OCBen

Here's an interesting link by a car care specialist on German paints. They're also trying to sell products here but the information nontheless is worth reading, especially the info on "Future clear coat technology" near the bottom of the page.

http://www.properautocare.com/aregepadi.html

Here's a quote:

Mercedes-Benz is rumored to have developed a Ceramic Crystal Coating for their new Maybach that is super-hard and extremely resistant to scratching and spotting. ...

June, 2005, Update
Mercedes and Rolls Royce have begun their switch to the new, super-hard, ceramic clear coats. The Maybach and 2005 Rolls Royce Phantom are using BASF's new nano particle, ceramic clear while PPG's CeramiClear™ is being used on 2005 C-Class Mercedes automobiles. Material Innovations (an industry trade journal) quotes a Mercedes Benz spokesman as saying, "CeramiClear will make it through the Mercedes range throughout the year (2005)."

Interesting. I wonder when Porsche will jump on the bandwagon.

Here are more links:

http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/index.cfm?NewsID=141&id=611

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?newsID=917

http://www.azonano.com/news_old.asp?newsID=45

Hey, maybe I'll live to see the day of diamond clear coats after all. We're certainly getting closer technology-wise.


UPDATE: Here's a much better article with excellent illustrations:

http://www.benzworld.org/news/news.asp?id=254

Racer48

Hello OCBen,

What methods do you recommend for the removal of stubborn bug stains that are not removed thru the regular washing process? Thanks in advance!

OCBen

I personally use the Porsche Tequipment Insect Remover that you can pick up at your dealership parts counter or order online: http://www.properrvcare.com/poteinre.html

You can also use any good quality bug & tar remover as well. Just make sure you allow sufficient time for the product to work for you before removing. There are plenty of articles on this subject, here's one that should be helpful:

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=7

MMD

My paint maint. technique: Go to some sensible place like carcareonline.com, follow their useful tips. Using these methods (and parking in a garage as much as possible to avoid UV) the paint will outlive the rest of the car. When this happens sell it and buy another one.

OCBen

I’ve been asked this by a few of you and so I’ll post this here for the benefit of others who might be interested in a really good tire dressing.

In all my years of trial & error detailing I had never found a satisfactory tire dressing that got tires really black without leaving them with a greasy, sticky film that gets on anything that touches your tires, especially a car cover. That is until I came across this product from good old England: Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing.

It doesn’t last as long as those greasy, sticky films from other products but that’s okay by me. It lasts long enough for me. I use it after every wash (usually every two weeks) and it’s a breeze to apply. It’s very thin and has a nice fragrance to it. Leaves your tires really black with no residue buildup. I apply it with this special contoured tire dressing applicator sponge that you can get at Walmart. I’m sure you’ve seen them. It has a concave open-cell foam that will interface nicely with a standard tire, but which I cut in half for a better fit on low-profile tires.

I buy my Autoglym dressing at a local detailer supply store, but I did a search and found a supplier in San Diego that carries it:

http://www.detailsupplydepot.com/scr...sid=1201120102

loliver

OCBEN
Have you tried using this water filter/softener system, http://www.spotfreeh20.com/

I use one for my boat. I used to have to chamois of the hull and esp. the Lexan enclosure and alum. tower and outriggers and still had water spots. This is especialy bad at marina docks. Now I rinse the boat using this and don't dry and have no spots. I was thinking of getting one for the cars.
BTW I enjoy your posts very much, keep them coming!

OCBen

Hey Larry, thanks so much for that link! That's exactly what I was looking for, a small dedicated water softener just for car washing. I wasn't sure about doing it for the whole house (it takes forever it seems to rinse your hair with soft water) but I obviously knew the benefits of using it to avoid hard water spots when car washing. That's a great idea. Thanks a lot for suggesting it! Hmmm, group buy anyone?

By the way, nice looking boat you got there!

turkish_eyebrow

OCBen,

Thanks for the info! I was wondering where in OC do you buy your detailing supplies...I am in Laguna Niguel. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Oz

OCBen

Sure thing Oz. It's called the Detailing Depot and they're located in Costa Mesa on Newport Blvd, the south side of. Here's a link to their website (just found out they have a website - D'Oh!): http://www.detailingdepot.com/contactus.php

Oh, if you're a PCA member you get a 10% off discount anytime.

Just got off the phone with Lisa there at the Detailing Depot. Their website is not complete so if anyone is interested in getting the synthetic chamois I speak well of, you can get it by asking for part number WS50. It's $14.95. Also, the Autoglym Tyre Dressing is 10.95 there.

If anyone outside the local area is interested in ordering from them, they do have a holiday special going on for all car clubs, which would include Rennlist. You can email Lisa directly (julissa@detailingdepot.com) and she will email you back a discount coupon with which to place your order. It's a 10% discount for all orders placed from the 21st - 23rd of this month. But I'm sure if you tell her you want to place your order now that she will honor the same discount - she seems easy going enough (but don't tell her I said so. ) Tell her Ben in OC referred you and that you're from Rennlist. This is for everyone here in Rennlist: Members & Registered Users.

turkish_eyebrow

Great Thanks for the info!

lawjdc

Ben: The Autoglym sounds exactly like the new Mothers Reflections Advanced Tire Care. Nice fragrance, makes your tires look like they just came from the dealers rack, and not like they have been bathed in ArmorAll. I'll compare the two if I ever run across any Autoglym.

(no affiliation with Mothers and certainly not with ArmorAll)

OCBen

Thanks for sharing that tip!

I'll see if I can try it out myself and report back on the comparison. Sounds like a good product.

toddel68

I've had this color on my current mercedes (perlitgrau) and on the previous one (black) and it worked great compared to the mercedes' I've driven before. No fine scratches after lots of (automatic) car washing.
Regards,
Thorsten

wilam

I have been using the Mr. Clean System to wash my 2006 997S (which I just took delivery on last week BTW!!!) and it leaves no water marks due to the water filtration system.

I have tried the Zaino car wash and Mr. Clean System on my 996's but find the Mr. Clean to be the easiest to use and it does not require me to squeegee the water off with an Autoglym water blade or synthetic chamois, lessening the contact with the paint. Are there any comments on this car wash product?

OCBen

Congratulations on your new 997S.

Someone else asked about this Mr. Clean product before on this thread, and I remember that in some other thread (did a search but couldn't find it) someone was upset because it left water spots when it wasn't supposed to.

I did a search myself and from what I can tell, the selling point of this hand-held, soap applicator/water nozzle is that it has a filter that filters out some of the impurities in hard water so that water spots are eliminated or minimized when you allow the rinse water to just evaporate off your car without the need for hand drying. Also, the filter is good for only 3 washes, and replacement filters are pricey. You can read some reviews here: http://www.epinions.com/Mr_Clean_Aut...splay_~reviews

I personally would not buy this product. It doesn't take me long to dry my car at all. If you prefer to let your car air dry I would consider a portable water softener system like Larry above suggested. It might prove more economical in the long run.