Techniques for touching up paint
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 16
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From: Windy City
2002 ML55
Techniques for touching up paint
Hi Folks,
Bought my first MB three weeks ago (an ML55) and some yahoo decided to key the paint down to metal in a parking lot. Real "winner", I'm sure.
Anyhow, I diligently picked up the black touch up bottle at my MB dealer and tried to apply with a toothpick (yeah right!), then decided to use the mini brush in the bottle cap. I tried to use it as sparingly as possible and although the scratch is covered, you can totally see the result.
I have heard about using 500, 1500 and up to 5000 grit sandpaper to blend the touch up paint and then use a clear coat product and sandpaper again to finish, but I ask the group if there is a documented step by step method with proven results you can direct me to.
Thanks,
Sam
Bought my first MB three weeks ago (an ML55) and some yahoo decided to key the paint down to metal in a parking lot. Real "winner", I'm sure.
Anyhow, I diligently picked up the black touch up bottle at my MB dealer and tried to apply with a toothpick (yeah right!), then decided to use the mini brush in the bottle cap. I tried to use it as sparingly as possible and although the scratch is covered, you can totally see the result.
I have heard about using 500, 1500 and up to 5000 grit sandpaper to blend the touch up paint and then use a clear coat product and sandpaper again to finish, but I ask the group if there is a documented step by step method with proven results you can direct me to.
Thanks,
Sam
Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 219
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From: Ft Lauderdale Florida USA
1999 CL500; 1992 500E:1991 560SEC
Any good paint shop should be able to repair that. You can probably even put in a claim on your insurance for that and get it done right unless you want that touch-up bottle look on your new ride.
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: NJ
04 M3, 05 R1
i got keyed on my front passenger door about 20" long. 
(silver ML 350) anyone know of any good body shop that can fix it before i take it back at the end of the lease? i'm in North New Jersey by the way.
(silver ML 350) anyone know of any good body shop that can fix it before i take it back at the end of the lease? i'm in North New Jersey by the way.
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 195
Likes: 26
From: Canada
You will never get a perfect finish with touch up paint even if you do wet sand it down and then polish it to a shine.
The reason is that the touch up paint will look a bit darker then the factory paint - there is no way around this. Factory paint is sprayed on using a fine mist, touch up paint is applied via a brush - therefore very different result.
I've had a couple stone chips which I've touched up.
Use 1500 grit sand paper (soak it in water for a bit). Wet sand it affected area. Apply the touch up paint to the affected area. Let it dry. Wet sand using 2000 grit sand paper until the surface is smooth. Use rubbing compound to polish it to a shine. Wax for protection.
Using this method I have been able to hide the stone chips but if you look very closely it still can be seen. It is by no means perfect, but the finish is perfectly smooth.
For any damage more then a small stone chip I would recommend having the panel repainted, that's the only way to get a perfect finish and color match.
The reason is that the touch up paint will look a bit darker then the factory paint - there is no way around this. Factory paint is sprayed on using a fine mist, touch up paint is applied via a brush - therefore very different result.
I've had a couple stone chips which I've touched up.
Use 1500 grit sand paper (soak it in water for a bit). Wet sand it affected area. Apply the touch up paint to the affected area. Let it dry. Wet sand using 2000 grit sand paper until the surface is smooth. Use rubbing compound to polish it to a shine. Wax for protection.
Using this method I have been able to hide the stone chips but if you look very closely it still can be seen. It is by no means perfect, but the finish is perfectly smooth.
For any damage more then a small stone chip I would recommend having the panel repainted, that's the only way to get a perfect finish and color match.
