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I used my dealer's car wash and they are not gentle. More swirls and light scratches from their work.
With the new 2015, I will wash it myself in the good weather. During the winter weather, I am trying the Griots waterless spray wash. I hear good things about it.
Have you ever clay barred your car? Takes about 30 minutes, is easy as wiping the car down and a kit is cheap.
It is amazing how much crud is in the paint. You can feel the difference instantaneously and when you wax it it will look better than it does after a wash.
The other thing was the guys at the seminar did a polish demo on a dark blue car with 12" pads and angle polishers. They wet sanded some scratches first and it came out great.
I hesitate to do that myself because you can burn the paint but you might find a pro with lots of experience can re-polish your black car and restore a lot of the depth of finish.
Amazing how quite a few don't wash, or wash infrequently. Thought we were all OCD, I was wrong ;-)
People who don't wash their cars don't have need for it. This means that they only drive on very clean dry days, don't drive much at all and certainly don't drive at night time in summer.
My car gets so filthy in the front from all the bugs alone I have to wash it at leas once a week but often twice and during the love bug season three times.
But I bought my car for a reason to travel safely and comfortably and this is why I have 81 000 miles on the counter... and loved most of them. Only don't like the rattles on a $71 000 car.
Some of you guys are seriously inspiring. Taking notes of the products used =D
Jay lenos says the less you wash your car over its lifetime the less rust will accumulate, and the car will last 10 years longer than normal.
Hand wash for the win, no drive through machines, even the manual says not to use that bs. The chems they use messes up our window trim and other stuff. The 'chrome' and things.
I love my car and agree wholeheartedly with the guy who said that using cloths on the paint is something id prefer to avoid. I see gloss paintjobs getting messed up all the time due to bad rags being used. Few years old and gloss paint thats been washed too much is quite swirly.
Mine is metallic but still I want to clean it way more often than I do. Havent found one great carwash in my area yet
Some of you guys are seriously inspiring. Taking notes of the products used =D
Jay lenos says the less you wash your car over its lifetime the less rust will accumulate, and the car will last 10 years longer than normal.
Hand wash for the win, no drive through machines, even the manual says not to use that bs. The chems they use messes up our window trim and other stuff. The 'chrome' and things.
I love my car and agree wholeheartedly with the guy who said that using cloths on the paint is something id prefer to avoid. I see gloss paintjobs getting messed up all the time due to bad rags being used. Few years old and gloss paint thats been washed too much is quite swirly.
Mine is metallic but still I want to clean it way more often than I do. Havent found one great carwash in my area yet
Jay Leno unfortunately lives in a part of the world where he has to drive to find road salt. He also lives in a part of the world where there can be corrosives in the rain water and the air. We all cannot house our cars in climate controlled environments and for most of us our cars are daily drivers exposed to all sorts of airborne chemicals that are not in the best interest of any finish be it a car or anything else.
The W124s were noted for rusting. I lived in southern Ontario Canada and road salt is a winter condition. Even on dry days the salt is ground to a dust that gets into every thing.
I followed the same routines as I do now.
If I could not hand wash it I used a touch-less car wash with a bottom blaster.
In the spring and fall I washed underneath with the garden hose, including from the top of the engine bay, all the wheel wells, under the floors, all the suspension and up and around the gas tank.
After 8 yr and 300000 km the only minor rust on the 1993 was where the metal clips that held the plastic cladding on the lower parts of the doors met the metal and even that was not serious. I had it fixed and learned from an old Italian body man to put lanolin in the holes and on the clips to prevent water getting to the metal again. The 1987 had none yet rust is a key focus in W124 buying guides to look out for.
I have to disagree with Leno. Diligence, clean water, good quality materials and you can have a great looking car for years. We also have to remember that paint finishes are chemically engineered to wear, be UV protection for the pigments etc. these days vs. the paints of the past.
I get SteveC325's point it is a just a car in the end, but while some golf, some hunt and fish other's hobbies are their cars. I know I am not alone when it comes to the passion some bring to their cars and others such as myself just get value in keeping them as new as possible for as long as possible.
My 2001 SLK was not as good when I got it 17 months ago as it is today but I have a huge smile on my face when I have it out. The wagon, not so much but it is pretty sharp for 4 yr old car.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Here in Orange County, CA, we are facing a severe water shortage and washing your own car is highly frowned upon. I take my car to the Newport Auto Spa, which is a hand car wash. All water is recycled through their system. $18.95 and the wipe down is the best I have ever seen. It's a great place and you routinely see Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Rolls, Porsches and tons of high end MB there. In addition to getting great service, it's like going to a car show! My wife's 2010 E350 is white and I take it in usually about every ten days or so.
Here in Orange County, CA, we are facing a severe water shortage and washing your own car is highly frowned upon. I take my car to the Newport Auto Spa, which is a hand car wash. All water is recycled through their system. $18.95 and the wipe down is the best I have ever seen. It's a great place and you routinely see Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bentleys, Rolls, Porsches and tons of high end MB there. In addition to getting great service, it's like going to a car show! My wife's 2010 E350 is white and I take it in usually about every ten days or so.
wow that's nice of a car wash to do that! This thread has showed me that I was abusing my cars by letting salt and dirt sit on it for weeks. Now, once a week it is!!
For over 6 years I have had a monthly pass that comes with unlimited car wash. It is a conveyor type with soft cloth brushes. I take mine in 5-7 times a week. My black car always stays clean. Sure, the paint has swirl marks - but only if it is looked at up close under the sun at certain angles. Because of the weather conditions in my area and having no time, it is impossible for me to hand wash and detail the car myself. I get the car professionally detailed every 6 months.
This winter there is absolutely no point, I don't even wash the cars, I just hose them off whenever I can. My wife's E always looks great (grey), my black ML always looks filthy. Looking forward to a spring thaw so I can get back into the routine of keeping the cars clean. In-season I can do a two bucket wash on three cars in about 15 minutes. The amg only comes out in good weather, I've never refilled the windshield washer...
Go to Chemicalguys.com and spend a sh*tload of money on a polisher and bottles of their products (that are apparently made with ground up $20's in them). You can then spend your free time washing, claying, polishing, washing, sealing, waxing, glazing....they have a youtube channel that is detailing ****.
Last edited by schorert1; Feb 23, 2015 at 08:28 AM.
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
Jun 5, 2015, 01:33 PM
