I highly recommend a product from 3M called One Step Cleaner Wax - Medium Oxidation Remover. I purchased it online at 3M's online store as I couldn't find it anywhere locally. Try http://www.3m.com/US/auto_marine_aero/index.jhtml

I have a white 91 190E that when bought had a dull haze all over, stains and smears. It looked like the PO hadn't cleaned it in five years. You could rub your finger across the surface and white would come off on your finger - not good.

Anyway I went over the whole car with this stuff, its grunt work as you have to work small areas and rub firmly in and then wipe off with clean terry. But it worked magic, the dull finish and dead paint dissappeared, stains were gone, fine scratches around my door handles vanished. I followed with a coat of liquid wax.

It looks like a new car again - awesome stuff.

Doug

Is it safe for clearcoat?

What clearcoat?

__________________
Jim

I had tried some stuff from Mcquires and it helped, but I wasn't that impressed. I'd like to give this a try. My 300D has some bad oxidation on the hood so hopefully this would help.

Thanks for the tip!

FYI, the bottle says its clear coat safe.

hi what liquid wax did you use... did you not use a polish first?! Thanks

__________________
>Joe

http://www.bonnemay.co.uk/pics/W123_48.gif
1984 W123 230E Saloon/Sedan! (82k miles - Ice Blue as new)
1985 W123 230TE (96K miles - stinkingly nice!)
1995 W124 E320 Wagon (130k miles)
Future projects:
Sportline Suspension W124, W123 TE restoration, A/C, cruise & powered seats retrofit!

>Based in the UK!

I used Meguires CARNUBA Liquid WAX. The way I apply it is to fill a bucket with warm to hot water (not so hot I can't put my hand in it), then soak a terry cloth in the water, wring the cloth so its not dripping and put a dab of wax on the cloth, rub in and apply to the car. You can go over larger areas of the car in this manner. After doing like a 4ft square section, I repeat the soak, wring, wax process again. I wax the entire car this way and then come back around and wipe off with a clean terry. I repeated the whole process twice. It looks good, there is no wax buildup, and its actually easier to work with as you are applying and removing thin layers of wax.

The 3M product is a cleaner/polisher so I didn't see the point of a seperate polish step though you can if you want.

Doug