What do you clean and polish yours with

[DREAMER NO2]

Yes and owners of the new models, can take them back to the dealers and ask them to explain to them why the clear coat is now missing..

 

[rorywquin]

Nothing better than a good pressure wash , it is much like a fine sand blaster ..

Pressure washed my SL for 6 years. Paintwork was still pristine when I sold it.

 

[rorywquin]

The only thing I don't like about pressure washers is that it blows all of your polish off of the paintwork

Mine didn’t. Beading lasted for multiple washes.

 

[AnthonyUK]

The only thing I don't like about pressure washers is that it blows all of your polish off of the paintwork

My car is old enough now that the paint has actually cured

 

[s5tuart]

Washed mine today. Disappointing to find two or three blemishes in the paint that I missed previously.
I have a little patch of rust above the rear nearside wheel arch
I've ordered some touch up paint but suspect I'll need a professional to deal with the rusty arch.
If it's fine tomorrow it might get some Collinite to keep the rest of the paint nice.

 

[Morethanpolish]

As published by DEKRA, keep the pressure washer at least a metre from paintwork and especially underbody sealant (speaking from experience there...)

 

[onefortheroad]

As published by DEKRA, keep the pressure washer at least a metre from paintwork and especially underbody sealant (speaking from experience there...)

Adjust the nozzle pressure from high .

 

[DREAMER NO2]

Dont forget to give the alloys a good blasting ..replacing calipers, and discs are easy after they are rusty .

 

[Frontstep]

Aah Dekra, I remember eviscerating one of their expert's reports in court it was laughably bad and incredibly easy.

The Judge just sighed.

 

[markben]

Aah Dekra, I remember eviscerating one of their expert's reports in court it was laughably bad and incredibly easy.

The Judge just sighed.

Really? What was the Dekra report about / why so bad.. ? (never heard of Dekra before, so no bias either way).

 

[Alastairp]

I have a little patch of rust above the rear nearside wheel arch
I've ordered some touch up paint but suspect I'll need a professional to deal with the rusty arch.

I think I might have mentioned to check that when you went to look at it.......

 

[s5tuart]

I think I might have mentioned to check that when you went to look at it.......

I'd have bought it anyway!

 

[Morethanpolish]

DEKRA is the world’s largest non-listed expert organization in the TIC sector founded in Berlin, Germany in 1925 as Deutscher Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Verein. At 28 million per year worldwide, DEKRA inspects more vehicles than any other organization.

You may recall them inspecting used 3-series bought by the presenters on old Top Gear

 

[Frontstep]

Really? What was the Dekra report about / why so bad.. ? (never heard of Dekra before, so no bias either way).

Mercedes used them as "expert witnesses" in a Court case.
The report was on yet another rusty Mercedes that MB tried to blame on everyone other than themselves.

The expert had no known qualifications in the field and it showed, their Barrister tried a scattergun approach and was out of her depth when the report she had hung her wig on was taken apart, much to the Judges amusement, to her credit she took it with good grace.

 

[markben]

Mercedes used them as "expert witnesses" in a Court case.
The report was on yet another rusty Mercedes that MB tried to blame on everyone other than themselves.

The expert had no known qualifications in the field and it showed, their Barrister tried a scattergun approach and was out of her depth when the report she had hung her wig on was taken apart, much to the Judges amusement, to her credit she took it with good grace.

Now it all makes sense.

I owned a lovely 2001 (production year) W210 E55 amg estate in the mid 2000s which developed the dreaded FiloFilm corrosion around the wheel arch edges & bonnet etc. Very slight cosmetically but noticeable all the same despite my meticulous cleaning & maintenance. My previous 2000 production year E55 amg estate was corrosion-free, so it was a bit of a puzzle at first.

Luckily, my local main dealer did repairs at a cost of approx £6k (2 new front wings, bonnet, almost total respray!) under the MB Goodwill bodywork corrosion warranty at the time, since they knew me as a 'good' Customer. But, later, the FF corrosion developed in the rear subframe & boot-pan, so together with some very expensive auto transmission faults I reluctantly sold it. It has most likely been scrapped now, RIP.

