Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Detailed by Auto Finesse

[james b]

This car is a new vehicle for one of our existing clients, he went earlier
in the week to the factory in Stuttgart to collect it and booked us to give
it a dam good clean and lay down some protection as soon as he got
back to the UK with it, hers how the car looked when we arrived:

First job was to get the wheels cleaned, mike got on the case with AS
smart wheels cut 6:1, and i cracked on pre foaming with Auto Foam
and giving it a careful wash down with Dodo BTBM and the new Dodo
Sponge:

So once the wash stages were done we got the car in the garage, and
clayed the paint work with extra fine clay and Dodo Born slippy:

Very little removal, maybe due to the fact its not been sat in any compounds etc:

The paint work then treated to Zaino AIO by hand, then two coats of Z5 applied:

Wheels sealed with SV autobhan and tyres dressed with a test product
(tyre milk) & exhaust tips polished with Megs NXT

Interior vaced, dusted, leather cleaned, then sealed with Nanolex:

 

[james b]

Now looking like a new car should:

As always your comments and questions are welcome.

Thanks for looking

James B

 

[crazypainter]

Looking very good. Whats the tyre milk? I think its a seriously fugly car on the exterior, but the inside looks a treat, nice touch with those centre console buttons angled into the driver, but why didnt they make those AC vents with a three point star instead of the cross? maybe that would have been a bit overkill, but black and subtle centres would have worked! Anyway the work you done looks great, and cold!!!! When you refer to 'AS smart wheels cut 6:1' Does AS= AutoSmart? What are their products like? Professional quality? I have noticed more and more people 'in the know' refering to them. I briefly looked into their franchise opportunities a long time ago, think you needed to put up about £20k. Would like to hear your opinion.......

 

[Lloyd149]

Wow! Nice client to have there mate, you've done a good job!

 

[superkarl]

you used a sponge, does this not create swirl marks? i wash mine with a sponge but want something else after learning what it can do. what would you suggest i use?
btw its an absolutely gorgeous car

 

[slade777]

Good job. One of the best sounding cars ive heard!!!

 

[crazypainter]

Ive been lucky enough to go out in a C63 AMG and my god, the tune of it!! I agree with Slade, If I could afford it I would buy it just on the sound alone!

 

[tku]

Oh my gosh that car is so nice! 300SL all over again...good job mate.

 

[Wai-Fan]

Niceeee! Saw one zooming around Leeds a couple of weeks ago, looked stunning! Great job!

 

[james b]

Looking very good. Whats the tyre milk? I think its a seriously fugly car on the exterior, but the inside looks a treat, nice touch with those centre console buttons angled into the driver, but why didnt they make those AC vents with a three point star instead of the cross? maybe that would have been a bit overkill, but black and subtle centres would have worked! Anyway the work you done looks great, and cold!!!! When you refer to 'AS smart wheels cut 6:1' Does AS= AutoSmart? What are their products like? Professional quality? I have noticed more and more people 'in the know' refering to them. I briefly looked into their franchise opportunities a long time ago, think you needed to put up about £20k. Would like to hear your opinion.......

Tyre Milk is a product a company has sent us to test, i can really give any info on it as its not my place to say, but its good stuff.

RE AS products, iv used Auto Smart for years (around 11 years now) they represent good products and good value, they do the job intended well and safely. AS are kind of the benchmark in professional car care here in the UK.

you used a sponge, does this not create swirl marks? i wash mine with a sponge but want something else after learning what it can do. what would you suggest i use?
btw its an absolutely gorgeous car

Some people like Mits other like sponge, its as much to do with your method when using as it is what you use, however this is not just your bog standard £1 sponge from Asda the foam quality is 100PPI its as soft as the softest wax applicators on the market (its actually made from the same foam) the up side to this type of foam is that dirt cant migrate in to the structure, like it can with normal sponge and/or wool wash mits.

 

[John @ PB]

Apart from disagreeing with the sponge bit, I can't disagree with the end result!

I do like the SLS a lot!

 

[JD09]

I would have to agree with John on the sponge point, but hey, each to their own methods and certainly not doubting the superb results!

Car is marmite, but some parts I really do admire!

 

[1210tech]

Apart from disagreeing with the sponge bit, I can't disagree with the end result!

I would have to agree with John on the sponge point, but hey, each to their own methods and certainly not doubting the superb results!

I also agree with the comments on the use of the sponge and also the fact that the bodywork was clayed too, taking into consideration that the bodywork was not machined polished afterwards. The sponge is not a major factor because of the pre-wash steps used to remove a lot of the dirt before washing but I wouldn't clay a car if I wasn't going to carry out some form of machine polish afterwards whether it was just a quick lick with the random orbital or a full correction with a rotary because of the marring that clay bars inflict.

Having said that, it all depends on what kind of service the customer wants and what they are willing to pay

 

[John @ PB]

I also agree with the comments on the use of the sponge and also the fact that the bodywork was clayed too, taking into consideration that the bodywork was not machined polished afterwards. The sponge is not a major factor because of the pre-wash steps used to remove a lot of the dirt before washing but I wouldn't clay a car if I wasn't going to carry out some form of machine polish afterwards whether it was just a quick lick with the random orbital or a full correction with a rotary because of the marring that clay bars inflict.

