Open Invitation - Mercedes-Benz Extreme Makeover

[Mike Phillips]

Mercedes-Benz Extreme Makeover!

Open invitation...

If you live in the SoCal area, and would like to help be a part of the team that gives the below Mercedes-Benz and Extreme Makeover, then be at Meguiar

[Don]

I voted before seeing the "after the wash" pics, but I still think that the best way to bring the finish back is with a rotary & some of the pro products.

You could probably get good results with a PC, Color-X & NXT, but the rotary method would get a lot quicker with less effort.

[Focusedonsound]

honestly.... If possible I think this would be a great vehical to see a all of the above done!

Would it be possible to video tape you doing each of the processes? I think it would be great to see what the results would be after each process!

If thats not possible I would love to see this all acomplished by hand.

[perry]

I couldn't vote, I didn't see the option of a paint gun :rofl: That paint looks terrible!

Originally posted by Focusedonsound
honestly.... If possible I think this would be a great vehical to see a all of the above done!

Yea, I think using different methods on different sections of the hood or something would be interesting to see.

ColorX and/or ScratchX by hand and pro products by DA and rotary. Let us see what the least aggressive product does, and how the more aggressive products compare. I'll vote for rotary and pro products in the poll though.

I think that the results should be amazing with anything you choose, Mike. You seem to have the magic touch :coolgleam

[the newbie]

Hi,Mike,

i don't know where you found this one,but it looks like this vehicle needs complete reanimation.
if it was me working on this car,i woul'n't dare to touch it with a rotary,because i wouldn't take the risk,of going through the paint.
i would start with a good wash,then clay,then the orbital with bodyscrub,then a good rub with dc polish,and then i would use color x.
what do you think about this approach?
please let me know what you think,i like to know if i'm on the right track on tis.

ciao,
Rick

[RDVT4ME]

Mike

I will plan to be there. This is perfect timing.

This saturday I plan to work on my daughter-in-law's suv. It's a mid 90s suv with 160,000 miles on it and it has never been waxed....and it's black....and it has a dented rear fender. I asked her if I could use it to practice with my new Makita rotary buffer and she said sure, you can't hurt it since it is pretty worn.

So, I would love to help you on this project and hopefully get some great tips on the rotary.

Also, will you be ordering dinner out? Or should I plan to eat before I get there?

Looking forward to learning a lot from the expert!

-Bob

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by RDVT4ME
Also, will you be ordering dinner out? Or should I plan to eat before I get there?

-Bob

Hi Bob,

You should probably plan on eating before you get here, once the work begins, there won't be no lunch break.

:D :D :D

Mike

[RDVT4ME]

Thanks Mike.....can I bring you anything for dinner?

[Mike Phillips]

Thank you Bob, but I ate a big lunch, so I'll be okay. Once we get going, it's hard to stop.

Newport Viper is going to be here also, it's always fun when he brings his Viper down here because the finish on his Viper really does look like it's wet.

Another friend, David, is going to stop in with his yellow Honda S-2000 and his finish looks wet also.

Mike

[Bill D]

I assume it depends how hard hard that paint is. I suppose you should start off with the PC and maybe MPPC?

BTW, how soft is that Rolls Royce paint? My impression from reading about it is that it's pretty soft :confused:

[Mike Phillips]

Finished!

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished2.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished4.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished5.jpg
http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished3.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450SLfinished1.jpg

[PendragonZ]

Looks great! Now what products/process did you use on this one?

[daveabrey]

:xyxthumbs

Wow! Great job there, a real transformation.

What products and application method did you end up using? And how long did it take?

Thanks,

Dave.

[RDVT4ME]

Hey Mike

Did you get any sleep last night?

Thanks for all your great tips! You are truely a master craftsman!

-Bob

[the newbie]

:bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow :bow


the master showing his students!!!!!

what a great improvement,this really came out great!
i didn't expect this kind of gloss,and Mike,that's not because i don't believe in your skills.
What did you use,beside new paint?
I bet the owner of this one kissed you all over,and is stil doing a happy dance.
ciao,
Rick

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by RDVT4ME
Hey Mike

Did you get any sleep last night?

Thanks for all your great tips! You are truely a master craftsman!

