The Big Spring Clean

[billywhiz]

Mind you, using the two bucket method parked on the street in South Ken doesn't half get you funny looks.

Hahaha - I can picture it now

 

[Dieselman]

Mind you, using the two bucket method parked on the street in South Ken doesn't half get you funny looks.

Or was that, the wellies, pinny and mariglods..??

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Mine are the style fitted to the C32 yours are fitted to the C55

As R2 says, his are 17-inch Style IV wheels as fitted to the C32/SLK32, where as WN has 18-inch Style IV wheels fitted to CLK55/E55/etc.

The difference is the detail around the bolts - the smaller wheel has a hoop around the bolts, whereas the bigger wheel has detail which extends from the spokes into the bolt holes.

However R2s look like they're 7.5-inch wide front and rear, rather than the staggered 8.5-inch set up which are fitted to the C32/SLK32. You can see the extra dish on the rear of my car here (fitted with staggered as standard):

 

[whitenemesis]

The outer rims are different as well? Mine are square and deep, R2s appear rounded?
R2s are 7.5 f/r

Check the links in post#56

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

The outer rims are different as well? Mine are square and deep, R2s appear rounded?
R2s are 7.5 f/r

Check the links in post#56

Take a look at my front wheel, it's the same as R2 has front and rear. Your front wheel will be similar.

Then take a look at my rear wheel, whilst it's an inch smaller in diameter, it's the same width as your rear wheel, and you'll see that it's squarer and deeper like yours.

EDITED TO ADD: It may be slightly more noticeable from this angle:

View attachment 22702

 

[snoop51]

Guys - It really pains me to hear some of you are taking your cars to the 'valet bays' for the 4 guys for £15 to clean you car on.

Put simply - they are f'king your car up - Harsh chemicals - damage to the paintwork - and talk about not even cleaning it properly..... - All they use are 'quickshine' products on the inside - slippy silicone sprays etc

Each to their own and I need to understand that but I really find it depressing when people with semi decent vehicles take their cars to those sorts of places to be - Do I even say cleaned - ... :O(

Let me put it another way - if you engine or drivetrain needed something doing to it - would you let an untrained / unqualified / uninsured mechanic-technician to work on it ? ? ? - I'd suspect not - The paintwork on your vehicle means the same amount to your car in £££ terms at resale etc

C'mon guys - please don't neglect em

( sorry R2D2 for mini post hijack )

Sorry Billy but feel the pain I don't pay £15 I pay £10. The guys who I use whilst I don't know what chemicals they use do a good enough job for me. They wash the sponges out before they come near the car, if they drop it it gets chucked into another bucket for washing. I haven't got any scratches on my "semi decent" car other than stone chips on the front from driving down the road.

As I've mentioned before in posts, to me although it's a Mercedes it is still just a tool. It's purpose in life is to get me from A to B in safety and comfort, nothing more nothing less. Sorry if this upsets you but that's life, I personally wouldn't let anything you do upset me, unless it affected me or mine.

If you lurve your car then that's fine by me. Mines a squarish box of metal with 4 lumps of rubber to keep it on the road. It gets serviced as it needs it, new tyres when required, taxed, insured etc. If I had and classic MB then I would probably care for it more but I just can't feel the love for my daily commuter.

C'est la vie as the Frenchies say

 

[JOB-BLACK-RAT]

Mind you, using the two bucket method parked on the street in South Ken doesn't half get you funny looks.

A Bentley owner is South Ken using the two bucket method?? you jest sir! surely you just insruct the 'help' to do it

 

[R2D2]

Interior now done! i must be mad

 

[BlackC55]

You need a Bilstein coil over kit next. Just ask Whitenemisis.

 

[whitenemesis]

Interior now done! i must be mad

Yes, but it feels sooo good to have done it....

I love cleaning the interior of my car! At least I have some control over how long the cleanliness lasts, unlike the exterior

Perhaps we need to form a support group R2?

 

[whitenemesis]

You need a Bilstein coil over kit next. Just ask Whitenemisis.

