Paint Protection
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Rowland Heights,CA
W203 (sold), W204 (sold), W124
Paint Protection
Hey guys, anyone of you installed or planning to install paint protection on your car? (especially those who have black cars)
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2008 C350 Black/Black Leather, P2, 18" AMG, Pano, illuminated door sills, chrome handles, long wait
No no! Get a big thick nylon bra that you can strap over the hood and wheel wells!
:-P
I'm not going to get any protection, I'm not afraid of STDs or rocks, or anything :-P I feel like this, its like putting seat covers on to protect the seats. .... FROM WHAT! the next buyer? I'll have a news flash for you, I want to use the seats in their top form for me. I don't see the benefit in a $200-$600 protection job when it won't make that big of a deal, and touch up paint doesn't cost that much.
my .02, I'm glad you all like it, but to each, his/her own.
:-P
I'm not going to get any protection, I'm not afraid of STDs or rocks, or anything :-P I feel like this, its like putting seat covers on to protect the seats. .... FROM WHAT! the next buyer? I'll have a news flash for you, I want to use the seats in their top form for me. I don't see the benefit in a $200-$600 protection job when it won't make that big of a deal, and touch up paint doesn't cost that much.
my .02, I'm glad you all like it, but to each, his/her own.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Paint film
<<I'm not going to get any protection, I'm not afraid of STDs or rocks, or anything :-P I feel like this, its like putting seat covers on to protect the seats. .... FROM WHAT! the next buyer? I'll have a news flash for you, I want to use the seats in their top form for me. I don't see the benefit in a $200-$600 protection job when it won't make that big of a deal, and touch up paint doesn't cost that much.>>
Uhh, Peyton, have you ever owned a black car before? I had StonGard (now out of business) film put on when my Obsidian Black C320 was new and everyplace the film is, the rock damage isn't. The entire front bumper cover is protected and the film is not visible, being low to the ground. But, when I had the hood repainted three years back, I didn't reinstall the stuff and now the hood has chips all over the place. As far as touching up these chips, it really doesn't hide them at all other than obscuring the light gray primer coat underneath.
I will be protecting the new car's nose and at $699, it's a helluva lot cheaper than paint. I believe in maintaining my capital equipment (bought with my own hard-earned cash) and this is one of the ways.
Uhh, Peyton, have you ever owned a black car before? I had StonGard (now out of business) film put on when my Obsidian Black C320 was new and everyplace the film is, the rock damage isn't. The entire front bumper cover is protected and the film is not visible, being low to the ground. But, when I had the hood repainted three years back, I didn't reinstall the stuff and now the hood has chips all over the place. As far as touching up these chips, it really doesn't hide them at all other than obscuring the light gray primer coat underneath.
I will be protecting the new car's nose and at $699, it's a helluva lot cheaper than paint. I believe in maintaining my capital equipment (bought with my own hard-earned cash) and this is one of the ways.
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Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
If you're considering, I'd definitely have it done outside the dealership, since they take it to the same places to have it done and then they charge you $$ for it.
I got my tint & paint protection done through Accutint Seattle, although I've heard their office in Bellevue does a better job. You should look into them for your tint & paint protection needs.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Accutint
I'll be using Accutint to install the 3M paint film on my C300 also. I have a $699 quote minus 10% Porsche Club discount. They are located behind Barrier Porsche in Bellevue.
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Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 402
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From: Jet City, USA
'08 W204.081; M 272.948 KE30; Colour Code#792
Have a look at some of the competitors before you get it done. I've got 3M, and I can't complain. But I've heard good things about VentureShield. I'll be considering this once I'm ready to get my C done.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 103
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From: SoCal
2008 C350 Sport, Black on Black
I'm not the person who gets BS'd by the F&I dept. at the dealership to get their extra stuff. But when he said $720 for LoJack & Paint Protection.. I jumped it!
Had a quote from a reputable company here in SoCal...
Tint (all windows), smoked taillights & clear bra (bumper, headlights & hood) $800.. (after haggling).
Had a quote from a reputable company here in SoCal...
Tint (all windows), smoked taillights & clear bra (bumper, headlights & hood) $800.. (after haggling).
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From: Mid-west
IS300
No no! Get a big thick nylon bra that you can strap over the hood and wheel wells!
:-P
I'm not going to get any protection, I'm not afraid of STDs or rocks, or anything :-P I feel like this, its like putting seat covers on to protect the seats. .... FROM WHAT! the next buyer? I'll have a news flash for you, I want to use the seats in their top form for me. I don't see the benefit in a $200-$600 protection job when it won't make that big of a deal, and touch up paint doesn't cost that much.
my .02, I'm glad you all like it, but to each, his/her own.
:-P
I'm not going to get any protection, I'm not afraid of STDs or rocks, or anything :-P I feel like this, its like putting seat covers on to protect the seats. .... FROM WHAT! the next buyer? I'll have a news flash for you, I want to use the seats in their top form for me. I don't see the benefit in a $200-$600 protection job when it won't make that big of a deal, and touch up paint doesn't cost that much.
my .02, I'm glad you all like it, but to each, his/her own.
little chips all over... you can't really see in the pictures
work it had to go thru
it's not worth it on a black car. I highly recommend a clear bra
Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 201
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From: Colorado
2008 C350 Sport, 2007 ML320 CDI
Ditto! All our newer cars are black and all have clear bras installed. They are life savers if installed correctly.
