1st Clean - C63

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BrianAMG

New Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2014
Messages
16
Location
Aberdeen
Car
C63
I've been looking for a C63 for nearly 6 months. It's the end on an era for this type of engine in a 4 door sensible car so I feel it's now or never. Oh...and the noise, I think they're the best sounding car on the road today. However I wanted a specific spec, it had to be a facelift car with Performance Pack Plus (because the standard 450bhp is not enough...right?!) and LSD as a minimum, coupe, saloon or estate were all fine if it was the right car. Rep mobile silver was the only no-no on colour, red and white might be ok. Black, steel grey or very dark blue would be ideal.

The problem is so many C63s are incorrectly advertised, especially the LSD. You can't visual the LSD, the only way to tell (excluding the option of trying to make giant 11s on the road!) is to check the VIN against what the car left the factory with.

Mercedes did not help matters, the old Performance Pack included a LSD but the later Performance Pack Plus does not include a LSD...now, last time I checked 'plus' meant 'more' but apparently this does not translate well into German....confused?! Well it seems most people and garages are as well! I was getting so fed up, I had spoken to 7 different garages/people and ran 7 VINs and only one had the spec it was advertised with!! And I could not agree a deal with the correctly spec'd car before it was sold. I was on the verge of giving up, and putting a new car off until spring 2015.

But, one came up for sale in Nottingham, I spoke with the salesman and it had the spec I wanted and more.......so I bought it over the phone...despite never haven test driven any AMG...in fact I don't think I'd driven any Mercedes before, but even if it's rubbish to drive I can just sit and listen to it, right? :lol:.

On arrival I checked over everything and it looked great, an immaculate car and just done 10k miles, I also noticed it had illuminated sills and Harman Kardon stereo that it was not advertised with so i was even happier!

I've had the car a week now and got a chance to give it a little clean today, 700miles in and looking rather grubby!

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I started with Duragloss 902 (901 in gallon size) in the SF lance
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While that was dwelling I did the wheels, usual selection of brushes and nano wheel clean and coat.
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SF PW off and a a dusting of SF added to increase lubricity while washing with the mitt. I never realised to grubby it was until now, 50/50 with the wash mitt
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Then the ice cream van arrived....does he know it's Scotland...and November?!
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Another PW later and on with decontamination, two coverings of Wolfs Deironizer, the car was not too bad, this was the worst of it.
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PW off and Tardis next, again not too bad.
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Another PW off and moved into the garage for the rest of the detail
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Bright work (and there's LOTS of it!) treated with Werkstst Prime
Before
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After
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A few processes missing pictures...
All windows were machine polished then treated with RainX, (x2 on the front and rear screens). Wheels and tyres dried and Werkstst Jet and Blackfire tyre gel applied respectivly.

Exhausts polished with Autosol and MF.
Before
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After - will get the dremel or wire wool next time to get them 100%
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The paintwork was given a wipe down with top coat and inspected. It's in remarkably good condition, no/negligible swirling. So I decided to go straight to LSP. I recently found some Polished Bliss Project Awesome in the cupboard and it was chosen to adorn the car. Machined on with Meguiars DA at medium speed and a glazing pad, left for an hour to cure and buffed off. I was going to add a coat of Zymol Vintage but was running out of time and did not want to go over the Project Awesome without more time to let it fully cure.

All done
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As mentioned white was not originally my 1st choice (or second or third!)....but the 3 stage pearlescent is growing on me daily, although it definitely looks better on a coupe.
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Carbon goodness
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Gratuitous engine shots
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Very nice! So same cleaning session again next week then? :D
 
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Excellent work; your observation about the ice cream van in a Scottish November made me chuckle.
 
Thanks all :thumb:

Very nice! So same cleaning session again next week then? :D
I will have to order deironizer and tardis in tote tanks to keep it looking white!

Guessing that they don't actually need to engage the chiller!!
haha - a very Scottish solution, save a bit of diesel!

A pic in natural light from this morning, it looks a bit yellow in the final pictures last night.

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Lovely car my friend and from what you have said a great spec too!
Now looking great!
Just a few tips though - I would not use your expensive Duragloss shampoo as a first step "snow foam". When decontaminating, Simply use a good quality APC first, Autosmart G101 is ideal, dilute to the correct strength and spray direct on the car, this product breaks down wax and grime easily and would have removed 99% of the crap on your car, ref your 50/50 shot when washing with wool mitt.
I would have clayed the car as well, even if it felt smooth, that extra time taken, would have put my mind at rest that all contaminants have been removed from the paints surface.
As you had the DA out I would have given her a light polish, regardless. If it aint sunny get as many lights on her as possible, you will soon see the swirls and marring etc.
Its easy to get carried away at the start of a detail, you want the final LSP on and pictures posted.
The decontamination and polishing steps cannot be rushed, they are vital in giving that concours finish and shine, polishing can be boring, and always hard work, but you have to go through the pain to get the results.
 
Lovely car my friend and from what you have said a great spec too!
Now looking great!
Just a few tips though - I would not use your expensive Duragloss shampoo as a first step "snow foam". When decontaminating, Simply use a good quality APC first, Autosmart G101 is ideal, dilute to the correct strength and spray direct on the car, this product breaks down wax and grime easily and would have removed 99% of the crap on your car, ref your 50/50 shot when washing with wool mitt.
I would have clayed the car as well, even if it felt smooth, that extra time taken, would have put my mind at rest that all contaminants have been removed from the paints surface.
As you had the DA out I would have given her a light polish, regardless. If it aint sunny get as many lights on her as possible, you will soon see the swirls and marring etc.
Its easy to get carried away at the start of a detail, you want the final LSP on and pictures posted.
The decontamination and polishing steps cannot be rushed, they are vital in giving that concours finish and shine, polishing can be boring, and always hard work, but you have to go through the pain to get the results.

Thanks :thumb:

DG shampoo is not expensive when bought a gallon at a time, but I agree an APC would have taken more off...as would some of the other SF I have. But as there is so much chrome trim on the car I don't want to risk it going milky over time as strong SF or traffic film removers might do. I'll get a dedicated SF, probably Built Hamber Auto Foam which will be kind enough to chrome but still kick ass on muck removal.

After the decontamination I did a thorough inspection, and did clay a couple of spots, but I was quite comfortable with the rest.

After going over with top coat (strips away any glaze, fillers and oils) I did an inspection with a light, and was happy with the lack of swirl marks. So I was happy to get the winter protection on and leave any light polishing until spring for a proper strip down. :thumb:
 
Fantastic car and looks great !
 

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