. After washing I would just clay bar the whole car which remove the sand and dirt "stuck" on your paint. Takes only 30 minute if your use to it; same with wax.
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
Honestly I think any sedan are fairly easy since your able to reach the roof unlike SUV :P
#32
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2008 C300
Well the wheel take me an extra 10 minute to shine . I do use the two bucket method which is great for the car of course. I tend to "rinse" the car so it looks clean but what really make my car nice and shining is the clay bar. It is a wash of $ to use clay bar all the time, but I think it's worth it. Polishing the car became a habit and waxing the car became a really bad habit where I leave the car in the garage and wax several time a week. Also Pink Wax does great when taking off dirt from your car. It even shine my converse shoe lol.
Though JFOUR is correct it normally take 7-8 hour but since I'm so use to washing my car I can probably finish it within 2 hour. Also I do have swirl mark on my hood only because I was involve in a accident where house paint got splash onto my car. Taking the paint off really killed my hood
Though JFOUR is correct it normally take 7-8 hour but since I'm so use to washing my car I can probably finish it within 2 hour. Also I do have swirl mark on my hood only because I was involve in a accident where house paint got splash onto my car. Taking the paint off really killed my hood
Last edited by Will38; 01-08-2011 at 12:21 PM.
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2008 C300 Sport 6MT X-Pipe
I've had GLK for almost 2 years now and it's very easy to wash. I use Nufinish Once a Year Was (which is not really wax) in spring after winter, summer and in the fall. The dirt comes of very easily. The surface stays new without any micro scrtaches.
I only wash it myself, but don't do any crazy detailing besides Nufinish stuff.
I only wash it myself, but don't do any crazy detailing besides Nufinish stuff.
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'09 C300 4Matic Sport
The only part of the car that's a PITA to wash/dry/wax is the front bumper. The rest of the car is a piece of cake. Now my previous W203...THAT was a royal PITA to clean/dry/wax because of all the gaps and lines of the car...the W204 has a much simple/smooth body so there aren't as many crevices that you have to worry about
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
The only part of the car that's a PITA to wash/dry/wax is the front bumper. The rest of the car is a piece of cake. Now my previous W203...THAT was a royal PITA to clean/dry/wax because of all the gaps and lines of the car...the W204 has a much simple/smooth body so there aren't as many crevices that you have to worry about
Similar to a human, perhaps.
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2008 C300 Sport 6MT X-Pipe
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#38
I believe most the difference between the times people are posting here have to do with your own personal standards of car washing.
Somebody said 15 minutes. I've not timed it, but my guess is that I spend more than 15 minutes on my rims and wheel-wells.
For me, I'm fairly consistent at about 2 hours. That includes the wheels and tires, a normal wash, a complete towel dry (including door, trunk and hood jams), and all the glass inside and out. Another hour if I want to wipe down the inside and apply UV protectant.
Howeve, I live in a high-rise so that 2 hours includes probably 20 mins to get-out and put-away my bins of equipment and product.
Somebody said 15 minutes. I've not timed it, but my guess is that I spend more than 15 minutes on my rims and wheel-wells.
For me, I'm fairly consistent at about 2 hours. That includes the wheels and tires, a normal wash, a complete towel dry (including door, trunk and hood jams), and all the glass inside and out. Another hour if I want to wipe down the inside and apply UV protectant.
Howeve, I live in a high-rise so that 2 hours includes probably 20 mins to get-out and put-away my bins of equipment and product.
#40
I just got my car in Dec, and I have a good history of keeping my old car clean, so reading all the stories about the detailing the car makes me want to do it sooner then later. haha
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E550 4MATIC
I believe most the difference between the times people are posting here have to do with your own personal standards of car washing.
Somebody said 15 minutes. I've not timed it, but my guess is that I spend more than 15 minutes on my rims and wheel-wells.
For me, I'm fairly consistent at about 2 hours. That includes the wheels and tires, a normal wash, a complete towel dry (including door, trunk and hood jams), and all the glass inside and out. Another hour if I want to wipe down the inside and apply UV protectant.
Howeve, I live in a high-rise so that 2 hours includes probably 20 mins to get-out and put-away my bins of equipment and product.
Somebody said 15 minutes. I've not timed it, but my guess is that I spend more than 15 minutes on my rims and wheel-wells.
For me, I'm fairly consistent at about 2 hours. That includes the wheels and tires, a normal wash, a complete towel dry (including door, trunk and hood jams), and all the glass inside and out. Another hour if I want to wipe down the inside and apply UV protectant.
Howeve, I live in a high-rise so that 2 hours includes probably 20 mins to get-out and put-away my bins of equipment and product.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Do you guys know if Clay Bar'ing strips off the old wax?
I'm planning on putting SEALANT on my car this next Detail interval, as I've found it to be much superior to wax. However, I've heard that with sealant, you want to make sure the wax is completely off the car (so the Sealant sticks to the paint). It'll be about 3-4 months after my last Wax, but I'm not sure if that's enough time to allow the wax to completely absolve.
I'm just too paranoid to put harsh dish-soap anywhere near my car, so it would be awesome if the Clay Bar did the job.
I'm planning on putting SEALANT on my car this next Detail interval, as I've found it to be much superior to wax. However, I've heard that with sealant, you want to make sure the wax is completely off the car (so the Sealant sticks to the paint). It'll be about 3-4 months after my last Wax, but I'm not sure if that's enough time to allow the wax to completely absolve.
I'm just too paranoid to put harsh dish-soap anywhere near my car, so it would be awesome if the Clay Bar did the job.
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Do you guys know if Clay Bar'ing strips off the old wax?