-Bob

Hi Bob,

It was good to see you again, good luck with your detail this weekend.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

It's important the due credit go to those who helped out with the extreme makeover of this car,

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp2.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp3.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp4.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp5.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp6.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp7.jpg

The transformation of the Diamond-in-the-rough into a Glistening Gemstone was truly a team effort!

Mike

[tdekany]

mike - how did a hard top become a convertible? What am I missing?

[RDVT4ME]

It's a convertible with a removable hardtop. We removed the top to be able to get to some parts of the body.

[perry]

Amazing! :bounce :bigups

[CHzo6]

That looks amazing.
What year is that ?

[BoraBora]

Dear Mike:

You rendered a magical transformation upon my 1974 MBZ 450 SL as is plain to see. People swoon and follow me about. The car now GLOWS ! My wife was QUITE impressed too...

I ordered the Centenial Kit with PC + extras... and am impatient to receive same and use it on all the family cars. Especially impatient to work over the 1970 911S Targa that is also red and about equivalent to the 'before' picture here. However, also there is the matter of the BLACK 83 MBZ 500 SEC coupe (lowered), and the Maserati Bora (silver/red).

Wizard!

Thanks for the show/tell/hands-on, and all the interested helpers. You have a great calling. MANY thanks!

Ned Evans

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Ned,

Thank you for the kind words, but I would like to point out that it was a team effort, and even you yourself were a part of the transformation.

As far as the Maserati Bora goes, could you bring the Bora to Meguiar's on Thursday, August 5th? Will warm those original 1973 Leather seats over.

AndI would like to see the Porsche also. Unless your bent on doing it all by yourself, if it can be saved, we would love to use it for another extreme makeover.

Let me know...

mphillips@meguiars.com

[BoraBora]

>>Mike Phillips

I sent you a response offline, re arrangements as to Bora interior, Aug 5th (yes.)

and re 1970 911S Porsche Targa (also yes, details follow offline.)

Pls call me or email.

[the newbie]

what did you guys do,to get the gloss back like this.
i'm curious about the steps,and products used at this one.

ciao,

Rick

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Rick,

I'll post the write-up and pictures for this extreme makeover next week. Stay tuned...

Mike

[bigjason]

Can't wait!! Please write it up ASAP.
Seems liek it's all by hands? wonderful result!!:xyxthumbs

[bears34]

Still waiting on that makeover combo...

[Bri]

I'm sorry but where could I find the write-up for this make-over? I just ordered my G-100A DA and can't wait to get my hands on it!! I want to detail my uncle's porsche 944 as it has been neglected.. Lol! He doesn't care about how his paint looks so long as it's clean.. Hehehe!

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Bri
I'm sorry but where could I find the write-up for this make-over?
Originally posted by the newbie
what did you guys do,to get the gloss back like this.
i'm curious about the steps,and products used at this one.

ciao,

Rick
Originally posted by bigjason
Can't wait!! Please write it up ASAP.
Seems like it's all by hands? wonderful result!!:xyxthumbs

I'll try to do this Wednesday, perhaps start on it tonight. It takes quite a while to sift through all the pictures, find the ones that tell the story the best, crop, resize, upload into the gallery and then create the write-up. That's why if you'll notice, anytime anyone else does it, and does a stellar job, I try to always thank them. It is quite time consuming. I love doing it, but carving out the time is the hard part. Usually, if I can't get to it a day or two after the event happened, it all to easy for so many other things to require attention. Take answering questions on this forum and others for example.

Monday and Tuesday of this week, I did my best to do a write-up on the San Diego Viper clinic, which was a fun and powerful clinic and add to the Europrojektz clinic from the weekend before, and I still have lot's of pictures I could add.

San Diego Viper Club at Meguiar's (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2678)
(55 pictures with comments)


Europrojektz would like to thank Meguiar's (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2574)
(28 Pictures with comments)

Check out some of the other Detail Days at Meguiar's events and you'll see even more in some of them. I get e-mails from people asking me to post pictures of their cars to the thread from these event too.

Then there was the 2-3 software problems we had a while back, I lost all of the Overspray Removal pictures, and all of the Green Mustang Oxidation Removal pictures and still haven't had time to re-upload them and re-create the thread.

Time, it's all about time... but I'll try to get to both of the Mercedes-Benz write-ups because they were good learning experiences.

