ShanMan

I have read some dialog written by Chris Pham and Zorro (maybe others too) and near as I can tell, it seems as though the popular thing to do is paint all the chrome or polished stainless trim pieces to color code the car. I like this idea, but am worried that the added thickness might affect the fit, particularly on the seam pieces that run the length of the roof line, etc.

It appears to me that on my '95, the pieces were originally black chrome plated or gun-blue'd. Can anyone here validate that guess. Better yet, has anyone either had them painted or replated (coated) when having the car repainted. My car has lived it's whole life in TX and AZ and those pieces have turned brownish. They kind of match my black chrome wheels, but eventually i want to get them good and dark again. Thanks in advance.

Saijin_Naib

I believe the trim pieces are Hematite, which is a type of stone or mineral.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite

I like it, Im just sad my hematite has bleached to a light golden color from the black it used to be.

shadowgriffen

what I'm wondering is where did mercedes get the idea of using hemitite from? and why they no longer use it?

Saijin_Naib

Donno and donno. Its pretty ****ing cool if you ask me, and its very unique. Our car had trim pieces made of a shiny, black, metallic mineral. Bad-***

They may no longer use it due to cost, weight, and its apparent likelihood to fade to a less than desireable shade.

shadowgriffen

What I'm also wondering is-

Does anyone else here make a mistake by posting, quickly go back and proof read it after the fact that it has already been immortalized into the intarwebz, and then quickly and very astutely go back and "edit" their post wihout the "last edited by" line appears on top of our signatures.

Or am I the only one?

Saijin_Naib

No, i think mbworld gives you about a minute grace-period before edited line appears. Very nice feature

ShanMan

so let me get this straight....you guys are suggesting that the parent material for the strip pieces is Hematite? Can someone please tell me how/why they think this is true...a Mercedes publication or whatever. I am a design engineer by profession, and I have to say, that I would never, ever make the trim from anything except stainless steel, aluminum or copper which is then protective/cosmeticallyfinished in some way. Longevity and corrosion resistance pretty much mandates this...not to say that what you claim isn't true...it just surprises me. To me, these pieces look to be gun-blu'd and then clear coated:

http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_%28steel%29

Saijin_Naib

I was told by my dad (Mercdes Mechanic/Salesman) that the trim pieces on the w124 were made from Hematite. Either the parent material, or somehow finished in it. I will have to ask him again the specifics. If it was blued steel, it wouldnt fade to a gold color would it?

rivcal4life

Shadow: Pshh...My posts are always 100% pefect. I NEVER have to go back and catch little mistakes before everyone else knows I made them. :-p


ShanMan: I was wondering the same thing...whered you get this little tidbit of info from Saijin?

Saijin_Naib

^ aboves you :p

ShanMan

It absolutely will...as will virtually all finishes i.e. anodize, black chrome, paint, powder coat...unless it is treated with a UV blocker, everything will fade in direct sunlight.

Saijin_Naib

http://www.autoworld.com/news/mercedes/clk.htm

Autoworld talks of Hematite window trim on the CLK 430s. I cant find any reference to the w124 however.

ShanMan

in that context, I would almost certainly think that the description "black Hematite" is a descriptive name that marketing comes up with and not the actual mineral...just my opinion. I am thinking more and more that the finish is really something like black chrome over stainless steel or some type of plated copper like MIL-F-495 (1).

Saijin_Naib

I donno man. I'll ask my dad when he gets back home

ZorroAMG

My trim went from what I assume was black-ish to copper.

Me likey = no changey. You can clearly see it in my sig on the leading edge of the little triangle window and the leading edge of the back window.