Oh yes!! Love it. :bannana: :bannana:

 

[R2D2]

You need a Bilstein coil over kit next. Just ask Whitenemisis.

I've recently changed to sachs Super Touring shocks and am already running C32 AMG rear springs and sport edition front springs

Yes, but it feels sooo good to have done it....

I love cleaning the interior of my car! At least I have some control over how long the cleanliness lasts, unlike the exterior

Perhaps we need to form a support group R2?

Agree at least we can prevent the worse excesses on the interior. What shall we call the support group

 

[whitenemesis]

Agree at least we can prevent the worse excesses on the interior. What shall we call the support group

I imagine we will be getting plenty of suggestions!!

 

[Walt Jabsco]

Nice job – looks great.

As for the repainting of the screws for the number plate – I did this on my number plate when my wife purchased a personal reg for my birthday (Letter of birth month, 2 digits year my year of birth and three digits my initials)

I painted the somewhat rusty old screws number plate yellow back, and white on the front, using little pots of enamel paint from the local modeling shop. The result is that the screw blend in rather than stand out – I like it – not all would perhaps.

 

[Mike Walker]

I imagine we will be getting plenty of suggestions!!

How about 'Try and get out more'? - tongue firmly in cheek just in case anyone gets upset which is absolutely not what is intended in any way at all.

 

[R2D2]

Update!!

After "mucking up" the car by driving it to Scotland and back I decided to redo the Big Clean, however, following the tips on here, I decided to try claying for the first time! I used Meguiars Quik Clay and I have to say I'm amazed that it got SO much muck off the car when you all know that my car is never exactly dirty. I have washed it, clayed it and washed it again. I've shamied it and will leave it until the morning to wax so that the cracks dry out. Photos to follow

 

[whitenemesis]

Update!!

After "mucking up" the car by driving it to Scotland and back I decided to redo the Big Clean, however, following the tips on here, I decided to try claying for the first time! I used Meguiars Quik Clay and I have to say I'm amazed that it got SO much muck off the car when you all know that my car is never exactly dirty. I have washed it, clayed it and washed it again. I've shamied it and will leave it until the morning to wax so that the cracks dry out. Photos to follow

That's a coincidence! I did the same today, tried claying (using Meg's Quick Clay) for the first time.. Washed as usual then clayed it and as you found, lots of 'muck' came off! Rinsed down as I went (I used loads of Meg's Quick Detailer lube) and then applied Carlack 68 and a coat of Collinite 915

 

[R2D2]

That's a coincidence! I did the same today, tried claying (using Meg's Quick Clay) for the first time.. Washed as usual then clayed it and as you found, lots of 'muck' came off! Rinsed down as I went (I used loads of Meg's Quick Detailer lube) and then applied Carlack 68 and a coat of Collinite 915

LOL. how weird is that?? Tomorrow I'll do the waxing Did you clay your wheels?

 

[elisetype25]

Must be something in the water.

Not the Merc, but I clayed the Aygo (great car to clean, it's tiny!).

It always amazes me how much grime is 'in the paint'. I washed the car, applied tar remover, washed again, then clayed (I use Bilt Hammer - this can be used with water as the lubricant rather than special spray). The amount of dirt in the clay was shocking. Don't forget to do your windows as well, you'll be amazed how dirty they are as well.

I have two different grades of clay, so I'll do the same thing again in the morning with the softer clay before polish and wax.

I did the E the week after I bought it and it really makes a difference when washing. The wax is still doing its job, you can see how the water just falls off the paintwork. It's going to need doing again before Autumn, not looking forward to that it's too damn big!

Anyone who hasn't tried claying their car should try it, you will be amazed. I don't go too OTT with it, but it's certainly worth doing a proper job once a year.

Regards, Neil

 

[whitenemesis]

LOL. how weird is that?? Tomorrow I'll do the waxing Did you clay your wheels?

No, they have only been on a couple of weeks (stored over winter) but did wax them (again)