Going back to your 'expert witness' comment. From what I've learned since: at the time, Mercedes AG / Daimler Chrysler tried to minimise the reputational impact of RUST eek:!) on any Mercedes passenger cars which were previously legendary for being both mechanically bomb-proof and Rust-proof even after 40 years (ask any Turkish / Cypriot / etc Taxi driver with a 1980s W123 model?).

So what you say makes sense about how MB / DC might have hired 'expert witnesses' in an effort to avoid or mitigate legal liability for the FF corrosion issue which affected all models across the range in around 2001- 2002. On my travels, I regularly see Mercedes cars of that era (from C to S Class) which are suffering from it. And, who knows how many have been scrapped as a result? It was a dark time for Mercedes Benz...

Fortunately, my late 2004 production S320 is totally free from the dreaded FF corrosion issue and I count my blessings every time I clean it. But on reflection, that's why I bought it in the first place (rather than an earlier 2001 / 2002 model).

Maybe the Judge knew something about these things too..?

 

[Frontstep]

Now it all makes sense.

I owned a lovely 2001 (production year) W210 E55 amg estate in the mid 2000s which developed the dreaded FiloFilm corrosion around the wheel arch edges & bonnet etc. Very slight cosmetically but noticeable all the same despite my meticulous cleaning & maintenance. My previous 2000 production year E55 amg estate was corrosion-free, so it was a bit of a puzzle at first.

Luckily, my local main dealer did repairs at a cost of approx £6k (2 new front wings, bonnet, almost total respray!) under the MB Goodwill bodywork corrosion warranty at the time, since they knew me as a 'good' Customer. But, later, the FF corrosion developed in the rear subframe & boot-pan, so together with some very expensive auto transmission faults I reluctantly sold it. It has most likely been scrapped now, RIP.

Going back to your 'expert witness' comment. From what I've learned since: at the time, Mercedes AG / Daimler Chrysler tried to minimise the reputational impact of RUST eek:!) on any Mercedes passenger cars which were previously legendary for being both mechanically bomb-proof and Rust-proof even after 40 years (ask any Turkish / Cypriot / etc Taxi driver with a 1980s W123 model?).

So what you say makes sense about how MB / DC might have hired 'expert witnesses' in an effort to avoid or mitigate legal liability for the FF corrosion issue which affected all models across the range in around 2001- 2002. On my travels, I regularly see Mercedes cars of that era (from C to S Class) which are suffering from it. And, who knows how many have been scrapped as a result? It was a dark time for Mercedes Benz...

Fortunately, my late 2004 production S320 is totally free from the dreaded FF corrosion issue and I count my blessings every time I clean it. But on reflection, that's why I bought it in the first place (rather than an earlier 2001 / 2002 model).

Maybe the Judge knew something about these things too..?

Daimler Benz commissioned a study from Stuttgart University to look into the problem with their new water-based paints.

They came to the conclusion it was bacteria yet DB persisted in spinning a pack of pork pies.

The cons included contributions which usually meant the customer paid the trade rate for the repair.

Laying this and much else out for the Judge was pivotal.


By the way the Goodwill programme was tosh for the punters.

 

[markben]

Daimler Benz commissioned a study from Stuttgart University to look into the problem with their new water-based paints.

They came to the conclusion it was bacteria yet DB persisted in spinning a pack of pork pies.

The cons included contributions which usually meant the customer paid the trade rate for the repair.

Laying this and much else out for the Judge was pivotal.


By the way the Goodwill programme was tosh for the punters.

 

[markben]

The term 'Hands in (each-others'?) pockets' comes to mind. But that's often the nature of Corporate Business for better or worse.

 

[Timeandleisure]

That's one of the reasons why us "careful" old gits will only use a Korean drying towel. I used to always use a Meg's water magnet but the towel is far more absorbent therefore needing less, if any, movement over your nice freshly cleaned paint. Recommended to me by my detailing person who is a bit obsessive and very good so no reason to doubt him.

Chamois has been a definite NO here for well over 20 years.

Ordered some and wow... superb!

 

[Slartibardfast1]

Ordered some and wow... superb!

Can you please give the link!?