davidegai

Are you SL 55 drivers waxing your care already, to prevent the paint from being damaged, or are you just not bothering with it? If yes, what products are you using?

blueSL

I've noticed in the past that new cars are more prone to stone chipping during the first few weeks and months, maybe the paint is still hardening. So I think the best thing you can do is keep your distance from traffic in front until you can overtake.

Would this be a plausible defense?

"Yes officer, the reason I overtook that truck at 120mph was to protect my paintwork".

GMW

I would not wax a car until at least a month after its stated date of completion of production. Then I would wax it regularly to keep the paint smooth and more resistant to scratches. Plus keep your distance from the cars ahead especially in the winter where, you might not hear it but that sand is mixed with the slush/water and blasting away at the paint.

SilverSL55

The best product that I've ever used is manufactured by Zymol. It's a little more work that some others but nothing works better and looks better.

bobafett

I'm a Zymol lover, but in the end, Meguiars products are brilliant. It's simply a matter of determining what products you need for what purpose. I'd imagine in the beginning you need to let the paint "cure" fully for the first 4-8 weeks, and then touch it up if need be (Imperial Hand Glaze, etc.), and then wax.

The big compromise between waxes is Shine vs. durability. Quite frankly, I'll take less durability because I plan on doing (and do now as it is) a full detailing every 2-3 weeks as necessary.

--Dan

PS: The Zaino stuff - don't trust it. I'm *still* not convinced.

davidegai

I got a Zymol kit through the Internet, but It was so complicated and HARD to use, I only did the mirror and it looked so opaque, so I gave it up. Unfortunatelly Europe does not have the detailing shops that are available in the United States

NightSea

How about Zibart ?

davidegai

What is Zibart, is there any Web site describing it?

NightSea

I made a mistake ..not Zibart but Ziebart.

www.ziebart.com

I am going to apply Ziebart paint and interior(leather) protection
as I have done to other MB cars.

(At Korea, it costs 3-4 hundred dollars.)

AndrewEclipse

Because I have a showcar that is sponsored by Meguiars, I recieve boxes and boxes of free car care products on a regular basis. I have a 7K paint job on my showcar and taking care of it is a top priority. I have tried everything from Zymol to Turtle Wax, but I keep coming back to Meguiars because of its ease of use and it makes my paint mirror-like.

I highly recommend washing the car with Meguiars Gold Class Wash....now....here is the secret...

MEGUIARS SHOWCAR GLAZE #7

Use that after a wash and remove any swirls and your paint will be a MIRROR, i guarantee it.

After the glaze, use a good wax, (i personally like meguiars gold class liquid wax), but Zymol is excellent too. As long as you use that number 7 showcar glaze.....you will love it.

Feel free to ask me any questions about anything car care related, i have a huge book with every single question answered and my sponsor helps me out with anything.

AndrewEclipse

By the way...people that are waxing their cars as soon as they get it off the lot. You are actually doing damage to the paint because it hasn't fully cured yet.

In my opinion and the opinions of MANY experts, it is best to glaze the car for atleast 10 weeks after the paint has been applied to ensure its total dryness. After that, a good carnuba wax can be applied, but only after the paint has cured COMPLETELY.

davidegai

You might be right. How about hand washing versus automated car washes?

blueSL

Automatic car washes for the SL55 - No Way!

I have ruined the paint work on my SL600 through using automatic car washes. Pressure of time, other cars to take care of and the fact that the SL600 is my daily work-horse are my excuses.

I'm keeping the SL600 in that role because the re-sale value is ridiculous and I'm putting it in to have a mid-life makeover which will include a front-end respray and mechanical polish

I'm even a bit suspicious of my Karcher jet wash.

davidegai

blueSL, DO NOT use the Karcher on the car! I have one which I use for my mountain bikes. Once I used it on a friend's car and the paint peeled off.

This morning washed the SL at one of those low pressure automated nozzles, It came out well save for the Wheels. I think it is almost impossible to get the dirt off them, unless one uses a soft round tapered brush.

But this is going to be tonigt's work after the bike ride. I'll post something within 8 hours.

