Need some advice before I start detailing.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,458
Likes: 3
From: Royal Oak, Michigan
Moped
Need some advice before I start detailing.
So I bought a 1 owner dealer maintained 1993 400E a couple months ago from a nice lady out here in Michigan. The car is in perfect working condition and the interior looks brand new. The only con when I bought it was the exterior. I could tell the previous owner did not care enough about the exterior and just did normal drive through car washes its whole life. There is no rust anywhere. A few dimples here and there but I will try the dry ice method to fix those.
My problem is the paint. It's rough everywhere. Scratches everywhere from scraping ice or just plain ice scratching the car. The hood has some type of oil embed inside it. I am not an expert with cosmetic DIY at all. I'm not even sure where to start or what these issues are called.
I've been reading and reading about different approaches to this.
Rough could be solved with a clay bar(still not sure, need someone to confirm).
Scratches with rubbing compound(too many different kinds out there that all have a different purpose).
Oil inside paint in hood - No idea at all what to do...
I was ready to give up and have the whole car repainted but getting rid of OEM paint is kinda dumb when its still curable. I got an exterior detail quote from Ziebart which was $249.99 without dent removal and they man told me he cannot guarantee removal of all scratches. For that price with no guarantee, I said no to that too.
What step by step process should I do? What should I deal with first? Is it worth buying a buffer or polisher? What products will work the best? Winter is coming soon so I plan on making this a project for the season.
Thanks guys!
My problem is the paint. It's rough everywhere. Scratches everywhere from scraping ice or just plain ice scratching the car. The hood has some type of oil embed inside it. I am not an expert with cosmetic DIY at all. I'm not even sure where to start or what these issues are called.
I've been reading and reading about different approaches to this.
Rough could be solved with a clay bar(still not sure, need someone to confirm).
Scratches with rubbing compound(too many different kinds out there that all have a different purpose).
Oil inside paint in hood - No idea at all what to do...
I was ready to give up and have the whole car repainted but getting rid of OEM paint is kinda dumb when its still curable. I got an exterior detail quote from Ziebart which was $249.99 without dent removal and they man told me he cannot guarantee removal of all scratches. For that price with no guarantee, I said no to that too.
What step by step process should I do? What should I deal with first? Is it worth buying a buffer or polisher? What products will work the best? Winter is coming soon so I plan on making this a project for the season.
Thanks guys!
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
From: Nebraska
2005 CLK500 cab, 2004 S600 designo mocha
If you have 0 experience and 0 supplies, I would say give the $250 detail a try.
You'll need to wash, clay bar, and polish (at least two step). The wash can be as low as $20, clay bar kits like Meguiars are $25.
Polishing is expensive, and you could really end up doing more damage than good. A decent DA polisher (like Porter Cable 7424xp) will be atleast $200. A minimum of $30 for two different pads, and $70 for a bottle of Meguiars M105 and M205. That's just for some of the major stuff, there are still a million smaller things like tape, grit guard, pad cleaners, synthetic sealants, etc. The sky is really the limit. For the polishing step, expect to spend at least $400 to do a bare minimum job with minimal tools. Oh, a paint thickness gauge is like $400 or something crazy like that.
Finally, try not to ask which products do best. You'll get a million different answers, some people around here seem to get offended when you don't like the products THEY use. Search around, there are a million detail threads in this sub-section. All of the major sponsors and detailers here list every product and tool they use to do their projects.
You'll need to wash, clay bar, and polish (at least two step). The wash can be as low as $20, clay bar kits like Meguiars are $25.
Polishing is expensive, and you could really end up doing more damage than good. A decent DA polisher (like Porter Cable 7424xp) will be atleast $200. A minimum of $30 for two different pads, and $70 for a bottle of Meguiars M105 and M205. That's just for some of the major stuff, there are still a million smaller things like tape, grit guard, pad cleaners, synthetic sealants, etc. The sky is really the limit. For the polishing step, expect to spend at least $400 to do a bare minimum job with minimal tools. Oh, a paint thickness gauge is like $400 or something crazy like that.
Finally, try not to ask which products do best. You'll get a million different answers, some people around here seem to get offended when you don't like the products THEY use. Search around, there are a million detail threads in this sub-section. All of the major sponsors and detailers here list every product and tool they use to do their projects.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul, MN
2013 E350 Wagon, prev 2005 ML 500 SE
detailing
Hi,
probably a tough job for your first detailing work.
I'm not very confident in Ziebart though.
