flycaster

OK, just got a 2017 C300 coupe with natural open pore natural grain brown ash wood to go with the saddle brown interior. To my eye, I'm finding the wood trim to be a bit dull. Not that I want to make it glossy, but a little patina sheen wouldn't hurt. Other than putting on some kind of satin lacquer (which I don't want to do,) what would you guys suggest?

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

pledge? lol

flycaster

Pledge...so any old furniture polish, eh?

Mikey53

I'd recommend trying it on a small, out of the way piece just in case the results are less than hoped for.

cenzo86

Eeeeee. It's already factory finished with the satin. Making it shine isn't going to be easy. I was concerned the brown ash might look a bit dull. My uncle has an Audi a5 with a similar wood grain.
Maybe a clear wrap would help add depth to the finish. Otherwise, embrace the satin. It is very much en vogue right now.

flycaster

Not looking for a very shinny surface, but would like to a little "pop" to it. As suspected, and as you stated, there already is a satin finish. I was thinking of maybe something like a bit of car polish sealant??? And, certainly try on a "hidden" spot...

Shadwell

Whatever you Select would need to have a lot of fill and be durable..

For a more permanent solution I'd look at a ceramic / quartz style coating... Perhaps something from carpro .. But Deffo a test patch a check you like it..

Have a look on autogeek online forum, some great resources there.....

flycaster

Thanks. Already do have a post inquiry on Autogeek...

chicago-guy

I have the black open-pore ash and I've been considering a very light walnut oil treatment. It has worked great on my maple floors and kitchen cabinets to bring out a bit of depth/sheen and also does great in concealing any light wear areas/scratches. Anyone tried walnut oil or similar on W205 ash trim?

flycaster

If the wood already has some kind of coating, putting what may be a "penetrating" oil on it may just have the oil sit on top of the coating??? I think we may have to think more about how to add something that will bring up a "sheen" out of the existing coating.

BTW, Chicago Guy, you might be interested in following these two posts I've got going elsewhere:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...wood-trim.html

http://www.woodworkingtalk.com/f8/ad...-300-a-144298/

topsider

when I got my car the wood had armor all on it which actually gave it a little sheen. I have never re-applied but it still looks good. the wood looks rich versus dry.

flycaster

Hey, that is encouraging. Was it you who applied the Armor All? I'm not an Armor All fan, but I do use 303 Protectorant and may try it. Just looking for a little sheen...

topsider

I didn't apply it the dealer did. My guess is that they used the wipes or something, not sure. Doesn't look shiny and wet, just damp and healthy if that makes sense. If you use it and then think its too shiny wipe it with a towel to try and get it off and then I'd say thats how mine looks.

Shadwell

Perhaps consider Car Pro Perl diluted to your preference.. you can achieve a satin finish which with latered applications builds gloss... very controllable in regards to finish achieved.


Personally i wouldn't go near armourall.. sticky ****e that seems to attract dust and never really seems to dry.. but your call..


All the best...

chicago-guy

FWIW, I tried the walnut oil for the heck of it, and yeah didn't seem to make much difference. It may have deepened the black just a bit, but no change in sheen.

Thanks for the alternate forum threads. IMO the console trim needs a bit of shine because my door panel inserts have it, so the console and door trim technically don't match. Hoping someone uncovers the secret sauce.

flycaster

Tried some Old English darkwood polish. Made the wood a limttle bit darker, but did nothing as far sheen goes. Figuring that the wood trim is most likely protected with some kind of urethane, and therefore very little noticeable damage could be done, I gave 303 Protectorant a try. Lucky me, it gave the trim the sheen I was looking for. BTW, the car is leased and I have no qualms that when I turn it in, the dealer will notice this slight, but aesthetically significant, change.

chicago-guy

Awesome! Which one please? Looks like 303 has at least four products labeled "protectant" and I want the one you got! Label pic would be sweet.

sean1.8t

Anyone got any pics of this?

I've got the black ash and although I love the way it looks, now you've got me thinking that giving it a bit of a sheen would make it look REALLY good. But I'd like to see some finished pics before trying anything that could be damaging/irreversible.

flycaster

Aerospace 303 Protectorant. This is absolutely that best. Gives a patina like sheen and is completely safe for just about anything. If I am keeping a car for a while, I use it all vinyl and even the leather (as long as the leather is coated leather, which 95% of the car now days are.) Also put is on any exterior plastic and on the light lens' as this stuff gives UV very good protection.

chicago-guy

So this stuff here?

flycaster

Hey Chicago, they've changed the look of their label many times since I have bought mine. The bottle pictured in this video ( ) is the one I got, but the ones you are showing appear to be the same. I would think that as long as the label says "Protectorant" and not something like "cleaner," or such, it would be the one to get. It doesn't make the wood pop, but it does give it a bit of sheen that I think looks a lot nicer than a "pop."

RUNSGR8

I have the same C300 coupe as you OP with the brown open pore wood trim. I believe I used this product from Meguiars all over the interior (besides the seats):

http://www.meguiars.com/en/automotiv...l-shine-wipes/

It gave the wood a deep, lush, rich look to it. Much much much better than the flat, dull look the trim had when I got the car from the dealership. Might be worth a shot for you.

chicago-guy

This was a good suggestion, since I haven't yet picked up the 303 protectant suggested above but I do have Meguiar's Supreme Shine on hand. Although it's not the "Natural Shine" @RunsGr8 used, I am looking for some sheen to better match the door trim, so I gave it a shot. Took a pic halfway through.



Lighting's not great, but hopefully you can see the deeper patina on the lower half vs the upper half. I gave it a bit of dry time, but not a lot. I'll try to get a daylight shot of the finished job tomorrow, when it's been dry 12 hours.