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Mercedes-Benz C-Class and C-Class AMG: Paint Modifications

Modifying your factory paint job is one way to repair simple imperfections, such as a chip in the paint, but paint is a relatively simple way of personalizing your ride. Whether you want to paint a small spot or cover your ride with vinyl wrap, here's what you need to know.

By William Henderson - May 26, 2015

This article applies to the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and C-Class AMG (2007-2014).

Imperfections in your paint will happen, no matter how safely you drive – you can damage your wheel just by bumping against a curb. Rather than take in your car and let a professional repair the damage, even a novice DIYer can tackle simple paint projects. You don't need to modify your entire paint job, just where there's a problem to fix. Some Benz owners do it to help their ride stand out. Before shopping for paint, be sure to locate your paint code. It’s not like you can go to the store and buy just any paint. Mercedes-Benz paint codes are typically three digits, and you can find the paint code for your car in one of three places: the driver-side door jamb, the radiator crossover or support bar, or in the engine compartment on the underside of the hood. If you want to paint your entire car or wrap it in vinyl (which more and more people are doing these days), then no matter your experience, consider using a professional.

Paint Modifications

Repairing Paint Chips

DIY Cost – $50-$400, depending on the paint and/or application method you use

Professional Cost – Upwards of $1,000, though some Benz owners report paying more

Skill Level – Easy; Expect to spend a few hours, since you'll likely apply several coats and should wait until one coat dries before applying the next coat

You’ve chipped the paint on the door or hood of your car – or anywhere, for that matter – and you want to fix it before the metal underneath rusts. Fortunately, you don’t have to repaint your entire car or bring your car into a shop, because you have a few options that you likely can do yourself without breaking the bank. Depending on the size of the chip, you can use a paint chip repair pen (recommended for non-metallic cars and for chips that are smaller than the size of the end of a Q-tip), a small paint brush (recommended for non-metallic cars and for chips that are smaller than the size of a dime), or spray paint (recommended for metallic cars or for chips that are larger than a dime).

Repainting Wheels

DIY Cost – Between $40 and $75, depending on the paint and how much you buy

Professional Cost – Between $300 and $400

Skill Level – Easy; The prep work may be the hardest part of the job

Of all parts on your car, you wheels typically take the most abuse. While replacing a damaged wheel is certainly the easiest way of fixing the problem, you also can repaint a wheel and restore its factory shine. Some automotive stores will mix custom colors, so don’t settle for a “close enough” color. You likely can get away with using a small can if painting one hubcap, but may need to buy two or more cans if painting all four hubcaps. Be sure you also have some masking tape and Exacto knife on-hand before you start. After you finish painting your wheel, be sure to remove the tape. Leave it on while the paint dries and you risk the tape drying to the wheel, too. While some Mercedes-Benz owners who opt to repaint their wheels stick with using the factory color, using a different color, or a flat paint when before the hubcaps were metallic or vice versa, can help your car stand out. Fair warning: This usually affects the value of your car, but that's typically the case for any paint modification.

(Related Article: How to Plasti-Dip Wheels on Your C-Class or C-Class AMG - MBWorld.org)

Paint Job

DIY Cost – Between $2,000 and $3,000 depending on how much paint you need

Professional Cost – Expect to pay between $5,000 and $10,000, depending where you take it and the services the professional has available

Skill Level – Difficult; Best done by a professional

When you think paint modification, you’re likely thinking about simply repainting your car. It’s an expensive option and, as mentioned above, will affect the resale value of your car. Unless you’re a skilled painter, consider hiring a professional. Before you paint a car, you must remove the old paint or the new paint won’t “stick.” You’d also want to take the opportunity to repair any body problems. A professional will bundle this in the price of the job, and will likely have a dust-free shop in which to paint your ride. If you're paying someone to paint your car, shop around; don't settle for the first shop that quotes a low price. It's true what they say: you get what you pay for, and you don't want to spend thousands and end up unhappy with the result.You don’t have to stick with your factory color if you decide to repaint your entire car. Go from a metallic to matte color (or vice versa) or consider using two colors. Some Benz owners like to paint roofs a color that compliments the color of the body (e.g., a black roof on a white car).

(Related Article: How to Find a Good Paint Shop - MBWorld.org)

Vinyl Wrap

DIY Cost – Upwards of $1,500

Professional Cost – Between $4,500 and $6,000

Skill Level – Very difficult and best done by a professional

Wrapping your car in vinyl is a fairly difficult way of changing the color and finish of your ride without affecting your factory paint job. Wraps tend to last between five and 10 years, but you can remove a wrap at any time. Unlike a paint job, wrapping your car in vinyl won’t affect the resale value of your ride and is generally less than the cost of a paint job. You don’t need to match any color when wrapping your ride, and you can opt to wrap only parts of your car (e.g., your hood or roof). It’ll hide imperfections to your paint job, and you don’t need anything special to maintain it. Expect to spend between two to three days wrapping your car, if you want it to look good when you're finished.

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