Mike

[RamAirV1]

Mike,

When you are sorting through images on this makeover, it would be interesting to see a shot of the hardtop after it is finished so we can see the results of using the different cleaners and the ColorX.

RamAirV1

[benhui86]

where the write up go? :confused: :confused:

[Danny45]

I just want to know where I can find 4 or 5 guys that know what they're doing and don't mind giving up a Saturday to help me. :(

[InsaneGideon]

Mike,

I realize you're probably busy with a myriad of other things at the moment... and this thread is rather old and probably a low priority for now. But could you please simply tell us what products were used in this restoration? :) I need a grocery list for next time I go to PepBoys. :D

I've got a red Miata that's just about to start "pinking" on the bumper and FRP hard top! :( It looked OK until I parked it outside a few months ago and it started raining like crazy here in SoCal!

Thanks in advance,
-IG:)

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by InsaneGideon
Mike,

But could you please simply tell us what products were used in this restoration? :) I need a grocery list for next time I go to PepBoys. :D


Do you want to restore the single stage finish on your Miata by hand or with a dual action polisher?

Do you want to do everything you can to take your Miata's finish to it's maximum potential or would you prefer to wash and wax it?

By Hand
*Wash with your choice of Meguiar's car wash, we used NXT Car wash on this Mercedes.
* Clay with Quik Clay System
* Clean with ScratchX, focus most of your energy on this step.
* Polish with Deep Crystal Polish, apply a thin coat, work in well and then remove.
* Protect, apply two thin coats of your favorite Meguiar's wax.
* Maintain, try our new Speed Detailer in-between regular washing and waxing.

By Machine using Meguiar's G100 Dual Action Polisher
*Wash with your choice of Meguiar's car wash.
* Clay with Quik Clay System.
* Machine polish with M80 Speed Glaze using a W-8006 foam polishing pad on the 4.5 to 5.0 setting. Be very careful around sharp edges when working on Miata's with single stage paint as it's easy to burn through these areas by hand or machine. Consider taping these areas off with some blue painters tape.
* Protect - Apply two thin coats of your favorite Meguiar's wax using a W-9006 foam finishing pad on the 3.0 setting.
* Optional - Remove wax using our M9920 Ultimate Bonnet
* Maintain, try our new Speed Detailer in-between regular washing and waxing.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[InsaneGideon]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips

Hope this helps...


Yes it does help!! Thanks for the reply!:bow:

The finish on the metal parts of the car actually look great. It's always been in good condition. I used the "clear coat body scrub" occasionally, followed by #7 and #26.

I let it go for almost a year. :(: The metal parts held up fine. The FRP hardtop and the plastic nose became cloudy after a week of rain. It's strange. Theres some gloss, but the paint just below this "gloss" looks milky. I suppose the flex-agent used in these parts makes the paint more suceptable.
:confused:

I'm looking to just get rid of the milkyness. The nose is a rather convoluted piece, so I went at it by hand with some ColorX. It seemed like it was a bit clearer after one application. But it's apparent that I'll need something a bit stronger.

I'll give ScratchX a shot! :xyxthumbs: Maybe DAP+M80 for the flat hardtop.

I have a red '95 RX-7 (single stage too) that I take meticulous care of. But the plastic wing started doing the same thing after I left it in the rain for 2 days under a car cover... Strange thing was, I noticed what looked like a deep water spot on the plastic OEM wing one day. Then a week later, the waterspot engulfed the rest of the wing. :eek: I tried #9 and it didn't touch it. I'll give the M80 a shot at that too, then.

Thanks again!:bounce:

[RamAirV1]

If you have any bad water spots, you will have to switch to the #83 with the PC.

RamAirV1

[Dee]

Mike,
This car looks excellent, whenever you have the time to post the pictures and steps taken to bring this finish back to life I will archive the post. Awesome job:)
Can you tell me if you used a Rotary or the G-100, I think that's the question we all want answered.
Thanks again for posting this makeover, it has provided me the motivation to really put in some extra effort this weekend when I detail my "Black" 4-Runner:bounce

[SprintKing]

well this is truly an amazing transformation
This tuesday coming i have a light blue 1970's MG Series II with SS paint with the same type of removable roof as this

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/gallery/data/500/2450MLLotsofhelp7.jpg

Would it be best to use plast x on the window areas?
and what do you recommend to use on the black canvas? Trim Detailer?