Having said that, it all depends on what kind of service the customer wants and what they are willing to pay

I have to say that I'm happy to clay with no machining afterwards - if claying done correctly, no need to machine afterwards. No reason to induce marring even with an aggressive clay if the technique is right.

 

[1210tech]

I have to say that I'm happy to clay with no machining afterwards - if claying done correctly, no need to machine afterwards. No reason to induce marring even with an aggressive clay if the technique is right.

you show me a clay bar that doesn't marr the paint even very slightly and I'll eat my hat! even if you apply it with no pressure what-so-ever I have always found that clay bars will still induce some kind of damage even on rock hard cerami-coat like mercedes paint

 

[james b]

The sponge is "my" personal preferance, at this given moment in time there is not a "perfect" tool, be it sponge or mit, to wash your car, wool mits and sponges both have there advantages and flaws, working style has alot to do with what will work best for you, this type of sponge works best for us. We currently look after 3.8mil worth of cars a week, and its my responsibility if swirls and nasties start to appear on the paint work to early, so trust me its used for a reason.

Regarding claying with out marring, i dont have a problem? but thats due to the fact i know what im doing, its not as much to do with the clay grade, as it is your technique, we use an additive with water for lube, but again thats preference, however as John has rightly stated its not a necessity, im fairly confident with clay, and making sure the paint is perfectly clean, you check and fold your clay often and fast movements seem to keep me out of trouble.

Doubt my work if you will, but this car is a new car to a long standing client, i prepared and maintained his Audi R8, and now we will do the same with this one, if the finish was not right hed notice, and if the sponge done any type of damage again, hed notice and we would have to rectify it, so as great as your knowledge may seem from what you have read on forums, mine comes from actually doing this day in day out for the past 11 years, thats called real world experience, and trust me clients budgets have nothing to do with what is or is not done, we dont do half jobs, you can either afford it or you cant.

 

[1210tech]

Regarding claying with out marring, i dont have a problem? but thats due to the fact i know what im doing

Doubt my work if you will, so as great as your knowledge may seem from what you have read on forums, mine comes from actually doing this day in day out for the past 11 years, thats called real world experience

You seem to think that I don't know what I'm doing and that I don't do this for a living 'day in day out', well I am doing this day in day out for a living and on vehicle values similar to your client base if not more.

My experiences with clay bars, no matter what lube or how much is used is they cause marring to the paint and require a polishing stage after to rectify. I am not doubting your work but merely making an observation on what I have seen in the thread and my own experiences using these products.

 

[james b]

Im not getting in to a button tapping war with you, if your in this industry you should know who we are and you should know we have earned our reputation through our work, and trust me, we dont need to prove our selfs to forum heros

Im telling you, you can clay a car and not have to machine polish it, if your causing that much marring with clay i suggest you go take a look at your technique.

 

[John @ PB]

The sponge is "my" personal preferance, at this given moment in time there is not a "perfect" tool, be it sponge or mit, to wash your car, wool mits and sponges both have there advantages and flaws, working style has alot to do with what will work best for you, this type of sponge works best for us. We currently look after 3.8mil worth of cars a week, and its my responsibility if swirls and nasties start to appear on the paint work to early, so trust me its used for a reason.

Regarding claying with out marring, i dont have a problem? but thats due to the fact i know what im doing, its not as much to do with the clay grade, as it is your technique, we use an additive with water for lube, but again thats preference, however as John has rightly stated its not a necessity, im fairly confident with clay, and making sure the paint is perfectly clean, you check and fold your clay often and fast movements seem to keep me out of trouble.

Doubt my work if you will, but this car is a new car to a long standing client, i prepared and maintained his Audi R8, and now we will do the same with this one, if the finish was not right hed notice, and if the sponge done any type of damage again, hed notice and we would have to rectify it, so as great as your knowledge may seem from what you have read on forums, mine comes from actually doing this day in day out for the past 11 years, thats called real world experience, and trust me clients budgets have nothing to do with what is or is not done, we dont do half jobs, you can either afford it or you cant.

Hi James, I fully agree with your sentiments re: claying and then not polishing: claying, when done carefully, should not mar the finish at all and it's all to do with technique and application.

The two most common aspects I hear being missed are lack of lubricant and not allowing the clay to soften in hot water: I always break a bar into 3 and rotate the pieces after each panel. Cold, stiff clay is almost guaranteed to mar.

Re: sponge: exactly, if it works for you and you're confident in it then fair play to you.

You're right that working style has a lot to do with it: use a sponge, mitt whatever, badly and it'll add swirls. It's the same as the 'grit guard debate': loads of folk swear by them, I refuse to use them. As you say, working carefully is the name of the game.

:icon_thumright:

 

[CHRIS555]

Sweet, great results, gorgeous car!

 

[thebott]

Great work ! car looks ace.
can you do mine please ?

 

[ian 06 A3 2.0 tdi s line]

that car is mmmmm lol. that tyre milk looks like it gives a sy milar effect to the 3m tyre restorer which is brill.cracking read btw and can i just ask whaT exactly is that sponge and is it available to buy?

 

[james b]

The sponge is being made by Dodo Juice and will be available early part of 2011 from the usual online stores

 

[luke1987]

i love tis car!!! propper old school!!!