E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

More Brake Dust on Replacement Cars?

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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 12:57 PM
  #1  
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2003 MB E500
More Brake Dust on Replacement Cars?

Maybe it's just me but since I got my replacement car I've had a much harder time removing brake dust. It's almost like it's grease. It's so bad I can't even keep soap suds in the bucket for more than two rinses of the spong I use for the wheels. I had to wash my hands with Dawn 6-7 times to just get most of it off my hands. Nothing like this with my original E500. It really does seem greasy and water proof and is almost impossible to remove. It is even getting onto the painted surfaces behind the wheels too. My Zaino car wash will be here in a couple of days and I hope that helps. Anyone else having this problem?

Last edited by rayscar; Aug 24, 2003 at 12:59 PM.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 01:53 PM
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It's probably just the new pads wearing in. I just got new discs and pads all around (but not a new car :-( ) and had the same experience for the first couple washes. More and greasier, but I had just waxed the wheels prior to the replacements so it was easy to remove.

I developed a pulsation-- not sure why--but the dealer cheerfully replaced them all with 7000 miles on the car. The runout was high on 2. We had had some terrific rains and road flooding, but that's the only unusual event that occurred.

Last edited by jim256; Aug 24, 2003 at 01:56 PM.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 02:03 PM
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i havent noticed anything like that, but i have less than 150 miles. i would zaino your rims, that will help a lot, also, i believe you can zaino your discs, but i would contact them first just to make sure.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 02:57 PM
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Originally posted by jim256
It's probably just the new pads wearing in. I just got new discs and pads all around (but not a new car :-( ) and had the same experience for the first couple washes. More and greasier, but I had just waxed the wheels prior to the replacements so it was easy to remove.

I developed a pulsation-- not sure why--but the dealer cheerfully replaced them all with 7000 miles on the car. The runout was high on 2. We had had some terrific rains and road flooding, but that's the only unusual event that occurred.
I hope that is it. I have 800 miles on my replacement E and it doesn't seem to be getting better.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 02:58 PM
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Originally posted by bmms8
i havent noticed anything like that, but i have less than 150 miles. i would zaino your rims, that will help a lot, also, i believe you can zaino your discs, but i would contact them first just to make sure.
So I do the rims with Zaino just like I would do the painted surfaces?
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 03:03 PM
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Originally posted by rayscar
So I do the rims with Zaino just like I would do the painted surfaces?
yea, i washed them well with z-7, then let them dry, and wiped them with z-6, then used z-5 or whatever you want to use.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 03:27 PM
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I zainoed my rims on the pre-nav and on the replacement also. I really didn't see much difference. Still a pain to get off.

BTW, I haven't noticed that the replacement is any worse for brake dust. I will have to pay more attention and see.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 03:46 PM
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The dust build-up is heavy, but about the same as the last car. I use a heavy heavy concentration of Z7 for the wash, and it only lasts through 2 wheels. I have a separate rinse bucket and have to change the water after each wheel -- it's completely black by then. I also have 3 coats of Z2 on each wheel.

I find the Oxy brushes great for the tires and the outer wheel, and the EZ Detail brush is the best I've ever used to clean the inside.

http://www.properautocare.com./erwheelbrus.html
http://www.properautocare.com./ezdetailbrush.html
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 04:57 PM
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I use a small California Duster to get most of the brake dust off before washing so the washing is much easier.
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Old Aug 24, 2003 | 05:13 PM
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Originally posted by MB-JIM
I use a small California Duster to get most of the brake dust off before washing so the washing is much easier.
The dirt on my wheels cannot be wiped off. It's way too greasy. Once it gets on something, your hands, a spng, etc, it is VERY hard to get rid of, nothing like the dust from my first E. I can't understand why it is so greasy and waterproof.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 12:15 AM
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was '03 E320 - now - '04 S4
Ridding the stock painted wheels of brake dust was a royal PITA.

With my bling-bling 18" Chrome AMGs - :p the dust pretty much just rinses off. I use Zymol on the rims.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 06:59 AM
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Ahh this brake dust is such a pain in the behind. What is the cause of the problem, the brake pads? And why would Mercedes use these pads, because it is extremely annoying?

You wash your car, and its sparkiling, and then drive it ONCE and the wheels are already filthy and the rear bumber dirty. Very annoying.

There must be a way to stop this? What is Zaino/Zymbol?
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 09:33 AM
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Have about 900 miles on my E500. There is a lot of brake dust! I have been washing the wheels weekly with the Oxy brush and Zaino car wash and it comes off very easily. More like fine dirt and I do not notice any greasiness at all. I have not Zaino'd the wheels yet and I might not if the dust continues to come off this easily.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 10:04 AM
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zaino is a sealant? for your paint. it is like wax and stuff, but lasts longer, it helps protect your paint, and gives it a really nice look, you can put it on wheels for protection against brake dust. www.zainostore.com or you can head over to the detailing forum and learn more there
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 10:42 AM
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Originally posted by rdtjr
Have about 900 miles on my E500. There is a lot of brake dust! I have been washing the wheels weekly with the Oxy brush and Zaino car wash and it comes off very easily. More like fine dirt and I do not notice any greasiness at all. I have not Zaino'd the wheels yet and I might not if the dust continues to come off this easily.
That's what I don't understand. On my first E500 the dust was the same as yours, just basically washed off. Now what I'm getting is a greasy film that is waterproof and very hard to removed even from my hands. I don't know why it is so different and wondered if others have this greasy kind of film too. It is even getting on the fenders behinds the wheels which didn't happen on my first car either.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 10:47 AM
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Ray...I don't have anything like that on the replacement. Pretty much the same as the pre-nav car.

Is it possible that there is brake fluid leaking onto the wheel and combining with the dust. If it is on more than one wheel then that could not be the cause.

I am sure your service department will not have a clue.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 01:46 PM
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rayscar's Avatar
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Originally posted by etenn
Ray...I don't have anything like that on the replacement. Pretty much the same as the pre-nav car.

Is it possible that there is brake fluid leaking onto the wheel and combining with the dust. If it is on more than one wheel then that could not be the cause.

I am sure your service department will not have a clue.
It's the same for all four wheels. I hope it will eventually go back to normal but I'm starting to wonder if that is going to be the case with the miles i have on the replacement car.
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Old Aug 25, 2003 | 02:03 PM
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a shop foreman told me that mb uses a special coating on the brake pads to help the rotors from being warped during shipping and storage. it wears off after so many miles. this may be what your seeing.
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