Paint faded...but some success stories!

[ps2cho]

Hi everybody,

I am very new to car detailing, but have been looking around this forum for a few days now and I already learned a lot.

I own an 1987 Mercedes 260E and an 1988 Mercedes 300TE.

The following pictures are from my 1987 260E.

The paint is reasonably good, but in some areas it has these faint faded patches...Is this anything can revive or is it done for?

The pictures below are before and after from using the Meg Paint Cleaner. First pic clearly shows the faded parts....It got rid of some of it, or at least made it look much better, but I pointed out the biggest patch in the 3rd pic.




AFTER Paint Cleaner










Any other products or techniques I should try to revive the paint?

I just used the Paint Cleaner + microfiber and buffed each panel for a good 30mins straight. Great workout

Thanks,
Robert

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

Do you know if this car has clear coat or not?

When you use a polish or compound, does it transfer paint pigment onto your towels or pads?

I can't tell if those blurry areas are possibly early clearcoat thinning, or simply rough areas likely from the use of something abrasive like old school rubbing compound or a dish washing pad.

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

Yes it has a clearcoat. Mercedes-Benz!

Does it transfer paint pigment? I would assume it does because the towel comes out black...I washed the car, tried and then applied the paint cleaner. So I shouldn't see the black on the towel as dirt, right?

The car does not have a good history...Not that I actually have ANY history with it. Get this...I found some ear-rings and a checkbook in the car and tracked the previous owner down and wrote her a letter saying I found some personal belongings. I eventually got a call a week later and she seemed..."disappointed" saying "oh that was it?"....She said she'd send me all the doc's she had on the car. Never heard from her again. What a....yeah...

Back on topic -- The car had not seen any maintenance for a while -- Engine is a dark red color from lack of oil changes although the car runs great now that I gave it some mechanical TLC. The paint though, I am struggling with.

This is just a DD...so I don't think I would want to spend any money getting it resprayed. Is there anything you could recommend me try doing?
About 1/2 the car looks great, the other half looks pretty shoddy with nicks and scratches all the way down.


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Is there anything I can do about scratches like these? Is this just a touch-up paint job?

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

I can't tell if those blurry areas are possibly early clearcoat thinning, or simply rough areas likely from the use of something abrasive like old school rubbing compound or a dish washing pad.

Kinda looks like something rough was rubbed there.

Yes it has a clearcoat. Mercedes-Benz!

Does it transfer paint pigment? I would assume it does because the towel comes out black...I washed the car, tried and then applied the paint cleaner. So I shouldn't see the black on the towel as dirt, right?

If your applicator and towel come out black, like paint black, then it is not clear coated. Naturally, the first cleaning may show a lot of dirt. So if you use a paint cleaner again, and still paint black, then it is pretty obvious.

This is just a DD...so I don't think I would want to spend any money getting it resprayed. Is there anything you could recommend me try doing?
About 1/2 the car looks great, the other half looks pretty shoddy with nicks and scratches all the way down.

Did you use the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner? I would step up to SwirlX next.

As far as the scratch in the last pic, is the gray green color the primer/plastic underneath? If so, not paint care product will help that.

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

Kinda looks like something rough was rubbed there.



If your applicator and towel come out black, like paint black, then it is not clear coated. Naturally, the first cleaning may show a lot of dirt. So if you use a paint cleaner again, and still paint black, then it is pretty obvious.



Did you use the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner? I would step up to SwirlX next.

As far as the scratch in the last pic, is the gray green color the primer/plastic underneath? If so, not paint care product will help that.

Thanks.

I believe it could be possible that the doors were resprayed....It seems odd the doors have this fading, yet the hood is almost perfect along with the roof and back end of the car.

I wonder if I could get the doors cheaply resprayed? It looks like all 4 are the same deal + one fender, but that fender has a dent so I am getting it done anyway.

I'll try finding the SwirlX product. I looked in Target, but they didn't have it, so I'll try elsewhere....Unfortunately I live in a place where I am furthest away from any costco, pepboys, walmart, autozone...all the good places Gotta drive a good 15miles to the nearest one.

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

If they were reprayed poorly with clear coat, it could be failing. But it just looks like it has rub marks/lines through it.

When you say fading, I am noticing one spot on the door in the pic, and one spot on the B-pillar. Those are the spots you are refering to correct? Are they in more places than that, or or just those 2?

Just wondering when you say there are more spots like them elsewhere?

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

So I went back after watching and reading how to tell if clearcoat is present and I can confirm that there is NO CLEARCOAT on my door's....The roof, hood and rear end is fine...So I guess the previous owner did a single stage paint on all the doors.

Anybody got any ballpark figures on how much $$ it would be to get doors only resprayed on it? Its an average size sedan.

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I also noticed today, there seems to be what looks like "oil" on top of the roof as its all multi-colored in the sunlight and streaks. It is also on the trunk lid. I washed it and noticed this even after drying.

Should I use anything before I start claying it? I don't want to bug up the clay or ruin its performance due to this. Any thoughts?

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PS: I am loving the ultimate quick wax. It's awesome!!
Also whats the deal with the replacement clay? Its $20 for 3...but you can get 2 along with quick detailer + paint cleaner for $20 in the full normal set Am I missing something here or is it really that expensive for a replacement kit? IMO it makes no sense to buy the replacement kit over the regular one.

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

The replacement kit comes with more clay.

As far as the oil, it might take a little experimenting. You can try claying a small area, see if it helps. Or a Bug and Tar remover, or a paint cleaner, or even some some Dawn.

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

The replacement kit comes with more clay.

As far as the oil, it might take a little experimenting. You can try claying a small area, see if it helps. Or a Bug and Tar remover, or a paint cleaner, or even some some Dawn.

Well I don't want to waste the clay if its basically $6 a piece...

Using some dishwashing soap just once shouldn't damage the paint too much right?

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

Exactly, only use Dawn when needed.

As far as the clay, it can be used several times, as well as for wheels/exhaust when it gets too dirty for paint and glass. I tend to cut the pieces in half to use as well, so I dont mess up a full piece if I screw something up.

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

I started using ColorX and it almost completely removed some obvious scratches! I am simply amazed, seriously.

How much of the scratch removal will it do? I can still see a faint line where the scratch was, but its very very thin. Should I keep going for a few more attempts with more pressure, or is that the best ColorX will do?

How much more abrasive is the Ultimate compound in comparison? Would it remove the scratch entirely without killing the clearcoat?

[BrianPow84]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

Ultimate compound is pretty abrasive it is a great product. I would recomend it but do a small spot first, as I have never done it on something without clear coat. Or if your not worried about an extra 8 dollars pick up some scratchX 2.0 that is less abrasive then the ultimate compound, but a little more than the swirlX

[ps2cho]

Re: Paint faded...but some success stories!

I figured what the heck and gave UC a try. It came out much better than I was expecting