SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: My Presidential Detail...from shiny to nearly flawless.
Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 169
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From: San Jose, CA
04 SL55 AMG
Found this link, thought it might be of interest to those following this thread...
http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/...amg-10400.html
http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/...amg-10400.html
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
You may remember the detail article on this Benz that I recently completed.
Presidential Detailed: 2006 Mercedes SL65 AMG - Tampa Racing
Well, I was lucky enough to also detail its awesome twin! This car has every modification you can think of while staying tasteful! I was lucky enough to drive this one home from a local car show where I had it on display and all I can say is WOW WHAT A MACHINE! :nerd:
This is how the car looked when I arrived. It was falry dirty due to the non-stop rain we have been getting here in FL lately.
I turned my attention to the wheels first, as they were pretty dirty.
I then turned my attention to prepping the rest of the car for polishing. I used a sample of TropiCare's Citrus Wash to help break down any oils or contaminants that may have been bonded to the surface. I must say, this stuff works quite well!
Presidential Detailed: 2006 Mercedes SL65 AMG - Tampa Racing
Well, I was lucky enough to also detail its awesome twin! This car has every modification you can think of while staying tasteful! I was lucky enough to drive this one home from a local car show where I had it on display and all I can say is WOW WHAT A MACHINE! :nerd:
This is how the car looked when I arrived. It was falry dirty due to the non-stop rain we have been getting here in FL lately.
I turned my attention to the wheels first, as they were pretty dirty.
I then turned my attention to prepping the rest of the car for polishing. I used a sample of TropiCare's Citrus Wash to help break down any oils or contaminants that may have been bonded to the surface. I must say, this stuff works quite well!
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
I then pulled it into the garage out of the sun to be dried and began taping the car off.
Even with my powerful halogens this E55 was showing very little swirls/scratches. Under full sun there was a different story however, I knew then that I would need to pull the car out into the sun to check my work for the most true results.
Some suns shots after being washed.
I began by taping off half of the trunk for my test panel.
After SIP/PFW via rotary followed by M205/Orange via DA.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
Before.
After.
The true results now present themselves.
The entire front hood/fenders had been clear bra'd so I turned my attention to the passeneger side doors.
After SIP/PFW..
Followed by M205/Orange via DA.
I then moved onto the rear door..
A closer look to see the deeper swirls in the paint..this was how the entire car was, sometimes being hard to capture on camera.
After.
The true results now present themselves.
The entire front hood/fenders had been clear bra'd so I turned my attention to the passeneger side doors.
After SIP/PFW..
Followed by M205/Orange via DA.
I then moved onto the rear door..
A closer look to see the deeper swirls in the paint..this was how the entire car was, sometimes being hard to capture on camera.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
After SIP/PFW..
Followed by M205/Orange via DA..
I then moved onto the rear 1/4 panel..
After, with a glimpse of the sun..
I was running out of time, so I forgot to get the before/during pictures of the driver side, but here are some afters..
With Flash..
I then turned my attention to the lower half of the doors, which seemed to be worse than the rest of the vehicle..
Before.
Followed by M205/Orange via DA..
I then moved onto the rear 1/4 panel..
After, with a glimpse of the sun..
I was running out of time, so I forgot to get the before/during pictures of the driver side, but here are some afters..
With Flash..
I then turned my attention to the lower half of the doors, which seemed to be worse than the rest of the vehicle..
Before.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
I stepped up to a Megs Yellow Wool with M105 for these sections.
After M205/Orange..
The next day, before starting on the rear bumper/lower trunk/roof I decided to check my work in the full sun before it went behind the clouds.
Just how I like em, a mirror.
I taped off each section to ensure no edges were burnt(I was lucky, this car has the full glass roof feature! )
I had to lift open the trunk to properly polish, but there is some serious audio work back there. I decided it was better to tape/cover the entire trunk before creating more work for myself.
After M205/Orange..
The next day, before starting on the rear bumper/lower trunk/roof I decided to check my work in the full sun before it went behind the clouds.
Just how I like em, a mirror.
I taped off each section to ensure no edges were burnt(I was lucky, this car has the full glass roof feature!
)I had to lift open the trunk to properly polish, but there is some serious audio work back there. I decided it was better to tape/cover the entire trunk before creating more work for myself.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
I used the full size pad for the larger areas, then bumped down to a spot buff 3" PFW for the smaller areas.
All of the CF trim was then polished by hand with Zaino AIO.
As well as the wheels, since they were also painted.
The glass roof had some hard water spots that were difficult to remove, so I opted to polish all of the glass with 106ff via the DA on a white pad. Worked quite well actually!
Before..hard to tell but it was not something to tackle with simple glass cleaner.
After.
ALL of the glass was polished, as well as the B-pillars.
All of the CF trim was then polished by hand with Zaino AIO.
As well as the wheels, since they were also painted.
The glass roof had some hard water spots that were difficult to remove, so I opted to polish all of the glass with 106ff via the DA on a white pad. Worked quite well actually!
Before..hard to tell but it was not something to tackle with simple glass cleaner.
After.
ALL of the glass was polished, as well as the B-pillars.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
Some more final pics! Unfortunately I wasnt able to get complete day shots, Ill try to get some soon.
The entire car(even the clearbra) was coated with TWO coats of Blackfire Paint Sealant. This left the car with an incredibly slick surface and water literally will not stick to the car!
The entire car(even the clearbra) was coated with TWO coats of Blackfire Paint Sealant. This left the car with an incredibly slick surface and water literally will not stick to the car!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
Thanks, Jon(AMGFAN) has done a truly awesome job modifying both of these vehicles. I do not have a contact for you in that area, but I do travel the country for detail work. Ill send you a PM with more info. Thanks!
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2006
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presidental is the man, everyone knows it! we are both on another big car site, n2s, anyway i want him to come to west palm to do one of my cars, maybe he could come for a few days to do a few, in exchange for a discount i'll let him use my house/garage for a while. leme know pres!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
presidental is the man, everyone knows it! we are both on another big car site, n2s, anyway i want him to come to west palm to do one of my cars, maybe he could come for a few days to do a few, in exchange for a discount i'll let him use my house/garage for a while. leme know pres!
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 110
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From: SoCal
2007 CLS 550 (Black)
Very nice work! 
I noticed that you tape the edges, chrome, rubber...etc. Do you leave the tape until the end of polishing/waxing/buffing? If so, what do you do to remove the polish/wax build up at the edge of the tape?
I noticed that you tape the edges, chrome, rubber...etc. Do you leave the tape until the end of polishing/waxing/buffing? If so, what do you do to remove the polish/wax build up at the edge of the tape?
Junior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 33
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From: Tampa, FL
Ford Ranger
I only tape off adjacent panels or rubber trim usually. There usually isnt much build up on the tape once removed, so a simple wipe as normal will take care of it.
