The Paint on ML sucks!
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
The Paint on ML sucks!
Washed & Waxed my ML over the weekend and discover underneath the dirt & dust there are 6 or 7 chips on my hood. I notice the chip was increasing but alwasy thought it just normal wear and tear. But now its getting to a point that I can't take it anymore. The chip is not deep but you can totally tell the paint was ultra thin. The tiny chip scrape off the paint clean. I can live with scratch but I'm talking about tiny black dot taking over my hood. Is this a defect or just plan cost cutting of Mercedes. I'm going back to BMW for my next ride.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Clarendon Hills, IL
1999 Kleemann ML43K
The good news is no one knows they are there except you! I don't know how great the paint is on the ML but I previously owned a '98 BMW 328i and it had chips also. I ran into an evergreen and it took a nice chunk of paint off the front passenger pillar. Don't know if it would be that bad on other vehicles. All-in-all the paint has held up very well from the weather and door dings and it looks pretty darn good...almost new actually
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Grants Pass Oregon
2002 Mercedes Benz ML320
Look at it this way, my ML320 when i bought it, had 4 pretty good paint chips in the front, it has nothing to do with waxing, its just when you drive behind stupid rock carrying trucks, and they throw rocks on your hood.
today, i have over 25 pretty good paint chips all over my hood. my old car, a 96 toyota camry, had 3-5, good littlr rust spots through the paint, my dumb dad thought it would be good to not scrape away the rust and outside part of the paint crater edge, and and put the touch up paint in its place. well, it got all smeared around, and ofcourse looks ugly like heck.
today, i have over 25 pretty good paint chips all over my hood. my old car, a 96 toyota camry, had 3-5, good littlr rust spots through the paint, my dumb dad thought it would be good to not scrape away the rust and outside part of the paint crater edge, and and put the touch up paint in its place. well, it got all smeared around, and ofcourse looks ugly like heck.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,894
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From: Connecticut
2003 CLK55
Hey don't feel bad, my ML430 has a few good chips in it....plus a few nice scratches to match. But I love her just the same!
If you think thats bad....my 2003 CLK 55 has about 3 or 4 small paint chips on the hood already!!!!! Not very noticable until you get real close up to the hood and run your hand over them. I guess all that paint and the simonize system can't hold up to a simple rock hitting you!
If you think thats bad....my 2003 CLK 55 has about 3 or 4 small paint chips on the hood already!!!!! Not very noticable until you get real close up to the hood and run your hand over them. I guess all that paint and the simonize system can't hold up to a simple rock hitting you!
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Oakland, CA
2014 E350 Estate Wagon 4Matic
Originally Posted by m500
Washed & Waxed my ML over the weekend and discover underneath the dirt & dust there are 6 or 7 chips on my hood. I notice the chip was increasing but alwasy thought it just normal wear and tear. But now its getting to a point that I can't take it anymore. The chip is not deep but you can totally tell the paint was ultra thin. The tiny chip scrape off the paint clean. I can live with scratch but I'm talking about tiny black dot taking over my hood. Is this a defect or just plan cost cutting of Mercedes. I'm going back to BMW for my next ride.
BMW isn't any different, you know. I've had my front hood painted twice already from all the paint chips. Just stay away from driving behind large trucks. Or get your hood repainted. It really isn't as expensive as you might think. Mine takes three days and about $500. Not so bad if you only do it once or twice in it's life span!
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Joined: Sep 2004
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Chips
I think the paint on Mercs is defective. I had an E class foronly a few days and these so called chips that appeared where I was told by an body expert due to poor paint adhesion...2 of them happened after powerwashing the car i couldn't F@~?%$£g believe it. And the after about 4 weeks when all the poorly adhesed paint was chipped off I didn't have any more for the next few months.
DonnyJ
DonnyJ
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 440
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From: Oakland, CA
2014 E350 Estate Wagon 4Matic
come to think of it, when i took delivery of my ML a coupla weeks ago, there were two paint chips missing down near where the running boards would go. they're going to replace the molding. but i hope this isn't a trend. is this a warrenty item?
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by benzboy
I guess I don't get it. You have brush guards front and rear (to give the off road illusion) and get upset about dings/chips in the hood? 
Last edited by m500; Sep 16, 2004 at 11:51 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by MadDawg
you must have had the bottom of the barrel benz 
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Paint should not chip from a simple rock. You stand their and let me through a rock at you at 80mph and see if it dont chip you. As far as the paint chips on the rocker panel that isnt painted by MB, it is a prepainted part. Autogunner.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Thousand Oaks
03 ML500
Originally Posted by autogunner
Paint should not chip from a simple rock. You stand their and let me through a rock at you at 80mph and see if it dont chip you. As far as the paint chips on the rocker panel that isnt painted by MB, it is a prepainted part. Autogunner.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 440
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From: Oakland, CA
2014 E350 Estate Wagon 4Matic
Originally Posted by m500
I see the point you trying to get at but human body is too weak. We get hurt from anything that just touches us, unless the MB paint is just as weak as human skin.
"he fa dow an bwoke his wittow head" --Tweetie bird
why can't cars be more like Sylvestor the Cat. Or Wild E. Coyote.
Guys, paint chips happen on ANY car of ANY caliber. Stop complaining.