I would strongly suggest going to AutoGeek site for info on detailing OR to ask for detailer suggestions in your area.
The required steps by a good detailer are : wash, Iron-X to remove iron deposits that get into paint, clay--different grades/level of abrasiveness for level of contaminents on paint, an abrasive correction step like with Meguires105, a finer abrasive step like Meguires 205, a paint prep step possibly, and a good sealant like BlackFire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant.
AutoGeek has info and videos of these steps (no affiliation-- I used site to learn a bunch about detailing).
Power equip is probably really necessary for this level of correction, like a DA--dual action rotary.
Good luck.
Probably worth trying to correct as it has great quality paint to start with. Any repaint job will probably not match OEM level. The question would be what level of correction would you be happy with and how much does that level cost from a qualified detailer.
My opinions above---others may differ....
probably a tough job for your first detailing work.
I'm not very confident in Ziebart though.
I would strongly suggest going to AutoGeek site for info on detailing OR to ask for detailer suggestions in your area.
The required steps by a good detailer are : wash, Iron-X to remove iron deposits that get into paint, clay--different grades/level of abrasiveness for level of contaminents on paint, an abrasive correction step like with Meguires105, a finer abrasive step like Meguires 205, a paint prep step possibly, and a good sealant like BlackFire Wet Diamond Paint Sealant.
AutoGeek has info and videos of these steps (no affiliation-- I used site to learn a bunch about detailing).
Power equip is probably really necessary for this level of correction, like a DA--dual action rotary.
Good luck.
Probably worth trying to correct as it has great quality paint to start with. Any repaint job will probably not match OEM level. The question would be what level of correction would you be happy with and how much does that level cost from a qualified detailer.
My opinions above---others may differ....
So I bought a 1 owner dealer maintained 1993 400E a couple months ago from a nice lady out here in Michigan. The car is in perfect working condition and the interior looks brand new. The only con when I bought it was the exterior. I could tell the previous owner did not care enough about the exterior and just did normal drive through car washes its whole life. There is no rust anywhere. A few dimples here and there but I will try the dry ice method to fix those.
My problem is the paint. It's rough everywhere. Scratches everywhere from scraping ice or just plain ice scratching the car. The hood has some type of oil embed inside it. I am not an expert with cosmetic DIY at all. I'm not even sure where to start or what these issues are called.
I've been reading and reading about different approaches to this.
Rough could be solved with a clay bar(still not sure, need someone to confirm).
Scratches with rubbing compound(too many different kinds out there that all have a different purpose).
Oil inside paint in hood - No idea at all what to do...
I was ready to give up and have the whole car repainted but getting rid of OEM paint is kinda dumb when its still curable. I got an exterior detail quote from Ziebart which was $249.99 without dent removal and they man told me he cannot guarantee removal of all scratches. For that price with no guarantee, I said no to that too.
What step by step process should I do? What should I deal with first? Is it worth buying a buffer or polisher? What products will work the best? Winter is coming soon so I plan on making this a project for the season.
Thanks guys!
My problem is the paint. It's rough everywhere. Scratches everywhere from scraping ice or just plain ice scratching the car. The hood has some type of oil embed inside it. I am not an expert with cosmetic DIY at all. I'm not even sure where to start or what these issues are called.
I've been reading and reading about different approaches to this.
Rough could be solved with a clay bar(still not sure, need someone to confirm).
Scratches with rubbing compound(too many different kinds out there that all have a different purpose).
Oil inside paint in hood - No idea at all what to do...
I was ready to give up and have the whole car repainted but getting rid of OEM paint is kinda dumb when its still curable. I got an exterior detail quote from Ziebart which was $249.99 without dent removal and they man told me he cannot guarantee removal of all scratches. For that price with no guarantee, I said no to that too.
What step by step process should I do? What should I deal with first? Is it worth buying a buffer or polisher? What products will work the best? Winter is coming soon so I plan on making this a project for the season.
Thanks guys!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 378
Likes: 15
From: Boston and SWFlorida
2025 GLC300 white, 2023 Taycan RWD black
I've had really good luck with Zaino products. They have a customer service phone. Website is zainostore.com. The products are first rate and easy to use. Good luck!
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 880
Likes: 4
From: Ponte Vedra Beach FL/ Hampstead, London, England
'84 380 SL/ '02 XK8
Professional Detailer’s Directory - http://www.autopia.org/find-professi...iler/index.php
“How much would a full detail of my vehicle cost?”- http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...icle-cost.html
“How much would a full detail of my vehicle cost?”- http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...icle-cost.html
