Plain Black vs Metallic Black Paint
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Joined: Jul 2009
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From: PNW
'15 VW GTI
040 simply looks better, but harder to maintain. the metallic flakes, in any paint for that matter, help to hide dirt, marks, etc. there simply is nothing like a clean, swirl free black.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,675
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From: NA
Yes
Ditto on the 040 guys above, wasnt into the metallic flake look.
If you want a comparison, the 040 uses (at least in 09) the metallic black on the handles to hide swirls/scratches, but you can see the difference of them right up against one another.
If you want a comparison, the 040 uses (at least in 09) the metallic black on the handles to hide swirls/scratches, but you can see the difference of them right up against one another.
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Canada
C63 AMG
I passed on the Obisdian and waited to get the 040 as well. The jet black just looks so deep - like you could put your hand in it and swish it around. The metallic always looked dull and dusty to me, even when it was clean. IMO nothing beats a jet black car.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Massachusetts
'14 911S (garage queen) '13 X3 (family hauler)
My 2nd 040 Benz and I love it, but for a DD it might be torture to keep nice.
My 2011 040 also has the "sparkly" door handles, I believe they all do and I think its dumb too
One more thing not mentioned, if you ever need to repaint any metallic paint it will be almost impossible to match the factory flake pattern and will be noticeable to the trained eye. An 040 black is much easier to blend--nice for those who may want to respray their bumper or hood after the sand blasting and asteroids do their thing on the highway
Nothing wrong with either color, just preference and how you like your paint--I just like mine w/o flakes
My 2011 040 also has the "sparkly" door handles, I believe they all do and I think its dumb too
One more thing not mentioned, if you ever need to repaint any metallic paint it will be almost impossible to match the factory flake pattern and will be noticeable to the trained eye. An 040 black is much easier to blend--nice for those who may want to respray their bumper or hood after the sand blasting and asteroids do their thing on the highway
Nothing wrong with either color, just preference and how you like your paint--I just like mine w/o flakes
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Joined: Sep 2010
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
1997 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, 2014 Mercedes Benz ML 350, 2008 MB C63 AMG (deceased), 2009 MB C63 AMG
Both of my DD C63's have been 040 black. My wife's BMW is metallic black ( Saffire black metallic). Side by side, when clean, the gloss black on the AMG is the most beautiful paint job there is. In the sun the metallic black has a really cool sheen. However, next to the gloss black, the metallic black just does not seem as nice, almost a little dirty. When both cars are somewhat dirty, the AMG and the Bimmer look similar. However, the disadvantage is the maintenance put in to keep the gloss black car clean. Perhaps, as a DD car the metallic class may be the more practical and rarer choice. However, if I was wanting pure practicality I would have gotten Iridium Silver. nothing beats the look of clean gloss black!
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C63 AMG
One more thing not mentioned, if you ever need to repaint any metallic paint it will be almost impossible to match the factory flake pattern and will be noticeable to the trained eye. An 040 black is much easier to blend--nice for those who may want to respray their bumper or hood after the sand blasting and asteroids do their thing on the highway
Last edited by bhamg; Dec 7, 2011 at 11:36 PM.
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From: Cave Creek, AZ and Newport Beach
'22 G 63 AMG, '21 GLE 53 AMG, '20 NSX
I've had both Obsidian and 040 black. I just ordered a new C class for my wife and her choice was Obsidian which looks great 80% of the time compared to 040 which looks good for about 4 hours.
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Joined: May 2007
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From: Hong Kong/Charlotte
2010 C63
I have had both, and I will never again get the 040. The Obsidian Black (197) is much, much better, far more interesting, stays cleaner for longer, and seems to be more durable as well.
I think that the 197 is also easier to repair. I have a paint guy in Atlanta that does a fantastic job and he has fixed chips and scratches on both the 040 and the 197 -- the repairs in the 040 are much easier to see. The metal flakes seem to help hide the transition in the 197. You just cannot see where the Obsidian black has been repaired, but a lot of the 040 repairs just look bad. He has also repaired my wife's Brilliant Silver wagon, with similar results to the 197, so I do think the metallic paint is easier to repair, regardless of the color.
I think that the 197 is also easier to repair. I have a paint guy in Atlanta that does a fantastic job and he has fixed chips and scratches on both the 040 and the 197 -- the repairs in the 040 are much easier to see. The metal flakes seem to help hide the transition in the 197. You just cannot see where the Obsidian black has been repaired, but a lot of the 040 repairs just look bad. He has also repaired my wife's Brilliant Silver wagon, with similar results to the 197, so I do think the metallic paint is easier to repair, regardless of the color.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Massachusetts
'14 911S (garage queen) '13 X3 (family hauler)
I have had both, and I will never again get the 040. The Obsidian Black (197) is much, much better, far more interesting, stays cleaner for longer, and seems to be more durable as well.
I think that the 197 is also easier to repair. I have a paint guy in Atlanta that does a fantastic job and he has fixed chips and scratches on both the 040 and the 197 -- the repairs in the 040 are much easier to see. The metal flakes seem to help hide the transition in the 197. You just cannot see where the Obsidian black has been repaired, but a lot of the 040 repairs just look bad. He has also repaired my wife's Brilliant Silver wagon, with similar results to the 197, so I do think the metallic paint is easier to repair, regardless of the color.
I think that the 197 is also easier to repair. I have a paint guy in Atlanta that does a fantastic job and he has fixed chips and scratches on both the 040 and the 197 -- the repairs in the 040 are much easier to see. The metal flakes seem to help hide the transition in the 197. You just cannot see where the Obsidian black has been repaired, but a lot of the 040 repairs just look bad. He has also repaired my wife's Brilliant Silver wagon, with similar results to the 197, so I do think the metallic paint is easier to repair, regardless of the color.
Even with factory paints, the metallic flakes will not land the same as they did at the factory--different equipment, robot vs human. I'm not saying a great painter can't get it to look nice, but if you're one of the eagle eye type, it will always be noticeable. Any honest professional will tell you the same!
Non-metallic FTW!!
