Washing Instruction
#51
![drive](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/driving.gif)
1991 300E 4Matic. Black of course.
#52
i love the absorber! i discovered it at a car wash my club had when someone brought over their carwash stuff from home. great stuff.
I drive a black 91 300E, its my baby. last weekend i washed it with meguiars soap (dont recall which one it is, its pink..) then used rubbing compound, swirl remover, and finished it off with a layer or mother's wax. (i didnt buy any of this stuff, its sitting around at my parents house). any suggestions on improvement?
It looks great for a while, but when i park it at my apartment (not garaged) it gets so dusty in just 2 days. Is there any way i can prevent this?
I drive a black 91 300E, its my baby. last weekend i washed it with meguiars soap (dont recall which one it is, its pink..) then used rubbing compound, swirl remover, and finished it off with a layer or mother's wax. (i didnt buy any of this stuff, its sitting around at my parents house). any suggestions on improvement?
It looks great for a while, but when i park it at my apartment (not garaged) it gets so dusty in just 2 days. Is there any way i can prevent this?
#53
Junior Member
If you wash your car at home you should do it on the lawn. Washing the car in the driveway so all the soap enters directly into the storm drain is very bad for the environment. Car wash soaps have high levels of surfactants to strip oils etc. When this goes directly to a storm drain this water is not treated in any way and is released directly into rivers and streams. These surfactants strip fish of their natural coatings making them die. A concentration of 10 ppm will kill a fish and 5 ppm will kill the eggs.
#55
drying
the Absorber or Shamwow works like a charm. but you want to machine wash them periodically with just hot water and no laundry detergent so you can get all the old water out of the Absorber or Shamwow which can leave streak or water spots. these things don't shrink so no worries about the hot water and you can put the thing back into the container straight from the washing machine because they remain a little damp after the cycle.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
1999 E320 & 2008 S550 Designo
I agree on the absorber !!!
i've tried plenty of chamois and towels but i personally think the best thing to dry your car with is the absorber. it is washable, doesnt leave any lint, wont scratch your car and can be used forever as long as you store it back in its container damp. you can pick one up in walmart or most auto places will carry them.
I was thinking about trying the microfiber towels..but sounds like you need to wash it often...which is more of a hassle..requiring water,soap and electricty to wash the towels separately.
#57
I also recommend people use mf terry cloths on their wheels too. as regular towels can leave scuff marks and sponges are just not practical in reaching tight spaces of the wheels.
#58
If you wash your car at home you should do it on the lawn. Washing the car in the driveway so all the soap enters directly into the storm drain is very bad for the environment. Car wash soaps have high levels of surfactants to strip oils etc. When this goes directly to a storm drain this water is not treated in any way and is released directly into rivers and streams. These surfactants strip fish of their natural coatings making them die. A concentration of 10 ppm will kill a fish and 5 ppm will kill the eggs.
No Way. all that grass gets on the wheels and paint and your shoes and hands. that's crazy. but to each his own. and nevermind the car wash chemicals in the storm drain which are mostly harmless as dish soap, that's why we have water treatment plants. our tax dollars is already taking care of that.
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
'14 CLA 45
![Big Grin](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
If at all, it should be the brake rotors one should be more worried about. It is not recommended for you to drive the car for a long time and then shortly after splash a good amount of water on the rotors when cleaning wheels.
#61
Super Member
i wish mom had a garage.
currently moved here in san antonio from seattle for a year to save some money and wife attending school, i went from washing car every week to every month due to how dirty it gets days after i wash it..
i just went out there and told myself "what the f happend?"
so im going to wash her now, very helpful thread!
currently moved here in san antonio from seattle for a year to save some money and wife attending school, i went from washing car every week to every month due to how dirty it gets days after i wash it..
i just went out there and told myself "what the f happend?"
so im going to wash her now, very helpful thread!
#63
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Southeast
Posts: 1,481
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2008 C300 Sport, RWD, US
I like using the low pressure high volume water coming out of the hose to dry sheet the car before picking up the few remaining dribbles with a chamos.
