Auras

Gonna take my brand new GLC 300 with $1515 designo Diamond White Metallic tommorow from dealer, any suggestions on what work to do to protect the painting??

Plutoe

Drive a virtual car and leave the real one in the garage or stay off all roads.

openwheelracing

Some people should leave comedy to the professionals.

As far as OP question. I would give it a thorough touchless wash immediately after taking delivery. Then apply ceramic coating. That will make it easier to maintain.

That's my plan anyway. My wife's GLC just crossed the Panama canal and it will be ceramic coated. I wash my cars properly myself.

Mr. J

Don't use touchless washes, it will discolor the chrome. This is called out specifically in the owners manual for all recent MBs. A few folks on here have learned the hard way when the chemicals from the touchless wash marred their finish. Seems to affect the black chrome trim the worst.

I hand wash or use automated washes in good repair. If I had a black car I'd only hand wash. My GLC43 is designo white. It's a very resilient color that won't show swirl marks easily.

Mr. J

You could always go with clear vinyl wrap.

openwheelracing

By touchless, I meant a rinse with power washer, coat the car with foam Cannon and repeat again. You don't want to touch the paint immediately after taking delivery. You just want the car clean before ceramic coating. If you somehow took delivery of a dirty car (I doubt it), then wash using two bucket method and grit guard after using the foam cannon. Obviously blow the water off for complete touchless wash, but using a proper microfiber tower to lightly dry the car is okay.

Do not use harsh chemicals, or any cheap car wash place. If you care to maintain your paint as healthy and flawless as possible, definitely not the first wash.

ted_jane

You may wish to read this thread, then decide if you want to use a touchless wash:
Touchless Car Wash - MB says don't use them

AlphaEagle

After reading many inputs from this forum, I bit the bullet and got the full front clip expelled (PPF) to include full hood and "A" pillars. I then got the entire vehicle coated with ceramic pro, to include the interior. By the way, I have the same color as you.
Cost about $4200 total, but I think it is worth the investment on a car with a MSRP over 77K.

Mr. J

Many people identify "touchless" car washes as the automated type that use special chemicals applied via hi-pressure, especially in the NE US. Hence the confusion. These automated "touchless washes" are not good for the chrome finish.

MB paint will be fully baked and cured from factory. It's not like a custom paint job where it needs to be babied the first few weeks. By the time the car arrives the paint and clear will be at least 30 days old and likely older.

Andynv

mike7ee

I didn't bite the bullet, but while researching coatings I read many positive things about C.Quartz. I believe there is some difference between consumer & professional grades however.

AlphaEagle

Can only offer what my installer told me...said Ceramic Pro was tops and he had C Quartz as well.

openwheelracing

I just applied CQUK 3.0 on wife's new GLC. It took me some time to prep the paint because we drove it in Europe and some contaminants were imbedded on clear coat. Otherwise it went on very easy. Looks beautiful very glossy. I even did the cladding. I need to do the wheels this weekend. I can't out of time before it got too hot. Only do it in moderate temperature.

Porschenut911

Use iron remover, wash using 2 buckets method, lightly polish if you want and then apply a sealant or ceramic coating. Ceramic coating should be left to the pro's in my opinion.

CheckStein

Clear vinyl wraps will protect the paint.

Don Nguyen

Clear bra.