Hello, I have fresh, 6 month old paint on my hood, and I am ready to go ahead and put some wax on it. I have a few questions first though.

How do i begin? Just a wax? polish then wax? or... a paint cleaner, polish, then wax?

Bird poop - a couple of times i washed bird poop off and noticed surface scratched attributable to my rag when washing off. I polished the stain with Meguires #2 polish. I noticed a heavier surface scratchy-ness on it. Is the polish being too abrasive?

lastly, there are some DA marks that id like to polish out. ive tried to find my paint manufacturer online to no avail. my body shop told me it was made by ICI. anyone heard of this?

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1995 E320 Sportline Wagon "Bernard"
black on black leather

http://i.imgur.com/BdZ7jM3.png

My first impression after reading your post is that you need to invest in some high quality microfibers for wiping the car down. Rags can easily be the cause of the scratches your seeing. Expect to pay $5.00ea for a nice microfiber, I would buy at leat 4. I would also recommend a 100% cotton towel made in the USA for drying the car after a wash. Foreign made towels aren't always 100% cotton even if their labels states they are.

To remove light surface scratches you can try products like Meguiars Swirl Free Polish, Einzett 1Z Paint Polish or other products designed to be used by hand. Color X also has some abilities to remove scratches by hand and is readily available at auto stores.

If the scratches are deeper you may need to use a DA Polisher and a product like Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner Polish and or 3M Finesse It II. Use a high quality foam polishing pad, you'll find good ones at any auto paint/body supply. Remove the residue with the Microfiber cloth.

Follow these steps with your favorite wax applied with a yellow foam pad by hand and removed with a Microfiber cloth.

Good luck.

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Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

I really need to know what type of paint your dealing with, is it a base coat clear coat or a single stage paint? The previous products mentioned are fine. My son came home with Carnu B from the Los Vegas flee market. I does a real nice finish on his MBZ however I've not tryed it on mine yet.

www.carnu-b.com


The reason I ask weather your paint is a base coat clear coat or a single stage paint is that all the body shops in my area only do base coat clear coat paints. My car is the original single stage paint and I unfortunately need some body work done. All the shops want to change the paint on the repaired area to a base coat clear coat which will not match the rest of the car. In my opinion they want to put on a piece of levi material to repair leather. Yes I think this is BS.

Anyone have any suggestions?

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1984 280SEL, 62,000 miles
Euro model in the USA
1983 300D (Totaled out 10/2004)
New Factory Mint Green paint
Palomino int
1982 240D (Steak dinner for two)

FineOlBenz-

Just out of curiousity, where did you have your car painted?(Mint green 300D) I have some body damage, and am thinking about having the whole car re-finished in the process to erase minor blemishes, giving the car a consistant finish. I have a body shop lined up in Burlingame (L.R. Spencer co.) , near my home, BUT am open to looking around before I have the work done.

Since im in the Bay Area, anywhere in Northern CA that does excellent body work will be a consideration.

Suggestions?

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Nate

1995 E420
1992 BMW 525i
1984 300D Turbo sold
1993 Volvo 244 sold
1995 Volvo 944T R.I.P!


"The details are not details. They make the product."
-Charles Eames

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