Titivating my Mercedes 124

Titivating my Mercedes 124

Author
Discussion

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
Time, time, time. Very little of it for car polishing... This threads shows what can be done but it is not on the cards for me: http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

CharlesdeGaulle

26,014 posts

179 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
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What sort of ball-park cost is a decent valet/detail? Not to any sort of obsessive standard, but a decent job?

I've never polished a car in my life, and don't really intend to start now, but they do look nice so may pay someone to do it for me!

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Wednesday 23rd April 2014
quotequote all
This place is near me: http://www.tdinternational.co.uk

They seem to start at £250 for an "enhancement detail". Too rich for my blood.

I did a similar job on my father-in-law's Jaguar S-Type at the weekend. It took me about three hours. It transformed the car. I find it quite a satisfying activity but I well understand others don't. The mindlessness is part of the appeal. Anyway, once you have the car at a decent standard, it only takes 30minutes to bring it back up to scratch after a week's motoring. You only have to do the full mentalist effort once a year.

bmthnick1981

5,309 posts

215 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
quotequote all
r129sl said:
Time, time, time. Very little of it for car polishing... This threads shows what can be done but it is not on the cards for me: http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
Impressive results but surely only any good for a show car, all that effort on a daily driver would be lost after a few months driving in rain etc.

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

226 months

Thursday 24th April 2014
quotequote all
bmthnick1981 said:
r129sl said:
Time, time, time. Very little of it for car polishing... This threads shows what can be done but it is not on the cards for me: http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...
Impressive results but surely only any good for a show car, all that effort on a daily driver would be lost after a few months driving in rain etc.
yes Hasn't stopped me looking at zinc plating kits on Ebay though. hehe

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Friday 25th April 2014
quotequote all
Dropped the car off at MB World tonight. They are brilliant there. So enthusiastic and pleasant. It must be a ruse! They're only putting it in the middle of the whole damned place! It looked a bit sorry for itself after 350miles in the rain. Spent two hours travelling 10miles on the M25. I couldn't live down here.

That said, the car was brilliant on the trip, the first long trip since it came back to me. It is very happy at 100mph, quiet, refined, comfortable. It is narrow, un-ostentatious, easy to handle and to see out of. New screen and wipers make a big difference in foul conditions.

I am really looking forward to the Sunday Service on... Sunday. I feel like a real tragic case, but it really has made my day that MB has involved the car.

PS, I figured out the ruse. They've given me a CLS350 CDI shooting break to knock about in. My barge-faith is going to be sorely tested...

E65Ross

34,847 posts

211 months

Friday 25th April 2014
quotequote all
r129sl said:
Dropped the car off at MB World tonight. They are brilliant there. So enthusiastic and pleasant. It must be a ruse! They're only putting it in the middle of the whole damned place! It looked a bit sorry for itself after 350miles in the rain. Spent two hours travelling 10miles on the M25. I couldn't live down here.

That said, the car was brilliant on the trip, the first long trip since it came back to me. It is very happy at 100mph, quiet, refined, comfortable. It is narrow, un-ostentatious, easy to handle and to see out of. New screen and wipers make a big difference in foul conditions.

I am really looking forward to the Sunday Service on... Sunday. I feel like a real tragic case, but it really has made my day that MB has involved the car.

PS, I figured out the ruse. They've given me a CLS350 CDI shooting break to knock about in. My barge-faith is going to be sorely tested...
That's great, it'll be fantastic! I look forward to seeing it. I'm sure they'll get someone to clean it (using the 2 bucket method, one would hope hehe ) and get it looking all glamorous.

CLS350 CDI will be a nice car, pity they couldn't give you an S63 AMG though, eh rofl

See you Sunday! Did you want a can of that degreaser, or just a few of the stick things (which are great for things like locks, interior vents and so on)?

r129sl

Original Poster:

9,518 posts

202 months

Friday 25th April 2014
quotequote all
If you're willing, both!! The degreaser sounds like it's the business. Do you want any money for them?

E65Ross

34,847 posts

211 months

Friday 25th April 2014
quotequote all
r129sl said:
If you're willing, both!! The degreaser sounds like it's the business. Do you want any money for them?
No, don't worry about it mate smile

You've spent enough on the W124 already hehe

The degreaser is pretty good, I like it anyway....it's just very, erm, strong smelling! It's good because it's safe around electrics etc as well unlike surfex (the latter being water based), and is also perfectly safe on paint.

Ross

H100S

1,436 posts

172 months

Friday 25th April 2014
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Have you tried one of those steam generating cleaners? They are great for the engine bay.

derin100

5,214 posts

242 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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The car looks (and is!) absolutely superb!!!

(I'm so sorry that I somehow missed this thread as it progressed).

You should be justly proud of what you've achieved!



beer

jonclancy

139 posts

137 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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H100S said:
Have you tried one of those steam generating cleaners? They are great for the engine bay.
Like the mini Karcher ones?

http://www.karcher.co.uk/uk/Products/Home__Garden/...

bmthnick1981

5,309 posts

215 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
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jonclancy said:
H100S said:
Have you tried one of those steam generating cleaners? They are great for the engine bay.
Like the mini Karcher ones?

http://www.karcher.co.uk/uk/Products/Home__Garden/...
I've often wondered about these cheap ones;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002ASWLFM/ref=wl_it_dp...

H100S

1,436 posts

172 months

Saturday 26th April 2014
quotequote all
bmthnick1981 said:
jonclancy said:
H100S said:
Have you tried one of those steam generating cleaners? They are great for the engine bay.
Like the mini Karcher ones?

http://www.karcher.co.uk/uk/Products/Home__Garden/...
I've often wondered about these cheap ones;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002ASWLFM/ref=wl_it_dp...
Yes, I bought a cheap one. didn't mind risking £16 if it were crap and I have to say its great. Used it on oven, tile grout and motorbike with good results.

neilbauer

2,467 posts

182 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Fantastic smile


CharlesdeGaulle

26,014 posts

179 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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It did look stunning, didn't it?

harry kular

2,770 posts

225 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Stunning!!


E65Ross

34,847 posts

211 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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Got to say it looked very, very tidy.

Really nice to meet you today (and the others!) and have a look at that W124 (and again, the others' too!). What a great morning....plus the cakes from the cafe weren't bad either, especially the victoria sponge cake hehe

R129sl - Let me know how you find that fastklean degreaser.....I have personally found it a little more powerful than the Bilt Hamber stuff but it's different in that it evaporates very, very quickly. It won't budge stuff that's oxidised on but for getting rid of grease/oil and general muck it's bloody good.

Big congrats on your estate though, it did look brand new and a real testament to the work involved.

bmthnick1981

5,309 posts

215 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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neilbauer said:
Fantastic smile

Looks really great.

slippery

14,093 posts

238 months

Sunday 27th April 2014
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neilbauer said:
Fantastic smile

Well that gives us all something to aspire to! clap