Please post with some help

The paint is in poor condition and i hope to post some remarkable changes in its conidtion tuesday night :)

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Dee
Mike,
This car looks excellent, whenever you have the time to post the pictures and steps taken to bring this finish back to life I will archive the post. Awesome job:)

Can you tell me if you used a Rotary or the G-100, I think that's the question we all want answered.

Most of the paint was restored by either hand applied paint cleaners like ScratchX, or with the G100 dual action polisher with M80 Speed Glaze. We did use the rotary buffer with a W-8006 foam polishing pad on the deck lid.

Thanks again for posting this makeover, it has provided me the motivation to really put in some extra effort this weekend when I detail my "Black" 4-Runner :bounce

Good luck on the 4-Runner...

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by SprintKing
well this is truly an amazing transformation
This Tuesday coming i have a light blue 1970's MG Series II with SS paint with the same type of removable roof as this

Would it be best to use PlastX x on the window areas?

PlastX to clean, follow this with M10 Plastic Polish to restore maximum optical clarity

and what do you recommend to use on the black canvas? Trim Detailer?

Canvas is basically cotton, usually treated with different products to help it resist mold and mildew as well as making it water-proof. Meguiar's currently doesn't offer any type of product to treat canvas except for our car washes to wash and clean these surfaces.

When you think of cleaning and or restoring canvas, think of how you would clean or restore a pair of cotton jeans... There just isn't a lot you can do for these types of tops.

Please post with some help

The paint is in poor condition and i hope to post some remarkable changes in its condition Tuesday night :)

Do you have some detailing clay?
What do you have in the way of paint cleaners?
Are you doing all you're work by hand?

Perhaps take a before picture and start a thread for your project with the before picture in our Detailing 101 forum.

[the other pc]

Originally posted by SprintKing
...This tuesday coming i have a light blue 1970's MG Series II with SS paint with the same type of removable roof as this...what do you recommend to use on the black canvas? ... Originally posted by Mike Phillips
...Canvas is basically cotton, usually treated with different products to help it resist mold and mildew as well as making it water-proof. Meguiar's currently doesn't offer any type of product to treat canvas except for our car washes to wash and clean these surfaces.

When you think of cleaning and or restoring canvas, think of how you would clean or restore a pair of cotton jeans... There just isn't a lot you can do for these types of tops.

Please post with some help...
It depends on the "canvas". You may want to ask the owner if they know how old the top is and who made it.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away canvas tops really were made of cotton canvas. If the top is very old or perhaps a traditional restoration it may be cotton canvas. Possibly, but I doubt it.

IIRC B's originally came with vinyl tops. Most likely, the one that's on there now is a modern cloth top. Today's "canvas" tops are actually made from synthetic (usually acrylic) fabrics.

Haartz is the world's largest manufacturer of cloth toppings (both OEM and aftermarket). If you see a new convertible Aston Martin, Mercedes, Porsche, Vette, BMW, etc, etc you're looking at Haartz fabric. Haartz recommends using RAGGTOPP products to maintain their fabrics (http://www.haartz.com/Consumer_Info/Consumer_Info_Main_Page.htm).

BetterCarCare.com (http://store.bettercarcare.com/cotopca.html) and other high end detailing suppliers carry Raggtopp products.


PC.

[RamAirV1]

Can't 303 Protectant be used on some canvas tops? You can usually find it at a boat supply store or a marina.

RamAirV1

[SprintKing]

wow sorry guys.. i totally missed all your replies :confused:


Do you have some detailing clay?
Mike yes i have meguiars clay

What do you have in the way of paint cleaners?
i have #80 #9 #1 & scratchx
other polishes .. NXT, gold class polish, #7

Are you doing all you're work by hand?
i plan to do this work with my PC & by hand, i can use my rotary but prefer to use that on "trouble spots" if i come across them

Perhaps take a before picture and start a thread for your project with the before picture in our Detailing 101 forum.

i start work on this project in about 8 hours ... sleep time soon :)

[Beire]

how do you actually get to know if your paint is single stage of not ?

[Newport Viper]

Use a polish like #80 or #83 on a foam applicator.

Rub a small test spot.

If the color of the car is on the pad.....well then you have NO clear coat!