3LG Detailed 96 SL500

[Grouse]

Last weeks work.

1996 SL500
This car had recently been passed down to the daughter after being in storage for quite a few years. It was her father’s favorite car. Before he passed away he lent the car out to friends, who did not seem to take care of it the same way he would.
The car before we started work on it. Here you can see a bit of the swirling and marring along with the general amount of soiling.

Here you can see the embedded dirt in the door panel

The soiling in the seats, floors and vinyl backing of the seats.

Soiling in the drivers door, and door panel.


Drivers front seat and carpets.


Exterior of the car.

[Grouse]

Engine bay, well it speaks for it’s self.





This photo is of the main scratch in the center, but behind it you can see some of the other scratching we were dealing with.

Here is a 50/50 of the rear vinyl. This was cleaned 4 times. Finally on the 4th time it stopped spewing mud when I steamed it with the Vapor Steamer.


Divers Front seat, I had cleaned the upper right hand corner of it with the vapor steamer and Leather masters Strong Cleaner.

After the carpets were cleaned, drivers and passengers seats fully cleaned, dash, vinyl etc.

[Grouse]

Shot of the drivers Door.

After Leather revitalizer.

Dash after Cleaning, Conditioning, and protection.

Rear Carpet area and roll bar.

Rear vinyl Valance.


Another step in the leather process, basically it was 7 steps for this cars leather.

[Grouse]

On to taping of the exterior after it was washed and clayed.




Headlight before restoration

Other Headlight After


Wheels before


A shot after polishing.

[Grouse]

A few final shots

[Grouse]

a few final more

[DetailersDomain]

what a mess that car was...nice restoration

[DetailDan]

Nice work. How long did that interior take you?

[Vuel Egham]

How much to do my laser S4. :D

[Grouse]

Nice work. How long did that interior take you?

2 men 6 hours. about 12 man hours.

How much to do my laser S4. :D

800+ tax but 2.25 a mile for gas expenses.

[Rajan147]

what did you do for the headlights to make them clear up?

[Grouse]

Glass polish.

fwiw i don't have any before pics with the vert top up. The rear plastic windows did not let much light in.

I spent the better part of an hour polishing the inside and out of the rear windows. you can see how clear they are in the final shots.

[SlappyB6]

Since I'm nowhere near Seattle, any tips on how to get ground-in dirt out of door panels?

Incredible job, btw. Paint looks next to new, and the interior job just blows me away. I don't doubt for a second that it took you that long. Nice...

[tamadrumr88]

What kind of camera/lens are you using, those are some crazy wide angle shots there

[johnp69]

Nice work man! 7 Steps for the leather....holy s**t!
What steamer are you using?

[Grouse]

that is the http://www.1car-detailing-training.c...aner-p-37.html

sold by Kevin at Kleen Car. Phil recommended him to me a while back. Yes 7 steps on leather other than the initial vacuum and steam.

[Alan]

IDK if if missed it, but what products did you use for the leather/door panels?