NCGLE350

New user and this 2020 GLE350 is my 5th MB - we "upgraded" from a 2014 ML (although I feel its a downgrade in many respects). Apologies in advance if I'm not using the right phrasing, but I've noticed that my car gets dirty very quickly (yes its black but I've had several black SUVs in the past) and particulate matter seems to stick to the exterior. When I closely examined the paint, it looks like its not quite smooth like you'd expect and there is almost some kind of very subtle pebbling. I purchased it used with one owner and clean car fax and i dont think its a previous repair because it seems to be all over. I tried to take pics but it wont show up in the pics.

Anyone else with similar issues? or any idea what it could be? or whether a ceramic detail would help?

TIA

cupecoy

You probably should have it detailed and ceramic coated. I did ceramic coating on mine and everything just slides right off.

GregW / Oregon

"Orange peel" is common in modern automotive finishes since the transition to more environmentally friendly paints. A good detail shop could polish and coat it to make cleaning easier. Just guessing but one reason it may feel like a downgrade is you got the 4-cylinder instead of the 6. Not as refined as the old ML in that respect.

W205C43PFL

That ^ as orange peel is a result of water based pain and orange peel just hides imperfections which helps cut cost as well and to simplify the process. I am not sure if I recommend trying to correct orange peel though as I came across this video earlier, up to you OP, I mean at least it is not lemon, it is just orange:

shotgun_banjo

Just use a silica based detail wax and it will help you a ton. No need to spend money on ceramic coating as you will literally just be washing away 4 figures of coating every time you wash your car. A good application of the silica based wax will help the dirt slide away. It will also bead and gloss the same way as those ceramic coating.

chassis

It’s a defect called orange peel. MB paint is well known for significant orange peel. 166 and 231 have reports on this site of orange peel on every panel.

W205C43PFL

Definitely, wide spread even R232. https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...eel-alert.html

SW20S

This is total nonsense, FYI lol

W205C43PFL

Hmmm, I don't think ceramic coating is really that delicate? I mean I get it, for wax a couple of wash it will wear off but ceramic coating has to be much tougher than that?

W205C43PFL

It definitely got me curious that is for sure.

SW20S

Its not, a properly installed ceramic coating is extremely durable. Mine is still there after 2 years of tunnel washes.

wildta

Do you remember the brand you used?

W205C43PFL

Curious as well, want to consider doing a ceramic coating.

W205C43PFL

Good to hear and thanks for answering my question.

ddeliber

There are a lot of different options. I have heard good things about Graphene which has a few different types ( ). The 18month stuff is used by a number of local detail companies -> it is very easy to apply, similar to a wax. It really only lasts about a year but I detail my car at least once a year so just have my guy put this on instead of wax. The longer lasting stuff costs a lot more and is much more difficult to apply - this is for all brands not just Graphene's ceramics. You really need to prep the exterior especially with the long lasting stuff, otherwise you basically seal in all imperfections. We are talking about the order of over $1k vs the cost of a detail + the coating which is just a few bucks more than a good wax. If it truly lasts a year then it is an easy decision, at least for me.

W205C43PFL

Thanks for the detailed information, will look into it!

SW20S

My car is Gtechniq Crystal Serum Light topped with Gtechniq EXO.

W205C43PFL

Thanks for your reply will consider this one as well.

mikapen

Gtechniq online forums serm to agree that Gtechniq lasts 18 months before needing topcoat.
Pretty much the same as the rest.

​​​I don't think any of them can do well without topcoats or refreshing.

I started using up my fancy Carnauba wax supplies last summer, and put a coat on my Wife's Mojave Silver GLC. I'm glad I didn't pitch it.

It's a deeper golden glow than the bluish tint from Ceramic's, and it's easy to apply, especially after claying.
And guess what! It beads as long, and is more easily renewed than my Ceramic coating.

​​​​​​Carnauba - better looking, cheaper, easier to apply, beads as long as Ceramic without topcoat..... Worth considering.

The new Consumer formulations on the market now are pretty interesting. Griots and Turtle Wax come to mind, with some superior comparison reviews.

