My 2004 Mercedes Benz E320 aka The Benz

[87gtVIC]

Wash, clay, All in one compound/polish (3d ONE) and Waxed (meguiars ultimate liquid wax)....Shiny paint.

[friskyfrankie]

What did you use for "all in one polish/compound?

[87gtVIC]

3D One is what I used here as my all in one.

[friskyfrankie]

Thanks! Sorry, I didn't realize "3D" was the company - thought it was a trade name for a product. Heard some good things about it (and also the "Speed" version) while others say it does little to polish or wax. I guess YMMV! Guess with the results you have gotten, that is what counts.

[87gtVIC]

I have 3D speed as well. I find it does work but the wax does not last very long at all. I like that the products are easier to remove and create no dusting (product drying out and literally creating a dusty mess) which my meguiars M105 and M205 always do. The Meguiars works better by far but the dusting factor make me go for the 3D brand.

[87gtVIC]

Been busy and havent had the time to wash the poor gal for many months now....So I woke up early today and got that done just to get the current crap off of the car.



All better now!











Just a rinseless wash because of the temps. ONR wash, ammo hydrate drying aid and she is sharp.

[packman]

Nice! I did the same thing last weekend to the MGM and the Explorer. Neither one saw soap since September.

[87gtVIC]

My cars roof rails (for lack of of a better term) have been experiencing some severe sunburn as of late. Matter of fact this has happened to some spots on the front bumper already and there is all around fading paint on a couple of the body panels after the 19 years of life this car had experienced as of yet. This post only covers the rails.

sunburnt:







It is really the clear coat failing and chipping of which saddens me.

Before front shot:



Well, I was really bothered by the way the roof rails were looking so on a recent junkyard trip I picked up some factory black parts in good condition and swapped them on.

Much care was taken into ensuring no scratches are put into adjacent panels while removing the old and installing the new as while at the junkyard I found out that it is very easy to cause involuntary scratches if one was not careful.



One side down:



And all done:




Once installed onto the vehicle the parts were clayed, compounded, polished and waxed...a couple minor spots needed some black touch up paint...that was taken care of as well.

Happy with the outcome.

[87gtVIC]

Swapped on the summer wheels and tires.

Scrubbed the wheel wells and suspension/ brake bits while the wheels were off.

Currently sitting just a skosh under 160k.

[87gtVIC]

Washed the engine down. Been a while….just wanted to knock the dust down from accumulating on the plastic and such.






Plastics were 303 aerospace protected and the painted bits were wiped up with bead maker.


working on swapping some more factory black parts for mirror, door handles, hood vent grille and fuel door. Just have to locate the hood vent grille and mirror caps. Have already picked up door handles and fuel door.

[87gtVIC]

To go along with the over the roof rail replacements in black I picked up from a junkyard the matching door handles and hood vent/grille/cowl piece.

door handles before:



and after:



and hood vent before:




old and new:




and after shots of all:














on the look out for mirror caps, fuel door and side trim moldings.

Side molding are a cake walk to swap out. One fastener and just slide the whole molding loose. The fender spears have to be man handled off though...still easily doable. Have to research the fron and rear bumper trims to see how that is removed to see if it is something I want to pursue.

[87gtVIC]

More progress on the black trim front…..


before:





after:




picked up the trim from two different cars from two different yards. Some had a couple good scratches in them that I wet sanded and polished out. All but the fender pieces needed the stainless swapped with my originals because mine were in better shape.

[87gtVIC]

Ugha. Winter.

had to get the yucky off





much better

[87gtVIC]

I believe I am all finished up on the black trim projects.

in total I converted the front grill, hood cowl, mirrors, roof liner trims, door handles, fuel door, trunk and window spoiler, rear license plate housing, front and rear bumper rub stripes and door moldings.

there is a mixture of personally painted parts and junkyard sourced parts. Along this journey I have also repainted the trunk lid, passengers side quarter panel, both front and rear passengers side doors as well as most recently the front bumper. I have done everything myself and it has been fun.

I have owned the car now just over 10 years and some previous repairs (before my ownership) have began to show in the form of fading paint which prompted this refresh

these are just a few pics from the process. I plan to compile a slide show to showcase all the work and house all of the picture progress.


Some of the pieces of trim I have painted:



Trunk lid in base coat:



Rear bumper removed to swap in the black trim:




Quarter panel prepped for primer:




P.side doors in primer:



Ass end spruced up:



Front bumper prepped for primer:



And a few of how she sits as of today:







Hit list definitely consists of repainting the front fenders (both Drivers and passengers). Possibly rear bumper down the road.

[Tiggie]

Looks like you've been busy. That color is tough to match.

I'm assuming this car sees salt? How's it holding up?