Has anyone had a problem with paint chipping from bug-hits on the front of the hood. I have at least 20 chips where the paint is down to the primer. It looks like a gravel truck assaulted my coupe.

 

Same thing here.. I quoted a local body shop for repaint of hood and bumper. Around 800..

 

Yeah, the front of my car looks like I took a sandblaster to it. I guess the 107k highway miles aren't helping with that!

 

should've got clear bra, especially if you knew you were going to be driving that much on the highway!!!!
Got mine 3 days after buying the car. =) no rock chips here!!!


sorry about your car though.

 

It doesn't bother me. I spend my time inside the car, not in front of it.

 

Wow.
Bet the inside doesn't look any better.

 

I don't really understand that comment, but it looks like new inside.

 

Hey guys, I guess I will be seeking for MB to repair my hood. I have a 2012 Chevy Malibu that has 80k miles and no chips due to bugs. I have never had any damage from rocks, sand, or gravel. JUST bugs! I have 32k miles on my coupe and feel a little put-off that this is happening.

 

You're expecting Benz to pay for the re paint????

 

Yep. It's their bad paint job. This seems to be a quality issue.

 

okay, you let us know how that works out for you.

 

Of course I wish you good luck, it would be unusual if Mbusa compensated you but maybe you're right .. Could be a bad oem oaint job

 

down here in FL, lovebugs are a common problem and during certain times of the year you can drive through swarms of them until your windshield is covered. They are known to be particularly acidic and folks recommend you wash them off routinely to avoid paint damage. Could just be a myth but I've seen many cars (particularly the lighter colors like white) with issues. So I would expect a dealer here in FL would push back on an owner and say didn't wash the bugs off soon enough or that the damage was from rocks on the highway. Of course, if you can prove the paint is defective or the didn't apply a clear coat to your car, then that would be a different story.

 

I have to hand it to you for thinking the OEM paint is bad, but your point is taken by many other MB owners with 2010-2013 W212's. Get with a well known Body and Fender Shop and have them check on your clear coat and base coat depth using a electronic depth gauge like a Defelsko PosiTector 200. This units readings will float you or sink you with MBusa.

 

My 2010 550 has 50,000 miles and I have at most 5-10 teeny tiny paint chips that have been touched up and are virtually invisible. I have had many other cars with less tough paint and chips galore.