Carter

we want to repaint our mercedes due to excessive swirl marks that won't even come out. how much would it cost to get a good paint job that would make the car shine just as it rolled off the showroom? are there good places in the NJ/NY area?

Buellwinkle

My my experience in classic restorations is that you are probably looking at $2k for a body shop repaint in the same color if metalic, a few hundred less if solid color. Typically they charge about $150 per panel. No matter what you do you will always be able to tell it's a repaint. There's going to overspray somewhere, there going to be fisheyes somewhere, the paint will be softer and may chip or peel in spots.

I would recommend that you take it to a good body shop and have them color sand the paint. This will remove the defective layer and make it look like new. I've paid $200 to have this done a few years ago and the car looks like new when done.

Brian Yee

...It totally depends on how much detail work you want done before the actual finish is sprayed. A job duplicating the factory's can cost as much as $5,000-$7,000. I've seen a paint job on a friend's Ferrari that cost him $12,000...in 1980; Though he is a fanatic and the car was painted with a hard to apply imron aircraft paint. The painting is the easy aspect of the job; It's the prep work that cost $$$.

steve s

ouch ...but of course, he owns a ferrari

Rainers

Take it to the Mercedes dealer and have them look at it. they will tell you if the swirls marks can be taken out. If not they can tell you where to have it repainted. If nothing else it is some free advice from the dealer.

benzy230

which car are you repainting?

Brian Yee

I agree with Rainers as I would choose agressive(professionally done) cutting in the attempt to remove swirl marks before opting for a complete respray. If the car you are having problems with is the black S500, I would definitely take a hard look at your car washing/care practices.(Above all, if you are a car wash patron, you deserve what you get...;-). I'm sure you've been told that black is THE most difficult color to maintain, even for those who's approach is most proper and "anally" retentive. I used to help my friend with concours prep. One car was Black lacquer (Pre two stage days), the other white, BOTH very difficult to maintain with the black one THE most difficult. Definitely not colors for the maintenance adverse/uneducated. I do say this; Nothing is more beautiful than a properly, painstakingly maintained black automobile, nothing is worse looking than one that is not. Keeping it that way is most challenging. Good luck .

viper

Your vehicles are 2002 models. How is it possible that you need a new paint job already ?

speedfrk

Carter, If the only problem is swirl marks, it can be fixed by wet sanding with 2000 grit, and then buffing with progressively finer compounds. I custom paint motorcycles, and I wet sand and buff brand new paint that I just sprayed to get show quality results. Painting your car will kill the resale value. Take it to a professional detail shop and let them work on it. Then, ask them what the best products to use are to keep it looking good.

Carter

if you have an absent minded son who is only 17 and takes your black car to a car wash that is hand wash.... you could run into some problems.

Carter

the acura and c320 are fine, just my car has the swirls

nboyd

I have washed my coupe 3 times now and I have already started to notice swirl marks.

I went to rite aid and bought a gentle car wash cleaner that promised not to remove the wax and a glove mit for washing and the most expensive shammy they had.

What have I done wrong and what should I have bought and where from?

Thanks

Nathan

nboyd

Also what is a good place to buy car care stuff online?

Thanks

Nathan

nboyd

Ok so now I have looked at some more threads and have found a site called www.autosupermarket.com.

I'm not one for spending too long on this. I just want something that will keep the car clean and not scratch it up.

Just by my own ideas on these things I need to have a cleaner and a cloth to clean with, something to dry the car with and sometimes I am going to need to clean inside and wax outside.

List is as follows

cotton wash mitt as I assume the rite aid mitt is the culprit for swirls,
California Water Blade as the current chamois could also be responsible,
Meguiars Medallion Premium Leather Care? No idea on this?

I looked for Meguiar's Gold Class wax but they don't have it so is Meguiars #06 Cleaner Wax the same sort of thing?

should I replace my leather Chamois with a Synthetic Chamois?

Meguiars #09 Swirl Remover is this something that people would recommend?

Anyway a long time ago I posted but found the Z1 Z2 plus clay and so on a little overwhelming. Any advice for those who want to just buy it online and spend 40 minutes two weekends a month?

Thanks

Nathan

mdp c230k

I believe it is legal to comit a very late term abortion on a child that does this!
On the cost of a paint job..how much are good shoes? It all depends on what you call good. One mans great is anothers crap in this area. try and buff it out with the finest compound you can find, or better yet, find a pro that specializes in this type of thing.

Lynn

Nathan, the chamois should not be use on painted surfaces. It cannot trap dirt particles, and will drag them over the surface of the paint. While some people report good results with the California water blade, I am a little leery of using it on paint. I only use mine on the glass. The best things to use to try the car are High quality American made 100% cotton towel, such as Cannon or Fieldcrest brands, or microfiber towels.

You only need to clay a car once a year or even less, unless it is parked in an area with a lot of industrial pollution.

Zaino lasts for months. You don't need to use it monthly. Zaino is stripped with a mixture of water and alcohol. The factory windshield washer fluid or aftermarket winter type windshield washer fluid does a dandy job of stripping Zaino.

greg230

please do not repaint a 2k2 car, its too new to be ruined!

take it to any professional detailing shop, and for $300-700 you can get that showroom finish restored. they will either wet sand/compound/clay/treat your swirlmarks, but its too early to repaint the car.

although its never to early or to late to beat your son silly

revstriker

nboyd, I agree with Lynn's post. I will also add that you should read up on using "cleaner waxes". I believe that these contain abraisives which you may not want to use on the car.

Carter, I think to re-paint your car to anywhere near the appearance of new would cost big bucks. I would look into greg230's suggestion (and others) first.

slcvr6

I've been going through a respray headache on my extremely modified 93 VW Corrado and after 16 months and close to $12k invested in the spray, I have a car that no longer runs (3.1L VR6 Supercharged) and has a less than ideal finish. On a 20k mile car...

Paint can be fixed, a respray should be saved as a last result. This car did not need a respray and I have more than learned a lesson on this project.

Hence the reason for my C Coupe...

Carter

exactly why i am going to hit him up style and make him pay, might as well get the most expensive detail job. hehehe its great taking advantage of your kids!

dasMafia

quick-fix for swirl marks.... 3M imperial hand glaze... easy on, easy off... I have a Jet Black (not metallic) Z3 and its a ***** to keep clean, but it looks like a champ after the 3M goes on.

also, try Griots Garage's Speed Shine... its great for light dust/water spots.

nboyd

Carter, why don't you get him to read the list and figure out what the best way to fix it is himself, then get him to buy all the products and clean it himself.

If it costs $12k to do a paint job you might be waiting a while for the money from him.

Nathan