SL/R231: Orange Peel
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
2017 SL550
Orange Peel
I was just out in the garage waxing my new to me 2017 SL 550. I love the car but could not help but notice that the cardinal red paint has a bit of orange peel in it.
I am surprised that even at $120,000 plus you do not get a paint job without orange peel and just wonder how high up the automotive food chain one must go to find a really deep shine without it.
My question is more curiosity than complaint.
I am surprised that even at $120,000 plus you do not get a paint job without orange peel and just wonder how high up the automotive food chain one must go to find a really deep shine without it.
My question is more curiosity than complaint.
Last edited by RobertF; Jul 22, 2020 at 11:14 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 238
From: Illinois
S560/SL550/LS460/Q70L 5.6 AWD
My CL was almost $160,000 new and still has this sh.... paint showing the orange peel. My LS460 has one of the best paint I have ever seen, close to Bentley..... Apparently the paint finishing process at Lexus is done by hand, at least on the LS, as far as I know.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
I have had 3 SL’s. A 2008 (Red) 2017 and currently a 2019, the last two being Cardinal Red. All three have had spectacular paint jobs. When I purchase a high end car I look over it very carefully before I sign on the dotted line. You might try it out next time.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 526
From: Hagerstown MD
2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
Many will say that all modern mass-produced cars will have some orange peel due to the modern paints with clear coat. I have had a couple modern cars with virtually no OP. Case in point, my wife's '09 Lexus RX. The paint is virtually perfect with no OP. I also had a 2016 Audi A6 that was also very good. Color does make a difference as OP is much more noticeable on dark colors. I have read that with current environmentally friendly paint it takes wet sanding to ensure an OP free finished product. Can't say if this is true but you will likely have to pay Ferrari or Bentley prices for perfect OP free paint.
Last edited by rmorin49; Jul 22, 2020 at 02:20 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 234
From: God's County (Yorkshire)
Shanks’s Pony
I was in the AMG factory a couple of years ago and they had an AMG GT there that was being prepped for a repaint (owners cost) because he was not happy with the paint finish!
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 234
From: God's County (Yorkshire)
Shanks’s Pony
Many will say that all modern mass-produced cars will have some orange peel due to the modern paints with clear coat. I have had a couple modern cars with virtually no OP. Case in point, my wife's '09 Lexus RX. The paint is virtually perfect with no OP. I also had a 2016 Audi A6 that was also very good. Color does make a difference as OP is much more noticeable on dark colors. I have read that with current environmentally friendly paint it takes wet sanding to ensure an OP free finished product. Can't say if this is true but you will likely have to pay Ferrari or Bentley prices for perfect OP free paint.
Last edited by rorywquin; Jul 22, 2020 at 03:58 PM.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
2017 SL550
Utopia Texas you are of course correct. However, in my case, I purchased the car over the internet. In any event I would not have rejected it for the OP given that the color, price, and extremely low miles were exactly what I was looking for.
This is my first MB but I had several VW Phaetons all of which had flawless paint without OP. Given that they were produced almost 15 years ago I was just surprised that all high end cars did not come with similar paint jobs today.
This is my first MB but I had several VW Phaetons all of which had flawless paint without OP. Given that they were produced almost 15 years ago I was just surprised that all high end cars did not come with similar paint jobs today.
Last edited by RobertF; Jul 22, 2020 at 06:11 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 398
Likes: 135
SL550
The paint on the SL is full of orange peel and the thickness is surprisingly inconsistent, but the paint is VERY durable. After a lot of highway driving I've got no noticeable rock chips on the front end, and the paint doesn't seem to scratch up easily, either.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 259
Likes: 86
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
Orange Peel
Our previous 2010 E350 and our 2016 SL400 both have orange peel in the paint, under the clear coat, so there is no way to polish it out. Moreover, all of the cars I have owned in the past 30 or 40 years have had orange peel including a Corvette and two BMWs.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 238
From: Illinois
S560/SL550/LS460/Q70L 5.6 AWD
When you see a black LS 460 in a parking lot, go closer, you will be amazed to see the paint finish !
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 48
Likes: 13
From: Oklahoma
'18 AMG SL63, '02 SL 500 Silver Arrow, '17 Range Rover
My black 2018 SL63 AMG has a fair amount of orange peel--my tan Range Rover, 2017 has beautiful paint. Agree with others, have had several Lexus cars and Suv's, they all had great paint finishes.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 563
Likes: 171
From: Nothern Georgia, U.S.A.
