Thanks for taking the time to help me. I recently bought a C240 sedan 2001. It is black with Java leather. If you look real closely to the paint, it appears to have fine scratch marks when viewed in direct sunlight. What can I do to fix this? Also, does the rags you use make a difference? What do you suggest? I usually use a chamois and then buff with a cotton shirt. Thanks for the help.

The scratches are hard to get out and will come back no matter what you do or how you clean the paint on this car. The paint is very soft and fragile on this car and can probably chip with your fingernail.

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

What you are probably seeing is what's called "cobweb effect" and also RIDS (random incidental deeper scratches).

I'd buy a Porter Cable random orbital polisher and use the Meguiar's line of detailing products.

Start with the Porter Cable and Meguir's Dual Action Cleaner Polish, then apply Meguiar's #9, then a polish, then NXT wax.

Check out www.meguiars.com to purchases or www.meguiarsonline.com for more discussion and help.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Follow Pauls suggestion and you'll have a great finish.

If you don't have access to a good random orbital you may be able to achieve decent results by hand using products like Scratch X or Color X both made by Meguiars. You'll need to purchase yellow foam applicators (available at any good auto store) and apply by hand. Afterwards apply wax using a second yellow foam applicator. For best results the polishes and waxes should be removed using a 100% cotton towel or a microfiber cloth (one for each product). Microfibers are available online or through auto stores. Don't buy the cheap ones or you'll end up with more scratches.

Cotton T-shirts are not very good simply because they don't have a deep pile. This keeps dirt between the cotton and the paint which in the end will add more scratches.

Good luck and take some before after pics!

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Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

Thanks for the help guys...I will let you know how it turns out. Any Turtle wax hard shell fans out there?

Yes.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Anyone have good recommendations as where to purchase the Porter Cable's at a good price?

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

Alan,

Try either Amazon or Coastaltool for the best prices. Meguiars sells a kit for a bit more but they include their high qualilty polishing pads and I believe a couple other items which make it worth checking into.

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Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

If you have a Lowe's nearby, they have the 7336SP kit for $109 + tax. This is the basic PC buffer + a bunch of sanding pads + the PC foam polishing pad + the 6" counterweight. Then you can get a foam pad set from someplace online (Meguiar's, CMA, Autopia, etc.).

I just got one a couple weeks ago, and I'm waiting for a nice weekend to try it out.

Is this the PC 7424 Polisher or a different model? Surprised the model # would not reflect that.

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Alan Hamm
'87 300SDL 277K Miles
'89 560 SL 68K Miles

The same Porter Cable machine is sold under about 4 different model numbers.

The only difference is the attachments that come with it, and the counter weight.

The one at Lowes is $110, and is the 7336 SP. It is their specific model made for polishing. It even comes with a foam pad that screws into the collet.

This is the machine you want because it has the 6" counterweight. The 6"counter weight is made for 6" sandpaper. The 5" counterweight is made for 5" sandpaper.

The 6" counter weight is much better than the 5" because the foam pads are much heavier than sandpaper, and thus does a better job of ameliorating vibration.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Thankyou all for your many helps and tips. I just finished cleaning and waxing my C240 and it looks amazingly better! I did not mention but i recently purchased this car from a dealer in Miami and had it shipped to the Bahamas. It was covered in dust and dirt (should have took before and after pics ), so I did not notice the 'copweb' type surface scratches on the paint until I washed it. All this aside, I went against you guys better judgment and got Turtle Wax hard shell with applicater and I also threw away all of my old rag shirts and chamois that was literally falling to pieces on me. I purchased a new chamois, 8 'scratch free' towels and a special cloth made by Meguiars called "The detailing cloth". The car looks amazing! I will post pics soon for you to see.