Mercedes C200 magnetite black

[meagz24]

Hi, complete newbie here. Just got the merc and in the handbook it says to use Mercedes Benz products to wash the car with. wondering if that's a rort. I've done a little bit of searching on the internet and know there is meguiars products in Australia, prob is I have no idea which one to use (if any).

I'm after something that will wash and wax...I don't have the time to wax...just want something basic that will look after the paint.

Thanks,

[davey g-force]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

Ultimate Wash & Wax is probably your best bet then.



Be sure to do a search on the two bucket method of washing your car if you want to ensure you don't damage the finish. What colour is your Benz?

I'm sure others here (myself included) will urge you to do more than just wash it though..

[davey g-force]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

Oh, and yes - the suggestion to use only MB products to wash the car is a rort to say the least.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

We actually used to make all the car care products for Mercedes Benz. And Mopar, Fender guitars, Jeldwin doors and a few others. It's understandable that MB or anyone else would recommend using "their" products as they want to drive additional parts business to their dealerships, but as long as you're using products from a reputable manufacturer (and using the correct products on the various surfaces) you won't have any issues. Sure, some will work better than others, and you may have a preference for how one works, looks, lasts, etc.

As for waxing while washing, as good as our Ultimate Wash & Wax is, it's still not really a substitute for a proper wax application - no "wash & wax" product is. You simply can't keep that much wax on the surface while rinsing off the soap and water. If you're really pressed for time but you're still going to wash the car yourself, pick up some Ultimate Quik Wax spray and use it while drying the car. The process should go something like this:

• Wash the car thoroughly, preferably with the two bucket method, rinsing each section as you go
• For a final rinse, take the nozzle off the hose and turn the water pressure down a bit, then let a steady stream of water run over the car. This will sheet off the majority of the water beads present and make drying much faster and safer (less touching of the paint means less chance of creating any fine swirls). This process works best on a well waxed surface.
• Before drying a panel, spray some Ultimate Quik Wax on the panel and then wipe with your drying towel. Use a pair of Water Magnet waffle weave drying towels (or similar), one for the initial panel wipe, the second for a final wipe to ensure the panel is completely dry.
• Repeat the UQW spray and dry on every panel until the car is completely dry.

If you do this every time you wash the car you won't add any appreciable time to the washing/drying process but you will add some very durable synthetic polymer protection. It still may not be quite as good as a proper liquid or paste wax application, but it's far, far better than just relying on a wash & wax product to do everything.

Now you're probably asking "why even make a wash & wax product in the first place, then?". Well, for years we didn't have one because they just don't work. When we figured out that using a dispersed wax formulation rather than a solublized wax formulation (any of the wash & wax products that are transparent in the bottle, which is almost all of them) would actually leave something on the paint, we went for it. It's a great "maintenance wash" product since it won't strip wax and it will help to keep the gloss level very high due to the small amount of wax & polymers it does leave behind. But that small amount of wax is no substitute for the real deal.

[meagz24]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

Very helpful info. Thanks. I guess I've always avoided waxing, because quite frankly, it intimadates me! I think I'd stuff it up and end up with swirls all over! But the spray makes sense and seems easy enough.

davey g-force the benz is magnetite black so looks dark grey or black depending on the light.

[davey g-force]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

You'd have to be doing something really silly to stuff up while waxing and cause swirls. Still, if you're comfortable with the UQW spray wax, then that's certainly better than nothing!

Take care of that baby and let us know how it goes / share some pics

[mis3]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

Spray UQW while the car is wet? Why?

I usually dry the car first then apply UQW.

[davey g-force]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

Only because it's quicker that way. You're not really doing any extra work if you spray on while wet and then dry the car (pretty much) as per normal.

Your method involves two steps as opposed to one, but each to their own...

[mis3]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

If the end results are the same, of course I would do the one with less work.
I was thinking if the car is still wet, the water would dilute the UQW.

[davey g-force]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

I suppose it does a little in theory, but I can't tell the difference to the end result. Perhaps you should try it?

Remember, you're sheeting the water off during the final rinse, so there shouldn't be much water left on ther car anyway.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Mercedes C200 magnetite black

I suppose it does a little in theory, but I can't tell the difference to the end result. Perhaps you should try it?

Remember, you're sheeting the water off during the final rinse, so there shouldn't be much water left on ther car anyway.

We agree on both counts. Especially when sheeting the water off first, there's very little left and the UQW application is a piece of cake - and it just flat out works. If you haven't tried it yet, you should give it a go at least once.