Mercedes-Benz Detailing: Know your Car and the Exact Care it Requires

This guide covers essential facts and cleaning tips on your Mercedes-Benz materials and maintenance needs, providing you with extra know-how to keep it always looking its best, in a healthy condition, and how to maintain your Skoda's resale value for when you decide to move on

Mercedes-Benz Paint Type

All car paints fall into one of three categories: soft, medium, or hard. Each has unique characteristics that affect appearance, maintenance, and durability.

Mercedes however, almost falls into all 3 categories:

Mercedes-Benz paint is typically medium-hard on base models 2010 onwards.

If your Mercedes is pre-2010, your paint type is medium-soft.

If you're driving an AMG Mercedes-Benz, then there's a chance you have ultra-hard paint due to Diamond Clear Coat- A protective clear coat applied at the factory, used to provide extra resistance against scratching and swirling, and also hold in gloss for much longer.

Here's what that means for your Mercedes-Benz:

Strong Protection from Daily Driving

Medium to hard paints provide stronger resistance to wash-induced damage like swirl marks and scratches. That makes your Mercedes a good fit for regular use/ regular washing and less susceptible to swirling.

With AMG models, your ultra-hard paint type is the best 'natural' paint type at resisting washed induced damage like swirling.

These paint types both make Mercedes-Benz suitable for an every day driver that can be washed regularly.

Higher Abrasion Resistance

While all paints don't require tons of pressure to scratch or damage, the higher up the soft-hard paint type scale you go, the more resistance your paint has to the likes of light scratching and micro-damage.

Mercedes paint is a medium-hard paint type, meaning the pressure that would cause a light scratch on soft paint, may not cause a scratch, or as deep a scratch, on your Mercedes medium-hard paint.

Your Diamond Coat, Mercedes' advanced clear coat, is engineered for higher abrasion resistance, providing your AMG with higher than average swirl and scratch resistance.

Ceramic Coating Partners

Mercedes-Benz are a high end car manufacturer. Your Mercedes, whether it's a medium-hard paint type model, or an AMG with a Diamond Coat model, are already good at holding onto their high gloss levels, especially the Diamond Coat which can retain gloss from polishing for up to 3 years with proper care and maintenance.

We still however recommend Ceramic Coatings for your Mercedes, and here's why:

If you're driving a medium-hard paint type Merc, a Ceramic Coating adds protection to your paint, meaning it can last even longer, potentially up to 2 or 3 years with proper care, without a noticeable build up of natural swirling and micro-damages dragging down your Mercedes' look.

Mercedes look impressive, from their body shape to their colour. Ceramic Coating is like fine tuning your paint work to increase that colour and gloss, while making your life easier, with dirt repelling abilities.

Increasing and prolonging what your Mercedes is already naturally good at; looking impressive, is why we recommend a Ceramic Coating for your medium-hard paint type Merc.

For AMG models with the ultra-hard paint type, which can already retain gloss for 4 years naturally, it's topping off that luxury experience with the super quick and easy cleans, to make driving your AMG not only a fun experience, but a hassle-free experience.

Utilise your cars natural advantages, and take them much higher above the average car, with a Ceramic Coating.

Polishing

With a medium-hard paint type, you'll get away without polishing for 2-3 years before you start noticing a build up of swirls, as long as no unfortunate scratching occurs in those years.

For a perfect look to the average person looking at your car, a hand polish every 10-12 months would do.

When it comes to machine polishing medium-hard paint, it can take slightly more abrasive polishes and polishing pads to cut smoothly through your paint before getting that showroom look.

However a machine polish and a ceramic coating on this paint type can prolong your swirl and defect finish for up to 4 years, depending on your ceramic coating choice.

Polishing your Diamond Coat is going to prove difficult to remove the scratching on your Mercedes.

Your paint is designed to withstand abrasions. Polishing works by abrasive methods, so it's fighting the sole purpose of your paint type. This type of polishing job is best handled by someone who knows how to polish your rare, ultra-hard paint type.

You should expect your polishing package to be slightly more than the average car due to the excessive wear on polishing pads, more time spent to remove defects and possibly the requirement to buy polishing pads that are capable of cutting your Diamond Cut.

The good thing however is, once your AMG is machine polished and ceramic coated, with healthy maintenance and care, your Mercedes is looking flawless for just short of a decade; 10 years.

Summary: Your Mercedes AMG can go through 2 average owners lifetime; 5 years each, before a polishing package is highly recommended.

Your medium-hard paint type Mercedes is designed for regular washing after regular use. Your paint type is relatively easy to work with, and thanks to your Mercedes already powerful appearance, it's easy to make your Mercedes-Benz stand out from other cars.

Mercedes Brake Dust Output

Mercedes are relatively good for a normal brake dust output, until you reach the AMG and AMG Line models that use a higher performance braking system, bringing higher brake dust output with them.

What this means for you:

Depending on the vehicles braking system, some vehicles produce more brake dust than others - Mercedes output are typically average until you move into the AMG range and trim where the braking systems are of higher performance, producing more brake dust. 

