Annual full detailing completed

**FishtailnZ** · 05-20-2008

Once a year I give the car the full meal deal - dish detergent wash, clay, Zaino treatment/polish, remove wheels/wax, etc etc. Then just regular washing/polishing after that. Well today was that day and I know again why I only do all that once a year *L*. Paint was, and is, in pretty good condition though, so it wasn't too bad. Some light surface contamination that the claying easily took care of and the entire cars surface feel smooth as silk again now. Started just after lunch and now just finished, well into the evening *L*. But at least it's done. So I didn't get a chance to take it out somewhere nice for some overall shots, but here's some detail of various panels shot in the garage...

Happiness is a shiney car! *L*

Trunk lid in front of the spoiler...

C pillar area...

Hood section...

Hood section close up...

Hood section front angle...

Roof panel...

**Cold Shot** · 05-20-2008

Wow. Nice job.

**rlbawk** · 05-20-2008

That looks great and a beautiful car too.

*easty* · 05-20-2008

Very impressive my friend. I may be scared to do that to mine as marks it would reveal may
make me cry. Ah well I guess each scratch equals a whole lot of enjoyment.

All the same well done.. lets hope we get a nice summer to enjoy the cars.

**alroumi** · 05-21-2008

Well done bill, the car looks better than the first day you got it. I got the same look when I took mine to the detailer last year.

**etyu** · 05-21-2008

Amazing mirror finish

**FishtailnZ** · 05-21-2008

Thanks everyone, but I gotta give a lot of credit to MB and the nano-thing clearcoat. I've treated this car no different than other toy cars I've had, and after a couple years (even with winter storage) those were full of swirls and the front bumpers were peppered with rock chips. NOT so on the SLK amazingly! There's some light swirling, but noticeble only if you really look for it, and the front bumper area is practically free of chipping!

One thing with the overall MB paint work though, is the horizontal panels on the car have next to no orange peel, while it's much more noticeable (well up close anyway *L*) on the vertical panels.

**alroumi** · 05-21-2008

I want to see your elegant blue roadster detailed with the O.Z please, I hope you can provide us with pictures of your stunner.

**ir-ops** · 05-21-2008

looks very very impressive!
very nice

brgds
ir-ops

**FishtailnZ** · 05-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by alroumi

I want to see your elegant blue roadster detailed with the O.Z please, I hope you can provide us with pictures of your stunner.

Thanks again Mohammed, hope to get some decent pics this weekend with the help of a friend who's a pretty good amateur photog...ie a LOT better at taking pics than I am *L*.

**alroumi** · 05-21-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishtailnZ

Thanks again Mohammed, hope to get some decent pics this weekend with the help of a friend who's a pretty good amateur photog...ie a LOT better at taking pics than I am *L*.

Thanks mate, cant wait to see them......have a nice weekend with the topdown.

mtiede · 05-21-2008

Wow!

Although it looks nice and shiny and very reflective, what amazes me is that I just don't see any of the usual "orange peel". And there look to be plenty of lines to reveal that.

Fantastic job.

**snowbyhui** · 05-21-2008

looks amazing!!

those pictures look like shots of your garage rather that reflection off the panel. WELL DONE!

**SLKCop** · 05-21-2008

Very nice, Bill. Extremely mirrored finish looks fantastic!

What are you all talking about when you say orange peel? Lost me.

Mike

mtiede · 05-21-2008

The way they do paint nowadays often leaves the surface not glass smooth but rather sort of smooth yet bumpy like an orange peel. You can usually notice this when you look at a reflection in the paint that has straight lines and you move your head around a little. All those little bumps...

**SLKCop** · 05-21-2008

Thanks Mtiede, I'll have to look around and see if I can notice it now.

Mike

**FishtailnZ** · 05-22-2008

Orange peel below *L* - like I said above, the horizontal panels on my car have practically no peel, while the vertical panels have a moderate dose of it. Again not noticeable from more than a couple feet away. I had to zoom in on this shot to get it to show up good.

mtiede · 05-22-2008

There you go. There's the orange peel I know and love. The absolute WORST I ever saw was on a Corvette. I think it was a Z06 and it looked terrible. I have never seen such a bad one. I don't think all the Corvette's are like that though. Just a bad one.

