Subject: Mercedes ML350

Believe it or not this was truly a dealer hack job. This was sold as a CPO'd car from an authorized MB dealer. Wow is about all I can say, please take a look at how it was delivered.

What was done -
Exterior

- Wheels were prepped with Sonax Wheel Cleaner and cleaned up with various brushes
- Tires were spritzed down with Adam’s All Purpose Cleaner and washed down
- Wheel wells were cleaned up
- Pre Washed with W99
- Iron Cut
- Wash down and rinsed
- Door jambs were cleaned up
- Clayed
- Dried
- Tires dressed
- Masking
- Paint Measurement
- Meg's M105 with Surbuf Pad and Uber Yellow Pad with the Flex PE14-2-150
- Menzerna SF4000 with Uber Green Pad with the Flex 14-2-150
- Inspection with Fenix, 3m Sun Gun, Infratech, and natural sunlight
- Last Step – Menzerna Power Lock with an Uber Black Pad and the Porter Cable
- Wheel wells were cleaned and dressed
- Rubber and Plastics Treated
- Exterior windows and mirrors cleaned and sealed
- Exhaust tips cleaned
- Windows were clayed, cleaned, and sealed

Products used

Links to products used -

1Z einszett W99
Adam's All Purpose Cleaner
Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner
Uber Clay Bar Kit
Meguiar's M105
Menzerna Super Finish
Menzerna Power Lock Sealant
1Z einszett Vinyl Rubber Care
Optimum Metal Polish

Glass
Uber Glass Cleaner Kit

Tools used
Uber Wool Wash Mitt
Uber No Name MF Towels
Flex PE14.2.150
Porter Cable 7424XP
Uber Buffing Pads
Defelsko Paint Meter
Fenix TK35
Brinkmann
Kranzle Pressure Washer
Cam Spray Foam Canon
2 Grit Guard Buckets with Caddies
Uber Firehose Nozzle
Metro Air Force Blaster

Before shots







Prep - including pre soak, decon, clay, wheels cleaned, tires cleaned, wheel wells cleaned

Sonax Full Effect Wheel Cleaner in action


APC on the tires - dirt being lifted up from the tires


APC on the wheel wells


Pre Soak




Rinse


Sorry no shots of the Decon

Super Drying Towel being used to dry the ML


Inspecting the paint after the prep - brings us to paint defects everything you can imagine its on this SUV




I'll let the next few pictures do the talking (this was on every panel)









Before front fender


After


Before shot of the Door


After


Various 50/50 shots







After all the paint correction was done we did a nice wash prior to applying Menzerna Power Lock as a last step



After shots

 

I have a question, how do you keep the paint from getting marred with no protection after you correct it, but before you apply the sealant?

I generally just put the sealant on top of the freshly corrected surface as I am always a bit nervous about adding marring when I wash it.

 

sure.

make sure the paint is clear of any dirt/debris or even compound and polishes left over.

make sure you have clean microfibers.

when drying the car you can blow dry it to avoid towel marring.

 

Great Save

 

I think i will look into one of those jumbo drying towels. I already leaf blow my car.

Thanks!!

 

Janik FYI as leaf blowing is probably better than drying with more traditional methods that air is not filtered like it would be with the use of the metro vac n blo or the more stronger air force blaster.

 

Looks great, what do you use to clean the wheel wells?

 

Most likely Adam’s All Purpose Cleaner. I haven't tried many Adam's products but have heard good things another you may want to try is C.G. Grim Reaper it destroys dirt and grime.

 

I think the leaf blower is fine for me lol. Im not out to have the car be 100% all the time. Shes a DD and small swirls and scratches are bound to pop up.