Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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Well it was meant to be a 2 day correction, but weather put pay to that, so spilt over to 3 days!
This detail was one one of the first SL55 AMG's in the country (so I'm told by the owner) - so it's now getting on a bit, but is the guys pride and joy and only covered 19k from new, and gets stored away over winter! On with the detail:
Started this a couple of weeks ago now, the owner wanted me to bring up to scratch and lay down some long term protection on it before it's tucked away until April, Here's what greeted me on day 1, it'd been boso washed a week or so before I got to it, hence the tyre shine 
Big leaf in the rear wheel lol:
Exhausts never touched - the owner presumed they were black!!!! :
Diamond cut wheels - "I like these when they're shiny":
Attacked the wheels, tyres and arches first; wheels and tyres with AS G101 and cleaned with Vikan brush, wheels with AS smart wheels with various brushes. Calipers with smart wheels and cotton buds! Rinsed off, and later in the detail sealed with Poorboys wheel sealant, tyres dressed with Nielsens Brilliance, arches with AS Finish to leave:
Next up was the pre rinse and wash stage. Pre rinse was Bilt Hamber autofoam mixed with small amount of G101 as the owner thought it'd previously had supaguard applied (no signs of it though tbh) this was left to dwell as I went round badges and vents etc with a small detail brush. Rinsed off and then washed using TBM and wash mitt with AS Autowash before being rinsed again.
I then proceeded to clay the car with Bilt Hamber regular with AS Reglaze as lube - this took a good couple of hours as was very contaminated - doesn't help that during the summer it's parked under lots of big old trees! Once completed, I gave it a final rinse before drying with miracle driers and AS tango as an aid.
Next up was the polishing stage. All trim taped up and paint readings taken - nothing to worry about that I found - all paint was reasonably high - between 180 and 210 - I presume they're fairly thickly painted?!
The usual pad and polish combos were tried, but yet again I resorted to what seems to be my usual set of 3 stage polishing polishes these days: 3M green pad with 3M FCP and a blob of UF for initial correction, 3M yellow polishing pad with 3M extra fine to refine the finish and final few hologrammes knocked out with 3M blue finishing pad and 3M ultrafina. I did try a couple of panels with Menzerna Power Gloss refined with 203s, but it just didn't offer the same sort of finish as the 3M did.
Couple of shots I grabbed during the polishing stages during day 1 & 2:
Swirls whilst the sun was out:
^ Fairly typical through the whole car with a few slightly deeper scratches around the car that required wet sanding attention. For example:
Before:
During (3M 'Daisy' 2000 wet & dry):
After:
1 scratch came straight out with FCP:
Before:
After:
There was also a hand print on the boot from where he'd had suncream or handcream on which had damaged the lacquer. I failed to get a photo of this as it just didn't show up. 2 Hits with straight FCP removed this though. There was also a deeper scratch on the bonnet which was also removed with wet sanding, but I totally forgot to take a photo during that stage as it was raining and I was working in the very cramped garage at that point.
Can't see the swirls in this shot, but think you can see gloss enhancement:
(left machined, right not)
and after:
(the black dot is a stone chip)
I also attacked the exhausts with a secret metal polish and some wire wool which resulted in a vast improvement, but nowhere near perfection:
the owner was very happy with them though as he thought they were actually black lol.
I was way in to day 2 by this point and all correction and polishing was done. I next applied a layer of Poorboys diamond white glaze by hand with a lake country finishing pad, before applying a coat of Collinite 476s with a german applicator. Interior was up next, but the weather put pay to this.
Day 3 (2 weeks later) rolled back out again to wipe down with AS reglaze then Dodo red mist as the car had been put away wet so a couple of water marks were visible. I then cracked on with the interior. No befores as there was nothing to really show apart from a lot of dust!
Thorough hoover all round, all plastics wiped down with AS multifresh, leather cleaned with AS leather cleaner, conditioned with gliptone. Mats hoovered and shampooed with AS brisk foam, vents dusted with Megs slidelock, sat nav screen, dials and metal trim polished with AS Stardust:
Then it rained again so took a couple of arty beadage shots lol:
Dried off one more time for some finished shots:
Thanks for reading. Comments, constructive criticism and questions welcome as per usual 
Rich
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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Lovely car. Looked like a bit of a wreck before. Good turnaround Rich. Is it a 2003 model?