Problem is that I had a Rain Bird hose end nozzel that that a position on the nozzel for just the right amount of water. You could also change the setting for a more forceful setting. Unfortunately I ran over it moving the car one day and now I found that they quit making them and it seems that nobody has them.
Does anyone know of a hose end nozzle (pistol grip style) that has a good flood of water setting?
Problem is that I had a Rain Bird hose end nozzel that that a position on the nozzel for just the right amount of water. You could also change the setting for a more forceful setting. Unfortunately I ran over it moving the car one day and now I found that they quit making them and it seems that nobody has them.
Does anyone know of a hose end nozzle (pistol grip style) that has a good flood of water setting?
#65
Water treatment
No Way. all that grass gets on the wheels and paint and your shoes and hands. that's crazy. but to each his own. and nevermind the car wash chemicals in the storm drain which are mostly harmless as dish soap, that's why we have water treatment plants. our tax dollars is already taking care of that.
#66
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 Chevy Tahoe
Weekly Detail Routine (Car has had professional 3-stage paint correction and sealed with OptiCoat): 5-bucket method using 4 buckets with grit guards. Use warm water and Detailer's Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo. Three dedicated MF wash mitts.
1 - Power wash car to remove lose surface dirt and grit.
2 - Wheels, tires & wheel wells: Pre-spray wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner. In first bucket of Detailer's Xtreme Foam, use Daytona Speed Master PRO Wheel Brush to clean spokes and wheel rims. First MF mitt to clean wheel face. Tire bush to clean both sides of tire. Handle brush to scrub wheel well. Rinse.
3 - The dirt belt (area from the side trim down): Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using second MF mitt and two buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from side trim down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
4 - Wash entire vehicle from top down: Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using third MF mitt and two clean buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from top down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
5 - Drying: OptiCoat is a highly hydrophobic coating, and you can dry the vehicle by simply sheeting a stream of water and "pulling" it down the car. Perfectly dry with no water spots. Dedicated leaf blower on low to blow water from trim and crevices, followed by Wolfgang's Detailer Spritz and MF towels dedicated to exterior drying only.
Takes about 90 minutes to complete. Absolutely no risk of introducing scratches or swirls, and your car will look showroom perfect. It may be a bit OCD - but if you've spent $100K on your car why trust it with a $20 wash??
1 - Power wash car to remove lose surface dirt and grit.
2 - Wheels, tires & wheel wells: Pre-spray wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner. In first bucket of Detailer's Xtreme Foam, use Daytona Speed Master PRO Wheel Brush to clean spokes and wheel rims. First MF mitt to clean wheel face. Tire bush to clean both sides of tire. Handle brush to scrub wheel well. Rinse.
3 - The dirt belt (area from the side trim down): Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using second MF mitt and two buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from side trim down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
4 - Wash entire vehicle from top down: Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using third MF mitt and two clean buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from top down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
5 - Drying: OptiCoat is a highly hydrophobic coating, and you can dry the vehicle by simply sheeting a stream of water and "pulling" it down the car. Perfectly dry with no water spots. Dedicated leaf blower on low to blow water from trim and crevices, followed by Wolfgang's Detailer Spritz and MF towels dedicated to exterior drying only.
Takes about 90 minutes to complete. Absolutely no risk of introducing scratches or swirls, and your car will look showroom perfect. It may be a bit OCD - but if you've spent $100K on your car why trust it with a $20 wash??
#67
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Miami Beach
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
'14 MB GL550 Diamond White/designo Porcelain/Black Leather w/ Bang & Olufsen BeoSound
Weekly Detail Routine (Car has had professional 3-stage paint correction and sealed with OptiCoat): 5-bucket method using 4 buckets with grit guards. Use warm water and Detailer's Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo. Three dedicated MF wash mitts.
1 - Power wash car to remove lose surface dirt and grit.
2 - Wheels, tires & wheel wells: Pre-spray wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner. In first bucket of Detailer's Xtreme Foam, use Daytona Speed Master PRO Wheel Brush to clean spokes and wheel rims. First MF mitt to clean wheel face. Tire bush to clean both sides of tire. Handle brush to scrub wheel well. Rinse.
