CLK63 AMG Black Series: 2 Day Detail-- Long post!

I had the pleasure of working on this absolutely beautiful machine. The CLK black is a pure track car--well, as pure as mercedes will allow! It's perfectly set-up for the track, and is just gorgeous. What's even better about this particular car, it's in a very rare white, and the stock wheels have been powder coated matte black to give it a more sinister look.

The car had recently taken a trip down the PCH to Paso Robles, and it showed it. Bugs and dirt around the lower half of the car. I figured this would be a perfect candidate to finally try out my Valuguard Decontamination kit.

When I first arrived, here's how she sat:





The license plate was removed to gain access to the paint behind:









First up, per usual, was the wheels. I cleaned them with Autoglym Custom Wheel Cleaner, various brushes, and some creativity to get to the massive break calipers behind the multi-spoke wheels.





Even got in and cleaned the knooks and crannies:



The small tar spot was removed with clay:



The engine bay was in decent shape, just a quick pressure rinse, and light agitation with Optimum power clean cut 1:1



First up in the Valuguard decon kit was the Acid Neutralizer, which was foamed on and let sit for about 5 minutes:



I then foamed on the Alkaline Neutralizer:



Finally, I foamed with CG CWC, then performed a traditional two bucket was with more CWC.



What I really liked about the valuguard kit, is not only did it get rid of about 95% of the bugs, and caked on dirt, but it left the paint with almost ZERO beading. So I knew I was starting with a very clean surface.

Here you can see almost no beading:



I then dried the car and rolled it back a few feet to get some good before in-sun pictures:











I pulled the car in, taped it up, took some paint readings (healthy--190+ microns), and then set up the halogens:





The process I settled with for the car was as follows:

LC PFW + Fast Cut Plus (spot wool compounding--only needed on a few panels)
3M UK Green + Fast Cut plus (1-2 passes)
3M UK Yellow + Extra Fine Compound
3M UK Blue + Ultrafina

Here are some in-sun afters (no jeweling has been completed yet)

Again, before:



After:







Only decent 50/50:



The car really needs a new clear bra, as this was a poor installation, and was already starting to yellow slightly. But in any case, I did my best to make it look good, without compromising the film. I polished with 3M UK Yellow pad + 3M Fast Cut plus, and then 3M UK Blue Pad and Ultrafina, keeping my speeds below 1200rpm.

Before:



After:



Huge front fender before:



After:





Fender "vents" before:



After:



Compounding the rocker:



After:



Clear bra on rear fender before:



After:



Rear fender completed:





Trunk before:





50/50:



Finished:



Rear lip-wing before:



After:



Tail lights before:



AFter:





The rear carbon diffuser was polished with 3M UK Yellow pad and EFC:



Exhaust tips before:



After:



The wheels were sealed with Werkstat Acrylic Jet. Again, had to get creative to reach the calipers:


(no that's not dirt on the rims--its the spray sealant before being wiped off)

First coat of wax: Blackfire Wet Diamond




The second coat of wax I chose was Swissvax Concorso. The afters were taken yesterday (Wednesday) as it's been raining and hailing off and on since Sunday.

TONS of afters (I got a little trigger happy):


























(don't mind the background )



















That's all, thanks for looking, it was a long one!

As always, C/C Welcome!

eace:

Aaron

 

DAYUM that is one impressive machine. im not really into benz's, but i would drive the hell outta one of those. really nice work.

 

Great job! The Black is the only MB right now that peaks my interest, well other than the SLS. All that was going through my mind while reading through this was Clarkson when he reviewed this car :lol:

 

What did you use on the exhaust, if you dont mind me asking

 

man that is one nice benz . Nice work and nice pics. Must have been a pain to do those rims and what not. I am not a huge fan of rims that have a ton of spokes.

Came out looking great though.

 

Nice work Aaron, that car is an absolute beast. Thing came out lookin damn good.

 

Aaron !!! Awesome work. I say the owner you let you polish up his Ferrari

Tell him if he's interested in a trade I'll trade my truck for either of his car. Straight up trade, no hassles lol.

Great work and congrats on scoring such a beauty detail !

 

I am not a big Merc guy but I will give credit where credit is due and the Black series is very serious. Great detail.

 

nice work Aaron. That car has some w-i-d-e fenders.

 

Awesome job :thumb: Owner has great taste

 

Great work on my favorite ride !!!!!

 

Great job on a real beast of a car. :thumb:

 

stunning work, Aaron!

 

Thanks a lot!

Thanks, Akneet! Hahaha, yeah, I kept thinking about that clip the entire time!

P21S Polishing Soap

Thanks a lot! I actually really like the wheels, haha. Advan Connousseur 151C and RS are some of my favorite wheels--so I didn't mind cleaning these

Thanks!

Thanks, Nick!! I'd trade my car too--two for one, and then we could share . Thanks man it was a treat to work on

Thanks!

Thanks Roger!

Thanks a lot! He sure does! His gallardo wasn't parked there at the time :thud:

Thanks!!

Thanks a lot!

Thanks, sir!

 

Quality workmanship :thumb:

 

How hard the the clearcoat on a white german car?

Also is a freshly polished white car that much more noticeable vs a non-polished one? I am thinking if I should be polishing the family car which is white. Any tips on polishing a white car, such as spotting the breakdown point for polish?

 

wow looks greatt love the sound of those cars

 

Looks very clean Aaron!

 

great job that's a hottt car.

 

black series..nuff said!