How to Restore Original Paint
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Joined: Aug 2007
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2002 c320
How to Restore Original Paint
My 2002 C320 looks very clean and well maintained overall. However, there are a few paint blemishes that can be seen up close and I am wondering whether anyone has an experience with restoring the paint job.
The front section (mostly the hood but also some of the fender section) has the typical little pit marks. I don't think these can be buffed and I would hate to be reamed by the MB dealer's charge of $500 to paint just the hood.
Does anyone have experience with an independent paint shop? Quality is, of course, a concern. Having said that, I'm not sure that dealerships necessarily provide great quality service either, based on my experience thus far.
The front section (mostly the hood but also some of the fender section) has the typical little pit marks. I don't think these can be buffed and I would hate to be reamed by the MB dealer's charge of $500 to paint just the hood.
Does anyone have experience with an independent paint shop? Quality is, of course, a concern. Having said that, I'm not sure that dealerships necessarily provide great quality service either, based on my experience thus far.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 6,211
Likes: 2
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Wow, your dealer will repaint your hood for $500, that's fantastic. There's no easy way out, the early MB's (pre-2004) used very soft paint. Painting it will make it look good for a short time but eventually the chips all come back. Some people put a clear bra on their car and it works for me on my Chevy S-10. For my MB, I got rid of my chipped up black 2002 and got pewter silver 2004.5 with the new nano paint technology, very few chips and with silver I can't even notice the ones that are there.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,265
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From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort RIP
Yeh, I wish I noticed all the pits.
Even my FIAT didn't do that.
I'd call it a defect.
$500 is a good price.
I paid 300 to paint the rear bumper off the car.
And that was on the cheap. It looks nice,
but it's not very thick.
I was considering painting the hood...
ah fug it. New tires, new cat, + ODB tool, + a few misc.
plastic covers, + regular maint. have killed my car budget for a while.
"Mercedes. Open hood, insert $1000-2K in cash monthly, thankyou"
Even my FIAT didn't do that.
I'd call it a defect.
$500 is a good price.
I paid 300 to paint the rear bumper off the car.
And that was on the cheap. It looks nice,
but it's not very thick.
I was considering painting the hood...
ah fug it. New tires, new cat, + ODB tool, + a few misc.
plastic covers, + regular maint. have killed my car budget for a while.
"Mercedes. Open hood, insert $1000-2K in cash monthly, thankyou"
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,147
Likes: 2
From: Central Florida
R129, XF Sportbrake, SC400
If you don't wanna go the repaint route i'd recommend Menzerna products. There's an intensive polish and then a final polish. It works wonders if you do it right, have the right machine, and right pads.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
C3Twon AWD Jumpofffff
i have an 03' and my bumper is chipped up pretty nicely the hood has a few chips... i think i will just have the front bumper painted or maybe i'll just find an updated AMG front bumper and have that painted and put on
