I was in Arizona for the weekend in 104 F heat, with full sunshine. Well my car was already filthy with dirt, dust and bugs from the drive. It's rain just enough to get the car wet. Well the car was even dirtier after that with all of the water soaking up the dirt. It then was sunny and hot as hell again. Well when I got home today, about 2 days later, I washed the car and noticed water spots sill on the car, so I went over with the mitt one more time. They were still there.
I then used Meguiars CLEANER wax, didn't help. I tried some GOLD CLASS wax and it didn't do much!
I think I am on the right track with getting some paint cleaner and/or polisher. THis is the only solution, right? I would prefer Meguairs, anyone have any suggestions to help me get the crap off the car!?
Thanks!

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

David try Zaino's #5 and #2, in that order. Works great on any and all water spots I've encountered. The #5 is the swirl remover, but takes hard-to-remove-otherwise spots right off.

Good luck!

__________________
Brian W.

01 S55 AMG Silver
01 CLK55 AMG Silver

David,

Since you want to stick with Maguire's, use their three step process.

#1 Cleaner, follwed by #2 Polish and finish with #3 Carnuba wax. All three go on nice and smooth and come off just as easy. Use the Cleaner Wax for inbetween waxings.

I've been using the three step process for a short while now and it has greatly improved my "less than Mercedes" repaint job (compliments of the PO). Next I will consider claying to see if that will improve it further.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Thanks Mike and Brian.

Mike,
I was thinking about the three step process. I was sure this would do the trick... but I do'nt want to spend all of that time! But when I see the results it'll be well worth it!
Doesn't the Mercedes Car Wash kit come with those exact three things?
Either way, I will do the 3 step process sometime soon, it needs it anyway.
BTW, how long does it take you?

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

David,

I can't really say how long it takes. Maybe a couple three to four hours. Usually I wash the car one evening after work and clean/polish/wax over the next couple evenings. Remember it's somewhat hotter inland, so I wait till the sun is lower before doing any of this.

When I spread it over a period of days, I'll do the hood & front fenders one evening, roof & doors the next then finish with trunk & rear fenders the final day. Spending maybe 1 1/2 hours doing the wax on/wax off thing each day. On the other hand, this does seem to last longer than the quickie wax.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Mike,
That's what I was thinking about...
But can I do it over a few weeks?
Like one week I wash the car, and then clean the paint.
I then wash it the next week and polish it.
And then I wash it the next week and wax it.
Would this work??

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

I guess you could David, but do you want your car unprotected that long? Once you use the cleaner, you'll have no wax on the paint, same with the polish.

If you need to spread it out over a period of time, do all three steps on one section so the entire car stays protected.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Mike,
Ok, I see that reasoning now! Maybe I'll do the front end one week, the mid section another, and the rear on the last weekend!
I get it now!
Thanks again.

Are you going to attend the meeting when we arrange it?

__________________
2006 E350 w/ 155k miles (Daily Driver)

Previous:
1993 300E 3.2L Sedan w/ close to about 300k miles
2003 E500 Brilliant Silver (Had 217k miles when totalled!)
1989 300E with 289,000 miles (had for <1 yr while in HI)
03 CLK 500 cabrio (Mom's)
2006 C230k (Dad's)
1999 S420 (Mom's/Dad's)
2000 C230k Sport sedans
2001 CLK320 Cabrio (Mom's)
1995 C280 My First Mercedes-Benz... (155k miles. EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. Was Very hard to let go of!)

David,

JCE made mention of the same a while back in email. The best I can say is "I'll try". We are in the midst of the shooting season so my free time is impacted considerably, only a very small portion of my shooting is company time, one of those sacrafices.

To top that off, the Mrs. and I have somewhat opposing shifts (different ends of the week). That means that squeezing the time will more than likely require the little ones come too, which isn't a problem for me.

Just let me know when & where, and "I'll try".

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.