**FishtailnZ** · 05-24-2008

Seems to be a bit of a hit and miss with any car - curiously the least I ever had was on my old Pontiac WS6 Formula, it had next to zero peel right from the factory! Unfortunately it's paint was nowhere near as durable as the SLK's ie swirls and chipping.

05-20-2008	#1 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Buckle up shut up hold on / Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Vehicle: 2006 SLK55 Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,369 Country: Thanks: 259 Thanked 164 Times in 69 Posts	Annual full detailing completed Once a year I give the car the full meal deal - dish detergent wash, clay, Zaino treatment/polish, remove wheels/wax, etc etc. Then just regular washing/polishing after that. Well today was that day and I know again why I only do all that once a year L. Paint was, and is, in pretty good condition though, so it wasn't too bad. Some light surface contamination that the claying easily took care of and the entire cars surface feel smooth as silk again now. Started just after lunch and now just finished, well into the evening L. But at least it's done. So I didn't get a chance to take it out somewhere nice for some overall shots, but here's some detail of various panels shot in the garage... Happiness is a shiney car! L Trunk lid in front of the spoiler... C pillar area... Hood section... Hood section close up... Hood section front angle... Roof panel... __________________ - Bill 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.90 O.Z. Ultraleggeras, Magnaflow X-pipe, E55K Airbox, Windrestrictor. Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	http://www.slkworld.com/

05-20-2008	#2 (permalink)
Cold Shot Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Vehicle: 2007 SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 ML 350 Posts: 599 Country: Thanks: 89 Thanked 69 Times in 31 Posts	Wow. Nice job. __________________ "Like a Cold Shot, baby" - Stevie Ray Vaughan To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2007 Black/Black SLK55 AMG (Green Filters, SmartTop V1, Eurolight Clear Side Markers, R170 Modded Antenna) 2007 Pewter/Black ML350 19xx White/Blonde Wife (Lmtd Edition Model)

05-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
rlbawk Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Hampton, GA Vehicle: 2007 SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2006 BMW 325 Convert Posts: 259 Country: Thanks: 20 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	That looks great and a beautiful car too. __________________ Randy B To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Black - Black/Ash, PII pkg, Airscarf, Green Filters, Clear side markers, chrome turn signal bulbs, Smarttop module, 19" TSW Snetterton Wheels, Chrome fins, Custom Windrestrictor.

05-20-2008	#4 (permalink)
easty Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Montreal Vehicle: ///AMG Posts: 2,069 Country: Thanks: 16 Thanked 18 Times in 8 Posts	Very impressive my friend. I may be scared to do that to mine as marks it would reveal may make me cry. Ah well I guess each scratch equals a whole lot of enjoyment. All the same well done.. lets hope we get a nice summer to enjoy the cars. __________________ "I'm not a roman mum, I'm a kike, a yid, a heebie, a hook-nose, I'm kosher mum, I'm a Red Sea pedestrian, and proud of it!" Life of Brian To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-2008	#5 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,084 Country: Thanks: 247 Thanked 188 Times in 111 Posts	Well done bill, the car looks better than the first day you got it. I got the same look when I took mine to the detailer last year. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

05-21-2008	#6 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 4,940 Country: Thanks: 330 Thanked 216 Times in 116 Posts	Amazing mirror finish __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.* EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, HyperWhite license plate lamps ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Scott), bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

05-21-2008	#7 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Buckle up shut up hold on / Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Vehicle: 2006 SLK55 Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,369 Country: Thanks: 259 Thanked 164 Times in 69 Posts	Thanks everyone, but I gotta give a lot of credit to MB and the nano-thing clearcoat. I've treated this car no different than other toy cars I've had, and after a couple years (even with winter storage) those were full of swirls and the front bumpers were peppered with rock chips. NOT so on the SLK amazingly! There's some light swirling, but noticeble only if you really look for it, and the front bumper area is practically free of chipping! One thing with the overall MB paint work though, is the horizontal panels on the car have next to no orange peel, while it's much more noticeable (well up close anyway L) on the vertical panels. __________________ - Bill 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.90 O.Z. Ultraleggeras, Magnaflow X-pipe, E55K Airbox, Windrestrictor. Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-21-2008	#8 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,084 Country: Thanks: 247 Thanked 188 Times in 111 Posts	I want to see your elegant blue roadster detailed with the O.Z please, I hope you can provide us with pictures of your stunner. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

