G_Money

I was getting a new set of tires put on (Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, amazing), and while the car was on the lift I was taking a look at everything and noticed that what appears to be the clear coat on my brake calipers is flaking off. My vehicle has the red Performance Package calipers.

Has anyone had this happen before, or know why it's happening at only 45k miles? I don't track the vehicle, and I've never gotten any type of brake overheating warning before.

Yuille36

What chemicals do you use to clean your wheels, if it's a harsh chemical, then that is your answer as to why your clear coat is peeling off.

larrypmyers

Photos would be helpful.

Celicasaur

x2

I used Meguiars Hot Wheels last year and it didn't take more than a few washes to ruin the lacquer.

I ended up repainting mine and they're back to being nice n fresh again.

G_Money

I have only run it thru a tunnel wash a few times, I have not put any wheel cleaner in myself. I know, I know it was swirl marked when I bought, it and I am getting a full correction this weekend and then hand washes only from here on out.

So you think whatever cleaning agent the tunnel wash used on my wheels probably caused this? That's pretty lame...

What did it cost you to get yours touched up?

c63_alex

Yuille36

I seriously doubt it, as most car wash use cleaner that are not abrasive in nature. They try to minimize the risk of customers complaints, and possible law suits.
Besides whatever the car washes uses, it isn't on the calipers for very long. I take my car to a car wash every week, sometimes several times a week for the last 10 years, and it shows not signs of peeling.
Several months ago, I did a complete brake job; i.e. rotors, pads and sensors. But I sprayed the calipers down inside and outside with Sonnax wheel cleaner, this stuff is tough on brake dust.
And still no signs of peeling. Someone had to spray those calipers down with some chemical and then left it to sit on the calipers to eat away at it. That is my thought!

G_Money

Here is a particularly bad spot where you can clearly see it peeling up. It's on all the calipers to some degree tho.

Yuille36

If it were me, I would spend a day off and simply remove the wheels. Then wet sand the calipers down with 800 grit, then respray them down with a can of clear coat, and call it a day.

bentz69

I just had the front calipers replaced under warranty for this clear coat flaking BS....and now the rears are doing the same thing. I can only laugh at this point. When the calipers are wet you can actually move the water around that gets caught under the clear coat

curt.r

Unfortunately it's a problem with the P31 pkg red painted calipers. Here's another thread mentioning the issue:
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...per-paint.html

roadkillrob

Yep totally a normal issues, just had all 4 of mine replaced under CPO (MY 14 car) as all like 100% of the clearcoat came off all of them. Never had an issue with my silver calipers.

There are a few threads on it - one guy re-cleared his with some duplicolor clear caliper paint and they looked great!

G_Money

That sucks, I am no longer in warranty. I've only noticed it, like I mentioned, the last time I got new tires, so it's happened within the last 10k miles at most.

I talked to my detailer and I guess I'm probably going to go the wet sand and re-clear method when I get some new wheels.

Thanks for the information guys, at least now I know it's all red AMG calipers. You'd think this was something that would have shown up in testing ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

roadkillrob

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...per-paint.html

here is the thread and DIY, comes out nice actually

bentz69

^wonder if that clear coat is still holding up

Celicasaur

I'm really not sure man, but I do know that in my case at least - it clearly states on the bottle not to use the product with painted calipers (or chrome wheels either).

It cost me around £20GBP in paint to do all four
https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...code-2.html#30

(I painted them myself at home - near enough exactly 6 months have passed now and they've held up just fine also btw)