Finally saw Obsidan Black in person - some thoughts on the paint.
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bmw
Finally saw Obsidan Black in person - some thoughts on the paint.
I finally saw Obsidian Black in person, I was told that prior to 2010 the obsidian black had more of a dusty look to it, the flakes were larger or something like that. (not sure how true) maybe someone can confirm
I ended up seeing it on a e class and suv I personally can't see how it hides more swirls and blemishes compared to 040 non metallic black.
It still showed swirls quite easy under the sunlight and the car looked more greyish from a few steps back compared to 040. The 197 I looked at might of just been neglected a lot as there were only 2 on the lot, one new, and one demo. The new obviously was fine, the demo looked no better condition then 040.
Perhaps it hides dirt better, this I am not sure about, would love to see it on an actual c63, but I think I get the idea, not quite sure if it's worth the 1k upgrade on paint.
I am keeping the car long term so for me, this is an important decision, I have about a month to decide before my order locks up firm.
So basically, this is how I feel,
040 / shines better and darker when clean / much more black and reflective
197 / hides dirt and swirls better, but marginally?
I would love to hear from owners who have owned BOTH blacks, to see how much difference there is.
If 197 doesnt do much better of a job in long term compared to 040 in terms of dirt and swirls, then I will most likely go 040.
But if there is a major difference long term with the 197, then I will go this route as I plan to keep this car 6+ years.
This car will go through a touchless automated wash in the winter - not many hand wash places I can go to and it gets very very cold where I live. So not much choice in that matter. I will probably get it polished and waxed once a year.
I ended up seeing it on a e class and suv I personally can't see how it hides more swirls and blemishes compared to 040 non metallic black.
It still showed swirls quite easy under the sunlight and the car looked more greyish from a few steps back compared to 040. The 197 I looked at might of just been neglected a lot as there were only 2 on the lot, one new, and one demo. The new obviously was fine, the demo looked no better condition then 040.
Perhaps it hides dirt better, this I am not sure about, would love to see it on an actual c63, but I think I get the idea, not quite sure if it's worth the 1k upgrade on paint.
I am keeping the car long term so for me, this is an important decision, I have about a month to decide before my order locks up firm.
So basically, this is how I feel,
040 / shines better and darker when clean / much more black and reflective
197 / hides dirt and swirls better, but marginally?
I would love to hear from owners who have owned BOTH blacks, to see how much difference there is.
If 197 doesnt do much better of a job in long term compared to 040 in terms of dirt and swirls, then I will most likely go 040.
But if there is a major difference long term with the 197, then I will go this route as I plan to keep this car 6+ years.
This car will go through a touchless automated wash in the winter - not many hand wash places I can go to and it gets very very cold where I live. So not much choice in that matter. I will probably get it polished and waxed once a year.
Last edited by Bespoke88; Jun 27, 2015 at 02:29 AM.
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C204 C250-CDI
I think this has been brought up in other threads but just my opinion again after having owned a metallic black vehicle before, if you are very fastidious and cannot live with seeing imperfections and constant dirty appearance or anything else along those lines as well as becoming unbearably hot during hot climates (which is what bothered me with my previous black car) then definitely do not buy a black car !!!
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
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From: DFW
2015 GL550, 2015 Ghibli S4
I have owned cars with both black colors and currently have two black GL550s in the garage (one with 040 and one with 197... and don't ask me why), and your assessment is right on: the 040 does shine better and deeper when clean and the 197 does hide swirls MARGINALLY better. It depends on how well you take care of your car and how OCD you are with blemishes/swirls. Personally, I prefer the 197 because of how the metallic paint shines through. One more thought, if bird droppings are not cleaned off immediately, the 040 suffers more lasting damage than the 197.
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W203 C230 SPORT
I think this has been brought up in other threads but just my opinion again after having owned a metallic black vehicle before, if you are very fastidious and cannot live with seeing imperfections and constant dirty appearance or anything else along those lines as well as becoming unbearably hot during hot climates (which is what bothered me with my previous black car) then definitely do not buy a black car !!!
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
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S550 on order
I have Obsidan Black on my W204, it looks amazing..but it's a *****, so much that I'm thinking of wrapping the car.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Last edited by avery.whss; Jun 27, 2015 at 02:24 PM.
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'20 GLC300 SUV
Perhaps the best paint analogy I've ever seen in my life. Too funny dude.
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W203 C230 SPORT
I have Obsidan Black on my W204, it looks amazing..but it's a *****, so much that I'm thinking of wrapping the car.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
I hope there are no maintenance issues with white paint?
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From: NJ
17 C63 S Coupe
I'll answer your message here that you sent me. In regards to BMW vs MB; MB has better paints. MB uses a ceramic paint in parts of the process. There are actually 5 layers of paint.
