Did a bit of detailing on my black 79 300CD this weekend. The paint had that hazy faded black look with lots of swirl marks and oxidation.

First washed the car. Dried and drove a bit to get it completly dry.

Used the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner product.
Then used Deep Crystal Polish.
Finally used Cleaner Wax Paste.

Used a Porter Cable 2336sp to do some of the buffing, but there is nothing like following it up with some good old fashioned hand buffing.

I was very pleased with the results ! There was an immediate improvement with the application of the Paint Cleaner. This product removed the swirl marks, and took away that hazy 'white/black' appearance of a 20 year old black car. It restored the deep black color. Next the polish gave it an even deeper look and shine. It gave it a slight wet look. Very cool. Finally the wax gave it that reflective appearance and slick feel.

I am sure I am not the only one who has been pleased with the results of spending 3 hours on bringing a neglected paint job back to life. But if your auto is showing its age a bit, I recommend these products to take 10 years of aging off the paint !

I may want to try the Professional Line to see if the results are better. Does anyone have experience with the "Cut" pro products from Meguiers? I have the orbital, so I can use the machine.

I am interested in trying to clay the car. What are folks' results with claying? Is it worth the time and effort?

l8r,
James

__________________
James

85 300SD 285k
Charcoal Gray/Grey MB-Tex

79 300CD 142000mi "Rabenshwarz"
Black / Black MB-Tex, Burlwood Int. TOTALLED - 10/24/02 --

I've used the professional line for years and have always been very pleased. I ran out of the #10 Yellow wax so I bought a couple of bottles of Zymol which I'm going through right now.

I got talked into buying the Der Stuff kit from a guy at the swap meet for $80, the same kit I'd seen at the dealer for $120 so I did it. I guess I'll be using that.....

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

If you liked the treatment you just gave your beloved, you will Love claying the car! You will have to rewax of course, but man..., the results.

Try this thread for Great Results, http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=11151&highlight=clay+brand and stick with the "Clay Magic" if you can find it.

BTW, you are going to have to take some pictures if you keep improving the cars appearance.

Hey Ross,

That was an interesting thread. I didn't want to say anything about the clay because I cleaned my paint but had to remove many scratch marks after claying. A technique problem to be sure, however, what's interesting is I used Meguiars clay bar and it was soft. It deformed on me and caused me to press harder than maybe I might have needed to! I will attempt to clay again as needed using the recommended products, thanks!

__________________
Ed "Don't Benz's just feel better..."

Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

I also found that the Meguires clay bar seems to melt in the hand. My work around is to use extra "Quick Detailer", enough to have the area I'm working wet not just sprayed but wet, then use a real loose grip and little to no pressure. That keeps the bar moving, and no clay streaks left behind.

At the end of the job, while the bar is still very soft, I fold and knead and fold the clay some more until a nice clean white color, then reform in the shape of the bar.

__________________
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.

ML Dude,

I've not tryed the Mequirer's brand clay so I've no input on it's effectiveness. What I can say is that I have not heard one good thing about it, maybe they need to rethink their formula as it seems to give many users and bad experience?

The "Clay Magic" brand I found at a local Pep Boys, and following the advise of others on this board I was very surprised at the results. The paint took on a glass like surface, and that was without any wax. I used the Mequirer's Quick Detailer as the lub and just made it a point to stretch and fold the bar often, making sure that the surface was always slippery. I didn't notice any scratch marks in the paint and I liiked very closely, maybe Mequier's is just to soft, forcing added pressure from the user?

The think I need to clay the car again as I haven't really had the chance to make the paint shine being up hear in rain belt country. It should take me about 30 minutes, plus the time it took to wax, so it looks like this weekend may be detailing day?

JPL, do try it, you'll love it.

One word of caution though, Claying is not something you will want ot do on a "regular" car cleaning basis. I'm talking not more than once a year, usually doing the wax at the same time. Claying the paint is actually removing contaminants from the clear coat as well as the high peaks in the clear coat it self. I've no idea just how much clear coat is being remove to get the glass like surface, but I would imagine that once a year would not be too hard on the paint over the life of a average Benz (30-40 years ).

Any opinions?

In regards to claying with the Meguiars Clay Bar.

I've also experienced the problem with soft clay leaving residue on the paint and have found the following helps.

When I clay I actually take an industrial spray bottle and fill it with cold water. I then add about a capful of Meguiars car wash and shake. I use this to spray and cool the paint surface as well as the clay.

I know it's a pain but if you've already purchased the clay this is a solution.

Hope this helps.

