S-Class paint finish - really?

[Slartibartfast]

I was having a good look at a new S-Class when I was at the main dealers recently. I couldn't believe the finish of the paintwork. Orange peel? More like the surface of a Jaffa! I would have expected more of a mirror shine on this "Flagship" saloon. I have a 2011 W221 and the finish on mine is really nice. It is Diamond White which might help disguise any orange peel look but even so. Looks like Mercedes is going backwards in their paint finish quality?

Here's a close up of the reflection. The "lines" should be reasonably "crisp".




Here's mine

 

[Petrol Pete]

Careful , you might get yourself banned from all MB main dealerships worldwide .

 

[Slartibartfast]

Careful , you might get yourself banned from all MB main dealerships worldwide .

Moi?

 

[Ted]

It’s nothing new. I was at the dealer’s back when the W210 was current and was surprised and shocked at the paint finish/orange peel.
The finish on my W124 was a lot better (excuse the chrome arches)

 

[Petrol Pete]

It’s nothing new. I was at the dealer’s back when the W210 was current and was surprised and shocked at the paint finish/orange peel.
The finish on my W124 was a lot better (excuse the chrome arches)

Sorry Ted , I can not bring myself to excuse the chrome wheel arches

 

[ALFAitalia]

Thats modern water based paints for you.......

 

[BigJase88]

That looks awful. Almost on par with the worst new car paint job i have ever seen which was a Jeep Cherokee

 

[HB]

Water based paint as mentioned above. A good detailer can flatten a lot of it out.

 

[Slartibartfast]

Water based paint as mentioned above. A good detailer can flatten a lot of it out.

Very true, but I wouldn't expect to pay extra for a decent paint job after buying an S Class for around £90k

 

[ALFAitalia]

And even after you have it "corrected" you will still have paint that's softer, more prone to swirls, scratches, chips etc, less resilient to acid in bird droppings and noticeably less able to hold a proper shine than the old lead based stuff!!! Isn't progress great!!

 

[noogieman]

And even after you have it "corrected" you will still have paint that's softer, more prone to swirls, scratches, chips etc, less resilient to acid in bird droppings and noticeably less able to hold a proper shine than the old lead based stuff!!! Isn't progress great!!

You can thank Miss w@nker Greta Thunberg for all eco friendly fascists around the world!
They are the root to all evil in the motor industry.

 

[Flyinspanner]

You can thank Miss w@nker Greta Thunberg for all eco friendly fascists around the world!
They are the root to all evil in the motor industry.

Water based paint came in before Greta was born.

she’s also younger than emission controls, catalytic converters, electric vehicles, recycling….. etc etc

 

[noogieman]

Water based paint came in before Greta was born.

she’s also younger than emission controls, catalytic converters, electric vehicles, recycling….. etc etc

It's people like her who causes trouble to automotive companies.

 

[clk320x]

It's people like her who causes trouble to automotive companies.

Are you for real?

 

[noogieman]

Are you for real?

Ask your local politician he can tell you

 

[poormansporsche]

I was behind a 23 plate ffrr today and the rear tailgate was more pi££ed than a Scotsman. If that's what 150 grand gets you I'd prefer orange peel.

 

[Flyinspanner]

Ask your local politician he can tell you

sorry they are busy lining their own pockets/ giving their dad a knighthood/ ruining the country.
(my local politician is Bozo,….. though he doesn’t appear in the constituenc).

 

[doughy2002]

my 2018 c class is full of orange peel didnt really notice it at first but when cleaning it it is quite bad

 

[KennyN]

my 2018 c class is full of orange peel didnt really notice it at first but when cleaning it it is quite bad

That doesn`t look like a factory finish , is it the same on all other panels ?

K

 

[doughy2002]

That doesn`t look like a factory finish , is it the same on all other panels ?

K

yep all over, was on a forum on facebook, one guy said they sometimes go over it 3 times at the factory and a lot of cars have the bad orange peel. depends on how many time they get painted.