cruzmisl

Hi All,

I have a 2013 C63 with the performance package. Car has 40k miles and I noticed when switching out my winter wheels the clear coating on the front calipers has peeled off in some areas and the underlying red paint is chalky. I always hand wash so I'm not sure what caused it.

I went to the dealer and they said since it doesn't affect the performance they won't replace the calipers but as a "courtesy" they'll have the calipers repainted if I pay $500 to take them off and reinstall.

I think this proposal is ridiculous. Can they re-apply a clear coat which is as durable as original? How do they propose to maintain the AMG logo and lastly why should I have to pay anything? In my opinion they should just replace the calipers.

Any ideas or thoughts? I've read other posts where they all had the calipers replaced. If I'm unsuccessful with my dealer what other options do I have?

Thanks for any advice!!
J.

Alex.currie44

It will be a tough argument to support replacement. I didn't look at the warranty book but I don't think cosmetics carry through the full warranty.
If the clear only is peeling can you lightly sand it back to where it is stuck, feather it out gently without damaging the red and and clear coating them yourself? They are not powder coated as far as I know.
The caliper is pretty exposed on these cars compared to ones on my R170 roadster. I painted them completely with a red caliper paint using a brush and they looked great. You would never know so putting some clear over a well prepared colour should be a snap.
Unless you are going to track your car you would not need a HT clear but here is one that I am told is pretty good. There are others for sure.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-dia...s-aerosol.html

DarkLordByron

Same thing happened to me . I just repainted them my self

BLKROKT

Replace calipers? That was a joke right.

solekeeper

lol


if you are handy you can repaint yourself.

betrezra

Same thing happened to me... But I'm pretty sure it was from me leaving wheel cleaner spray on the wheels and calipers too long. Came back outside and clear was cloudy , then on next drive peeling off. I picked a spare set of cal from a wreck in mint shape to replace. Will sell the cloudy calipers so some one can paint color of choice or run as is . Gl.

JimmyR

Sure i read on here of someone with similar problem - i think in Melbourne Australia - who got calipers replaced under warranty.
Cant recall how early in warranty period this was, or how much push-back he got from the dealer.

JimmyR

Here is the link:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...per-paint.html

Phil_T

Just get them re painted at a bodyshop, Make sure they use the right stickers or buy them yourself to give to them. I did mine candy yellow.

betrezra

Phil - looks hawt!

Mr Jones

Jimmy R - That was me. They replaced one caliper 2 years into a 3 year warranty. I think it really depends on the individual Service adviser and the dealership. They could well have said it was caused by a stone chip and I wouldn't have had any comeback. You could take it further to MB USA given there's a few cases on this forum of peeling going on.

Good luck.

roadkillrob

Just wanted to put an update on this thread, bought my 507 in late January 2014 model year with 32k miles on it - was 4 years old and a week when I bought it CPO. Calipers were peeling clearcoat, washed the car that week and the rest of the clear coat just rinsed off with a hose. I took it in and complained about all 4 and they said no problem and CPO would cover it and they ordered new calipers which took about 3 weeks to come from Germany.

Had them installed last week and they look so much better, warranty bill was 3k and had not issues getting them replaced under warranty. Seems to only be an issue with the red ones, my 2013 had the silver ones and they were mint at 45k.

bhamg

You could have them powdercoated instead. I had mine done by a shop that custom-blended a color for me. They charged more than you can get them painted for but a perfect, much better than OE paint powder coat job simply cannot be beat. Much, much more durable than paint too. JMHO.

roadkillrob

cruzmisl

Thanks for the ideas. I just traded the car in for a new C63S so no more trouble with the caliper paint. Hopefully the thread will help others who are having a similar issues.

The brake system on the new C63 is different though. The front are a different casting and the rears aren't 4 piston.....boooo!

Is there a possibility that the wheel cleaner I used caused the paint to peel? I was using Sonax Full Effect wheel cleaner. They say it's safe but who knows.

qmciver

roadkillrob

I used Sonax full effect fo a couple years on my base C63 with the grey calipers and never had an issues. Also have never heard of the clear peeling on yellow or silver calipers ever, seems to have been a manufacturing flaw with the red ones or something chemically different with the red base they used that caused issues with clear adhesion. Just hoping they figured it out and the new ones won't do it again in 3 or 4 years!