Flex + Rupes vs Ceramiclear Paint - How to detail a Mercedes-Benz SL 550

[dlc95]

Always an excellent tutoral. I'm glad to see the rotary still being utilized.

 

[jmsc]

Mike:

1. were the headlights rearlights plastic and/or glass?
2. did you use the Nanoskin pad to clay them?
3. which machine/pad(s)/polish(s) did you use for the HL's and RL's?

This is one correction I still have a tough time with.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike:

1. were the headlights rearlights plastic and/or glass?

Plastic.

2. did you use the Nanoskin pad to clay them?

Don't remember since I did this detail work over 2 years ago but normally if the paint is contaminated then everything on the outside of the car is contaminated and normally I would use the Nanoskin pad or whatever I was using to mechanically decontaminate the paint on the plastic.

3. which machine/pad(s)/polish(s) did you use for the HL's and RL's?

Normally whatever I'm using on the paint. If I use a rotary buffer on plastic I also re-polish using an orbital to make sure there's no holograms in the plastic.

This is one correction I still have a tough time with.

What's the issue?

 

[11B250]

lol, if this is going to be my experience on my '11 CL550, I'm screwed. I'm not putting a rotary buffer to my car. All I got is the flex 3401. Might as well stop researching what stuff i need for my project next month lol.

 

[shadwell]

Re: Flex + Rupes vs Ceramiclear Paint - How to detail a Mercedes-Benz SL550

Hi mike, great work, great write up...
I have (for my sins ) a black metallic merc and a polar White merc (single stage).
Both have mercs orange peel... Particularly on the side panels....
No sign of it on the sl... Was it evident? The gloss you achieve hides it...
I can get great gloss on mine but the reflections aren't crisp due to the peel...
Interested if you addressed it at all on this one...

Thanks again.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: Flex + Rupes vs Ceramiclear Paint - How to detail a Mercedes-Benz SL550

Hi mike, great work, great write up...

I have (for my sins ) a black metallic merc and a polar White merc (single stage).

Both have mercs orange peel... Particularly on the side panels....

No sign of it on the sl... Was it evident? The gloss you achieve hides it...

I can get great gloss on mine but the reflections aren't crisp due to the peel...

Interested if you addressed it at all on this one...

Thanks again.

When it comes to orange peel you have to take a LOT of different factors into consideration. Probably the most important is the fact that if you're working on the FACTORY CLEARCOAT - the paint is super thin, in fact, thinner than a Post-it Note.

So most people shouldn't be sanding factory clearcoat. Sooner or later you're going to see the color of the basecoat on your buffing pad.

Also - some Mercs or Mercedes-Benz have a Ceramiclear paint system. NO ONE SHOULD BE SANDING a CERAMICLEAR paint system. It will ruin the paint.