Excited to find the site since I just purchased my 2003 E500. What an awesome car, and so far, thanks for all the hints and info about it.

I'm a former professional high-end detailer based out of the Atlanta area. Besides detailing for a handful of well known people, I also detailed for West Coast Corvettes as their show detailer, once had a hand in business development for a west coast wax manufacturer, and have detailed at the Concours d'elegance. Having started the business in college, I saw success early, and decided to pursue other dreams as of last year, selling the bulk of the business. I still have a handful of clients I cater to on the weekends, and enjoy now more as a hobby.

At the age of 25, I now work for a company called Indus International that develops enterprise asset management software, also Atlanta.

I'm recently married to my high school sweetheart of 9 years, and drive a 2003 Harley VROD, an Explorer, and the wife has a GT Spyder Eclipse. It's odd if you don't catch me in the driveway and garage once a week tending to the toys.

I hope to contribute information about detailing and products here, and in turn, learn more about my new passion.

 

Welcome to the forum Nickc0844. One question. When can you detail my car Ever come to Boston ?. Best of luck with you new german machine. You won't find a better forum for information than right here.

 

Geez, another biker. There goes the neighborhood!

 

welcome to the forums man, trust me i've driven a W211 and it is an impressive car (maybe better than the W210 but I still love my baby)

 

MB and is also a 2003 E500. I got it at Atlanta Classic Cars.

Post often, post PICTURES (I still need to do this), and make sure to explain any difficulties you may have with the new ride. Great choice!

 

I've got nothing good to say, as usual. Just "Welcome".

I give it 3 months before the mod bug bites.

 

Welcome - and a question for you.

My standard wax job involves using a clay bar, followed by a coat of Zymol Carbon. Unfortunately, the Zymol will repeatedly develop a white haze, requiring buffing out with a towel several times before the haze no longer forms.

The end result is gorgeous, but repeatedly buffing off the white haze is getting old. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

Nice to meet you Reck. I've done some work in the past for ACC. Great place there!

Definitely want to start posting some pictures after the first big detail!

Any Atlanta meets in the past or planned?

 

I couldn't agree with you more jocon! This forum is definitely better than the other decent one that is out there. A lot more participation here it seems.

Boston, huh? Actually, I'm due up to go to Mass (Amherst) late Sept. or October on business. I said former professional detailer, but still like to earn money. Yes, I do fly to client sites

 

Sweet, the first question I get to contribute to. I do have experience with Zymol, and have myself the Estate Glazes Vintage, Destiny, Atlantique, (bought the kit) as well as Carbon.

Couple things first. Zymol is very, very finicky. I rarely use it anymore because of that fact. However, the look is stunning (and it's cool to know you just put a wax on that costs so damn much)!

1) What was the weather like when applied. Zymol should not be applied when it is too cold out in Michigan, nor in direct sunlight. My experience is that it needs to be above 55* and below 80*.

2) How did you apply? With your fingers? Foam? Microfiber?

3) How did you remove? I suggest microfiber...none other!

4) Claying is essential, as you said you did. However, did you polish before hand? Claying will get the physical sediment and contamination off the surface of the car, but you need a paint polish with no fillers that will neutralize the chemical contamination that sticks to the surface. This will better prep your vehicle before laying Carbon (or any wax for that matter). Like I said, Zymol is especially finicky.

5) The root cause of hazing is typically too much applied. Try spreading thinner, then removing with only microfiber and a small spritz of a quality detail spray onto the cloth.

Having said all of that, Zymol puts these message directly on their website:

a) "This Glaze requires prior experience of zymol waxes." Meaning, get used to it if you want to use it (Vintage)

b) "Using moderate to heavy pressure" Not in my forte...that's a method of the past!

c) "Wait three to four hours, then lightly buff the paint again to perfect the shine." Not uncommon with most paste waxes, but essential with Zymol.


So, my last question to you would be, would you purchase it again? In my honest opinion, I would not due to the effort required. There are premium pastes out there today that will out perform even the $1800+ Zymol Vintage with less than half the effort at approximately 2.3% of the cost. It's a great experience, but one that only lasted me a few applications before it wore off.

Hope the long rant helps you out. You've got a great wax! Try some of the suggested above, and post the pics!

 

Nick,

I've only had the car for ~6 weeks and been reading the board for about that long... Haven't seen anything yet about ATL meets, but that would be interesting.

What color interior/exterior did you pick? Do I see from your avatar that you got the keyless go?

 

Welcome to the board!!

I'm a fairly new Benz owner as well. Detailing is something I have very little experience with so hopefully reading some of your posts will be very informative to me.

 

Took awhile to get, but I figured I would share the 1st mod...my license plate! Many of the ideas were already taken, so this one had to do. If I'm just toolin' around, it's FAST BENZ....if I'm pulled over, it's FIRST BENZ