First polish and excuse to post pics.

[N4D5]

No not a polish bird

Right over the years all the cars I've had I've never been a55ed to polish any of them, I know very bad of me.

So I finally decided over this weekend to give it a blast, as it was perfect weather for it.

I used:

Jet wash
Micro-fiber washing glove, looked like mop from one side.
Micro-fiber cloths 5 pack
Autoglym Bodywork Shampoo Conditioner
Autoglym Super Resin Polish
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection.

Right so i started simply jet wash got rid of all the excess dirt, then gave it a very good rub down with the new glove and autoglym shampoo.

Dried with leather chamois, no effort required here as sun was blazing down.

Then parked car in shade and let cool for a while, applied the super resin polish with new micro-fiber cloth to the whole car in one go, i was expecting this to be a right pain in the jaxy but it was a doddle, little more effort required where it had slight scratches. Let this set for about 20 mins, then with new micro-fiber cloth started to slowly buff off. Already i was quite impressed with results.

Then once whole car buffed and a cold drink later i decided to do the gloss protection, applied as instructed with no effort all over car and left to set for about 1 hr. Then it was the final buff with new micro-fiber cloth again. So easy to do and the result were pretty cool too scratched and swirls gone.

The paint work is shiny and has good reflection but to the touch it is not smooth like glass, which is what i was hoping for.

I think next time it will have to be a clay bar before the super resin polish.

Would this give me a glass finish or do i need to look at other ideas also what is best for cleaning tyre's, cheapo option.

So here are my pics guys, do let me know what you think and where i could improve for next time.

Ps. Please post your polishing result here too.

Nad

 

[The Boss]

looks great!

 

[JasM]

It looks stunning!

 

[timk]

Looking at that inspires me to try and do something about my C55 - it's the same colour as yours and would probably come up really well with a good clay and polish, it's just to do it properly takes a load of time... and I'm too lazy.

 

[Matt's Dad]

Looks great I like the look of tinted windows and no badges on the rear, it all looks neat and tidy, and now with a great shine!

Is it Osbidian black? (mine is, and looks similar) I gave mine a quick wash and polish the other week, but I cheated - I used the jet wash and tfr soap brushed in at work, waited for it to dry, then used a quick cover wax. Seeing yours, I know it will be worth spending the time to do it properly.

Did you get your windows tinted, or was it already done when you got the car? I want mine done, but don't know what shade to ask for? I'd like the fronts as dark as possible, while still being legal, the rear window dark, and side ones inbetween the others - but I don't know if it'll look odd? I just dont want really dark next to clear, or light.

 

[N4D5]

Looks great I like the look of tinted windows and no badges on the rear, it all looks neat and tidy, and now with a great shine!

Is it Osbidian black? (mine is, and looks similar) Yes that's the one.

Did you get your windows tinted, or was it already done when you got the car? Mine were already done and was already de-badged, another reason why i bought this one, saved me a few hundred on tints, the rears are almost total black out the front 2 are also tinted but very slightly, personally i think it looks perfect, id say go for it, doesn't look odd...

By the way where is your twin tail pipes?

 

[ian11]

Jesus that's better than new! I'd never get a wink of sleep with paintwork that pristine, I'd want CCTV

 

[d w124]

By the way where is your twin tail pipes?

Your car is facelift but the early ones did not come with twin tail pipes

 

[amg_me]

That looks good

 

[ca-uk]

N4D5's isn't a facelift (i believe!) - wrong front bumper and lights (front and back), but looking at the wheels and exhausts then it is a sport - so likely a 2005 car..

 

[The Boss]

N4D5's isn't a facelift (i believe!) - wrong front bumper and lights (front and back), but looking at the wheels and exhausts then it is a sport - so likely a 2005 car..

correct. this is pre - 06

 

[Matt's Dad]

By the way where is your twin tail pipes?

They are on my ‘to do list’ - below taking the badges off, and getting the windows tinted!

Thanks for the info on your windows, I’ll go for that!

My car is a late 2004 model Avantgarde with AMG bumpers.

