alan_e550

Hi everyone,

I purchased a new set of burl walnut wood to replace my faded trim in my E550. Is there any type of coating I can get to put on my new trim to try and remedy the lack of UV protection that causes fading?

thanks!

DFWdude

See post #9 in this thread dedicated to preventing faded wood... https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ion-works.html

I have used the Mercedes-Benz Interior Care because it states it has UV protection on the label. I have not bought the other, pure UV protection products yet. I would like to know if these will work as well.

By the way, I don't claim to be an expert on this topic... as you will see in the thread, I incorporate a number of defensive measures beyond UV coatings on the wood. I think that blocking the sunlight helps as much (or more) than any coating.

Who knows if/how any of them work. However, I do not notice any fading on my new wood, some 2-1/2 years after its install.

alan_e550

I’m interested in the interior care, could you send a link to it?

DFWdude

Actually, I bought it more than 15 years ago, and a little goes a long way. I have not been able to find it online lately. Probably not available under that name anymore.

Good news is that Mercedes-Benz Interior Care was a private label product produced by Meguair's Products. Doing a google search for "Meguiar's UV Protectant wax" yields several results that might be even better, especially their Marine UV Wax. But I haven't found a picture of this product. You could call their number and ask... 800-347-5700

I think to do over again, I would search for products specifically made as a dedicated UV protectant, such as the other products noted in post #9.

DFWdude

Here are links to these dedicated UV protectants...

SunGuard UV Protectant.


303 Aerospace Protectant...

I suppose you can spray on a cloth, then apply to the wood. Easier that trying to isolate the wood with painter's tape.

I would try on a piece of the old, faded wood, first, to see how it dries.

alan_e550

would I add this once and it would be all set or should I be re-applying it on some sort of weekly basis?

DFWdude

How would I know? Basically, all these solutions will work... until they don't. Who's to say when that will be?

Weekly applications sound too obsessive to me. Maybe once or twice a year, or whenever you do a complete interior clean-up and detail.

I keep my car garaged and do not park outside more than an hour or so when shopping. If you don't have a garage and park outside 10 hours each weekday at work, I would be more concerned.

alan_e550

I unfortunately don’t have a garage which is why I’m more concerned. Most likely I will end up purchasing a car cover for when I leave it at home and a sunshade for when im parked elsewhere

kenstudios

Anyone other than the dealer sell replacement wood trim pieces?

alan_e550

I actually bought mine from another user on this forum that was selling it brand new heavily discounted. They pop up once in a while, just keep your eyes peeled

kenstudios

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out

nota_amg

what about having covered in UV resistant PPF? Like what they use on windshields...

something like this

ghlkal

FWIW, I've been putting 303 on the wood trim. Will it / does it help? I don't know.

There's no ill effects though.

I reapply every 4 months or so.

cetialpha5

Try eBay. Once in a while a set pops up. Even from a discount online MB dealer, the full set is about 2k. List is about 3k.

DFWdude

That's good to know. Especially the absence of adverse effects. That has kept me from getting the 303 Protectant, because you just don't know if the treatment will be worse than the problem.

Can you share please what tinting you have (if any) and the estimated amount of sunlight exposure you have with your car? (Garaging and daytime parking, etc.)

Excellent feedback. Thanks.

ghlkal

My E550 is garaged, but parked outside at work. I do use a front sunshade, and put up the rear shade, in the summer. When I purchased my 2012 in 2017, the trim was slightly faded in certain areas (it lived for a time in FL). I've been putting the 303 on for a little more than a year. I don't _think_ the wood has faded anymore. But, I do keep the sunshade up and the WI sun likely isn't as problematic as FL. There's no tinting on the windows.

I hope this helps.

DFWdude

This is great information, thanks.

I am personally not 100% sure whether the fading comes from sunlight exposure, with or without sufficient of UV protection, or from interior heating affecting the chemical composition of the clear coat... or a combination of both. Without some official from Mercedes-Benz stating what the problem was/is, we are left to cover the bases with several preventive measures. Knowing the conditions in which these cars live helps to narrow down the possibilities.

Mine was a FL car, too, but it had deep tinting on all but the windshield from new. The dash wood and forward 3-4 inches of the front door panels were the only areas that faded in 2-years (late 2015-late 2017), indicating that the lack of tinting on the windshield hurt, while the tinting everyhere else helped prevent the fading. I suspect the car was parked outside at work in the hot FL sun, without a sunshade I don't know if the car was garaged at night.

jonUF02

I wrapped my not faded burl walnut years ago, so it's protected, because it's ugly anyway.

DFWdude

Very constructive. Thanks?

alan_e550

Thank you for that totally relevant opinion

hyperion667

Just keep it parked in the garage and never let it see daylight and you should be good to go

nota_amg