Lacquer Bubbling

[MrsMongo]

I have a GLA 180 first registration date 17 10 2019 which I bought on 19 09 2020 and I noticed that the lacquer was bubbling at the end of last year. I made an appointment with Mercedes-Benz Sandown Holes Bay Poole and after the inspection, was told quite blatantly that they were not going to do anything about it....guess what, it is red! I asked for assistance as to what I could do, or whom I could contact and the guy shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'not my problem'. Flabbergasted! The rest of the car still looks brand new. Any helpful advice would make my day!

 

[GeeJayW]

Fire Opal Red micro-blistering is a common problem. They (MB) used to offer a (bare metal) respray for the affected areas under warranty. There are many threads about it on this forum and others.

Our 2015 C-Class coupe (C204) had the same problem in 2017 and was in the process of being sorted, when we decided to PX it against the C-Class estate (S205) that we have now. The S205 is Designo Hyacinth Red Metallic and has no blistering.

Good luck, I hope you get it sorted?

 

[markjay]

I have a GLA 180 first registration date 17 10 2019 which I bought on 19 09 2020 and I noticed that the lacquer was bubbling at the end of last year. I made an appointment with Mercedes-Benz Sandown Holes Bay Poole and after the inspection, was told quite blatantly that they were not going to do anything about it....guess what, it is red! I asked for assistance as to what I could do, or whom I could contact and the guy shrugged his shoulders as if to say 'not my problem'. Flabbergasted! The rest of the car still looks brand new. Any helpful advice would make my day!

Welcome.

I suggest that you try a different dealer. According to other owners' reports on here, it's hit and miss - some dealer will submit a request to MB UK for a warranty repair, some won't bother.

Also, how long did you have the car, does it have full MB service history, and has it ever been resprayed (to your knowledge)?

 

[badgx]

Perplexed, I wonder why this particular shade of colour suffers blistering. It's possibly one of the best colours too. Very puzzling?

 

[KakaAclass]

Suggest you look at my post regarding lacquer peel.

 

[badgx]

Suggest you look at my post regarding lacquer peel.

Well done with outcome I suppose MB didn't offer an explanation regarding why it's suffering laquer peeled?

 

[GeeJayW]

Well done with outcome I suppose MB didn't offer an explanation regarding why it's suffering laquer peeled?

When I spoke to the paint shop, they didn’t know the root cause, but did say it was a problem pretty much exclusive to Fire Opal Red.

 

[KakaAclass]

Well done with outcome I suppose MB didn't offer an explanation regarding why it's suffering laquer peeled?

I did ask the question again today and they still say, or told to say “don’t know” but I did sense that Jupiter Red is becoming more of a problem.

 

[Chrishazle]

I did a thread about the laquer peel I had (and still have) on my Carneol Red s204, in the thread is a link to a superb doculent by a long established excellent German paint manufacturer and supplier that shows all the paint defect problems you can encounter, with full reasons and cures. I'll see if I can find it.

Edit : This is my thread, Carneaol Red Lacquer Peeling, Let Battle Commence | Bodywork.

Post 13 on this thread gives the link to the mentioned document, namely https://www.spieshecker.com/content.../painter-tips/TSG-Painter-Tips_ENG-INT_ES.pdf

 

[Chrishazle]

I tried the link, it no longer works so I have emailed Spieshecker Germany, will update when/if I get a reply.

Just realised - I have the documnet on my hard drive, forum will not allow me to upload a 2611Kb .pdf, so if anyone would like the file please PM me your email address.

@KillerHERTZ is there a way to get this file onto the forum?

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , not sure of the dates but paint systems are now water based.As previous members have stated red cars appear to be more problematic than other colours.The lacquer coat provides the paint finish protection.

UV effects paint finishes in particular red.

Mercedes used to supply a paint kit for fire opal red painted cars ( sorry but cannot find the info ) but a dealer parts department should be able to find the kit.

Why would Mercedes offer a repair kit is system was not floored.

 

[Chrishazle]

One more update - Spieshecker Document Re Paint Defects on the MBOA forum (AKA t'other side) has the document, don't know if you can access the thread if you're not registered there, but many like me frequent both - no, it's not swinging both ways!!

 

[Fastcar155]

Hi , not sure of the dates but paint systems are now water based.As previous members have stated red cars appear to be more problematic than other colours.The lacquer coat provides the paint finish protection.

UV effects paint finishes in particular red.

Mercedes used to supply a paint kit for fire opal red painted cars ( sorry but cannot find the info ) but a dealer parts department should be able to find the kit.

Why would Mercedes offer a repair kit is system was not floored.