That'll buff out

[alabbasi]

Today was spent cleaning up all the crap on the carpets where the raccoon tried to dig through the floor insulation to get out. It now looks presentable. Then by buddy Rob and I replaced the fuel pump, filter, fuel strainer and all of the associated hoses.

Before doing any of this, we drained the fuel tank using an electric fuel pump connected to hoses that we fed through the filler.

The car started and ran rough for about 2 minutes while the remainder of the old gas cycled through it and then it ran great! Oil pressure is excellent and and there is no smoke or rattle. The engine is very strong and fast and silky smooth, even though there is no exhaust system on it. Starter is failing though and the brake master appears to be on it way.

Radio works fine, so do the electric windows and the a/c still has a slight charge.

All said, a very productive day.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

Today was spent cleaning up all the crap on the carpets where the raccoon tried to dig through the floor insulation to get out. It now looks presentable. Then by buddy Rob and I replaced the fuel pump, filter, fuel strainer and all of the associated hoses.

Before doing any of this, we drained the fuel tank using an electric fuel pump connected to hoses that we fed through the filler.

The car started and ran rough for about 2 minutes while the remainder of the old gas cycled through it and then it ran great! Oil pressure is excellent and and there is no smoke or rattle. The engine is very strong and fast and silky smooth, even though there is no exhaust system on it. Starter is failing though and the brake master appears to be on it way.

Radio works fine, so do the electric windows and the a/c still has a slight charge.

All said, a very productive day.

Sounds expensive - a whole new exhaust system. What are the miles showing on the car? Definitely sounds like a project car at this point. Glad to read you are making kwik progress on it......

[alabbasi]

Shows 69000 on the clock. The exhaust is not going to be too expensive.

[Skid Row Joe]

Pictures will be most appreciated. -Interior/under bonnet.

Is there rust under the aftermarket chrome wheel cowlings? If the car is completely rust-free, it has promise.

[alabbasi]

All in good time, but i'm not selling.

[Skid Row Joe]

I would not consider buying it without an asking price - your car is safe.

[Lou K]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

So I bought this 500sl that had been sitting outside for 5 years in a farm. The paint look pretty gruesome.



As I has some free time today, I thought I would take a shot at restoring the paint.

I went at it first with 1000 grit sand paper and soapy water, followed by Maguires medium cut cleaner and then Maguires machine glaze. Both using my cheap machine buffer.

I did pretty well until the buffer died on me.

This is a close up of the paint. I had already hosed the car down with a pressure washer when i got it. This was still on the paint.



After first pass with the buffer.





From a distance



I stopped at the trunk lid, hood and sides because the buffer died. Will buy another one tomorrow and finish the job off.

"They say" sometime it is better to be lucky than good. Typically it would take a real pro to get 1000 grit sand marks out of paint. Before you go any deeper into your project invest in some 2500 or 2000 grit. From what I can see the car is oxidized and polishing compounds can remove that fairly easy without wet sanding.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by Lou K

"They say" sometime it is better to be lucky than good. Typically it would take a real pro to get 1000 grit sand marks out of paint. Before you go any deeper into your project invest in some 2500 or 2000 grit. From what I can see the car is oxidized and polishing compounds can remove that fairly easy without wet sanding.

Not so. 1,000 grit is not a problem.

In my personal experience, any properly instructed DIYer, with the right manufacturer's products, pads, and variable low-speed buffer, can actually do better than most of the so called body and paint shop "pros."

[t walgamuth]

Is it a 500 euro?

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

Is it a 500 euro?

Yes.

[alabbasi]

Got a couple more pictures after I completed buffing. The hood still needs work but I ran out of compound. It's seriously oxidized but I think I can get it out (slowly and carefully).

Also flushed the brake system. But it looks like I will need a new master cylinder.

[POS]

That's excellent - I bought a red 300D once that hadn't been waxed in many, many years. A long afternoon removing oxidants and oxidation and the signal red went from a hazy pink to a brilliant red. Just like your car. Still needs a top, but that paint looks very good. I'd say you just doubled the value of the car, assuming you paid roughly what I think you did. Congrats again.

[TheDon]

wow

[alabbasi]

Well at least it looks OK, I need a new exhaust system, new set of tires , new brake master and a set of shocks and sub frame mounts.
I'll get all the parts together by the weekend and change them over.

[daw_two]

What's that spacecraft in the background? Are you being taken to Mercedes Heaven?