I've painted my calipers!

[Pitts Pilot]

After quizzing the forum a few weeks back, and receiving a considerable amount of helpful advice, I’ve finished painting the callipers on my SL.
Colour choice was the big problem, but after resisting red, I went for black rather than silver, in particular metallic matt with white MB decals. I’m really pleased with the outcome.




Did the rears and hubs too, but nowhere to stick decals. Better than rust colour anyway.



All the work was done insitu, but with careful masking and preparation it worked out well enough.

I was going to have the calipers overhauled and professionally painted by the 'Brake Caliper Specialists' (brake-caliper-painting.com), but they messed me around and would not give me a quotation despite the fact that I had provisionally book the car in with them.

I got an apologetic email from the MD the other day. Apparently they have been moving premises and my quote got 'lost'. Anyway, he offered me a 5% discount on a £675 job.

I've never been offered a 5% discount. To make any meaningful difference its usually 10%, or a 20% 'We pay the VAT', but 5% WOWEE! It certainly got me rushing for my wallet, not.

Anyway, it’s academic, because I now have great looking calipers that cost a fraction of £675; painted with 'Stove paint' heat resistant to 650 C. It should cater for my occasional ‘Let it off the leash’ moments

Cheers

 

[dresho]

nice looks great! i've been really wanting to do this but dealer said it will make my warranty invalid!gutted

 

[sinewave]

Your Dealer is talking shyte!

 

[Pitts Pilot]

dealer said it will make my warranty invalid!gutted

What? That's the daftest thing I ever heard. I didn't even touch a bolt or clip, the painting was done insitu.



How can that invalidate a warrenty?

Guess I better not touch up those stone chips on the bonnet then

Cheers

 

[dresho]

Your Dealer is talking shyte!

really? i did question it and brought it up again when they were fitting the new grill - he said if anything were ever to go wrong with them as they have been painted etc they will be classed as tampered?

pm me if not the case and advice re getting past this (dont want to take the shine and focus of pitts great calipers!)

really want to get this done and was only due to this belief i was given i stopped - il be booking this in for it to be done asap if what you say is true

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Well done Robert, well worth the effort you put in. looks a first rate job.

 

[brucemillar]

I could see that dealer would "possibly" void your warranty if you painted the calipers. If you had a caliper seize or a braking issue then the dealer has a get out out clause if you have painted them. Some dealers may take a more lax view.

 

[Kid_Dav]

Nice job! Crazy to think this may invalidate warranties :/

 

[trainer]

Great work. Need to repaint my rear calipers as I should have put on another coat or two.

 

[DRBC43AMG]

Looks very nice indeed

 

[BTB 500]

Those look excellent - good job!

 

[ddavidm]

Looks excellent.
I'm planning also to do my rear brakes as I'm not a big fan of rust colour either.

 

[Alps]

looks good, on a warranty perspective, MB have to send the original part back to the warranty department, if its been painted they will reject the claim.

should have bought the performance pack !

 

[dresho]

looks good, on a warranty perspective, MB have to send the original part back to the warranty department, if its been painted they will reject the claim.

should have bought the performance pack !

No performance pack on my my humble sports plus

 

[Pitts Pilot]

looks good, on a warranty perspective, MB have to send the original part back to the warranty department, if its been painted they will reject the claim.

So given that the calipers were painted insitu, then by the same (MB) logic any touch-up paint or spotting of bonnet stone chips means they would reject those parts too? “The Owner has applied some paint”

I think that where a coat of paint can compromise or alter the function of the part, say some over-spray on the caliper seals or pistons, then sure, MB probably have a case.

Otherwise, it's just typical 'We are not liable' insurance company gumph to me

 

[dokalj]

So given that the calipers were painted insitu, then by the same (MB) logic any touch-up paint or spotting of bonnet stone chips means they would reject those parts too? “The Owner has applied some paint”

I think that where a coat of paint can compromise or alter the function of the part, say some over-spray on the caliper seals or pistons, then sure, MB probably have a case.

Otherwise, it's just typical 'We are not liable' insurance company gumph to me

Did you spray your calipers or paint them by brush?

 

[brucemillar]

Did you spray your calipers or paint them by brush?

Calipers are mechanical functioning part of the car. They have got sensitive moving parts in them along with bleed nipples on the exterior. Whilst you would (rightly) feel that you have done a lovely job (looks good). Other may simply get out the yard broom and a tub of Dulux and splatter them.

How do you police that. Simple you void the warranty for all who break the T's & C's. FYI. Try painting your bonnet and claiming on your rust warranty. I think you will find that MB will (as you said) not touch that either.

 

[Pitts Pilot]

Did you spray your calipers or paint them by brush?

I sprayed them. But not before taking a painful amount of time to mask up properly, including removing the rubber bleed nipple caps and wrapping them & their threads in masking tape.

In fact I’m so OCD, the very small Stainless steel pointed pins that protrude slightly, (I assume they help hold the pads in), were masked with tiny pieces of tape applied with tweezers! You see, I didn’t want the extra thickness of the paint to make them difficult to remove. OCD, I rest my case

However, I take the point about 'One rule for everyone' and painting your bonnet. It IS the only fair way to go, I concede.

OK then; how about upgrading your audio speakers? "You have invalidated the entire Command System in your car, Sir!" What? Surely not?

The English legal system does not actually define the word "Reasonable", as in 'May use Reasonable force', etc, but I would hope that 'Reasonable' would rule the day.

Or when it comes to main dealers, am I being completely naive?

 

[dokalj]

Thanks Pitts Pilot.

They look factory fresh...if not better

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Did mine at the weekend via brush while they were still attached to the car, 10mins each corner...: