blueSL

I had hoped the new SL would be more resistant to stone chips than the old one and I've made a conscious effort to drive further behind cars in front. Nevertheless, I'm picking up a handful of stone chips which are proving remarkably difficult to touch-in effectively using the "official" Mercedes touch-in kit. The colour match for brilliant silver is not good.

Anyone else having the same problem? Maybe it's the problem with silver and other colours like Jasper are better...

awiner

One thing I have found with the Brilliant Silver touchup kits is that you need to shake the stick for a long time. At least 3-4 minutes. It take a lot of shaking to get the metallic particles mixed up correctly. Too little shaking and the color will be darker than it is supposed to be.

Bilal

I hate to say it, but Mercedes paint, no matter if its silver to obsidian black, is like BUTTER.

It'll come right off, even with normal driving. Its kinda sad but true. You spend so much money on an awesome car, that you CAN use easily on a daily basis, and then find stone chips ruining it for you. Extremely sad.

However, the only way to preserve it fully is to wax regularly, and drive 100 miles in 10 years


Lexus paint is far superior, in shine and durabilty, especially on the latest models. But its still not a Merc....


ahh, the dilemma's of life

Mustard

Had to touch in a chip on the boot (demonstrating the roof in a garage!) down to the white primer with a Jasper touch-up stick (sounds erotic) - took several touches to build up the layers but it looks good.

theboogers

for god sake guys. you have plenty of money! get a clear bra for the front of the car. i have these on my cars and they are perfect for protecting the paint. you cannot touch up silver metallic. do a search for xpel or 3m paint protection.

Mustard

A bra for the chips on the trunk?

I need clear panties I think.

Bilal

Alright, Alright guys calm down, keep it PG13:p

ElDiabloJoe

...you guys on the other side of the pond called 'em "Knickers?"

Kar don

Lexus paint is not FAR superior. I own one, front end has several paint chips. All new cars are sprayed a certain way to meet new EPA regulations... this makes for a softer paint which scratches, swirls, and chips much easier than in the past. It sucks, but thats why clear bras have become so popular lately.

SL Boy

bluesl - 3500 miles up and no chip problems with Jasper so far. I am surprised as my old brilliant silver SLK picked up loads of stone chips and touching in was difficult as you say.

I am told although the newer Mercedes paints are water based, the darker colours tend to be harder than the lighter ones.

liveseyd

A firm call Armourfend do pre-cut clear adhesive 3M type protectors for some cars (not sure if they've done a set for the SL). Very expensive , they quoted c.£1000 for my Lotus , so I left it on the basis that a re-spray would'nt be a lot more.
Interesting development (see www.incero.com , look under "track days") of a paint-on /peel-off gel for short term protection.

Something for the weekend sir?!!

David

Mustard

Me too.

2,500 miles and no front chips. It might be the darker colours are thicker because the base coat is white on all metallics and it shows more on silver.....

So sell it BlueSL, and get an SL65 in Jasper. You know you want too....

lars

Do US cars get a different paint formulation?

vraa

Around 11000ish miles and we have very few chips. Even better so because it is a black car.

barflux

I just had mine installed yesterday, and he did a good job on it.

www.invincashield.co.uk


Worth it, i think.

N

blueSL

Thanks for the tip! That's exactly the problem I've been having, the touch in paint has been a mid-grey instead of the silver - and it's freshly purchased - so now I'll shake it to death to get the correct colour.

theboogers

silver and other metallics cannot be matched on touch up paint! it will always be different. black and dark colors will not show as much. the only sure thing is to cover it with the clear bra style material. my cl 500 looked terrible, but my sl 500 and 55 are protected and will be fine. don't wait spend some money and protect it. it works.

Pbglas

But how do the bras look. Are they noticeable? Is it possbile to see one?

Kar don

my C320 has a clear bra and 5 coats of zaino, barely noticable





this is before zaino and this was before they did a correct install.

Brian_I.

That is very inconspicuous. I wonder if it draws more attention to walker-by's and makes them ending feeling on it.

johnm

Clear bra is where it is at if you want to prevent rock chips from ruining your paint. It is probably the only product out there that can actually protect your investment. Some of the best prices are here . Just think 40,000 miles and no rock chips. Oh yeah and no ugly black bra.

ajayz

hey ali, is it alright to put zaino and wax and stuff over the clear bra? does the clear bra alter the shine or anything?

Kar don

yup! I applied zaino on my clear bra and it looks great!