Voice of experience here - unless you've seen your dealer's clear bra work and find it acceptable, find a good, independent installer. Dealers can't seem to do these on dark cars without all kinds of wrinkles in the plastic. In Denver (Littleton, CO), there's a company called IDS that can work miracles on clear bras for the same price as local dealers charge for crappy work. And it's just worth going there to see all the exotics they do.
Voice of experience here - unless you've seen your dealer's clear bra work and find it acceptable, find a good, independent installer. Dealers can't seem to do these on dark cars without all kinds of wrinkles in the plastic. In Denver (Littleton, CO), there's a company called IDS that can work miracles on clear bras for the same price as local dealers charge for crappy work. And it's just worth going there to see all the exotics they do.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 316
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From: Woodstock, GA. USA
w204-C300
oh, okay.. so paint protection = clear bra. right? no need to apply it to other part besides the front? can you guys recommend what brand/company is good (and if possible, where i can have them installed). Btw, I live in Georgia.
Thx
Thx
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
More rock chip repair 2004
<<........when I had the hood repainted three years back, I didn't reinstall the stuff and now the hood has chips all over the place. As far as touching up these chips, it really doesn't hide them at all other than obscuring the light gray primer coat underneath. I will be protecting the new car's nose and at $699, it's a helluva lot cheaper than paint. I believe in maintaining my capital equipment (bought with my own hard-earned cash) and this is one of the ways.>>
The cost today to repaint just the center of the hood would be close to $900.
The primer on the hood is behind the removed film area.
The cost today to repaint just the center of the hood would be close to $900.
The primer on the hood is behind the removed film area.
Last edited by RLE; Nov 7, 2007 at 09:52 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 103
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From: SoCal
2008 C350 Sport, Black on Black
PM me... I'm not sure if I can post their name and number publicly in this forum.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Mid-west
IS300
No I don't think you need it, unless the car is a dark color. Rock chips don't look too bad on silver. Since you are getting silver, i don't think it's worth the extra money. If black, make sure you get "clear bra' for the front.
Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 165
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From: KS
08 E-550 4-matic Sport; '15 RAM, '15 X3, '15 Charger SRT
clear bra bargaining
When I got my 01 silver E-class my dealer in Littleton, CO did the clear bra w/o charge. Maybe it had to do with dealer evaluation but I think you could use the bra as a bargaining chip when you purchase or lease. Glad I had it even on silver. You could barely see the bra 7 years later.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Vancouver, BC
2008 C350 Palladium Silver
if i don't get clear coat, wouldn't the paint dull? even if i take it to a detailer once a year for a professional wax job, wouldn't the paint protection maintain the shine for 5 years or so at a fraction of the price?
Last edited by C350Silver; Oct 11, 2007 at 11:32 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,986
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Terminology gone berserk
<<if i don't get clear coat, wouldn't the paint dull? even if i take it to a detailer once a year for a professional wax job, wouldn't the paint protection maintain the shine for 5 years or so at a fraction of the price?>>
Wait a minute. Clear coat is the clear paint over the color base coat whether it is red, black, silver, whatever. Which is over the prime coat. All MBs are painted this way.
So, it's primer, color, and then clear. Period.
What is being discussed here is a clear plastic film (made by 3M and others) applied over the paint whose only task is to guard against rock chips in the clear coat. And sometimes through that into the color. This is not a do-it-yourself project because it requires experience and skill which is what you pay for.
This is done after delivery by a shop of your choosing and never by Mercedes at the factory. If your dealer offers to do the job, they will send it outside someplace and add a markup, sometimes in the hundreds of dollars.
If the only attention you plan to give to your car's paint is an annual shine-up at a detail shop, it's going to look pretty sad in short order. In my opinion.
You need to learn how to do this yourself and one place you can see what's required is www.griotsgarage.com as just one supplier.
I'm using their materials and my car looks as clean and shiny as possible although it's a lot of work. But worth it.
Wait a minute. Clear coat is the clear paint over the color base coat whether it is red, black, silver, whatever. Which is over the prime coat. All MBs are painted this way.
So, it's primer, color, and then clear. Period.
What is being discussed here is a clear plastic film (made by 3M and others) applied over the paint whose only task is to guard against rock chips in the clear coat. And sometimes through that into the color. This is not a do-it-yourself project because it requires experience and skill which is what you pay for.
This is done after delivery by a shop of your choosing and never by Mercedes at the factory. If your dealer offers to do the job, they will send it outside someplace and add a markup, sometimes in the hundreds of dollars.
If the only attention you plan to give to your car's paint is an annual shine-up at a detail shop, it's going to look pretty sad in short order. In my opinion.
You need to learn how to do this yourself and one place you can see what's required is www.griotsgarage.com as just one supplier.
I'm using their materials and my car looks as clean and shiny as possible although it's a lot of work. But worth it.
Last edited by RLE; Nov 7, 2007 at 09:52 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 472
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From: San Diego, CA
'14 A6 3.0 TFSI
Get the clear bra. It's well worth it. I was commuting 100 miles/day for work. My '03 C230 had the clear bra; my '05 C230 doesn't have the clear bra. After only one year my front bumper needs to be repainted. It's very sad. After I was the car it looks like it either spattered with bugs or white paint. As a previous poster stated, the clear bra is much cheaper than getting the bumper repainted. Trust me, I know.
