2012 Mercedes C63 AMG - 2 step paint correction & Opti-Coat by Mr. Sparkle Detailing
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Toyota Taco
2012 Mercedes C63 AMG - 2 step paint correction & Opti-Coat by Mr. Sparkle Detailing
Client contacted me late last year about getting his new C series coupe protected with Opti-Coat. Once my shop was opened we settled on a date for a 1 step polish with Opti-Coat.
Upon arrival I learned that he was actually second owner, and the car was purchased with 6000 miles on the odometer. It must've been a hard 6000 miles because the paint was a bit swirled up, with a number of deep random scratches.
Started with a wash. Some foam gun action
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-foam_800x600_zpsb0193b01.jpg)
Getting all the hard to reach places
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-cleanemblem_800x600_zps717255f1.jpg)
Took some paint measurements and most of the car was 90-120microns. This is referring to the red painted areas (95% of the car). There was a few inch wide sliver of the roof painted black that was dangerously thin. I would have to take special care on the black painted areas.
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-PTGblackthin_800x600_zpsbee452ce.jpg)
Here is what I was up against as far as swirls go
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-swirlsbefore_800x600_zpsb1901320.jpg)
Started with some test spots and this paint was H A R D and just generally tough to work with. I threw the bag at it and found that this paint was tough to fully correct, and would haze up quite a bit with anything aggressive. Then the gloss was difficult to restore. Deeper scratches just laughed at me. I knew this was going to be a long day and I reached out to the client to discuss.
Probably should've been a 3 step polish with wet sanding to get it truly 'perfect'. But budget and time constraints dictated otherwise. Client wanted to see a significant improvement with long lasting protection. This was also a daily driven vehicle, not a garage queen, so the decision was made for a 2 step polish.
Still wasn't easy settling on a combo I was happy with. Ultimately I went with:
Flex 3401 + LC Cyan + Menz SIP
Griots + LC Tangerine + SF4000
This offered a fair amount of correction while anything heavier in the cutting step seemed to need a lot of work to bring back the gloss
Apologize for the lack of correction shots, but this was a battle. Not an easy day for me at all. A lot of areas were hit twice with the initial cutting step to try and get a little more out of it. Also the client lived closeby and was waiting to pickup
before
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-qtrpanelswirlsbefore_800x600_zpsceecb5b1.jpg)
after
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-qtrpanelswirlsafter_800x600_zps06533b55.jpg)
After the correction the car was washed again, wiped down with 'Eraser' then protected with Opti-Coat
all finished up in the garage with owner on the way
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after1_800x600_zps5a4de4f6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after3_800x600_zps307eb7d6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after4_800x600_zps9cb699d6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after2_800x600_zps31868751.jpg)
under LED lights only
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-afterLEDonly_800x600_zps3ab61aa4.jpg)
Client was very happy with the results and I finally took a moment to enjoy the fact that this was an amazing car with a 90+% perfect finish.
Upon arrival I learned that he was actually second owner, and the car was purchased with 6000 miles on the odometer. It must've been a hard 6000 miles because the paint was a bit swirled up, with a number of deep random scratches.
Started with a wash. Some foam gun action
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-foam_800x600_zpsb0193b01.jpg)
Getting all the hard to reach places
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-cleanemblem_800x600_zps717255f1.jpg)
Took some paint measurements and most of the car was 90-120microns. This is referring to the red painted areas (95% of the car). There was a few inch wide sliver of the roof painted black that was dangerously thin. I would have to take special care on the black painted areas.
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-PTGblackthin_800x600_zpsbee452ce.jpg)
Here is what I was up against as far as swirls go
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-swirlsbefore_800x600_zpsb1901320.jpg)
Started with some test spots and this paint was H A R D and just generally tough to work with. I threw the bag at it and found that this paint was tough to fully correct, and would haze up quite a bit with anything aggressive. Then the gloss was difficult to restore. Deeper scratches just laughed at me. I knew this was going to be a long day and I reached out to the client to discuss.
Probably should've been a 3 step polish with wet sanding to get it truly 'perfect'. But budget and time constraints dictated otherwise. Client wanted to see a significant improvement with long lasting protection. This was also a daily driven vehicle, not a garage queen, so the decision was made for a 2 step polish.
Still wasn't easy settling on a combo I was happy with. Ultimately I went with:
Flex 3401 + LC Cyan + Menz SIP
Griots + LC Tangerine + SF4000
This offered a fair amount of correction while anything heavier in the cutting step seemed to need a lot of work to bring back the gloss
Apologize for the lack of correction shots, but this was a battle. Not an easy day for me at all. A lot of areas were hit twice with the initial cutting step to try and get a little more out of it. Also the client lived closeby and was waiting to pickup
before
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-qtrpanelswirlsbefore_800x600_zpsceecb5b1.jpg)
after
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-qtrpanelswirlsafter_800x600_zps06533b55.jpg)
After the correction the car was washed again, wiped down with 'Eraser' then protected with Opti-Coat
all finished up in the garage with owner on the way
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after1_800x600_zps5a4de4f6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after3_800x600_zps307eb7d6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after4_800x600_zps9cb699d6.jpg)
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-after2_800x600_zps31868751.jpg)
under LED lights only
![](http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q688/Mr_Sparkle_Detailing/Client%20Gallery/MercedesC63AMG-afterLEDonly_800x600_zps3ab61aa4.jpg)
Client was very happy with the results and I finally took a moment to enjoy the fact that this was an amazing car with a 90+% perfect finish.
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2012
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Toyota Taco
Thanks for the comment
This may help you. Map of approved installers of Opti-Coat (search by your zip in top right)
http://batchgeo.com/map/232199a337c8...9c28a4d3b9c6e7
This may help you. Map of approved installers of Opti-Coat (search by your zip in top right)
http://batchgeo.com/map/232199a337c8...9c28a4d3b9c6e7