AMGfan

Anybody with experience with this process? Im getting my hood repainted (damn stone chips) and my painter asked if I was interested to do the fine sanding and buffing to the rest of the car, especially since all trim pieces have been removed...supposed 2 help with deeper scratches and orange peel (?). He quoted me $300...thx.

hbr

Ask if you can see some of his work, and what does the rest of car look like. His orange peel comment throws me a bit as I don't believe your can correct that with any amount of buffing, polishing, etc.

Decent price for good work.............check out www.autopia.org to get a feel for what he is talking about.

AMGfan

Thanks for the info...I'm actually going to take a look at a 2002 black S430 he will be working on Wednesday, so I'll see a before and after look. Most of my scratches are pretty faint but more numerous than I like. He's been in business for close to 20yrs, so he is no fly by night shop.

Hammer Down

You may not need to color/water sand, you may be able to get away with a VERY fine compound and a foam pad to cut it and then use a real nice polish with a foam pad to really make her shine, also ask about his process to prevent burning through the clear coat. one last thing ask if he is using the new water based paints and if he is how long has he been using them.

CynCarvin32

Orange peal can be greatly reduced or eliminated with color sanding and it also will remove deeper scratches not removed with buffing. Buffing alone will never fix orange peal issues as its just not that strong a process. I think you should remove the scratches with a very good multi step polishing (from a solid cutting compound to alight finishing glaze -- steps in the middle) and that will make the car look great. You dont always want to remove all the deeper marks as you are just taking away clear coat and once you work through all that its time for a total re-spray.

Remember once you paint the hood you lose the ceramic clear paint in its pure form. The next layer of paint will chip far more easily than the old chipped factory paint. Its difficult to replicate that quality and hardness outside the factory.

hbr

We're on the same page. I can't imagine AMGfan needing any sanding process on the rest of his car.

With a repaint of the hood and bumper, I would have it done AMG, and maybe check into a professional "clear bra" for the repaint.

AMGfan

Already on the same page with you on the clear bra...I really can't wait to see his technique and results of his color sanding on Wednesday...he said that my whole car won't necessarily be color sanded...only areas with deeper than normal scratches (i.e. deeper but not through clear coat).

There are really on 3 areas that bother me...the trunk lid area...front driver fender panel...rear passenger quarter panel. The rest of the car will go through multi-step buffing process. My only concern which I expressed to him is uniformity of black from the repainted hood to the two fender panels...

I'll post pics if I go through with the color sanding...

hbr

Yacht Master

BLACK the love hate color, (shade)
Black can always be fixed and it is easy to get better than factory results.
The same can not be said for any other color.
Have no fear.
I would be curious to know, if the repaint on the hood would be top coated with the MB nano ceramic clear coat or a different product?

AMGfan

Yachtmaster...I'm going to inquire about that on Wednesday. I'll give you the 411 when I find out.

AMGfan

Just got an email from auto body shop manager and the repaint of the hood will be done with OEM nano paint....

hbr

Sounds like a good shop, don't forget some pics..............

hbr

DP

AMGfan

OK...I'll stop by there this weekend and get some "before" pics...

Yacht Master

Cool, Good information, I would like to see the car when it is done.