New CLE - exterior and interior cleaning suggestions?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 5
Likes: 4
New CLE - exterior and interior cleaning suggestions?
Hi all, am a first time MB owner - new CLE coupe.
Bought the car over a month back, and have put in about 5 rides.
Am looking for suggestions & tips on external & interior cleaning.
- how frequently do folks suggest?
- what products & methods for exterior?
- likewise for interior?
- how frequently do you get it detailed at a shop?
i am in the east bay california, so no extreme weather conditions.
thanks!
- jb
Bought the car over a month back, and have put in about 5 rides.
Am looking for suggestions & tips on external & interior cleaning.
- how frequently do folks suggest?
- what products & methods for exterior?
- likewise for interior?
- how frequently do you get it detailed at a shop?
i am in the east bay california, so no extreme weather conditions.
thanks!
- jb
Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 106
Likes: 66
From: Utah
2025 CLE AMG 53 Coupe
I grew up in the east bay (Pittsburg). I am now retired in Utah so my CLE AMG 53 only sees summer activity.
My car is completely wrapped in Paint Protective Film and then ceramic coated. So my maintenance is simply washing with PH neutral soap. Followed by air drying with a high capacity blower.
However, I do recommend high quality soap made for cars and drying with high quality microfiber towels. Use the two bucket method.
I suggest checking out Griots website for product recommendations and how-to-videos.
https://www.griotsgarage.com
My car is completely wrapped in Paint Protective Film and then ceramic coated. So my maintenance is simply washing with PH neutral soap. Followed by air drying with a high capacity blower.
However, I do recommend high quality soap made for cars and drying with high quality microfiber towels. Use the two bucket method.
I suggest checking out Griots website for product recommendations and how-to-videos.
https://www.griotsgarage.com
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 514
Likes: 66
From: Naples, FL
2025 AMG CLE53, 2025 Range Rover P550E, 2025 Ford F150 Raptor
I paint correct, detail, and ceramic coat(ed) it myself. I did not put PPF on it.
It's basically up to you. Search YouTube for some washing, detailing, and paint correcting tips and you can go nutso down that rabbit hole. Find a nice lubricated soap to wash it with. Find nice microfiber towels to dry it with and maybe a drying 'aid'. Or use the electric/battery leaf blower approach (I do both).
Matt Moreman & Obsessed Garage are two good youtube channels to check out. He has basically gone off the reservation lately with his over the top high end curations and opinions, however some of his earlier stuff from 2015-2020 is basically what you need to start out with and methods to watch.
@Rocketman1980 also had a good suggestion with Griots Garage stuff. I would stay away from Chemical Guys (just because I have had a bad experience with them twice and found their chemical to be subpar, but that's just me).
It's basically up to you. Search YouTube for some washing, detailing, and paint correcting tips and you can go nutso down that rabbit hole. Find a nice lubricated soap to wash it with. Find nice microfiber towels to dry it with and maybe a drying 'aid'. Or use the electric/battery leaf blower approach (I do both).
Matt Moreman & Obsessed Garage are two good youtube channels to check out. He has basically gone off the reservation lately with his over the top high end curations and opinions, however some of his earlier stuff from 2015-2020 is basically what you need to start out with and methods to watch.
@Rocketman1980 also had a good suggestion with Griots Garage stuff. I would stay away from Chemical Guys (just because I have had a bad experience with them twice and found their chemical to be subpar, but that's just me).
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 64
Likes: 14
From: Massachusetts
CLE53 Cab
Drive it. Its wash and wear.
Hi all, am a first time MB owner - new CLE coupe.
Bought the car over a month back, and have put in about 5 rides.
Am looking for suggestions & tips on external & interior cleaning.
- how frequently do folks suggest?
- what products & methods for exterior?
- likewise for interior?
- how frequently do you get it detailed at a shop?
i am in the east bay california, so no extreme weather conditions.
thanks!
- jb
Bought the car over a month back, and have put in about 5 rides.
Am looking for suggestions & tips on external & interior cleaning.
- how frequently do folks suggest?
- what products & methods for exterior?
- likewise for interior?
- how frequently do you get it detailed at a shop?
i am in the east bay california, so no extreme weather conditions.
thanks!
- jb
If you have shiny (clear coat) paint, a commercial car wash 4 to 12 times a year.
If you don't rub it, it will look good 7 years later.
Wheels, as much as you like, be sure to rinse well so the chemicals won't attack the tires.
Interior
Windex, blue unscented, glass, hard plastic, (leather ONLY when necessary)
Leather cleaner as required, probably not more than once a year.
Leather conditioner, year three and every other year there after to prevent cracking.
Achtung!
Leather is dyed, then finished with shellac, varnish, or polyurethane. The are all softened and removed by common solvents. I would rather sell a car with dirty leather, than with dull patches where the coating has been rubbed off.
P.S.
Currently the lower 20 inches of my red car are white with salt, but it may rain today and wash it off while driving to a customer. Winter in Massachusetts. Driving sideways is so much fun.
(It actually handles snow and ice very well.)
Last edited by jerrya; Dec 29, 2025 at 08:27 AM. Reason: Afterthought
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