Magno paint issue.

[focusrs2006]

Hi all,

I recently purchased an E63, with the Magno Alanite grey paint, as I fell in love with it. Whilst cleaning it today, I noticed it looks like it's had a resprayed rear bumper, not a problem with a 53000 mile car, but whilst looking at it in the sun, I realised it doesn't quite look right, the magno looks almost satin, but this looks too matte. (I'm really annoyed with my self I didn't notice it when I viewed the car, but it was soaking wet and dark day, and seemed to match fine) and I was overly excited to see it. so it blended in fine. The colour is OK, but its not the same sheen.

I'm not sure how the magno paint is applied compared to regular paint, would this need to be completely re painted? Or a different top coat on there. I have read magno paint can be a pain to match.

Thank you.

Here are the photos



It doesn't look as bad here

 

[st13phil]

AFAIK, the satin/matte effect of the Magno paint is delivered by the lacquer but you would need to talk with a good bodyshop familiar with the system to determine how best to correct the issue you have.

FWIW, the Designo Diamond White of my last E63 is also an utter PITA to match and my car had had the rear bumper repainted prior to me buying it as a sub 800-mile ex-demonstrator. The colour match was fine initially, but after a couple of years you could definitely see a slight difference in the colour of the bumper vs the rest of the car. It's quite conceivable that your rear bumper was a good match when it was repainted, but has aged differently to the factory paint on the rest of the car.

 

[Benz17]

From different angles it would be much more noticeable, I would be unable to live with that to be honest, have also read that magno paint is very difficult to match. But there must some body shop who are experienced in this type of paint, who can get a near on finish.

 

[Doodle]

have also read that magno paint is very difficult to match.

The problem is that the level of matting is utterly dependent on the mixture - the slightest deviation from the ratios of clearcoat etc and you'll get a different result in a way that just doesn't matter with a gloss finish.

 

[focusrs2006]

AFAIK, the satin/matte effect of the Magno paint is delivered by the lacquer but you would need to talk with a good bodyshop familiar with the system to determine how best to correct the issue you have.

FWIW, the Designo Diamond White of my last E63 is also an utter PITA to match and my car had had the rear bumper repainted prior to me buying it as a sub 800-mile ex-demonstrator. The colour match was fine initially, but after a couple of years you could definitely see a slight difference in the colour of the bumper vs the rest of the car. It's quite conceivable that your rear bumper was a good match when it was repainted, but has aged differently to the factory paint on the rest of the car.

Thank you! That does make sense, it may well have been done some time ago, I did message the dealership to see, but he said he was unaware it had ever been done...

 

[focusrs2006]

From different angles it would be much more noticeable, I would be unable to live with that to be honest, have also read that magno paint is very difficult to match. But there must some body shop who are experienced in this type of paint, who can get a near on finish.

It mainly seems to be from the back/side, it's annoying me now I've noticed it! I've shown the guys who went on our driving trip, none noticed during the weekend, but can notice it now from the photo. I'm wondering wether to give my local Mercedes dealership a ring, see if they have a dealership who can do it.

 

[focusrs2006]

The problem is that the level of matting is utterly dependent on the mixture - the slightest deviation from the ratios of clearcoat etc and you'll get a different result in a way that just doesn't matter with a gloss finish.

Sounds like it could be tricky to get right May give the local Mercedes dealership a ring to see if they have anyone they trust/can match it.

 

[zipdip]

I would go to a local spray shop who have a good rep,and see what they say it is just the rear bumper,they should be able to match the car paint,but as been posted if you hold the car for say a few years it might well do the same thing again.

 

[focusrs2006]

I would go to a local spray shop who have a good rep,and see what they say it is just the rear bumper,they should be able to match the car paint,but as been posted if you hold the car for say a few years it might well do the same thing again.

I've just dropped a company in Cheltenham an email, with those same photos, they seem to get great reviews. Will be interesting to see if they're able to do it, or if it will do it again.

