Mercedes-Benz S-320 LWB

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 320

I’d previously worked on this one around June time last year... It was in for another Protection Detail plus an Interior bolt-on.

Condition wise, it wasn’t bad - fairly contaminated in terms of fall-out and tar deposits. Interior, well, the leather needed a good clean and there was lots of dog hair to lift..

Product
• Autoglym FastGlass
• AutoSmart Bio Brisk
• AutoSmart Tardis
• AutoSmart G101
• Belgom ALU
• Chemical Guys JetSEAL109
• Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
• Gliptone leather twins
• Jeffs Werkstat Acrylic PRIME
• Meguiars Super-Degreaser
• Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel
• Sonus Green Clay

Tools – PorterCable 7424 and the VAX6131 extraction system.

Upon inspection:
















As said, the lower halves of the car were the worst with the tar/sap build-ups.

I started, as usual, with the alloys. Inner rim, tyres, behind the spokes and hub-point cleaned with a mix of product, brushes and mitts.


Next was the lightly dusted door shuts and boot sill:




Vehicle rinsed. Vehicle foamed and then rinsed again.




After all ‘free material’ had been shifted, a second foam layer went down to aid the wash stages.




Sonus green once again proving the importance of the decontamination stage..






Varying sized tar deposits found in the usual places. All traces removed with AutoSmart Tardis and a clean microfibre.






Audi workhorse sitting nicely..




OK, so, a clean Mercedes:








Cleanser of choice this time round was Jeffs Acrylic PRIME Strong. (Why? Offers a small amount of cut and ‘cleans’ well in readiness for wax.)

Applied via the PC7424 and a 3M yellow polishing pad:




Although the correctional abilities of PRIME are low, for a quick once over to clean the surface, I was pleasantly surprised with the results at hand..

Before:



After:




As I was making good time/progress, I thought I’d go out my way a little and take a look at the cloudy/swirled B-pillars.



Jeffs PRIME works wonders on the shiny window surrounds, but, would it be up to clearing this mess up?



PRIME was applied and worked by hand with a microfibre applicator. Results?



AVERAGE.

Still quite messy:




So, a quick change of the backing plates on the DA and install a finishing pad..



Nope, still not much better.

Up the finishing, to a polishing (and re-work area by hand afterwards)




Better.

50/50




Back on to the large backing plate and this time load the BLUE 3M pad.



Chemical Guys’ JetSEAL109 applied.

In the twenty minute curing time, I also applied to the doorshuts and the alloys to seal and help prevent dirt-build up in the future.


Mercedes badge (as usual) was gunked up and green in places.. Again, Jeffs PRIME used to chemically clean.






Front grille done at the same time:




JetSeal109 removed and a final thin coat of Collinite 476s wax for added durability.

Tyres dressed. Doorshuts and alloys buffed up and JS109 removed.

Now time to focus on the interior.. Take the car outside and….. it rains. Back in the garage..

After a fairly damp wipeover with a microfibre, the leather was showing signs of lifted dirt already. Gliptone cleaner applied to already damp seats.. 5 minutes later wiped with a fresh (damp..) microfibre to lift this muck:



Overall I was very happy with the results – I’m waiting on my new LTT Leather Solutions kit, but, I was more than pleased with the cleaners’ performance this time round.

Upon emptying the car and taking the mats out, I note they could do with a proper clean. It’s been a while since I’ve used the VAX to its utmost abilities, so..

A Vikan upholstery brush was used alongside AutoSmart’s Bio Brisk to free and clean the pile. A couple of passes with the water and then several more whilst extracting..

A rubbish 50/50 on the passenger foot well mat.










Here’s a shot of the water collected after all four mats:



A worth while job, if I say so myself.


So, it’s shaping up nicely. One or two small details to do on the interior and, we’re almost there!






Kick-boards made even shinier with Belgom ALU:









And a dozen or so ‘after’ photos..

A very happy customer indeed. Time taken, roughly 8 hours again.

Mid-way through the day, a friend to the household popped by to ask for a quote on a Continental Flying Spur – ooh er! *Watch this space*

Thanks for reading. Time to crack open a Pear Bulmers.

Regards, Jim.

Thank you James.

I meant to try a video recording today on this one but completely forgot.. D'oh!!