Both do have orange peel. That is something that cannot be avoided. However, I like metallic black over regular black. IF I had to choose a dark color; it would be Lunar Blue. At night it looks black and is better than regular metallic black.
Both do have orange peel. That is something that cannot be avoided. However, I like metallic black over regular black. IF I had to choose a dark color; it would be Lunar Blue. At night it looks black and is better than regular metallic black.
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I have owned cars with both black colors and currently have two black GL550s in the garage (one with 040 and one with 197... and don't ask me why), and your assessment is right on: the 040 does shine better and deeper when clean and the 197 does hide swirls MARGINALLY better. It depends on how well you take care of your car and how OCD you are with blemishes/swirls. Personally, I prefer the 197 because of how the metallic paint shines through. One more thought, if bird droppings are not cleaned off immediately, the 040 suffers more lasting damage than the 197.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 320
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bmw
I'll answer your message here that you sent me. In regards to BMW vs MB; MB has better paints. MB uses a ceramic paint in parts of the process. There are actually 5 layers of paint.
Both do have orange peel. That is something that cannot be avoided. However, I like metallic black over regular black. IF I had to choose a dark color; it would be Lunar Blue. At night it looks black and is better than regular metallic black.
Both do have orange peel. That is something that cannot be avoided. However, I like metallic black over regular black. IF I had to choose a dark color; it would be Lunar Blue. At night it looks black and is better than regular metallic black.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 320
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bmw
I have Obsidan Black on my W204, it looks amazing..but it's a *****, so much that I'm thinking of wrapping the car.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
bmw
I think this has been brought up in other threads but just my opinion again after having owned a metallic black vehicle before, if you are very fastidious and cannot live with seeing imperfections and constant dirty appearance or anything else along those lines as well as becoming unbearably hot during hot climates (which is what bothered me with my previous black car) then definitely do not buy a black car !!!
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
Solid black is worse than a metallic black, but even the metallic will show up blemishes and dirt clearly and more so than any other colour, and as you pointed out especially in sunlight, even if you have very minor swirls they'll stand out like a throbbing sore thumb under sunlight.
If you must have the black duco then all I can say is best of luck, just make sure you put maximum effort/care into cleaning/washing and drying it off and don't let anyone detail it unless they know what they're doing, I've seen lots of black cars come out of detailing shops looking immaculate in the shade or overcast conditions only to be riddled with lines, swirls and smudges once the sunlight hits it...
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Joined: Sep 2014
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2017 AMG GT
I have Obsidan Black on my W204, it looks amazing..but it's a *****, so much that I'm thinking of wrapping the car.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Been to 5+ detailers with years of exp, not 1 can get the swirls right or even out..yeah yeah looks great from 10-20 feet away but start looking at it in the sun and my god it looks like someone gave a kid a set of car keys and said have at it.
Obsidan Black is like that nice cute girlfriend whos kinda rough around the edges most of the time, but..when she cleans up (not very often for me) she looks perfect..thats how Obsidan Black is.
Everybody may already know this but I just recently discovered some important info. Mercedes uses a ceramic clear coat that is more scratch resistant but when it does scratch it's very hard to remove them. Most polishes cannot cut it. Mercedes worked with menzerna to make a specific line of polishes. These are used in the factory and here it is:
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-cer...nish-kit-.html
Last edited by guynamedsean; Jun 27, 2015 at 11:43 PM.
lol
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2017 AMG GT
I've owned 8 bmws before my Mercedes binge. Mercedes paint is much better but you have to use specific polishes or youre wasting your time or doing damage.
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C204 C250-CDI
As others have also said if you do suffer from a bit of OCD when it comes to the appearance of your car (like I do lol) then it will end up driving you nuts.
This may help:
Everybody may already know this but I just recently discovered some important info. Mercedes uses a ceramic clear coat that is more scratch resistant but when it does scratch it's very hard to remove them. Most polishes cannot cut it. Mercedes worked with menzerna to make a specific line of polishes. These are used in the factory and here it is:
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-cer...nish-kit-.html
Everybody may already know this but I just recently discovered some important info. Mercedes uses a ceramic clear coat that is more scratch resistant but when it does scratch it's very hard to remove them. Most polishes cannot cut it. Mercedes worked with menzerna to make a specific line of polishes. These are used in the factory and here it is:
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-cer...nish-kit-.html
The ceramic clear coating does help, but it's not enough to help in the case of black duco, I just saw a new solid black W205 sedan today in the local shopping centre car park and it was sunny, it had fine lines and blemishes all over...imagine after a few years of wear and tear
Pity manufacturers are not using baked enamel paints, that would solve a lot of these issues, but on the other hand baked enamel is prone to chipping quite easily.
