W204 FIRE OPAL RED

[Bhavp21]

Hi guys just purchased a W204 C63... i heard Mercedes resprayed the cars... whats the situation with this? Did it have to be under warranty for this to happen? Was it only if the paint had issues? Do they still cover it?

 

[WilliamMaldivess211]

I don’t know if you have seen these threads, but I think you may find them useful. It tends to need to be less than 10 years old and with MB service history for some reason - how that should affect the paint I don’t know. Keep us updated.

N

Thread 'Mercedes Red Paint Issue!'

Jan 10, 2025

Hi Everyone!

I am new to forums & this is my first every post so apologises in advance if this is posted in the incorrect section or is a repeat thread.

You may already know exactly where this is going from the title but I have a 2017 plate Mercedes. To cut a long story short, a few weeks ago I noticed the topcoat pealing away from my doors handles & rear spoiler which since has progressed onto the roof. I have spoke with Mercedes who have pretty much fobbed me off due to the vehicle age/being out of warranty. Although they checked my VIN number & confirmed a know fault with my vehicles...

• Nathan93
• Replies: 17
• Forum: Bodywork

P

Thread 'UK Mars Red /Fire Opal Red [code 590] Micro Blistering Paint Manufacturing Fault'

Jun 29, 2023

I've recently made a claim through the county court for my Mars Red /Fire Opal Red [code 590] C220 cdi. Mercedes are going to defend the claim in full. I do not hold out much hope but at the end of the day the USA has set the ball rolling. A recognised [by Mercedes] paint fault is not a warranty issue, so whether the warranty of the car has ended should have little to do with it. It's caused by the manufacturers of the paint. Within reason the paint is supposed to last the life time of the car. Many modern cars have paint warranties exceeding 20 years these days...

• philld
• Replies: 75
• Forum: Bodywork

 

[markjay]

Hi guys just purchased a W204 C63... i heard Mercedes resprayed the cars... whats the situation with this? Did it have to be under warranty for this to happen? Was it only if the paint had issues? Do they still cover it?

Is there currently an issue with the paintwork that needs correcting? Or are you just asking generally?

 

[markjay]

...It tends to need to be less than 10 years old...

If that's the case, then this isn't great news for the OP... the last W204 hit the road in mid-2014 (though the C204 lingered on for another year).

 

[Bhavp21]

Is there currently an issue with the paintwork that needs correcting? Or are you just asking generally?

Been "told" Mercedes did full respray, no paperwork though... the 2 bumpers, side sills, boot and door shuts are original color, the whole outside has been sprayed but a darker red...

is there a way to find out if Mercedes did do the spray job?? Who would i need to ask/call...

 

[markjay]

Sounds about right - many Red Opal cars were indeed resprayed FOC by MB.

I guess you could always try and chat up the service advisor at your local MB dealership - or, better still, at the dealership where the car was originally being serviced, if possible - or ask any local body shop, they'll be able to tell you immediately what exactly was done to the car.

 

[Petrol Pete]

If it's two different colours it's unlikely that MB resprayed it , or it is the victim of that phenomena that can be seen on some red cars out there .

The plastic parts hold the colour better than the metal as the years roll by. Vauxhall had this happen on their flat red cars some decades ago.

Fire Opal red was not one of MB's best moments ....

 

[SpikyMikey]

Sounds about right - many Red Opal cars were indeed resprayed FOC by MB.

I guess you could always try and chat up the service advisor at your local MB dealership - or, better still, at the dealership where the car was originally being serviced, if possible - or ask any local body shop, they'll be able to tell you immediately what exactly was done to the car.

Worth remembering too that if MB did respray the car, they would only do the bodyshell and not the plastics.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Do you have a picture of the car you can share? There are several folk on here that have personal experiences of Fire Opal issues who might be able to add input.

 

[Bhavp21]

Do you have a picture of the car you can share? There are several folk on here that have personal experiences of Fire Opal issues who might be able to add input.

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[Bhavp21]

I knew the paint was off when i purchased car, just wanted to know a bit more about it and if Mercedes would do anything or not

 

[slade1]

Still not solved the red paint problem, had same with a 1967 NK 2000 saloon around 1968/9

 

[ALFAitalia]

No excuse....but was reading this the other days...


As a general rule, yes, red tends to fade/age/blister in sunlight regardless of the medium it used on. This is because the colours at the UV end so blue (opposite end) of the spectrum are at a shorter wavelength (read: higher energy) and do more damage. Red fades because it absorbs those wavelengths more readily. For example red reflects red and absorbs blue.

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[markjay]

I knew the paint was off when i purchased car, just wanted to know a bit more about it and if Mercedes would do anything or not

This depends on whether the car did or did not have a full bare-metal respray under warranty..... But, as petrol pete said, if the paint is 'off' (other than the external plastic trim parts which wouldn't have been included in the free respray anyway), then it's unlikely that it had a full respray done by an authorised MB body shop.

 

[Neiltodd]

Never had any problems with my fire opal paint

 

[Petrol Pete]

Never had any problems with my fire opal paint

I can imagine some fire opal cars might have been polished regularly , been garaged since day one or live in an environment with less daylight ? Or all 3 .

And like the 'MB rear subframe lottery' not all cars seem to be affected.

 

[Bigdrew]

My last car was red unfortunately it had problems with the paint work especially the bonnet but I got it sorted but not by MB

 

[markjay]

...And like the 'MB rear subframe lottery' or 'AdBlue sudden death' or 'M271 chocolate sprockets' or the dreaded 'SRS Front Left error message' not all cars seem to be affected.

FTFY

 

[Neiltodd]

Never had any problems with my fire opal paint

I can imagine some fire opal cars might have been polished regularly , been garaged since day one or live in an environment with less daylight ? Or all 3 .

And like the 'MB rear subframe lottery' not all cars seem to be affected.

Possibly all 3, polished regularly, garaged and I live in NE Scotland (less daylight)

 

[Petrol Pete]

A bit like the Hypercar owners who have 'no issues' ....that's because you drive the car 200 miles a year...if that.