SLK/R171: Paint protection
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Rooland
slk 350
Paint protection
Hi all,
I'm about to take delivery of a 350 in a month's time. I have been offered by the dealer to add paint
protection to the car. Basically, the dealer says that the paint protection is some sort of teflon thing that
can reduce the damage that the UV light of the sun can do to the paint of the car, and it makes it
unnecessary to polish the car.
I'm just wondering that since so many people here are from the sunny state of California, have any
of you taken the paint protection?
Thanks a lot.
didu
I'm about to take delivery of a 350 in a month's time. I have been offered by the dealer to add paint
protection to the car. Basically, the dealer says that the paint protection is some sort of teflon thing that
can reduce the damage that the UV light of the sun can do to the paint of the car, and it makes it
unnecessary to polish the car.
I'm just wondering that since so many people here are from the sunny state of California, have any
of you taken the paint protection?
Thanks a lot.
didu
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Newbury, UK
W210 E320, SLK55 AMG
I had something like that (called Diamond Brite) on a new VW. I wouldn't have paid the £99 for it, but it got thrown in as part of the haggling over price with the dealer, so I probably paid something for it, but not much. Actually, I was pretty cynical about it, assuming it to be a scam, but I have to admit it was a lot more effective than I was expecting. Dirt just rinsed off the paintwork without sticking, and the paint surface was glassy smooth so I didn't need to polish it. You get a special car shampoo which tops it up, but it only really lasts about 12 months or so. After that, the paintwork slowly returns to normal unless you have it treated again.
Thread Starter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Rooland
slk 350
Originally Posted by steve-p
I had something like that (called Diamond Brite) on a new VW. I wouldn't have paid the £99 for it, but it got thrown in as part of the haggling over price with the dealer, so I probably paid something for it, but not much. Actually, I was pretty cynical about it, assuming it to be a scam, but I have to admit it was a lot more effective than I was expecting. Dirt just rinsed off the paintwork without sticking, and the paint surface was glassy smooth so I didn't need to polish it. You get a special car shampoo which tops it up, but it only really lasts about 12 months or so. After that, the paintwork slowly returns to normal unless you have it treated again.
than $1000. I'm really not sure if this paint protection thing is really necessary, isn't the
nano technology supposed to be really good at protecting the paint? I have a toyota that got
the paint protection thing, but bird crap and other dirty stuff still stick to the car.
Thanks for the comments.
didu
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
06 SLK55 AMG Firemist/Blk
Over hyped, high profit snake oil. Zaino will work just as well (or better) for a fraction of the price.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc
Trending Topics
Junior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL "Home of Ivan the Terrible"
05 SLK350; 00 Lexus GS400; 05 Corvette
The SLK already has a layer of ultrahard clearcoat called ceramic nano-particles that incorporates itself into the finish. The older SLK's had issues with fragile paint and LOTS of rock-chips (I know from experience). Hopefully, this new paint technology will "toughen" up the paint.
Nonetheless, Zaino protecting your paint will add all the UV protection you need without some 20 year-old kid spraying on some stuff onto your car for quite a profit to the dealer, and little benefit to you or your wallet. Zaino isn't the only product out there, but it is touted as one of the top products... a bit quirky to use, but long-lasting shine and protection. I still use waxes, but they don't last as long (two months).
I've got a 98 SLK and besides the rock-chips, the red paint looks perfect with no UV fade... due to using the proper paint maintenance that all cars require: polishing, glazing, waxing.
Good luck... put those 1000 pounds into your pocket and buy the right car care products and tools. You'll have more fun taking car of your car and it'll look better for it!
Nonetheless, Zaino protecting your paint will add all the UV protection you need without some 20 year-old kid spraying on some stuff onto your car for quite a profit to the dealer, and little benefit to you or your wallet. Zaino isn't the only product out there, but it is touted as one of the top products... a bit quirky to use, but long-lasting shine and protection. I still use waxes, but they don't last as long (two months).
I've got a 98 SLK and besides the rock-chips, the red paint looks perfect with no UV fade... due to using the proper paint maintenance that all cars require: polishing, glazing, waxing.
Good luck... put those 1000 pounds into your pocket and buy the right car care products and tools. You'll have more fun taking car of your car and it'll look better for it!
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
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2005 SLK350
I went ahead and had mine Simonized. We're talking about a $53,000 car. What's another $350? I'm not the best at keeping mine bug free, and the bugs wipe right off with the protection. I've had to have my VW repainted because of the baked on bugs, so we'll see if it was worth it in the long run. On the other hand, I don't have any experience with an SLK that WASN'T Simonized, either, so I'll never know if the existing protectant is sufficient.
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: ivyland,pa
slk 350
I took advice from forums like this and got Zaino. Put three coats on and the car shines like crazy and bugs, tar, etc. come right off. I never used the stuff before but highly recommend it or something similar. I can't see how a dealer paint protection thing can be much better and I'm sure nets huge profit for the dealer.
Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta
06 SLK55 AMG Firemist/Blk
Originally Posted by wil_sutton
I went ahead and had mine Simonized. We're talking about a $53,000 car. What's another $350?....
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28,933
Likes: 12
Originally Posted by Julien321
A total waste of money. However your dealer loved the over $325 in pure profit.
Spend the 350$ in getting a detailer to put a nice 10+ layers of Zaino on it. Or save yourself all of it, buy yourself a nice buffer and some Zaino and do it yourself, the right way.
It'll look one hundred times better, AND you don't have to worry about messing your car up or any crap like that.