 

[ca-uk]

If you do sort out some exhausts let me know - my car is the same as yours - same AMG bumpers, same wheels, same age, except in silver - i'd love to get either the sport exhausts or amg quads but not having much luck figuring out what to do with the back bumper!

They are on my ‘to do list’ - below taking the badges off, and getting the windows tinted!

Thanks for the info on your windows, I’ll go for that!

My car is a late 2004 model Avantgarde with AMG bumpers.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Did you get your windows tinted, or was it already done when you got the car? I want mine done, but don't know what shade to ask for? I'd like the fronts as dark as possible, while still being legal, the rear window dark, and side ones inbetween the others - but I don't know if it'll look odd? I just dont want really dark next to clear, or light.

Without hijacking this thread, you technically can't legally tint your front windows at all. The regs stipulate the minimum light transmission level and this must also include the tint that is already there. Some tinting companies will do it for you but it wouldn't be legally for you to use your car on the road and you risk invalidating your insurance.

There are lots of threads on this forum and elsewhere on the internet about it. A number of people on here have also had a fixed penalty and have been told to remove the front tint. I've had my windows tinted before (including the fronts when it was legal and also about the time that the legisltaiton changed).

You can tint as dark as you like behind the B pillar.

 

[stevesey]

Without hijacking this thread, you technically can't legally tint your front windows at all. The regs stipulate the minimum light transmission level and this must also include the tint that is already there. Some tinting companies will do it for you but it wouldn't be legally for you to use your car on the road and you risk invalidating your insurance.

Being pedantic - technically you can tint you front windows as long as the end result stays within the minimum transmission level. Difficulty is finding a light enough tint that combined with the factory one does this.

 

[Matt's Dad]

Without hijacking this thread, you technically can't legally tint your front windows at all. The regs stipulate the minimum light transmission level and this must also include the tint that is already there. Some tinting companies will do it for you but it wouldn't be legally for you to use your car on the road and you risk invalidating your insurance.

There are lots of threads on this forum and elsewhere on the internet about it. A number of people on here have also had a fixed penalty and have been told to remove the front tint. I've had my windows tinted before (including the fronts when it was legal and also about the time that the legisltaiton changed).

You can tint as dark as you like behind the B pillar.

I'll ask about it - I thought there was a tool that measures the light passing through, and assumed that the tinting company could use small samples and test before covering the complete window?

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I'll ask about it - I thought there was a tool that measures the light passing through, and assumed that the tinting company could use small samples and test before covering the complete window?

Yes there are tools although I doubt the tinting company would have one. The Police and some MOT testing stations use something called Tintman.

The issue is that the factory tint on the front windows is almost as dark as you can legally go on the front side windows.

As far as I know ANY tint on the front side windows would case the test to fail. If I get a moment I'll find the link to more info...

 

[N4D5]

N4D5's isn't a facelift (i believe!) - wrong front bumper and lights (front and back), but looking at the wheels and exhausts then it is a sport - so likely a 2005 car..

<------------- Yep that is correct as per my description on the left, 2005 e320 sport.

Damn this thing guzzles gas but i must say all worth it.

Nad

 

[A-AvantGarde]

<------------- Yep that is correct as per my description on the left, 2005 e320 sport.

Damn this thing guzzles gas but i must say all worth it.

Nad

Your car is looking great, well done on the clean / wax.

I'm tempted to clay some time. Have had a read of lots of the detailing forums but not quite sure when I'll get the time.

All I have been doing recently is wash using the two bucket method, dry and wax a couple of times a year. Most people I know think I'm crazy using the two bucket method, so many people tell me "it's easier to use the hand car wash place down the road".

I actually enjoy washing my own cars

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Being pedantic - technically you can tint you front windows as long as the end result stays within the minimum transmission level. Difficulty is finding a light enough tint that combined with the factory one does this.

True which is why I said technically and mentioned taking into account the light transmission of the existing factory tint too.

As you've said finding a 'light enough' tint would be the difficult bit for the front windows.