matte black grille and chipping
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'05 C230
matte black grille and chipping
I am thinking of painting my stock grille matte black but Im weighing out the problem of paint chipping from road debris and rocks.
- So, for the people who painted their grilles, how do they stand up against rock chips?
- Is it worth it to paint or just DIY vinyl
- So, for the people who painted their grilles, how do they stand up against rock chips?
- Is it worth it to paint or just DIY vinyl
#2
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01' C32o
depends on how you prep/paint/clearcoat it. if you sand it down, the whole 9 yards, it should last a while, but it might still chip.
i think vinyl would be your best bet, but it also depends on how skilled you are at cutting and fitting.
fyi, i painted over my grille without sanding, and it chipped and looked like crap after a few months
i think vinyl would be your best bet, but it also depends on how skilled you are at cutting and fitting.
fyi, i painted over my grille without sanding, and it chipped and looked like crap after a few months
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C230K Coupe/Orion/C4/C5/CD/AMG Spoiler/V60/TeleAid, 2 MGB's
I used epoxy paint....no chipping after 5+ years
(link)
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ped-tooth.html
(link)
https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ped-tooth.html
Last edited by Rick; 01-22-2009 at 07:09 AM.
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'05 C230
Thanks for the ideas! do you have to use a spray gun for an epoxy paint or does it come in a spray can? Sorry for the noob question, Im not familiar with that. how did it hold up against rock chips on the highway?
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'05 C230
Is the clear bra already pre-cut for the grille or is it professionally installed?
- It is professionally installed, I'll be calling the installers tomorrow for a quote for just the grille (Ill post the prices here). hopefully the clear bra would solve the problem of rock chips and the people who paint their grilles doesnt have to repaint it every year.
- It is professionally installed, I'll be calling the installers tomorrow for a quote for just the grille (Ill post the prices here). hopefully the clear bra would solve the problem of rock chips and the people who paint their grilles doesnt have to repaint it every year.
Last edited by pawe; 01-25-2009 at 09:52 PM.
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
Is the clear bra already pre-cut for the grille or is it professionally installed?
- It is professionally installed, I'll be calling the installers tomorrow for a quote for just the grille (Ill post the prices here). hopefully the clear bra would solve the problem of rock chips and the people who paint their grilles doesnt have to repaint it every year.
- It is professionally installed, I'll be calling the installers tomorrow for a quote for just the grille (Ill post the prices here). hopefully the clear bra would solve the problem of rock chips and the people who paint their grilles doesnt have to repaint it every year.
#12
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mine were colormatched with OEM MB paint.
yes, there has been some slight chipping, but I have a touch-up paint pen that does the trick.
plus, when I take the car on long trips, I swap out the grill to the oem non-colormatched grill...
yes, there has been some slight chipping, but I have a touch-up paint pen that does the trick.
plus, when I take the car on long trips, I swap out the grill to the oem non-colormatched grill...
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
So i talked to my homie Albert from The Wheel Supply today since that is where I got my wheels powder coated and he said its impossible to powder coat plastic since the powder coating is done in intensely high temperatures of heat....in lamest terms...it will melt haha. so I think your just better off just getting painted...its not going to just instantly chip away..it will be just like the front of your hood...
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'05 C230
I did the painting myself and it only costs 20 bucks.
the materials that I used are: coarse and fine grit sandpapers, self etching primer, black primer, acrylic enamel, clear acrylic (any recommendations for a good aerosol clear coat?).
I sanded the chrome with an 80 grit till the shine disappeared and all you can see are scratches (do the sanding in a circular motion to promote more adhesion for the primer). After scuffing, I washed it with a degreaser, air dried it and wiped a tack cloth to get the dust off.
Then, I sprayed 2 coats of self etching primer and waited 30 mins before coating it with black primer (2 coats). Then, I wet sanded the primer with a fine grit just to even out the surface. after that, I top coated it with 3 coats of acrylic enamel.
*Im still thinking of coating it with clear acrylic because I want the dull finish of the flat black enamel. I probably will when I see that it doesnt hold up well on rock chips.
** I saw an epoxy paint in an aerosol can at home depot and I think that would be more durable than acrylic enamel. If the Enamel wont hold up then Ill probably have to try the epoxy primer and epoxy top coat route.
***Im not sure which primer is best for painting over chrome, but I also saw an adhesion promoter and a self etching primer and I went with the latter.
**** Sorry I wasnt able to provide pictures of the step by step procedure, I was in a hurry to maximize the perfect day outside.
the materials that I used are: coarse and fine grit sandpapers, self etching primer, black primer, acrylic enamel, clear acrylic (any recommendations for a good aerosol clear coat?).
I sanded the chrome with an 80 grit till the shine disappeared and all you can see are scratches (do the sanding in a circular motion to promote more adhesion for the primer). After scuffing, I washed it with a degreaser, air dried it and wiped a tack cloth to get the dust off.
Then, I sprayed 2 coats of self etching primer and waited 30 mins before coating it with black primer (2 coats). Then, I wet sanded the primer with a fine grit just to even out the surface. after that, I top coated it with 3 coats of acrylic enamel.
*Im still thinking of coating it with clear acrylic because I want the dull finish of the flat black enamel. I probably will when I see that it doesnt hold up well on rock chips.
** I saw an epoxy paint in an aerosol can at home depot and I think that would be more durable than acrylic enamel. If the Enamel wont hold up then Ill probably have to try the epoxy primer and epoxy top coat route.
***Im not sure which primer is best for painting over chrome, but I also saw an adhesion promoter and a self etching primer and I went with the latter.
**** Sorry I wasnt able to provide pictures of the step by step procedure, I was in a hurry to maximize the perfect day outside.
#15
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So i talked to my homie Albert from The Wheel Supply today since that is where I got my wheels powder coated and he said its impossible to powder coat plastic since the powder coating is done in intensely high temperatures of heat....in lamest terms...it will melt haha. so I think your just better off just getting painted...its not going to just instantly chip away..it will be just like the front of your hood...
and yes, you can't powder coat it.
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
whoa! you learn new things everyday! I always thought it was lamest! LMAO! i guess its just how people mix up Alzheimer's for alltimers lol! thanks for stopping my misconception of the word early in my life haha
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
No not at all this is the smartest idea it would just take alot of time and the matte black vinyl doesn't look that matte black to me...but it will definately come out nice...I do custom center caps for people all the time with vinyl and stickers.
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'05 C230
Anyways, I thought about the vinyl and clear coat combination but I just didnt have the patience to heat and stretch and trim. I found painting the grille much easier.
Ill post pics tomorrow using my trusty camera phone.
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03 W203, 13 E350, 13 W204, 14 C218
did you guys take the silver part off of the black backing support of the grille? because as I was sanding just the silver part of the OEM grille im starting to wonder if this is stainless steel and not plastic because on stainless steel when you sand it you can't sand it down but it only gets scratched up like it is doing....if this is stainless steel (just the silver part) not the backing then indeed you would be able to powdercoat it no?
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MK IV .:R32
I separated the chrome part from the black part......and then painted the chrome
.....I'm pretty sure its just plastic though. Even though it just scratched, it seemed pretty weak
.....I'm pretty sure its just plastic though. Even though it just scratched, it seemed pretty weak