'17 SL450, '25 Lyriq, '25 Sonata Hybrid, '96 Corvette GS coupe
Back in the mid-to-late 80s, I was working in the American Motors plant in Kenosha, WI. By that time things were winding down for AMC's own model line, so they had become a contract assembler of cars for other manufacturers. At that specific time, it was Renault. We were building their small cars for their reintroduction to America. Renault invested $100,000,000 there in a new paint process that they called E-Dip, which was one of (if not the) first applications of an electrostatic paint process. Mind you, the cars were total P.O.S.s, but the paint on them was absolutely mirror-finish flawless. I've never seen better paint on any car at Pebble Beach or Milwaukee Masterpiece, or on any Bentley, Rolls, etc. Talk about lipstick on a pig...what a complete waste! Now, in the last year or so I've looked at, possibly, a hundred or more SLs in person...and over the last decades, countless other MBs as well. I haven't seen a MB yet that didn't have a fair amount of OP...my "new" SL included. Apparently, Utopia Texas bought up all the ones with perfect paint...
Having said that, my car is Polar White so it looks great anyway, and all I really care about regarding the paint is that it should stay on the car. If it does, I'll continue to be happy with it.
Having said that, my car is Polar White so it looks great anyway, and all I really care about regarding the paint is that it should stay on the car. If it does, I'll continue to be happy with it.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Jul 29, 2020 at 05:55 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
Back in the mid-to-late 80s, I was working in the American Motors plant in Kenosha, WI. By that time things were winding down for AMC's own model line, so they had become a contract assembler of cars for other manufacturers. At that specific time, it was Renault. We were building their small cars for their reintroduction to America. Renault invested $100,000,000 there in a new paint process that they called E-Dip, which was one of (if not the) first applications of an electrostatic paint process. Mind you, the cars were total P.O.S.s, but the paint on them was absolutely mirror-finish flawless. I've never seen better paint on any car at Pebble Beach or Milwaukee Masterpiece, or on any Bentley, Rolls, etc. Talk about lipstick on a pig...what a complete waste! Now, in the last year or so I've looked at, possibly, a hundred or more SLs in person...and over the last decades, countless other MBs as well. I haven't seen a MB yet that didn't have a fair amount of OP...my "new" SL included. Apparently, Utopia Texas bought up all the ones with perfect paint...
Having said that, my car is Polar White so it looks great anyway, and all I really care about regarding the paint is that it should stay on the car. If it does, I'll continue to be happy with it.
Having said that, my car is Polar White so it looks great anyway, and all I really care about regarding the paint is that it should stay on the car. If it does, I'll continue to be happy with it.
Last edited by Utopia Texas; Jul 29, 2020 at 06:55 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 259
Likes: 86
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
Besides the one in my garage, I saw another one being driven by a lady down Lynn Road about 2 miles from where I live a week ago. I noted it also had beige upholstery like ours. The Conejo Valley where I live is filled with nice cars, including a black SL that I just passed on the way home 25 minutes ago. Is Utopia TX in a heavily populated area?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 661
Likes: 302
From: Franklin, TN
2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
My Lunar Blue does not have any OP evident. And it is hand washed, as well as clay barred and coated by yours truly. Really solid paint on the car. We recently got a Honda Accord Hybrid for a 'town car' and that also has lovely brown paint, and it is OP free as well. Now our Chevy Traverse; that's a different conversation.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
Besides the one in my garage, I saw another one being driven by a lady down Lynn Road about 2 miles from where I live a week ago. I noted it also had beige upholstery like ours. The Conejo Valley where I live is filled with nice cars, including a black SL that I just passed on the way home 25 minutes ago. Is Utopia TX in a heavily populated area?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 936
From: Brookshire, Texas & Cat Spring, Texas
2019 SL550/2023 EQS 580 SUV
Last edited by Utopia Texas; Jul 30, 2020 at 04:15 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 259
Likes: 86
From: Newbury Park, CA
2016 SL400 & 2021 C300
My Lunar Blue does not have any OP evident. And it is hand washed, as well as clay barred and coated by yours truly. Really solid paint on the car. We recently got a Honda Accord Hybrid for a 'town car' and that also has lovely brown paint, and it is OP free as well. Now our Chevy Traverse; that's a different conversation.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,644
Likes: 526
From: Hagerstown MD
2015 SL400; 2019 X5M40i
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia,_Texas
Spent 6 of my 21 years in the Army at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. The Hill Country was our favorite place to go on the weekends. It is truly a Paradise and I miss it dearly.
Spent 6 of my 21 years in the Army at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. The Hill Country was our favorite place to go on the weekends. It is truly a Paradise and I miss it dearly.
Last edited by rmorin49; Jul 30, 2020 at 04:31 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 238
From: Illinois
S560/SL550/LS460/Q70L 5.6 AWD
