A 1985 Mercedes 280 TE estate -- water leak repaired, now in for the bodywork. 125,000 miles of swirl marks, bird etch, and dull chrome. Four-stage machine polish followed by wax. The colour transformation at the end is dramatic.
This 1985 Mercedes 280 TE estate had already come in to us with a water leak -- leaking rear screen, a boot seal, and cracked welded seams, all of which had been repaired. With the water sorted, the owner decided it was time to give the bodywork the proper treatment it had not had for a while.
125,000 miles of use and the paint showed it: heavy swirl marks throughout, bird etch that had been sitting too long in places, dull chrome and brightwork, and the kind of flat lifeless look that comes from years of automated car washes. A full detail first to get the grime out of all the gaps and nooks, then the four-stage machine polish.
James ran the polishing from the most aggressive cutting pad through to the softest finishing stage, with a panel wipe in between to remove all the compound residue before the wax went on. The wax used was a 3-6 month coating -- appropriate for a classic car at this stage of its restoration, protecting the paint while giving the owner the satisfaction of a proper result without committing to a long-term ceramic.
The end result was a transformation. The colour popped with a depth it had not had for years. The chrome gleamed. A 40-year-old car with 125,000 miles on it looking like it had just been prepared for a show.
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