rb23lb

The Body shop I am going to wants to use PPG Brand Paint? Is it the same as factory paint? Or will it be of a lesser quality???

Also, when the body shop replaces my trunk, will they replace the same nano particle paint job???? is it even possible to do this outside a factory????????

Derspeed

PPG is cutting edge. It will probably be better than the factory paint, which I think is pretty fragile. As far as the nano particle part, I am not sure.

rb23lb

so it doesnt matter really if they dotn use the factory paint brand exactly...

I am just worried now that there are many different types of PPG paint out there i they will use the cheapest one and bill for the best one....

rb23lb

Called 3 body shops....

1 uses spies hecker german paint (the largest mercedes dealer in california)

the other 2 independednt shops use PPG paint


Should i feel uncomfortable with the PPG paint if the dealer uses spies hecker?

all the dealerships are far away so i am most likely going to go with an independent shop close by..

Sincity

PPG is good stuff.

Derspeed

If it matches, I wouldn't be too concerned about it. The prep work is the crucial element. PPG may be one of the top paint brands in the world. Make sure you get some sort of satifaction guarantee in writing prior to having the work done.

smon68

PPG............****..Poor..Gloss!

RLE

I think you should call MBUSA (1-800-formercedes) and ask specifically about nano-particle clear coat and what brand and name should be used.

If you care. Of course, if this is a lease car then nothing matters.

amdeutsch

PPG makes a ceramic clear coat. The hardness coefficient number is higher than standard clearcoat. Make sure you get that as well. But in reality you won't see as much benefit on the trunk as you would on the hood, front bumper.

imboom

Depends on the type of PPG your shop uses. I would personally stay away from PPG Omni. Although PPG makes great paint, their Omni is their value brand with a bit lower quality.

My personal choice is going to be Sikkens. They make much better paint than PPG. If your shop is authorized to use Sikkens, they can use Autobase Plus, which, in my opinion is the best overall paint out there for body shop users. Sikkens Autobase Plus sprayed on my palladium silver was unnoticable.

rb23lb

I do care greatly, since i own this car outright and it is already paid off (bought all cash in fall 07') and want only the best of the best to return it to factory condition

I will be calling 1800formercedes in the morning.... good idea RLE, thanks

can i force whatever shop i uses to use whever mercedes recommends, or by law do i have to accept their substitute like PPG if it is pretty close and that is all their shop uses???

amdeutsch

You can tell the shop what to use, but if you're not there every minute how will you know.

Mercho82

?????????

rb23lb

EXACTLY what i thought

Mercho82

Thats right, they probably tell you they will use certain king of parts or paint just to get your bussiness but at the end use the cheapest materials.

01S408C300

Each shop is set up with a Dedicated paint system you cant just switch it out, and if your in cali most systems are waterborne which is a little tougher

I would say Glasurit and Speis are your better systems, but you have to see which line they use (as someone else said) Glasuirt has an RM and Limco line which does not compare to the regular Glasuirt.

As I said Before you may want to consider repairing your lid there will be way less paint work done to your car. I good shop will be able to repair the dent and keep all the paint work in the lid. By changing the lid you have to blend both quarters bumper etc... Remeber a shop is looking to make a profit and there is more profit in changing that lid vs repair.

rb23lb

sorry if this is a newbie queestion, but does blending the quarters and surrounding areas consist of using new paint??? i assume this is to color match??? to the rest of the body do to fading of old paint from original factory color code???

why doesnt it just match identically the first time if they are using a mathematically coded system and the car is only a year 1/2 old?

Mercho82

Simply because mathematics are perfect 2 + 2 = 4. On the other hand, paint matching = pain in the butt.

Derspeed

Yes. And you want to avoid that. if it's just your trunk, I wouldn't have them blend. If your body shop is good, they will be able to get a really close match no mater what paint they use. You won't be able to tell. Just thank God you don't have metallic paint.

rb23lb

so here is what the shop said they are using for paint:

PPG Enviro-base paint

California compliant PPG clear coat DC4010

Should I accept this or should I demand that they use PPG's "CeramiClear®" clearcoat which has the nanotechnology or something else that incorporates nanoparticles?

Or does anyone know if PPG DC4010 incorporates nanoparticle technology or scratch resistance?

01S408C300

First off I would not Go demanding anything, try to come to and agreement with the shop but don’t throw out demands... This is a shop you chose correct?

PPG Enviro-base paint is a waterborne paint system, and I don’t think the make the CeramiClear to be compatible with there waterborne paint system yet.

If they do remember that different clears will lay out differently, So you may not want to be the test car, also they may also ask you to pay for full amount of the can of clear the buy if its bought just for you and your car will not need that much...

RLE

Look, it is the legal responsibility of the other party to make the damaged car's owner whole again. Which means putting him back where he was before the damage. And that means using the correct parts and materials.

When shops buy materials, they put what they don't use on the shelf for the next job.

Stop making up all these "what-if" scenarios because they serve no purpose.

And, I haven't heard what MBUSA says about the correct paint.

01S408C300

Just to state again I own a Shop In New York and I am a direct repair for most major insurance companies so I happen to know Little about the subject...

First off from my understanding he’s not using either insurance carrier’s body shop which means its going to be up to the shop negotiate what they what and how they want fix the car.

When it comes to what there Legal Responsibility is, it what is considered fair and reasonable and to industry expected standards… that’s why companies can use used parts aftermarket parts different paint etc... I’m not saying I agree but this is the way it is

There not "what if" statements and the purpose they serve was answering his question both ways depending if the clear was available for waterborne or not, he can call PPG and check on that.

And if you read the post, if a customer asks for a certain product that we don’t use in the shop they can be billed and given the left over if I don’t use it in my shop in doesn’t go on my shelf

Also at this point his questions are solely based on the SHOP it’s not the shops legal responsibility to make him whole he has to fight with the insurance company now, he choose the shop. So if it’s not the insurance shop he really can’t go into a shop he chooses and make demands. If he wants want a Nano particle clear he needs to go to a shop that already uses it, not go into a shop and demand they do so.

smon68

Just paint it!!! it's a car!! it will be fine!!! Get over it!!! If you don't like the way it comes out I am sure that they will fix the problem!!!

Mercho82

+1 I agree 100%. It seens he is a little bit too ****.