ZephyrAMG

Ok, I have searched threads and didn't find much. I got my first nice, deep 2mm x 2mm rock gouge that I noticed while wiping the 63 down last night. A single tear rolled down my blistering cold cheek as I ran my finger across it...I cursed out lout for about hour, screaming in the garage. After all the F*****g money on clear bra, staying away from semitrucks, changing lanes carefully...And the crazy thing was it was about 3 inches above my clear bra line. I stayed up staring at the ceiling all last night...How could this happen to me.

Wanted to hear some stories on rock chips, PICS, and WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO AND HOW TO DO IT. TOUCH UP OR NOT TO TOUCH UP? AT HOME OR AT BODY SHOP?

Let's get this common occurance a spin for discussion...

dacls63amg

No matter how careful you are you will still get rock chips. When I got my car I was extremly careful but one day I was driving in the right lane minding my own business knowing that I won't get any rock chips or anything, then all of a sudden some dumb a$& cut me of and put a nice rock chip on my car and I only had 30 miles on the car. I was like WTF not cool man!! I was so pissed and sad I lost sleep over it. Most importanty have have! It's impossible to keep your nice things in perfect conditions these days.

benyl

That is why I got the whole car covered in 3M...

Now my wife can drag her purse across the door and I don't care! haha

ZephyrAMG

The whole car. THE WHOLE CAR? Are you serious? The WHOLE car?

Azn_C300

Whole car is kind of extreme for a non-exotic, but at the very least, should have done a full hood wrap. Not only does it protect all of the hood, you also don't get that unsightly bra line streaking across your hood.

Derspeed

Hey, I have that bra line. It's not not that bad. Better than the rock chip alternative.

benyl

It costs just under $4k. But the C63 has a lot of complicated panels and the front bumper is pretty intricate. So other cars may be less.

Custom cut everything. The only kit that was used was the front bumper and fenders. Everything else was custom including the b-pillars.

With a black car, I didn't want to deal with the maintenance. Every spring, I usually get a full detail that costs $500. Don't need it now. I don't have to wash the car as often and only have to wax it once a year. In the end, it probably costs the same, but I don't have to worry about scratches.


C pillar and trunk

B pillar

6.3 badge

Boost Gomez

Wow, that's a real clean job they did on your car benyl.

ZephyrAMG

I used to sit and day dream about the possibility of clear bra-ing my entire car, and how I would be out of my mind and probably be considered a total nut job in doing so, outcasted by other 63 owners and never being able to ride along side them. I often thought if such a unicorn existed, a completly clear-bra'd car. You are now my new hero. I know we put a man on the moon and and invented the computer, but I never knew it was possible.... Nice job and now you got me calling my clear bra guy. I never knew I would like a bra on instead of off so much in my life...

frag101

I just got my c63 past weekend and wondering to do clear bra or not for whole front end. After reading your post, i think i will do it. How many you guys do clear bra?

dacls63amg

I just have a clear bra on the front of the hood, fenders and side mirrors.

bushburninc63

700 bucks and i got a clear bra on the a third of the hood, the whole bumper and the side rear view mirror. so far so good, only a few rock chips. oh well, i'm not paying 3 or 4k to get the whole car done. I'll just got a nice paint job if my paint ever go to ****.

I do however got a line door ding on my rear passenger side door. it's barely noticeable unless i point it out to people, but it's annoying the hell out of me. i'm going to get it fixed when I get time.

Unbreakable1

i have a few chips that tend to burn at me deeply everytime i wipe her down...even w/ the clear bra they couldnt be prevented...i guess i can only think how much worse it might have been w/out it on

ZephyrAMG

It's such a joke how a small nick can cause so much torment. . Our cars look like it just left the showroom except for those little punks that make you cringe everytime your eye sees one...just like unbreakable1 said, it BURNS.

Lets not turn it into a clear bra thread. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING ABOUT THE DINGS IN THE PAINT?

TOUCH UP OR NOT, and if so, HOW???? TECHNIQUES ANYONE???

I just checked with MB here and touch up paint is about $37 for a bottle according to your VIN or color code in your door...

bushburninc63

I've been meaning to get some touch up paint to fill in the chips. don't want it to rust if the chip is deep enough, but mercedes paint seems to have many layers.

GBlansten

MB touch up paint + www.langka.com = problem solved

LZH

The only parts of my car NOT covered in clear bra are the roof, trunk, rear bumper and doors.
If the scratch bothers you that much, take it to a good body shop and have it spot sprayed and blended. If it's a lease, I wouldn't bother.

Quadcammer

Please GOD tell me you are kidding. YOu need to get a grip man. Its just a car and its just a rock chip.

NickZag

I haven't purchased any touch up paint from Mercedes yet so I'm not sure if it comes with additional clear coat. Usually when I've had any scratches or knicks in the paint I'll get some touch up, and also a small bottle of clear coat. Apply the touch up paint during dry weather, wait about 2 days, then apply the clear coat over the area. Even on black if your patient and take your time nobody will notice.

eagle_lex

i love the clear bra on my daily interstate driver 05 black pathfinder.... but last concours i went to i saw a pearl white maserati with a clear bra and the damn thing was YELLOW! does that happen to white cars now a days.

qship5

Clear bra is great...I did full hood, fenders and bumper. I think the entire car is extreme and I have yet to find a clear film that allows a finish like properly polished paint. The best installer in our area actaully rolls the edges over the panel so there are no visible edges to see or catch clay bar, polish or wax!

ATL_MB

I have never been able to get touch up paint to work worth a damn, no matter how careful I am. With a ding that big on the hood, touch up paint will look like crap. I will use the touch up paint - liberally - on the bottom of the front air dam, where no one can really see anything except the giant white scratches from the Popeye's chicken drive-in.

I was looking around the local Ferrari/Maserati dealer a year or so ago and saw Southern Colors working on a Quattroporte -- that was enough of an endorsement for me. Before I sold my Obsidian Black C230 K I had him come out to work on a couple of large scratches and tons of dings and chips. He used a small air gun (no brushes) and did a great job for about $250 - in most spots, you couldn't tell there had ever been a chip. I am sure that there is someone in Chicago that performs a similar service. His website is http://www.southerncolors.com/

ZephyrAMG

I went to the dealership yesterday and purchased the touch up kit MB sells, made in Germany. It's a small pack containing paint and small bottle of clear coat. Color code 197 obsidian black.

Technique includes:
1. Wipe area down with a lens cleaning cloth (eye glass alcohol wet nap)
2. Use paper clip, NOT THE SUPPLIED BRUSH, or needle point to collect paint from the tip of the brush
3. Rest hand near chip to stabilize
4. Dab only once into the chip with the tip of the paperclip or needle
5. Allow paint to fill the well
6. 24 hours later repeat process, dab into the chip and let paint flow in and fill
7. Apply clear coat using same technique. Let dry for 24 hours.
8. No brush use what so ever

I know its probably no big deal to a lot of owners and it's just a small detail but whatever the case, just thought this could help keep the 63s looking great...

KCviper

I used this same technique on the Viper with great results. Have not needed it for the C63 yet............

NickZag

Yeah, white is actually the worst color to get the clear bra done in for that reason (depending on factors like if the car is garaged, tempature, things like that). The clear bra's oxidize over time, but white shows it the most. My friend had this on his white Infinity and after about 4-5 years he started to notice it. Still, 4-5 years isn't a bad run and you can just get it redone.