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FruitBooTeR
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Registered: 18th Jan 07
Location: Wolverhampton Drives: S15
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Love these cars! Looks like another brilliant job there Rich.
Do you not rate tyre shine then...? 
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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SVM (Sorry I still don't actually know your name  ) Thanks Not sure on year as it's on a private plate, but he said he was told when he picked it up it was one of the first AMG ones in the country.
Jay - Thanks matey - yeh they're awesome cars - sounds immense! I like decent tyre shine, not silicone laden shite that goes everywhere lol. The Briliance stuff I use is tyre shine?! Hence why it looks nice and satin finish in the after shot
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
User status: Offline
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It's Jim. 
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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quote:
Originally posted by SVM 286
It's Jim.
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
User status: Offline
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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Top work indeed again there Rich. It looked a good ten years old prior to the detail. I think wheels play a big part and they looked rotten and as flat as a pancake.
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Chris x
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Registered: 11th Sep 08
Location: Bexhill
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Heres a few pics of my Grandads S55 AMG.
Basically the same engine/car but the longer version.
I always stuggle to get the exhausts looking perfect. All the coating seems to peel off!
It now has the standard alloys back on.
Did you get any engine bay shots?
What were the rear arches like? My Grandads has been in the bodyshop twice in the last year due to the rear arches rusting. Luckily its covered my the Merc paint warranty as he has FMSH.
I must get you round to clean the Corsa and AMG!
Top work as always
[Edited on 12-11-2009 by Chris Corsa B]
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Cheers Chris.
Didn't touch the engine bay - very rare that I do. I don't offer it in any details I do atm, because 99% of my customers who I spoke to couldn't care less about what the engine bay looks like! If I get asked to do one though I will.
Arches - seemed ok - were pretty clean tbh, but yeh they're a renowned issue on Mercs lol
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mart08uk
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Registered: 10th Jan 08
Location: N/A
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Shocking the results a good detail can make! brill work
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Thanks mate 
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Dec-Rossi
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Registered: 28th Sep 09
Location: Wiltshire
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really interested in car detailing/valeting, how did you get into it? would be something id consider in the future perhaps..top work btw
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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A question asked a million and one times (and answered  ) lol
A hobby that got out of control ever since I had a Saturday job cleaning up a forecourt of cars and then my first car. One hell of a lot of research and practise and money got me to where I am now
[Edited on 12-11-2009 by Rich H]
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RS6
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Registered: 5th Nov 03
Location: with MJ
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Rich you are a legend
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Dec-Rossi
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Registered: 28th Sep 09
Location: Wiltshire
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and would you say the hard work has rewarded you well?
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Gareth F
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Registered: 16th Jan 08
Location: Location Location
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Rich, dont suppose his last name is pope? Used to help laura babysit some kids, their dad owned one and he has the same colour and extras, its an automatic though. Just wondering as you dont see many of these down this way.
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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Cheers James! 
Dec - Well it's a job I like doing and wouldn't go back to PAYE put it that way. I've been flat out virtually 7 days a week every week since beginning of May, so must be doing something right
Gareth - No it's not them mate - they the ones you mentioned before? It's actually uber local to me ( 5 mins away!)! Never seen it around before though. This is auto too
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Jenko_Sport
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Registered: 25th May 06
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
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Top work as usual Rich.
Tis a shame your so far away from me, my soon to be zs needs a thorough going over.
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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You must be knackered all the time Rich. I bet you sleep like a baby.
Don't you find the work back breaking? I hate washing cars. Always hurt my back and I always get soaked
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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Well I'm nearly 2 years into it as a business now so have got used to it - certainly improved physical strength (even if I am a lanky streak ) USed to ache all the time, but have got used to it all now I think!
I don't tend to feel aches or pains much now - the back aches from time to time though. Slight concerning thing is a lot of detailers seem to have to give up in their late 30's due to back issues or nerve damage in their hands from rotarys Working 7 days a week near enough constantly means I have some nights I'm absolutely knakered, but it tends to all just blur - weeks are flying atm!
Guess the end results tend to make it all worth while atm
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
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Have you mastered the art of keeping yourself dry?
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by SVM 286
Have you mastered the art of keeping yourself dry?
Only when it's not as windy as it is atm! Not a fan of the taste of acid free wheel cleaner or snow foam it has to be said!
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SVM 286
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Registered: 13th Feb 05
Location: pain
User status: Offline
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