Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Owner's Manual page 199

Care
196
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.
Do not aim directly at any of the following:
tyres
R
door gaps, roof gaps, joints etc.
R
electrical components
R
battery
R
connectors
R
lights
R
seals
R
trim elements
R
ventilation slots
R
Damaged seals or electrical components
can lead to leaks or failures.
Cleaning the wheels
! Do not use acidic wheel cleaning products
to remove brake dust. This could damage
wheel bolts and brake components.
! Do not park up the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after clean-
ing. Braking heats the brake discs and
brake pads, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked up.
Cleaning the paintwork
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
Remove impurities immediately, where
X
possible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak insect remains with insect remover
X
and rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
X
off the treated areas afterwards.
Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin,
X
oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently
with a cloth soaked in petroleum ether or
lighter fluid.
Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X
Use silicone remover to remove wax.
X
! Do not affix:
stickers
R
films
R
magnetic plates or similar items
R
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Care and treatment of matt paintwork
If your vehicle has a clear matt finish, observe
the following instructions in order to avoid
damage to the paintwork due to incorrect
care.
These notes also apply to light-alloy wheels
with a clear matt finish.
! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing makes the paintwork
shiny.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matt
effect:
Vigorous rubbing with unsuitable mate-
R
rials.
Frequent use of car washes.
R
Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
R
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or pol-
ishing products such as gloss preserver
(wax). These products are only suitable for
high-gloss surfaces. Their use on vehicles
with matt finish leads to considerable sur-
face damage (shiny, spotted areas).
If wax comes into contact with the painted
surface by accident, remove it immediately
with commercially available petroleum
ether. Do so carefully and do not apply too
much pressure to the painted surface.