3 - The dirt belt (area from the side trim down): Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using second MF mitt and two buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from side trim down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
4 - Wash entire vehicle from top down: Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using third MF mitt and two clean buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from top down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
5 - Drying: OptiCoat is a highly hydrophobic coating, and you can dry the vehicle by simply sheeting a stream of water and "pulling" it down the car. Perfectly dry with no water spots. Dedicated leaf blower on low to blow water from trim and crevices, followed by Wolfgang's Detailer Spritz and MF towels dedicated to exterior drying only.
Takes about 90 minutes to complete. Absolutely no risk of introducing scratches or swirls, and your car will look showroom perfect. It may be a bit OCD - but if you've spent $100K on your car why trust it with a $20 wash??
1 - Power wash car to remove lose surface dirt and grit.
2 - Wheels, tires & wheel wells: Pre-spray wheels with Sonax Wheel Cleaner. In first bucket of Detailer's Xtreme Foam, use Daytona Speed Master PRO Wheel Brush to clean spokes and wheel rims. First MF mitt to clean wheel face. Tire bush to clean both sides of tire. Handle brush to scrub wheel well. Rinse.
3 - The dirt belt (area from the side trim down): Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using second MF mitt and two buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from side trim down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
4 - Wash entire vehicle from top down: Pre-spray area to be cleaned with foam cannon filled with Detailer's Xtreme foam, using third MF mitt and two clean buckets of Detailer's Xtreme foam and grit guards (one for pre-rinse, one soap) work from top down - never move from dirty back to clean but from clean to dirty. Rinse.
5 - Drying: OptiCoat is a highly hydrophobic coating, and you can dry the vehicle by simply sheeting a stream of water and "pulling" it down the car. Perfectly dry with no water spots. Dedicated leaf blower on low to blow water from trim and crevices, followed by Wolfgang's Detailer Spritz and MF towels dedicated to exterior drying only.
Takes about 90 minutes to complete. Absolutely no risk of introducing scratches or swirls, and your car will look showroom perfect. It may be a bit OCD - but if you've spent $100K on your car why trust it with a $20 wash??
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 Chevy Tahoe
Hey Mirroredimages, don't know if you're new to high end car maintenance or not. What I describe above is normal for guys who obsess over their cars - and like to show them off at weekend rallies. For your average guy any "hand" car wash, or simply a bucket and some soap will do. If you take your car to a professional AND knowledgeable paint correction guy he can show you the halos and swirls in your clear coat as a result of paint poor washing technique.
I can't guarantee that in three years it'll look showroom perfect because I don't know the conditions on the road you drive, or if you have the patience to do everything it takes to keep your car looking its best.
I use mine as a daily driver, and after two years looks as good as the day it rolled out of Speedfreak's detail shop. I use Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) in Sterling, Virginia. One of the best in the business. Google his page, give him a call and discuss it with him. He's a good guy, glad to discuss car care, and will give you the straight gouge.
For my money I'd say go for it. I've done it with both my Benzos, and they constantly get compliments from people passing by. By the way - I'm out the door right now to give Gladys her weekly wash!
Cheers,
Greg
I can't guarantee that in three years it'll look showroom perfect because I don't know the conditions on the road you drive, or if you have the patience to do everything it takes to keep your car looking its best.
I use mine as a daily driver, and after two years looks as good as the day it rolled out of Speedfreak's detail shop. I use Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) in Sterling, Virginia. One of the best in the business. Google his page, give him a call and discuss it with him. He's a good guy, glad to discuss car care, and will give you the straight gouge.
For my money I'd say go for it. I've done it with both my Benzos, and they constantly get compliments from people passing by. By the way - I'm out the door right now to give Gladys her weekly wash!
Cheers,
Greg
#69
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Miami Beach
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
'14 MB GL550 Diamond White/designo Porcelain/Black Leather w/ Bang & Olufsen BeoSound
Hey Mirroredimages, don't know if you're new to high end car maintenance or not. What I describe above is normal for guys who obsess over their cars - and like to show them off at weekend rallies. For your average guy any "hand" car wash, or simply a bucket and some soap will do. If you take your car to a professional AND knowledgeable paint correction guy he can show you the halos and swirls in your clear coat as a result of paint poor washing technique.