05-21-2008	#9 (permalink)
ir-ops Lifetime SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Athens, Greece Vehicle: happy owner of a black on black R171 200K Sport since 07 July 08 Posts: 541 Country: Thanks: 149 Thanked 58 Times in 35 Posts	looks very very impressive! very nice brgds ir-ops

05-21-2008	#12 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 71 Thanked 40 Times in 30 Posts	Wow! Although it looks nice and shiny and very reflective, what amazes me is that I just don't see any of the usual "orange peel". And there look to be plenty of lines to reveal that. Fantastic job.

05-21-2008	#13 (permalink)
snowbyhui Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Vehicle: 06 SLK55 Other Toys: Lexus 400h, Wii Posts: 169 Country: Thanks: 27 Thanked 29 Times in 13 Posts	looks amazing!! those pictures look like shots of your garage rather that reflection off the panel. WELL DONE!

05-21-2008	#14 (permalink)
SLKCop Click it or ticket! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burleson, Texas Vehicle: Black/Black 2002 SLK-230 Kompressor [6MT] Other Toys: 2007 Toyota Tundra Posts: 305 Country: Thanks: 64 Thanked 75 Times in 44 Posts	Very nice, Bill. Extremely mirrored finish looks fantastic! What are you all talking about when you say orange peel? Lost me. Mike

05-21-2008	#15 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 71 Thanked 40 Times in 30 Posts	The way they do paint nowadays often leaves the surface not glass smooth but rather sort of smooth yet bumpy like an orange peel. You can usually notice this when you look at a reflection in the paint that has straight lines and you move your head around a little. All those little bumps...

05-21-2008	#16 (permalink)
SLKCop Click it or ticket! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Burleson, Texas Vehicle: Black/Black 2002 SLK-230 Kompressor [6MT] Other Toys: 2007 Toyota Tundra Posts: 305 Country: Thanks: 64 Thanked 75 Times in 44 Posts	Thanks Mtiede, I'll have to look around and see if I can notice it now. Mike

05-22-2008	#17 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Buckle up shut up hold on / Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Vehicle: 2006 SLK55 Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,369 Country: Thanks: 259 Thanked 164 Times in 69 Posts	Orange peel below L - like I said above, the horizontal panels on my car have practically no peel, while the vertical panels have a moderate dose of it. Again not noticeable from more than a couple feet away. I had to zoom in on this shot to get it to show up good. __________________ - Bill 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.90 O.Z. Ultraleggeras, Magnaflow X-pipe, E55K Airbox, Windrestrictor. Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-22-2008	#18 (permalink)
mtiede Founding Member #7 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western New York Vehicle: 2006 SLK 350 Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 71 Thanked 40 Times in 30 Posts	There you go. There's the orange peel I know and love. The absolute WORST I ever saw was on a Corvette. I think it was a Z06 and it looked terrible. I have never seen such a bad one. I don't think all the Corvette's are like that though. Just a bad one.

05-24-2008	#19 (permalink)
FishtailnZ Buckle up shut up hold on / Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nfld., Canada Vehicle: 2006 SLK55 Other Toys: Wife, kids, dogs... Posts: 1,369 Country: Thanks: 259 Thanked 164 Times in 69 Posts	Seems to be a bit of a hit and miss with any car - curiously the least I ever had was on my old Pontiac WS6 Formula, it had next to zero peel right from the factory! Unfortunately it's paint was nowhere near as durable as the SLK's ie swirls and chipping. __________________ - Bill 2006 SLK55 Caspian Blue/Beige Stock 1/4 mile results: ET 12.72, trap 110.80, 60' 1.90 O.Z. Ultraleggeras, Magnaflow X-pipe, E55K Airbox, Windrestrictor. Some guys they just give up living and start dying little by little, piece by piece. Some guys come home from work and wash up and go racin' in the street... - B. Springsteen To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.