Open Invitation - Mercedes-Benz Extreme Makeover

[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?

[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.

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.

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!:

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.


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! : 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. I tried #9 and it didn't touch it. I'll give the M80 a shot at that too, then.

Thanks again!:

[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

[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 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

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.

BetterCarCare.com 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


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 ?