I'm planning on putting SEALANT on my car this next Detail interval, as I've found it to be much superior to wax. However, I've heard that with sealant, you want to make sure the wax is completely off the car (so the Sealant sticks to the paint). It'll be about 3-4 months after my last Wax, but I'm not sure if that's enough time to allow the wax to completely absolve.
I'm just too paranoid to put harsh dish-soap anywhere near my car, so it would be awesome if the Clay Bar did the job.
I'm planning on putting SEALANT on my car this next Detail interval, as I've found it to be much superior to wax. However, I've heard that with sealant, you want to make sure the wax is completely off the car (so the Sealant sticks to the paint). It'll be about 3-4 months after my last Wax, but I'm not sure if that's enough time to allow the wax to completely absolve.
I'm just too paranoid to put harsh dish-soap anywhere near my car, so it would be awesome if the Clay Bar did the job.
1. Wash with Dawn dish soap to get rid of any layers of old wax.
2. Full Clay Bar
3. Wash with Dawn dish soap again to get rid of any remaining detailer spray
4. Wax
Using dish soap won't damage your car/paint/clear coat...it will only strip away all the old layers of wax...which is what you want to do every few months to get rid of the build up layers of wax/detailer spray before adding a fresh layer of wax on your paint
#44
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Thanks for the info. Any recommended types of dish soap, or any types to stay away from? And I take it that the clay bar does not remove wax, correct?
Oh, and lastly, the dish soap won't help dull any of the plastics, rubbers, or plasti-chrome, no?
Thanks.
I didn't know you gotta wash AFTER the clay bar as well, lol. Lots of work!
Oh, and lastly, the dish soap won't help dull any of the plastics, rubbers, or plasti-chrome, no?
Thanks.
I didn't know you gotta wash AFTER the clay bar as well, lol. Lots of work!
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'09 C300 4Matic Sport
Thanks for the info. Any recommended types of dish soap, or any types to stay away from? And I take it that the clay bar does not remove wax, correct?
Oh, and lastly, the dish soap won't help dull any of the plastics, rubbers, or plasti-chrome, no?
Thanks.
I didn't know you gotta wash AFTER the clay bar as well, lol. Lots of work!
Oh, and lastly, the dish soap won't help dull any of the plastics, rubbers, or plasti-chrome, no?
Thanks.
I didn't know you gotta wash AFTER the clay bar as well, lol. Lots of work!
HaHa yea it's a pretty long process. Have you used a clay bar before? You really have to lubricate the surface well with the detailing spray. As you work they clay bar over the surface that clear spray is gonna become yellow, brown, etc from all the crud that's being pulled out of the paint. So you definitely want to wash it again to get all that off before you wax...or else you're just gonna be trapping all the particles (that you JUST spent all that time removing) back into the paint lol.
If you haven't used the clay bar before...couple of tips...
Like I said make sure you use a good amount of the detailing spray or else you'll just end u smearing the clay on your car. Also make sure you frequently kneed the clay so you're not constantly using the same side/piece of clay bc everything ur pulling out of the paint gets stuck in the clay and could possibly scratch your paint if left exposed.
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Thanks a lot man! Ugh, I SO don't want to Clay. I've never done it, as my personal way of Wash/Wax/Care, etc. has always had my cars staying better than new for as long as I've had them.
But this is my first WHITE car, and although white does a great job of hiding subtle dirt, those little "black specs" are now driving me nuts.
Maybe I'll just clay the hood and the rear bumper if it gets too crazy for me, haha.
But this is my first WHITE car, and although white does a great job of hiding subtle dirt, those little "black specs" are now driving me nuts.
Maybe I'll just clay the hood and the rear bumper if it gets too crazy for me, haha.
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Thanks a lot man! Ugh, I SO don't want to Clay. I've never done it, as my personal way of Wash/Wax/Care, etc. has always had my cars staying better than new for as long as I've had them.
But this is my first WHITE car, and although white does a great job of hiding subtle dirt, those little "black specs" are now driving me nuts.
Maybe I'll just clay the hood and the rear bumper if it gets too crazy for me, haha.
But this is my first WHITE car, and although white does a great job of hiding subtle dirt, those little "black specs" are now driving me nuts.
Maybe I'll just clay the hood and the rear bumper if it gets too crazy for me, haha.
I'll be doing mine this weekend as well...Good Luck
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Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Awesome man, thanks. Yeah, looks like I'll just keep it simple and do my hood, fenders maybe front bumper/grille, and the rear end. Maybe side rockers too.
Also, to kneed the clay, does that mean just dabbing it against something, or frequently turning it around, etc.?
I LOVE my White car, but man, I'm not realizing how spoiled I was when I had Pewter before this, lol.
Also, to kneed the clay, does that mean just dabbing it against something, or frequently turning it around, etc.?
I LOVE my White car, but man, I'm not realizing how spoiled I was when I had Pewter before this, lol.
#49
I do the following.
1. Wash with Dawn dish soap to get rid of any layers of old wax.
2 Cleaner wax.
3 Wash with regular soap
4. Full Clay Bar with extra soapy water.
5. Wash
6. Wax
1. Wash with Dawn dish soap to get rid of any layers of old wax.
2 Cleaner wax.
3 Wash with regular soap
4. Full Clay Bar with extra soapy water.
5. Wash
6. Wax
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'09 C300 4Matic Sport
IMHO I'd do the cleaner wax at number 6...after you do the clay bar and re-wash. Like I said in the previous post...I don't like to have anything on the paint before I use the clay bar...kinda like an artist working with a fresh canvas. Will ur method harm the paint...no of course not...I just found it easier to use the clay bar when there's nothing "trapping" any particles to the paint...such as layer(s) of wax. I do like the idea of using a cleaner wax though to prep the paint before putting on your final layer of wax
Last edited by NJBNZ; 01-11-2011 at 02:51 PM.