1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420 (C140)

[bolidemichael]

MrB. said:

Thanks for that, it all sounds relatively straight forward then. My O/H just wants us to give up the classics (my Bentley is a 1980 T2) as we just don't have the time anymore with a young family, nor really the space to keep a classic (Bentley sits on the drive), but I am sorely tempted to have a big, wafty Mercedes, and so it does appeal.

It is white mind you.......

Make sure that you keep some budget to one side... for these to match

[MrB.]

bolidemichael said:

MrB. said:

Thanks for that, it all sounds relatively straight forward then. My O/H just wants us to give up the classics (my Bentley is a 1980 T2) as we just don't have the time anymore with a young family, nor really the space to keep a classic (Bentley sits on the drive), but I am sorely tempted to have a big, wafty Mercedes, and so it does appeal.

It is white mind you.......

Make sure that you keep some budget to one side... for these to match

[MrB.]

bolidemichael said:

MrB. said:

Thanks for that, it all sounds relatively straight forward then. My O/H just wants us to give up the classics (my Bentley is a 1980 T2) as we just don't have the time anymore with a young family, nor really the space to keep a classic (Bentley sits on the drive), but I am sorely tempted to have a big, wafty Mercedes, and so it does appeal.

It is white mind you.......

Make sure that you keep some budget to one side... for these to match

So, what you’re saying is that it’s a “J.R” kind of car, but more “Ewing” than “Hartley”?

[bolidemichael]

MrB. said:

bolidemichael said:

MrB. said:

Thanks for that, it all sounds relatively straight forward then. My O/H just wants us to give up the classics (my Bentley is a 1980 T2) as we just don't have the time anymore with a young family, nor really the space to keep a classic (Bentley sits on the drive), but I am sorely tempted to have a big, wafty Mercedes, and so it does appeal.

It is white mind you.......

Make sure that you keep some budget to one side... for these to match

So, what you’re saying is that it’s a “J.R” kind of car, but more “Ewing” than “Hartley”?

[tobinen]

When I say I'd love a 600, not in white though. In Miami, LA or Málaga, yes, but not Newbury.

[tobinen]

Just back from OSW and all done door-to-door in 4 hours 20 mins. A complimentary breakfast was thrown in. Yet again I took a wrong turn and again I had no GPS in Slurrey. Very odd but I arrived 10 minutes early as I'd built in some 'lost' time. Now I need a frost to see if the HRW works but one thing's for sure, still no FM reception. Could be the aerial amplifier in the NSR quarter.

£132 today please sir.

[bolidemichael]

A result - how was the breakfast?

Surely this is the best time to apply a hydrophobic coating to the screen?

[tobinen]

Breakfast OK, see the breakfast thread for a picture

I really, really hope the HRW now works! I am not aware of any coating - what's recommended?

[bolidemichael]

There are a number of options - I have used angelwax h2go in the past with success - note that for the other windows, they recommend cleaning with angelwax vision for maximal adherence.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

[bolidemichael]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

Why oh why have I not bitten the bullet with Gtechniq? This'll be the year.

You'll need to prep the glass first Tobinen (perhaps not the rear) with whatever G is recommended.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

bolidemichael said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

Why oh why have I not bitten the bullet with Gtechniq? This'll be the year.

You'll need to prep the glass first Tobinen (perhaps not the rear) with whatever G is recommended.

You'd still need to prep the rear. Personally.....despite all of the specialist glass polishes/cleaners etc....the best thing I have found....Bar Keepers Friend (the powder) with a non-scratch scourer or some ultra fine (0000 grade) wire wool. Once done, just rubbing alcohol to clear any grease or other contaminants away etc and then away you go.

G1 is, I'll openly admit, a bit of a ball-ache to apply. 3 coats, I'd say from prep to finish.....well over 30mins. It does last very well though.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

bolidemichael said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

Why oh why have I not bitten the bullet with Gtechniq? This'll be the year.

You'll need to prep the glass first Tobinen (perhaps not the rear) with whatever G is recommended.

You'd still need to prep the rear. Personally.....despite all of the specialist glass polishes/cleaners etc....the best thing I have found....Bar Keepers Friend (the powder) with a non-scratch scourer or some ultra fine (0000 grade) wire wool. Once done, just rubbing alcohol to clear any grease or other contaminants away etc and then away you go.