I can't guarantee that in three years it'll look showroom perfect because I don't know the conditions on the road you drive, or if you have the patience to do everything it takes to keep your car looking its best.
I use mine as a daily driver, and after two years looks as good as the day it rolled out of Speedfreak's detail shop. I use Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) in Sterling, Virginia. One of the best in the business. Google his page, give him a call and discuss it with him. He's a good guy, glad to discuss car care, and will give you the straight gouge.
For my money I'd say go for it. I've done it with both my Benzos, and they constantly get compliments from people passing by. By the way - I'm out the door right now to give Gladys her weekly wash!
Cheers,
Greg
I can't guarantee that in three years it'll look showroom perfect because I don't know the conditions on the road you drive, or if you have the patience to do everything it takes to keep your car looking its best.
I use mine as a daily driver, and after two years looks as good as the day it rolled out of Speedfreak's detail shop. I use Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) in Sterling, Virginia. One of the best in the business. Google his page, give him a call and discuss it with him. He's a good guy, glad to discuss car care, and will give you the straight gouge.
For my money I'd say go for it. I've done it with both my Benzos, and they constantly get compliments from people passing by. By the way - I'm out the door right now to give Gladys her weekly wash!
Cheers,
Greg
The following users liked this post:
GlobalMapper (07-07-2024)
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 Chevy Tahoe
Mirroredimages, More info (much the same) at the following link: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...50-2011-a.html
Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) is in Sterling, Virginia. But do give him a call, and tell him Greg with the CLK55 recommended.
Here's the deal, the OptiCoat is way tougher than your clear coat so it will preserve your clear coat, and makes the car far easier to clean - nice for x-country/DD. The 3M clear bra, while not bullet proof is FAR better than nothing.
Once you get your system down you can wash the car and have it dry in about 90 minutes. Additional time if you want to do anything extra.
Bottom line - well worth the investment. In the end your car will definitely look better with than without.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Greg
Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) is in Sterling, Virginia. But do give him a call, and tell him Greg with the CLK55 recommended.
Here's the deal, the OptiCoat is way tougher than your clear coat so it will preserve your clear coat, and makes the car far easier to clean - nice for x-country/DD. The 3M clear bra, while not bullet proof is FAR better than nothing.
Once you get your system down you can wash the car and have it dry in about 90 minutes. Additional time if you want to do anything extra.
Bottom line - well worth the investment. In the end your car will definitely look better with than without.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Greg
#71
Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Miami Beach
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
'14 MB GL550 Diamond White/designo Porcelain/Black Leather w/ Bang & Olufsen BeoSound
Mirroredimages, More info (much the same) at the following link: https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...50-2011-a.html
Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) is in Sterling, Virginia. But do give him a call, and tell him Greg with the CLK55 recommended.
Here's the deal, the OptiCoat is way tougher than your clear coat so it will preserve your clear coat, and makes the car far easier to clean - nice for x-country/DD. The 3M clear bra, while not bullet proof is FAR better than nothing.
Once you get your system down you can wash the car and have it dry in about 90 minutes. Additional time if you want to do anything extra.
Bottom line - well worth the investment. In the end your car will definitely look better with than without.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Greg
Brian Lewis (aka Speedfreak) is in Sterling, Virginia. But do give him a call, and tell him Greg with the CLK55 recommended.
Here's the deal, the OptiCoat is way tougher than your clear coat so it will preserve your clear coat, and makes the car far easier to clean - nice for x-country/DD. The 3M clear bra, while not bullet proof is FAR better than nothing.
Once you get your system down you can wash the car and have it dry in about 90 minutes. Additional time if you want to do anything extra.
Bottom line - well worth the investment. In the end your car will definitely look better with than without.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Greg
#74
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
2003 Chevy Tahoe
Just spoke with him on the phone. He fell down a flight of stairs holding his 1yr old, and in an attempt to protect his kid tore the ligaments in his ankle. Out of battery and on heavy meds right now. I'm going out to see him this weekend and will mention your call.