She cleans up nice
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 952
Likes: 26
From: New York, NY
2025 CLE 53 AMG
My fellow home detailers here can relate that keeping any car (especially a black one) clean is a rabbit hole you may not want to go down..But here is what I do and have done for all of my daily drivers:
1. As new or just after a mild paint correction/polish (hopefully that's all that's needed), get it to your local competent PPF installer and have them install a 10 mil Xpel clear film on the entire front - bumper, hood, fenders, headlights, side view mirrors, and maybe the A pillars.
2. After allowing sufficient time for the film to cure and adhere, a thorough clean, ideally with a foam cannon, pressure washer, D.I. water, two bucket method, etc etc etc.
3. Inspect for surface scratches and correct the painted surfaces as needed, and prep the finish for ceramic coating
4. Ceramic coat all exterior surfaces, door/trunk jambs, anywhere else you want to keep shiny.
5. After coating has cured, maintaining should be fairly simple using the two-bucket, foam cannon method described here and everywhere else on the interwebs. The more you touch your paint, the more surface scratching you'll see, so behave accordingly.
6. An occasional ceramic quick detailer will help maintain the ceramic coating. A quality ceramic product and application should last 2-3 years assuming the car is garaged. A pro application can provide up to 10 years of protection.
7. Take a 3 day nap after all of that work, you've earned it.
OR:
1. Pay a professional detailer shop to do all of the above. Plan to pay $$$$. These guys (as seen above) work hard for their money.
1. As new or just after a mild paint correction/polish (hopefully that's all that's needed), get it to your local competent PPF installer and have them install a 10 mil Xpel clear film on the entire front - bumper, hood, fenders, headlights, side view mirrors, and maybe the A pillars.
2. After allowing sufficient time for the film to cure and adhere, a thorough clean, ideally with a foam cannon, pressure washer, D.I. water, two bucket method, etc etc etc.
3. Inspect for surface scratches and correct the painted surfaces as needed, and prep the finish for ceramic coating
4. Ceramic coat all exterior surfaces, door/trunk jambs, anywhere else you want to keep shiny.
5. After coating has cured, maintaining should be fairly simple using the two-bucket, foam cannon method described here and everywhere else on the interwebs. The more you touch your paint, the more surface scratching you'll see, so behave accordingly.
6. An occasional ceramic quick detailer will help maintain the ceramic coating. A quality ceramic product and application should last 2-3 years assuming the car is garaged. A pro application can provide up to 10 years of protection.
7. Take a 3 day nap after all of that work, you've earned it.
OR:
1. Pay a professional detailer shop to do all of the above. Plan to pay $$$$. These guys (as seen above) work hard for their money.
Does your car have a ceramic coating, PPF, or both?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 681
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
You don't need ceramic coating over the PPF. The full PPF on my M340i looks great due to applying Optimum Spray Wax every 2 weeks.
I've been doing that for 2 years thus far.
I've been doing that for 2 years thus far.
Last edited by dudley07726; Jun 26, 2025 at 07:53 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 40
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix, AZ
(currently) 2025 AMG CLE 53 Obsidian(formerly) 2022 CLS450 4Matic Diamond White on Black leather
I like to ceramic coat the entire vehicle, including over the ppf. The idea here is not just the added gloss, but to make maintenance washes that much easier/quicker and producing better results when finished. YMMV.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 681
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
[QUOTE=dudley07726;9177865]
As expected, these wheels are a ***** to clean. To get them done properly, it would take an hour each. I'm not going to do that. I cannot even reach the barrel of the wheel.
All I could do is use a boars hair brush and go around the wheel. I didn't even have the patience to stick a wheel whoolie in every hole.
Ceramic coating lasts 2 years on the wheels (and that's with cleaning them. I cannot imagine what the barrel will look like if they're not cleaned.
I'll have to have them ceramic coated every year. (as much as I don't want to)
Yes, I used a pressure washer.