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

Thank you all for your advice. It is very helpful, esp that thread link about the application of clay. It does seem to be a well guarded secret. I will try it this weekend.

l8r,
James

__________________
James

85 300SD 285k
Charcoal Gray/Grey MB-Tex

79 300CD 142000mi "Rabenshwarz"
Black / Black MB-Tex, Burlwood Int. TOTALLED - 10/24/02 --

I've used clay quite a bit, and never had trouble with clay leaving marks on the paint.

I'm sure everyone knows this, but it's not meant to be used "dry".

You need a lubricant, like any of the quik detailing sprays, or a spray bottle filled with water and one capfull of car wash soap.

Keep the surface wet.

I've read of people using just water, but it has no lubricating properties, and you can scratch your paint.

FWIW, I spend time on another forum that specializes in detailing, and it is loaded with good information. I'm on my laptop now (in a hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina), and the site isn't bookmarked on this computer. There are reviews on virtually every car care product available, and not one person has anything good to say about Meguiar's clay. It must be awful.

I've used the clay from Zaino and from www.griotsgarage.com
and both work well.

__________________
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".

1) try griots garage, zaino bros, or mothers clay, its yellow in color and its different than meguiars, its better in my opinon, meguiars can have that very soft feeling and sometimes it leaves claying marks.

2) use 1/2-1 capful of carwash and mix in 12-16oz bottle. it works much better than quick detailer, speedshine, etc.

The Deep Crystal line is the basic stuff, not the best shine (or best for removing swirls). Basically for the guy who does it once a year.
I've used the Meguiars Fine Cut Cleaner, Dual Action Cleaner/Polish, Swirl Free Polish, and Hand Polish (can you tell I like Meg.?) These are different levels of cutting, but if you get the DACP, you don't need the FCC. Then it goes DACP -> Swirl Free Polish -> Hand Polish. These aren't miracle products but give very impressive results, even just applying by hand (which is what I do). The difference between them and the Deep Crystal is like the difference between an F1 car and a kia.

As for the clay, I've used Mother's, Meguiars, and Clay Magic. Hands down the best is the Clay Magic. (Conveniently it's also the cheapest). The Mother's bar requires Olympic strength and endurance. You'll be done in about 3 hrs. The Meguiars bar, I had the same problem as placo1 - residue all over the bumper. I used a full bottle of lubricant trying to do half my front bumper. The Clay Magic required no rubbing back and forth til your arm falls off like the Mothers (and Meguiars if you try to 'pick up' the residue left with the bar). 30mins on the whole car top to bottom and I was done. I even did the wheels.

__________________
1984 300TD Turbo 156Kmi
"He who seeks knowledge begins with humbleness" - Buju Banton

Ok first you must realize that I am not a shine nut. My wife's black VW has been driving me nuts though. The black paint seemed to have a film on it that sort of made it look cloudy. I tried polishing compound to no avail. I tried many different Walmart waxes - Turtle (various kinds) Excaliber etc etc over the last two years - the filmy appearance was still there along with bad swirl marks. I decided to live with it.
On the week end I decided to try Meguire's Gold Class - it said satisfaction guaranteed - return unused portion for refund. The advertising on the package said (roughly) We aim to give the consumer more than they expect-our best shine in 95 years. Well - I am sold!! I washed the car and dried it. I applied the wax with applicator supplied and let it sit for 1/2 hour (cloudy day). I then took the Wen polisher and started to buff. The polisher seemed to work a little as it bit into new dried wax - BUT WOW!!! - all sorts of black stuff came off on the terry polishing cloth and the shine it left was incredible! I was going to go over the car with the lambswool pad - but it didn't need it! The swirls disappeared and only a few scratches still show - but the car looks 10 years newer (not bad considering it is a 1994!). Only used 1/3 of the bottle of wax and got far superior results to any of the other products I have tried - with and without buffer.
I highly recommend Meguire's Gold Class liquid for Clear Coat - it really did a job for me. You diehards think Zaino will work better? I might become a shine nut with results like this!!

Kind of off the topic, but is there a good online store to buy car care products? I know of Griot's, but I'm looking for a place that has a wide variety of items. There aren't any large car parts stores where I live and the smaller ones have extremely high prices and bad selection. Oh, also I'm pretty lazy and like ordering stuff from the home. Thanks

Alex

__________________
1983 300D (parked for four years)
2012 VW Sportwagen TDI Manual
2001 Miata SE
1962 Chevrolet Corvair Rampside

I've had this site bookmarked for a while because they seem to carry everything, but never ordered from them.

It's worth a look:

http://www.carcareonline.com/index.html

__________________
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".

emmonscoachworks.com. They have the $1150.00 Zymol wax, among other things.

sbr
'79 450SL
76,000 miles
(for sale)