I probably won't do Ceramic the next time, but Graphene isa possibility.

ddeliber

How long will Carnauba last? I believe that is the difference. Ceramics last years (if you believe the marketing). They might not shine as well as a good wax but they protect for much longer.

Also, did you put the Carnauba on top of car coated with ceramic? Ceramics bind to clearcoats and I believe they are harder and more resilient to other things getting a hold and sticking. I am guessing that this would apply to Carnauba as well so it will probably not last as long as if it were applied directly to your clearcoat.

mikapen

The ceramic on my 53 was applied when new, on a fresh clayed (NOT Corrected) surface.
The Carnauba was applied on a non-coated two-year-old clearcoat, also after claying.

Most reviews say that Ceramic coatings need re-coating at least every 12 months. I agree - mine on the 53 likes a quarterly refresh.
The Carnauba is lasting 9 months plus. Probably would benefit from a 6 month refresh.
Our cars are garaged.

It takes longer to reapply wax than a spritz that seems to be the usual topping for Ceramics, since you can allegedly apply over a dusty surface. But I'm not confident cleaning my cars with a spritz - no matter how much they advertise their "lubricity."
So I end up fully washing my car before the "Spritz," which nullifies the "ease of application" of the Ceramic Spritz.

The Carnauba really makes the Mojave Silver Pop! It made a handsome car look Stunning.
Next time I have time, I'll wax my 53 (Obsidian Black) to see how well the Carnauba likes being applied over Ceramic.

SW20S

Carnuaba wax is nowhere near as reliable as a ceramic coating. We're talking weeks, not months. 18 months of life out of a consumer grade coating applied yourself is pretty darn good. If anything its easier to apply than a wax, the issue with a coating is the prep not the actual coating itself. Some pro grade coatings can be more difficult to work with, but you get better life.

Just claying is not enough prep for a coating. If you dont correct you at least need to do a light panel prep and IPA wipedown to make sure that the paint surface is 100% clean, if you don't do that you will not get the coating's full life. Sure they need to be re-upped but thats as easy as using a spray ceramic booster. If you do the prepwork and you maintain the coating with a booster, you will get very good life. Like I said I am 30 months in and mine still performs great, and thats with high chemical weekly tunnel washes. Of course you would wash the vehicle before spraying it with the booster, there are also boosters you can spray on and hose off and you can just do it as part of your wash, Carpro Hydro2, Gyeon Wetcoat, etc. They are amazing

From a LOOK perspective, carnuaba and ceramics have different looks, and what you prefer is a matter of preference. At this stage of my life, ease is more important to me than looks. Carnuaba is just too much work, and since I tunnel wash one or two washes and it will be gone.

mikapen

We have different experiences. Maybe I use better wax. Maybe a full year out of my Ceramic was asking too much. Maybe it's because of your initial correction, which I would never do or recommend. Different approaches to car care.

We're alike in that I do like "easier." And I like to smile when I see my car.

All I can report is that my Wife's Carnauba car has been easier to maintain over the past year than my Ceramic. Fewer bottles of squirty stuff, fewer microfiber washings, bugs just hose off.
Thought it was worth mentioning.

I'll try Carnauba on my Ceramic car this summer. Maybe it'll be the perfect Refresher coat.🙂

Maybe there's value in some of the Old School stuff. I don't Concours any more, and I have a lot to use up.

SW20S

Even the best waxes have very little durability, its just inherent to their nature. Theres no bonding to the surface, they just sit on top.

I didn't do a correction, I used a paint prep cleaner designed to be used prior to a ceramic coating. A correction isn't required for any reason other than to make sure the surface is totally free of anything that would impede the curing of the coating.

I think the issue is that you didn't prep the car prior to the coating properly, because the experiences you are talking about fly 100% in the face of all the experiences I have had in 30 years of detailing. Nothing beads water like a coating, the contact angles are just unmatched by any carnuaba wax. Like I said, I don't wash my car by hand at all, I run it through a carwash and wipe it down with a quick detailer spray. Thats it, and I boost the coating every couple months, but thats no different than using a QD spray.

W205C43PFL

Thank you as well for the additional information, definitely worth considering thank you.