All I could do is use a boars hair brush and go around the wheel. I didn't even have the patience to stick a wheel whoolie in every hole.
Ceramic coating lasts 2 years on the wheels (and that's with cleaning them. I cannot imagine what the barrel will look like if they're not cleaned.
I'll have to have them ceramic coated every year. (as much as I don't want to)
Yes, I used a pressure washer.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 514
Likes: 68
From: Naples, FL
2025 AMG CLE53, 2025 Range Rover P550E, 2025 Ford F150 Raptor
[QUOTE=dudley07726;9184394]
The way I look at it is:
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
As expected, these wheels are a ***** to clean. To get them done properly, it would take an hour each. I'm not going to do that. I cannot even reach the barrel of the wheel.
All I could do is use a boars hair brush and go around the wheel. I didn't even have the patience to stick a wheel whoolie in every hole.
Ceramic coating lasts 2 years on the wheels (and that's with cleaning them. I cannot imagine what the barrel will look like if they're not cleaned.
I'll have to have them ceramic coated every year. (as much as I don't want to)
Yes, I used a pressure washer.
All I could do is use a boars hair brush and go around the wheel. I didn't even have the patience to stick a wheel whoolie in every hole.
Ceramic coating lasts 2 years on the wheels (and that's with cleaning them. I cannot imagine what the barrel will look like if they're not cleaned.
I'll have to have them ceramic coated every year. (as much as I don't want to)
Yes, I used a pressure washer.
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2024
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 900
From: DFW
SL63
[QUOTE=PHXATC;9184417]
Put it on a trailer, and drag it around to every car show you registered for.
Just don’t use the brakes.
The way I look at it is:
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
Just don’t use the brakes.
Last edited by MB2timer; Jul 4, 2025 at 01:35 PM. Reason: +1
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 681
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
[QUOTE=PHXATC;9184417]
Looks like #2, 3, & 4 are it.
The way I look at it is:
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
1. Clean every hole in the wheel with a wheel woolly or something similar.
2. Use a pressure washer and some wheel cleaner in the foaming device and get way up in there in every hole.
3. Use a pressure washer and rinse them off as best you can.
4. Have NAA redo them every year for $400ish.
5. Get different wheels.
6. Hire someone or take it to NAA for a bath once a month and have them do it.
7. Don't drive it.
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Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 681
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
[QUOTE=dudley07726;9184455]Washed the car this morning. I took a look at the wheels once again after spraying Brake Buster and just used a Boars Hair brush on a 20 inch handle to clean the outside of the wheels. Didn’t even bother trying to do the barrel.
https://autoforge.net/products/wheel...pr_seq=uniform
https://autoforge.net/products/wheel...pr_seq=uniform
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 514
Likes: 68
From: Naples, FL
2025 AMG CLE53, 2025 Range Rover P550E, 2025 Ford F150 Raptor
[QUOTE=dudley07726;9187336]
Nothing the matter with that. Maybe every 3 of 4 or 5th time you could spend an extra hour and a beer or 3 really getting up in there and giving it the super duper clean. Sounds like you've got it nailed in the short term!
Washed the car this morning. I took a look at the wheels once again after spraying Brake Buster and just used a Boars Hair brush on a 20 inch handle to clean the outside of the wheels. Didn’t even bother trying to do the barrel.
https://autoforge.net/products/wheel...pr_seq=uniform
https://autoforge.net/products/wheel...pr_seq=uniform
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 681
Likes: 69
From: SWFL
2023 BMW M340i, 2025 MB CLE53 AMG
[QUOTE=PHXATC;9187384]
Maybe I would if I was younger. Ay 65 1/2, I have no patience to spend that much time cleaning a wheel. I guess ceramic coat every year is in my future.
One good thing about the design is you can't see the dirt on the barrel of the wheel. You can barely see the caliper.
One good thing about the design is you can't see the dirt on the barrel of the wheel. You can barely see the caliper.
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