SL/R232 Washing - MBWorld.org Forums

May 16, 2023 | 03:05 PM

sks144

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2023

Posts: 15

Likes: 8

GLE53, SL63

Washing

This will be my first time owning a soft top (My 23 SL63 arrives next week)

I assume hand wash only? Any tips on how to keep the car clean if I’m taking it on a road trip? I know car washes are off limits

May 16, 2023 | 08:59 PM

BLAM

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 328

Likes: 70

From: Houston/Sugar Land, TX

C63s

Just make sure to not blast the top with high pressured water; it will ruin the top. Lower pressured water from a pressure washer should be ok.

May 17, 2023 | 08:06 AM

Omega803

Junior Member

Joined: May 2022

Posts: 51

Likes: 25

GLE350

Quote:

Originally Posted by sks144

Get a permaplate/ceramic coating. Helps avoid bug and grime damage especially in "love bug" Florida. I do not use any detergent. Historically, about annually, I give me car a clay bar treatment to remove built up grime. Do not take top down when wet. I have been searching for the cure for break dust. Do far, unsuccessful.

May 17, 2023 | 01:43 PM

JohnGigi

Member

Joined: Oct 2022

Posts: 123

Likes: 100

2022 AMG SL63

Ceramic brakes help.

May 17, 2023 | 01:56 PM

BLAM

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 328

Likes: 70

From: Houston/Sugar Land, TX

C63s

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnGigi

Ceramic brakes help.

Would help if I had the money for it😂! Brake dust is horrible. Ceramic coating the wheels make it much easier to wash off.

May 17, 2023 | 01:57 PM

sks144

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2023

Posts: 15

Likes: 8

GLE53, SL63

My concern is how to wash it if I’m taking a long road trip down the East Coast. I hope I can find some wash bays so I don’t have to use a touch less car wash

May 17, 2023 | 06:38 PM

kcirm

Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2022

Posts: 59

Likes: 36

From: Montreal

2022 SL 63

85% of the battle is fought with how you initially get the car.

Wheels - Carbon Ceramics
Paint - PPF the car with a self healing PPF (xpel for example)
Softtop - add protectant
Interior - PPF high traffic trim and apply protectant to leather.

After this, you can pretty much clean the car recklessly and it won't have any effect (swirl marks will dissapear). But please avoid high pressure washers for the softtop. Regular pressure is fine. You can clean it as you clean the rest of the car. Key here is consistency

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May 17, 2023 | 09:09 PM

BLAM

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 328

Likes: 70

From: Houston/Sugar Land, TX

C63s

Quote:

Originally Posted by e350wagon1

Sure? Always have used hi pressure on my 911‘s and never had issues… MB different?

I use my 2700 psi power washer with 45 degree tip about 3 feet away on my soft top. If you can run your hand under it than it’s likely safe for the top.