Mercedes-Benz SLK 320 - Dodo'd

[Jim@WD]

Hi all,

Now, in no way is this related to Seat/Audi/VW VAG at all.. but, it contains lots of pretty pictures, and, hopefully a few tips that you can pick up on. Let me know what you think..

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The SLK was a relatively new purchase, and, had just returned from a 2000 mile trip round France. Nice.

Hoping to go in with a bit of an ‘Enhance and Protect’ style spec, I opted for DoDo Juice Limeprime and a Megs yellow polishing pad. This knocked out ~50% of the hazy surface swirls – unfortunately, there were a fair few deeper marks that wouldn’t be corrected this time round..

Product
* AutoGylm Glass Polish
* AutoSmart G101
* AutoSmart Bio Brisk
* AutoSmart Tardis
* Autosol
* ChemicalGuys JetSEAL901
* Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild
* Dodo Juice Limeprime
* Dodo Juice Purple Haze
* LTT Auto Ultra Foam
* LTT Auto Ultra Protect
* Meguiars All-Season Dressing
* Meguiars Last Tough
* Meguiars Super-Degreaser
* Meguiars Wheel-Brightener
* Meguiars Endurance Tyre Gel
* Zaino Z8

How the car looked when I arrived:

And then how the car looked some 7 hours later:

So, get the kit out, set up and take a good look around..

 

[Jim@WD]

Not too bad.. Will have a better idea when it’s ‘clean’ though.

As per, the wheels were worked on first.

Not many photos from this stage.. I actually took a fair few, but, silly me, I’d left the exposure compensation thing on real low (as previous shots had lots of sun glare in! – D’oh!)

Basically, Super-Degreaser onto the tyres and caliper (Which was pretty caked up..), G101 into the arches and Wheel-brightener deep into the rim and shot in behind the spokes of the alloy. Agitated with a whole array of brushes and mitts.


Once all four sides were clean, I had to shift the car forward a foot or two to access the area that sat behind that chunky caliper. *grr*

I took a look round the engine bay and thought it could do with a once over, too..

 

[Jim@WD]

Again, cleaned with a Super-Degreaser/G101 mash-up and various ‘detailing’ brushes. Rinsed. Dried. Dressed (later on whilst garaged..)

(Megs All-Season dressing used on this occasion)


Before getting too far ahead of myself with the body wash, I went round a few areas with surplus APC to shift the French bugs..

(Bumper, wing-mirror, lower bonnet, roof lip etc)


Then, after five minutes of trying to wake the Karcher up, I delivered the first of two snowfoam’s to soften the dirt.

 

[Jim@WD]

(Before this stage, the door shuts were cleaned (same process as engine-bay really (minus the dressing!))


Once I was happy that the window rubbers, joins, seals and crevices were clean, I filled the two buckets and loaded some Dodo Juice Born To Be Mild.

Re-foamed, and, delivered the wash with a Megs Lambswool washmit.

To rid of the ‘standing water’ after the wash, and, ensure the panel gaps etc had no suds in, I did some ‘sheeting’ with an open-hose:

Sonus Green Clay was used to lift the embedded contaminants.. To touch, the car wasn’t too bad; just the odd rough section here and there.

Usual spots where tar build-up occurs were checked and cleaned with AutoSmart Tardis… Nothing too drastic.


The front bumper had a small scrape - red paint had been left with a couple of scuffs.

Tardis was used to shift the paint, but, Limeprime wasn’t able to clean much of the scuff up I’m afraid. Next time, Menzerna will on the case.


More beading..

(Only means one thing, more sheeting!)


Once dry, the sun gave a helping hand in inspecting the paintwork:

 

[Jim@WD]

After a bit of a taping session and the odd jaffa cake, I’d started with the small pad work.. SFX2 with Limeprime..

This included the A & C Pillars, the tailgate, the front/rear bumpers and the wing-mirrors.

I then stepped up to a larger Megs yellow polishing pad, secured to the Gloss-IT backing plate (which I’m still quite enjoying..)


The boot-lid before:

The boot-lid after:

Lots of deeper marks remained, but, time wasn’t on my side and major/minor correction wasn’t on the ‘to do’ list this time round.

Still, can’t complain at that! Well done Limeprime.

 

[Jim@WD]

I was having a few troubles with the sun-glare for my photos... Introducing my shades helped mask the glare a bit..

Before/After (not the best example..)

50/50

It then clouded over, (thankfully the machining had been finished) so, the Merc was tucked up inside for a few hours…

Wax on: (Dodo Juice Purple Haze)

Wax off:

Exhaust tip cleaned with Autosol:

 

[Jim@WD]

To further clean the boot sills, I had to ‘raise the roof’, so to speak.

At the same time, the rear window was polished with AutoGlym Glass Polish.


Moving on to the interior, I start with the door-cards..

A bit of a 50/50 going on, but, nothing too special.


I then have a go with my latest purchase, LTT Leather Auto Ultra kit..

In here, is the Dye Transfer kit (for an upcoming BMW Z4..), the clean foam, protect, and, maintain.

Not quite what I was expecting? Can’t give too many thoughts on my first go, but, the seats were left clean and, well, clean!! So, that’s all that matters (protected of course, too!)

Some more wiping around with APC was done, a bit of hovering and Bio Brisk into, and, off of the floor mats.. Interior done.

It was about this time I then dressed the engine bay. But, you’ve see that already, so, moving on..

 

[Jim@WD]

Alloys were sealed to help prevent further build up. Tyres dressed, and, window polished. A light Z8 wipedown was given to remove my grubby finger prints, and, we’re finished.

A few final shots outside..

 

[Jim@WD]

 

7 hours (and around..) 30 minutes spent on this one.

Very good.

Thanks for reading!

Jim.

 

[Turf Burner 09]

Great results, came out lovely

 

[Jim@WD]

Hi, thanks chap.

following this one, I should have the silver RR in the background to play with *again..* and, a 63 AMG