GMW

I just use a plastic hose, keeping it a fair distance from the car so it never touches it. The water pressure is enough to gently pour itself all over the car. I also use two soft bristled car wash brushes (beware: some so-called soft bristled car brushes are not as soft as others) in conjunction with the water to wash the car. One brush for the top part and another for the lower part.
I am currently using Gardena soft-bristled car brushes. SL shall get the same treatment.

The Karcher jet wash is used only to clean up the tarmac in the driveway of any soil from numerous washes.

henry42

First of all I never heard you shouldn't wax and protect your paint after you receive a vehicle, that's why you're getting paint chips early on. If people state here to wait at least a month after production well it takes two weeks after build to be shipped overseas to us, at least it will after I take Euro delivery of mine at Thanksgiving. I won't see the car till mid December. Before delivery of my ML55 last year the dealer tried to apply their delivery glaze which is part of the prep job. I told them no, I'll take care of it myself. I use Zymol products, and you have to remove all the debris on the paint with their system before you can add the wax to protect the paint. The paint is going to harden underneath the wax like it does throughout it's life. It breathes and changes constantly.

1987 560SL- 17,500 mi. 100% original cond.1 car
1998 ML320- 47,500 mi. Green w/Tan
2001 ML 55 - 6,500 mi. Black w/ Charcoal- not a scratch
All for sale, something must go to make room for SL55

AndrewEclipse

How can paint breathe the proper way under a carnuba wax application?? That is absolutely incorrect. I have been to 5 bodyshops that tell me the same thing also. You must wait for the paint to FULLY cure. For example, if you get cut, you shouldn't seal it with tape airtight. The wound has to fully dry BEFORE you put protection. As for the chips....as mentioned earlier in the thread, avoid heavier traffic, for a few weeks. Why do you think it chips?? It hasn't fully cured and you are greatly reducing the long-term brilliance of the paint by sealing it before it cures. I would stick to glazing for the first few weeks.

In regards to automatic car washes....my answer is simply HELL NO. Especially with a new SL. It just doesnt make sense that anyone that can afford this car would settle for anything less than the best. Those car washes present a number of problems including harsh materials and cheap products. Either take it to a hand wash or clean it yourself.

bobafett

Andrew is absolutely right.

--Dan

henry42

Man you guys got a lot to learn about paint and wounds and how do you make that kind of analogy in the first place. Cuts need to be cleaned and sealed to prevent infection. Do you know they put superglue to seal cuts. You're talking to body shops that paint cars and , yes , after you pick it up you let the paint harden and you don't mess with it. Why don't you talk to MB about paint.

AndrewEclipse

Henry,

If you want to talk about cuts, i can give you a 9 hour lecture about the proper way to treat hundreds of types of wounds. It was simply to try to drive home the fact that paints need to dry completely before applying something that will hinder its "recovery" time.

Its obviously not me that needs to talk to MB about paint care, since MB themselves GLAZE the damn car upon delivery. Why dont they wax it henry?? Hmm....makes you wonder.

Here's an idea, since your not comprehending the simple knowledge that I am trying to convey. How about you get out your trusty phone book and call several high end body shops and see what they say. The ones I talk to are on contract with several Mercedes dealers who send their cars to them for body repair and paint.

If that doesn't convince you, my sponsor, Meguiars will be more than happy to answer any question you have about car care. If you want their number I can send it to you also.

Sorry to sound rude, but i just cant stand ignorance......

theboogers

i had a clear bra installed on my new sl 500 and would highly reccommend it for any new mercedes. after watching my new cl500 magnetically attract chips.

bobafett

Clearbra is for women. Attractive ones, preferably.

Seriously, the best thing to use instead of wax or even clearbra is a crystal guard.

--Dan

blueSL

What about the leather? How soon after delivery should that be first treated with leather care products to keep it supple?

bobafett

Leather is different - honestly, you should probably use a nutrient-enrichening / UV protectant kind of leather cleaner / buffer / solution.

I've found that the best-smelling (ie almost none, but with a genuine leather smell), and honestly the best-working product is from Griot's garage. Their leather care (don't bother with the scent spray thing, it's silly / useless at best) is unparalleled.

--Dan

PS: Forgot to mention that you can do leather anytime you want to. You don't need to do it right away, although it might not be a bad idea....