Brake dust is a dark residue that collects on your wheels, brake calipers, and your cars body. Left untreated, it hardens and becomes difficult to remove with standard cleaning methods. Regular washing is essential to prevent build up and maintain the new, clean look of your wheels and calipers.

Alternatively, depending on your wheels material and paint type, an acidic cleaner can remove the embedded brake dust easier, but requires safety protective clothing when handling to avoid skin contact and breathing the acidic solution in.

More importantly, brake dust doesn’t just sit on the surface of your car, it embeds into your paint, bringing risks of long term damage.

On average brake dust production systems, iron decontamination treatments are recommended 2-4 times per year, and 3-6 times per year if you have a performance line system. These specialised iron decontamination products break down bonded iron particles that standard washes cannot remove.

If left untreated, embedded brake dust causes microscopic damage to your cars clear coat, allowing moisture to enter. This can lead to oxidation and ugly rust specks, harming both your paint’s appearance and your vehicle’s long-term value. If you inspect your car and find small rust specks on the paint, it's likely a lack of iron decontamination services has caused them.

To reduce the risk of rust specks and micro damage after getting your car decontaminated, ceramic coatings are strongly recommended. They provide a durable barrier that resists hot, sharp brake particles for much longer and makes decontamination far easier, preserving your paint and protecting your investment for the long run, with less effort required after the coatings application.

Iron decontamination requirements with a ceramic coating drop from 2-4 per year, to 1-2 per year (50% drop), and the same 50% decrease if you have a performance line Skoda.

Delicate Exterior Care

Many Mercedes models feature gloss black trim around grilles, mirrors, and window surrounds, especially on higher trims and AMG models. These look sharp and suit the sport feel perfectly, but scratch and dull very easily if not cared for properly.

Use Pre-Wash Every Time

Gloss black trims scratch with light contact when dirt is present. Always pre-wash thoroughly before touching the car to remove lose debris, and rinse your mitt often to avoid dragging dirt across the delicate material.

Polish Only If Needed

Light scratches on these trims can be polished, but only with soft pads, gentle polish, and low machine speeds. Excessive heat or pressure can cause permanent damage, so unless you're experienced, you're best outsourcing this task.

Polishing brings up their gloss, mirror finish incredibly, and can make them look brand new again relatively quickly. If yours are dull, clouded, or swirled heavily, consider a gloss plastics polish to revive your Skoda's look.

Summary
Gloss black trim offers contrast and luxury but requires soft hands and precise technique to stay looking its best.

Rinse your wash mitt often when cleaning these areas, and highly consider a protective layer to reduce wash induced swirling as much as possible, such as trim specific coatings or protection, or a ceramic coating that can be applied to this material.

Mercedes also uses aluminum and brushed metal trim pieces throughout the exterior. These require gentle cleaning to maintain their factory finish and should be protected with specialized metal sealants or coatings.

Mercedes-Benz High-End Interiors

Fabric Care

Some Mercedes are designed with fabric seating for comfort and family use. Fabric seating are better at appearing clean as dirt can find its way into your fabric. This is good, and bad, for obvious reasons.

For fabric seating, use enzyme cleaners for everyday spills. Wet extraction or steam cleaning is ideal every 6–12 months depending on the seats use.

We recommend applying a fabric waterproofing course or ceramic course to prevent seat staining and to make cleaning easier for you throughout the year, or however long your protection choice lasts.

Alcantara Care

If your Merc has Alcantara seating;

Avoid excessive moisture when cleaning Alcantara. Use a dedicated suede or Alcantara cleaner and a soft brush. Gently agitate with the brush, then dab with a clean microfiber to assist drying.

We recommend applying a fabric waterproofing course or ceramic course to prevent dirt and spills from getting into your Alcantara.

It's a luxurious material that's extremely delicate. Too much cleaning power or pressure can ruin it, so preventing the need to do either of those is key in maintaining your seatings material for the years to come.

Leather Care

A lot of Mercedes models include leather seating; Sometimes full leather, sometimes partial leather.

Do Not Use APCs
All Purpose Cleaners are too harsh for Mercedes leather. Use a pH-balanced, leather specific cleaner that gently lifts dirt and cleanses its pores without drying out the material.

All Purpose Cleaners cause more harm than good for cleaning leather interiors.

Leather Conditioning
Your leather should be conditioned 1–2 times per year. This replenishes natural oils and prevents drying and cracking, maintaining their matt, crease free appearance and that signature, widely loved leather scent.

If all leather seating is heavily used throughout the year, we recommend 2 conditioning services to ensure it stays crack free and healthy.

Extra Protection

When you've spent a large amount on something, like your Mercedes-Benz, it's ideal to protect it as much as you can.

Leather ceramic coatings are used globally and highly recommended to preserve your leather by preventing food and drink stains along with dye transfer staining, and also blocks UV damage from discolouring your leather.

Very minimally, they can provide some abrasion protection also, but this does not mean your leather can withstand sharp objects.

We recommend a leather ceramic coating for your Mercedes if you want to preserve your leather interior as much as you physically can, without using seat covers.

