Proper care of original paint and fixing small rust bits - W115

[ejboyd5]

The most important preservation step you can take is to avoid mechanical car washes. All the rest of the suggestions are simply fine tuning.

[Benz Dr.]

Most of the cars that run through my shop get a light buffing at a body shop I use. I consider it a yearly maintenance item that usually never gets done. It could remove some of the streaks you have.

[Tomas7]

That's a gorgeous car and it looks in really good shape. I too live in the city (Miami Beach) in a condo. I do not have a garage but I have my own parking spot. I drive my car daily and every night i put her to bed by covering her up. Every morning I take the cover off, put it in the trunk and drive. I never take my car to the car wash unless it's a self-serve car wash where nothing touches the car but my sponge. I wash sparingly.

[optimusprime]

Cleevs Nice car . If you go down the cover road .You need to put cotton sheets over the bodywork to stop any rubbing as the wind moves the cover .I take all the sheets my wife lets go of , thats after she replacing the ones on our bed . Good luck .

[97 SL320]

A car port + a cover would work wonders. When a car is seldom driven and left outside, water tends to pool in various areas causing rust. Also, keeping the sun ( UV ) off the car will go a long way in reducing deterioration of paint , plastic , rubber. Not all car covers block UV so check around.

Is your off street grass , gravel or paved? Parking on grass / gravel will cause under car rust since moisture is constantly coming off the ground.

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by ejboyd5

The most important preservation step you can take is to avoid mechanical car washes. All the rest of the suggestions are simply fine tuning.

Originally Posted by Benz Dr.

Most of the cars that run through my shop get a light buffing at a body shop I use. I consider it a yearly maintenance item that usually never gets done. It could remove some of the streaks you have.

Originally Posted by Tomas7

That's a gorgeous car and it looks in really good shape. I too live in the city (Miami Beach) in a condo. I do not have a garage but I have my own parking spot. I drive my car daily and every night i put her to bed by covering her up. Every morning I take the cover off, put it in the trunk and drive. I never take my car to the car wash unless it's a self-serve car wash where nothing touches the car but my sponge. I wash sparingly.

Very good. That is now the plan of action!

Originally Posted by optimusprime

Cleevs Nice car . If you go down the cover road .You need to put cotton sheets over the bodywork to stop any rubbing as the wind moves the cover .I take all the sheets my wife lets go of , thats after she replacing the ones on our bed . Good luck .

Underside of my car cover is pretty soft... Not terribly worried about it, and it's made no visible scruffs on the few times I've donned/doffed.

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

A car port + a cover would work wonders. When a car is seldom driven and left outside, water tends to pool in various areas causing rust. Also, keeping the sun ( UV ) off the car will go a long way in reducing deterioration of paint , plastic , rubber. Not all car covers block UV so check around.

Is your off street grass , gravel or paved? Parking on grass / gravel will cause under car rust since moisture is constantly coming off the ground.

It's off street asphalt. No car port, and it's a HOA board and I don't ever plan to deal with the hassle of asking people for permission to build a carport and (inevitably) getting rejected.



Thanks for all the input!

H

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by cleeves

. . . it's a HOA board and I don't ever plan to deal with the hassle of asking people for permission to build a carport and (inevitably) getting rejected.

ACK ! Move. Really, HOA's are about the worst thing for anyone that wants to do more than go to work, get home, eat dinner and sleep only to repeat it the next day.

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

ACK ! Move. Really, HOA's are about the worst thing for anyone that wants to do more than go to work, get home, eat dinner and sleep only to repeat it the next day.

It has an amazing view of the Atlanta skyline, it's 2 blocks from the MARTA station, 1 block from our main city park, I don't have to worry about a lick of lawn care ... and my neighbors don't complain about my piano playing ... things could be worse!

-H

[97 SL320]

Originally Posted by cleeves

It has an amazing view of the Atlanta skyline, it's 2 blocks from the MARTA station, 1 block from our main city park, I don't have to worry about a lick of lawn care ... and my neighbors don't complain about my piano playing ... things could be worse!

-H

Yep, I guess.

I got a view of 6 AC of corn , 7 miles in any direction to a couple of cites that have most everything you need, 5 miles from a industrial salvage yard I have free run of , my mower is 6 ft wide and my neighbors don't complain about occasional gun fire. . .

[cleeves]

Originally Posted by 97 SL320

Yep, I guess.

I got a view of 6 AC of corn , 7 miles in any direction to a couple of cites that have most everything you need, 5 miles from a industrial salvage yard I have free run of , my mower is 6 ft wide and my neighbors don't complain about occasional gun fire. . .

-H

[Tomas7]

Originally Posted by cleeves

-H

My backyard....