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SL/R231: Any Designo Matte Gray owners out there?
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Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 218
Likes: 42
From: San Antonio TX
2015 S550 Coup, 2017 Golf R , 2018 BMW M2 (wifes)
Any Designo Matte Gray owners out there?
How do you like it after seeing it everyday? I will put Xpel film on mine (if I get it) but how does it hold up to stone chips? And is it really dull on cloudy days?
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 3,680
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Don't have the Magno gray but have another MB with magno paint. We have a night black magno which is a color black color with blue sparkles - matt metallic of sorts.
We decided not to wrap the car for two reasons. 1. The matt wrap dulls the paint into a boring color. 2. They wanted $7500 for the wrap. Full car. I would never accept a wrap line on the hood, etc.
Since the car has been our winter car and we have nothing but salt & sand and rocks during the MN winters, the car gets a real beating. The paint is strong against chips due to the nano-paint but there are a couple minuscule marks. Nothing I will worry about.
Even though it is said that these paints can't be touched up, it appears that some shops can do that.
Most important part if not to drive these through a car wash. That will a $8k mistake. Also You have to have a separate set of car wash utensils and products for matte only. Dr Beazley has the best products for matte cars IMO.
While this sounds complicated I found the matte paints stronger than the glossy ones. I had some bird droppings on our magnetite black GTC and it already etched the paint and the matte black is impervious to the same treatment. Will now spend some money to get the GTC properly protected...
We decided not to wrap the car for two reasons. 1. The matt wrap dulls the paint into a boring color. 2. They wanted $7500 for the wrap. Full car. I would never accept a wrap line on the hood, etc.
Since the car has been our winter car and we have nothing but salt & sand and rocks during the MN winters, the car gets a real beating. The paint is strong against chips due to the nano-paint but there are a couple minuscule marks. Nothing I will worry about.
Even though it is said that these paints can't be touched up, it appears that some shops can do that.
Most important part if not to drive these through a car wash. That will a $8k mistake. Also You have to have a separate set of car wash utensils and products for matte only. Dr Beazley has the best products for matte cars IMO.
While this sounds complicated I found the matte paints stronger than the glossy ones. I had some bird droppings on our magnetite black GTC and it already etched the paint and the matte black is impervious to the same treatment. Will now spend some money to get the GTC properly protected...
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From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
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Joined: Nov 2007
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From: Texas
2014 S550 - SOLD, 2014 GL550 - SOLD, 2014 GL63 AMG, 2015 S63 AMG Sedan, 2015 S63 AMG Coupe
Originally Posted by Wolfman
Don't have the Magno gray but have another MB with magno paint. We have a night black magno which is a color black color with blue sparkles - matt metallic of sorts.
We decided not to wrap the car for two reasons. 1. The matt wrap dulls the paint into a boring color. 2. They wanted $7500 for the wrap. Full car. I would never accept a wrap line on the hood, etc.
Since the car has been our winter car and we have nothing but salt & sand and rocks during the MN winters, the car gets a real beating. The paint is strong against chips due to the nano-paint but there are a couple minuscule marks. Nothing I will worry about.
Even though it is said that these paints can't be touched up, it appears that some shops can do that.
Most important part if not to drive these through a car wash. That will a $8k mistake. Also You have to have a separate set of car wash utensils and products for matte only. Dr Beazley has the best products for matte cars IMO.
While this sounds complicated I found the matte paints stronger than the glossy ones. I had some bird droppings on our magnetite black GTC and it already etched the paint and the matte black is impervious to the same treatment. Will now spend some money to get the GTC properly protected...
We decided not to wrap the car for two reasons. 1. The matt wrap dulls the paint into a boring color. 2. They wanted $7500 for the wrap. Full car. I would never accept a wrap line on the hood, etc.
Since the car has been our winter car and we have nothing but salt & sand and rocks during the MN winters, the car gets a real beating. The paint is strong against chips due to the nano-paint but there are a couple minuscule marks. Nothing I will worry about.
Even though it is said that these paints can't be touched up, it appears that some shops can do that.
Most important part if not to drive these through a car wash. That will a $8k mistake. Also You have to have a separate set of car wash utensils and products for matte only. Dr Beazley has the best products for matte cars IMO.
While this sounds complicated I found the matte paints stronger than the glossy ones. I had some bird droppings on our magnetite black GTC and it already etched the paint and the matte black is impervious to the same treatment. Will now spend some money to get the GTC properly protected...
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,556
Likes: 3,680
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
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Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,556
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From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
PPF will dull the effects. Here is a close up of the color but it does not show how great the paint reflects back. All that color pops in the sun...
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Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 75
Likes: 11
From: Las Vegas
2017 SL450; 2012 Porsche Cayenne Turbo; 2005 Lexus SC430
I have the matte gray on my 2017 SL450 and love it. The paint makes the car look especially distinctive, particularly at night with artificial illumination. I haven’t had any problems such as chipping or spotting, but I also make the effort to ensure the car is kept clean. Its only drawback is that washing must be done by hand, which means either a frequent laborious chore or a regular costly outlay.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 218
Likes: 42
From: San Antonio TX
2015 S550 Coup, 2017 Golf R , 2018 BMW M2 (wifes)
I have the matte gray on my 2017 SL450 and love it. The paint makes the car look especially distinctive, particularly at night with artificial illumination. I haven’t had any problems such as chipping or spotting, but I also make the effort to ensure the car is kept clean. Its only drawback is that washing must be done by hand, which means either a frequent laborious chore or a regular costly outlay.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 218
Likes: 42
From: San Antonio TX
2015 S550 Coup, 2017 Golf R , 2018 BMW M2 (wifes)
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,154
Likes: 4,381
From: Corona Del Mar, CA
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I believe these matte finishes are a generational thing. As an older guy myself, I just can’t fathom them. To me, a car is supposed to sparkle and SHINE!
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,447
Likes: 334
From: South Florida
2013 SL550 (Lux Sport), 2006 CL55 AMG (Muscle). S550 (Wife's Sedan)
Like everthing else, paint color, (and paint texture) is highly subjective, but It will be Interesting to see how long the current 'matte' paint fad will actually last. While I am definitely not a fan of the 'duller look' myself, but obviously some people like it!..
Last edited by bob55; Jul 20, 2019 at 11:03 AM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 218
Likes: 42
From: San Antonio TX
2015 S550 Coup, 2017 Golf R , 2018 BMW M2 (wifes)
They do still shine really nicely in the sunlight and under Florescent