Interior Gloss Plastics

Mercedes centre consoles, screens, and dash trims often use high-gloss piano black plastic. These areas scratch very easily with the lightest of pressure or debris.

Clean Gently
Use a clean, plush, edge-less microfiber and diluted APC or screen-safe cleaner. Never apply pressure, just wipe. 

Polish if Needed
If swirled, a jewelling polish and soft pad can restore gloss. Use low machine speed and avoid edge pressure. Only do this if you're experienced, as it's easy to make things worse instead of fixing when working with such a delicate material.

Mercedes Carpet Care

If you're Mercedes is typically used as a family car or a daily driver, it's recommended to protect your carpet from staining using a fabric waterproofing course or a ceramic course.

Your daily used Merc has high foot traffic, meaning debris is trampled into your carpet. A wet extraction and steam can be carried out twice a year, but you want to avoid too much suction on your Mercedes carpet to keep its fibres intact.

Weekly vacuuming over a span of several years will have physical downfalls on your carpet as well. Protection is advised if children are onboard, or high foot traffic is a regular occurrence.

Tailored to Mercedes Detailing Package

Tap onto the Tailored to Mercedes Detailing Package for the only designated detailing service designed for your cars materials and surfaces - Exclusive to Carrickfergus Car Care

Tailored to Mercedes Detailing Package

Tailored to Mercedes Detailing Package

Inside this package are tailored services to provide your Mercedes-Benz with the best Detailing package available to you within Northern Ireland.

Designed around all of Mercedes materials, this hand picked selection of detailing procedures are guaranteed to bring both your Mercedes-Benz interior and exterior up to an incredible condition.

Packed with specific value to ensure your package suits you and your car perfectly - Nothing generic, every action is Mercedes specific.

This detailing package requires a minimum stay of 2 nights, depending on your Mercedes condition - A replacement vehicle can be arranged for your packages duration if required.

Mercedes Gloss Enhancement | Machine Polish

Superior Mercedes results, bringing out your cars colour and gloss tremendously, minimising light defects in your paint, and saving time with 1 polish / pad combination that works smoothly with your medium-hard paint.

Gloss Plastics Machine Polish

It's likely your Mercedes has gloss plastics - these delicate areas are polished to a glass-like finish, returning them to their new, unfaded appearance.

Polishing Preparation

Before polishing your Mercedes-Benz, a thorough deep exterior clean, including iron decontamination, is carried out. 

This step removes anything on your paint that shouldn't be there, like your Mercedes brake dust output - Highly important if you drive an AMG, or haven't carried out an iron decontamination yet.

3 Year Ceramic Coating

Perfect for medium-hard paints that are used daily or regularly washed.

After your Mercedes exterior is cleaned, decontaminated, and polished, we seal this new, revived look in for the years to come with a durable, 3 year ceramic coating, globally known for its extreme, highly glossy finish.

This will make cleaning your Merc super quick and easy in future, while prolonging your swirl free finish thanks to the coating combined with your medium-hard paint type.

On standard Mercedes models, 1 iron decontamination service per year will keep your paint safe now that your car is ceramically protected.

On AMG braking system models, 2 iron decontamination services per year will now keep your paint safe from rust specks due to your cars brake dust output.

This 3 year coating will also protect your Mercedes from our Winter's salt and bad road conditions, again prolonging your paintworks look and health for much longer.

Interior Detailing | Mercedes

Seating

Depending on your Mercedes seating material, will depend on which of the below procedures you get within your package:

Fabric: Shampooed, steam cleaned and wet extracted, removing much deeper dirt from within your fabric seats.

Leather: Leather Clean and Condition, including leather specific cleaning and conditioning to replenish lost oils and help prevent your leather from drying out, creasing and cracking.

50/50: If your Mercedes seating is half fabric, half leather, which is quite popular with Mercs, then both the fabric and leather procedures are carried out.

Alcantara: Using dedicated Alcantara cleaner and a soft bristle brush, your Alcantara is gently cleaned with the correct procedure, removing any risk of damage.

Deep Carpet Clean: Steam cleaned, shampooed and wet extracted to remove even the deepest of engrained dirt and stains.

Your high foot traffic carpets will never have looked as clean.

Interior Gloss Plastics: Your piano black, gloss plastics, typically around your audio system and infotainment system, and your centre console on some models, are gently cleaned, removing oils that easily sit on the material, creating smudging and reflections that spoil the materials polished look.

To enhance your Mercedes' interior further than other detailing options within County Antrim, these sections are lightly polished, boosting their black gloss, and reducing minor scratches that are taking away from the solid black trim.

Interior Glass: All smudges, finger prints, and any other marks on your glass are removed for a streak-free vision and thoroughly detailed look.

In a highly used car, this can make a big difference, especially when children are involved.

Foot Mats: If your mats are carpets, they're steam cleaned, shampooed and wet extracted, just like your flooring carpets, to return their new, unused look.

When they're used often without deep carpet cleaning for months on end, this procedure makes a huge difference in your interior's appearance.

If you have all weather mats - the rubber style, they're power washed and shampooed, followed by a protective layer that returns their unfaded, unused, grey/ black colour, and keeps them looking brand new for longer.