 

[Eddy77]

This is an interesting thread. A neighbour has a C63 in this matte grey finish. A bit darker than yours. And I’ve always wondered how on earth you repair the paint as it just looks like a nightmare to match. It must be possible, but I can imagine it is a bloody nightmare. But there must be someone out there who can do it! Good luck and keep us posted!!

 

[focusrs2006]

This is an interesting thread. A neighbour has a C63 in this matte grey finish. A bit darker than yours. And I’ve always wondered how on earth you repair the paint as it just looks like a nightmare to match. It must be possible, but I can imagine it is a bloody nightmare. But there must be someone out there who can do it! Good luck and keep us posted!!

Thank you, will do!

I had a check on the bodywork and detailing section of Piston heads, a poster whos in the industry said-

"You may even find that some bodyshops won't touch it.

A major problem is that on normal shiny clearcoat any nibs (bits of dust) in the paint can easily be sanded out & the surface machine polished.
If you try that with matte finishes you'll end up with shiny areas.
Same applies to trying to sand out excessive texture"

Also a very interesting link from a paint manufacturer, here's an exert from it,

"
Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Hyundai all have matte finish offerings. They present quite a challenge to the painter in that the degree of gloss must be matched or else it will appear that the color doesn’t match, even if it does. Let me say that again: the degree of gloss must be matched or else it will appear the color doesn’t match. Additionally, the texture of the finish must be matched to the OEM texture as you apply it, because you cannot adjust the texture later by sanding and polishing. If you did that, you would also change the gloss level. Lastly, you cannot nib, sand and buff out any specs of dust or dirt or you’ll buff shiny spots onto your panel, so additional time must be spent up front in the prepping and then cleaning. Cleaning everything – the car, the booth floors, the booth walls, the spray gun and hoses, and the painter himself – to ensure as dirt-free a paint job as possible"

Sounds like it's going to be very tricky to match the Mercedes factory finish..

 

[Gavnr]

Depending on where you are located you could try fastlane, which are approved merc bodyshop and looks decent (and reassuringly expensive) set up

The challenge with matching paint put me off a matt grey C43

But isn't paint on a bumper always going to look slightly different because underlying is plastic v metal body?

 

[focusrs2006]

Depending on where you are located you could try fastlane, which are approved merc bodyshop and looks decent (and reassuringly expensive) set up

The challenge with matching paint put me off a matt grey C43

But isn't paint on a bumper always going to look slightly different because underlying is plastic v metal body?

Thank you, I shall take a look!

Edit, just had a look now, they look brilliant, and as you said, quite an impressive set up, car collection and a loan car as well, I will drop them a message!

I did wonder that, but the paint match isn't too bad, it seems to be the texture and finish of the paint that's not quite right.

 

[focusrs2006]

First quote.... I lay just leave it as it is for that price!! I only asked for a quote to repaint the bumper..

 

[Benz17]

First quote.... I lay just leave it as it is for that price!! I only asked for a quote to repaint the bumper..

Yikes, even with my ocd at those prices I'm sure I would be able to live with it

 

[focusrs2006]

Yikes, even with my ocd at those prices I'm sure I would be able to live with it

Certainly is quite pricy, the polishing part worries me, on a matte finish car.

Speaking on Pistonheads detailing section, they said it looks like they what to blend the bumper with the rear wings.

 

[Doodle]

That strikes me as either a lazy quote, or a failure to understand what they're being tasked to do.

 

[zipdip]

So apart from a crazy quote, from what I can make out is if you have a matt paint car you cannot clay it or polish it,I've made a mental note never to buy one,are you sure you cannot live with the bumper.

 

[focusrs2006]

So apart from a crazy quote, from what I can make out is if you have a matt paint car you cannot clay it or polish it,I've made a mental note never to buy one,are you sure you cannot live with the bumper.

That seems to be the case! Although I have purchased a specialist Matte polish from Angelwax, that makes a big difference to the look/removes minor blemishes.

I think I may have to really, its only now I've realised, I've spoken to a few people who haven't noticed before.

 

[SmartAmg]

Apart from the 1st pic, it looks ok, I'm fussy with me car, but I'm afraid I'd live with it at that price.