david1991park

I recently purchased a S550 and want to keep it clean as possible

Can anyone recommend product to remove water stains for the exterior
and tire/rim cleaner.

Also any methods on how to clean would be much appreciated.

-Thanks and Merry Christmas!

FFXF1

Look in the technical and vehicle assistance forums under detailing and automotive care. If your car is new I strongly recommend you take it to a professional detailer for a multi-stage paint correction. The guy needs to have experience with late model MBs as it's easy to screw up the newer ceramic clear coats. Following the paint corrections I'd have them seal the entire car in OptiCoat, and a full 3M clear bra custom installed. Total package will cost around $3K, but well worth every penny.

Below are my general tips for what I do weekly. I spend about three to four hours every week on my car. Longer when necessary. For a quick wash it'll only take 90- min or so.

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 loose surface dirt and grit.

2 - Wash wheels, tires & wheel wells first: 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??

david1991park

Thanks you so much!

FFXF1

A couple of afterthoughts. Dedicate your MF mitts to their specific jobs - one for wheels only, one for the dirt belt and one for overall cleaning. Dedicate your MF towels to their specific functions as well - one set dedicated to exterior drying only, one set for trim work, glass cleaning, interior trim, leather, etc. If you're going to this level of detail - proper care of your MF is highly recommended. I wash my MF in similar batches so as not to mix dirty with cleaner towels, or greasy/oily with exterior finish towels. I wash them 2X with Detailer's Microfiber Cleaner, and white vinegar in the rinse cycle on delicate. Air dry them with no heat, and no dryer towel. Stored in a plastic tub with snap-top lid to keep out dust while being stored.

Hope this helps!

david1991park

Thank you!!!

wilassasin

I totally agree about separating the mitts but for routine washes I use meguiars. Great write up FFXF1

mercedes4ever

Meguairs Next Gen Tech Wax is all I use, apply with HAND Pad & buff with orbital 3,000 rpm Buffer machine...LOOKS AMAZING, DIAMOND FINISH!!

Mike5215

I wash mine with Perrier and $100 dollar bills.

malahhaor

Any particular flavor of Perrier?

mercedes4ever

I hope that Perrier was bottled by a Virgin at dawn!!

Mike5215

I dry it with swan farts. It takes about twenty full grown swans to do the whole car. The night before I plan to clean the car the swans are fed a rich diet of suet and cornmeal. By morning, trapped gas from the fatty food has distended their bellys. Then it's just a matter of aiming the swan's anus at the car and giving the swan a little squeeze.

mercedes4ever

How environmentally friendly!!! I Award you 5 Green Stars!!!

Mike5215

It's important to me to respect the environment whilst cleaning my Mercedes.

natcahd

Mike....i believe you have some problems...lmao....Any chance i can get you to start cleaning my car. Seems you have the recipe down pat.

Hd

Mike5215

Hell yes I have problems. Do you people have any idea how much food twenty adult swans eat in a day?

FFXF1

You guys have got the process all wrong - amateurs... the virgins wash the car, and swan farts are known to leave unwanted residue and streaking on the pristine finish. Once the virgins have finished washing the car with slightly chilled Perrier, they tongue dry it... You guys have a lot to learn about cars - best you study up before you start running your sucks in public!

Jason B

Lol. These swans are hilarious.

xabo

www.autogeekonline.net

Mike5215

Nonsense. A well-maintained swan will emit nothing but warm air and methane. If one is careful to direct the swan's anus at an angle twenty degrees downward and perpendicular to the car's surface AT ALL TIMES, the methane, being less dense than air, will rise harmlessly away.

Virgins are very difficult to find here in the South, where a "virgin" is defined as "a girl who can outrun her older brother."