G1 is, I'll openly admit, a bit of a ball-ache to apply. 3 coats, I'd say from prep to finish.....well over 30mins. It does last very well though.

I used G1 once. Never again. It's a complete pain - unless you're one of the detailing weirdos - for somewhat limited benefit I think. Once you start getting protective and possessive about glass it's a slippery slope to driving gloves and chrome 'enhancements'.

[bolidemichael]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

bolidemichael said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

Why oh why have I not bitten the bullet with Gtechniq? This'll be the year.

You'll need to prep the glass first Tobinen (perhaps not the rear) with whatever G is recommended.

You'd still need to prep the rear. Personally.....despite all of the specialist glass polishes/cleaners etc....the best thing I have found....Bar Keepers Friend (the powder) with a non-scratch scourer or some ultra fine (0000 grade) wire wool. Once done, just rubbing alcohol to clear any grease or other contaminants away etc and then away you go.

G1 is, I'll openly admit, a bit of a ball-ache to apply. 3 coats, I'd say from prep to finish.....well over 30mins. It does last very well though.

I used G1 once. Never again. It's a complete pain - unless you're one of the detailing weirdos - for somewhat limited benefit I think. Once you start getting protective and possessive about glass it's a slippery slope to driving gloves and chrome 'enhancements'.

When applied properly there's few more satisfying detailing enhancements. Driving in the rain, feeling glib as you count the globules of water beading off every glass surface is a recipe for disaster, but what a slippery way to go.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

bolidemichael said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

Gtechniq G1. Look no further. Lasts ages.

Why oh why have I not bitten the bullet with Gtechniq? This'll be the year.

You'll need to prep the glass first Tobinen (perhaps not the rear) with whatever G is recommended.

You'd still need to prep the rear. Personally.....despite all of the specialist glass polishes/cleaners etc....the best thing I have found....Bar Keepers Friend (the powder) with a non-scratch scourer or some ultra fine (0000 grade) wire wool. Once done, just rubbing alcohol to clear any grease or other contaminants away etc and then away you go.

G1 is, I'll openly admit, a bit of a ball-ache to apply. 3 coats, I'd say from prep to finish.....well over 30mins. It does last very well though.

I used G1 once. Never again. It's a complete pain - unless you're one of the detailing weirdos - for somewhat limited benefit I think. Once you start getting protective and possessive about glass it's a slippery slope to driving gloves and chrome 'enhancements'.

So you didn't follow the instructions then

It is a bit of a pain to apply but not that bad.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

So you didn't follow the instructions then

It is a bit of a pain to apply but not that bad.

I followed it to the letter, and it's true that I had very clean glass! But the beading and run-off didn't seem worth the effort. Maybe I was expecting too much.

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

So you didn't follow the instructions then

It is a bit of a pain to apply but not that bad.

I followed it to the letter, and it's true that I had very clean glass! But the beading and run-off didn't seem worth the effort. Maybe I was expecting too much.

Hmmm, I found it beaded from around 50mph. It's a trade-off between repellancy and durability. If you wanted better beading then they do another one. I think it's called G5 but can't remember. That beads from around 30mph (in terms of it running off the screen). Only lasts a few months at best I think. G1 lasted over 12 months for me when I was commuting 20+ miles each way when I had the thread car. If doing less motorway miles I'd opt for the other one (which is much easier to apply, too)

As an aside, hope you're keeping well. I gather you aren't living where you used to when I came with Matt to collect the 190E....!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

TyrannosauRoss Lex said:

As an aside, hope you're keeping well. I gather you aren't living where you used to when I came with Matt to collect the 190E....!

Very O/T, but all fine thanks. Moved a couple of times since Matt bought the 190, and now in Luxembourg. Via lots of other places I guess, but now pretty much based in Lux.

There's a mini-sort-of-reunion for a few 1-5 folk (including Tobinen) at mine en-route for the Essen Techno jamboree if you fancy it?

[TyrannosauRoss Lex]

Can't I'm afraid

[tobinen]

I was out and about last night and it was the first test of the HRW, as there was a chill in the air. The rear screen had a perfect light layer of condensation to clear. Switch on, it illuminates, revs drop slightly and wait. And wait. And wait. Nothing doing. Bugger.

Drove 5 minutes up the road to fill up and still nothing.

Why me?