Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

[Maserati Mario]

I, and I'm sure you, have seen all the cracked lacquer on Mercedes dashes. Nothing makes a Benz look like a cheap import by having a cracked dash.
I'm going to and fix these on mine by sanding and applying new lacquer.

Shouldn't Meguiar's have products for this problem? They started out dealing with furniture so why haven't they tackled this problem?

There are hundreds of thousands Benz's on the road, aren't we missing out fixing or preventing this?
Any opinion on this?
Also what do you do to prevent this from happening?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

We focus on cleaning, polishing and protecting good paint.

Painter's focus on replacing bad paint with new good paint.

Both industries are important but we tend to stick with the polishing side of the industry.

Now you bring this Mercedes-Benz by our next "Open Garage" so we can see your success!

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

"We focus on cleaning, polishing and protecting good paint."

I'm not understanding this statement, you have interior products, so why are you overlooking this major problem?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

Contact the manufacture, see what Mercedes-Benz has to offer you for a product or remedy for the problem and then post back here with what they tell you.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

Contacted Fletcher Jones and they said they have nothing for that.
Contaced MBUSA and awaiting a call back...?

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

Well MB just told me they have nothing for this.
So I guess as professionals we can't do anything about this major problem with this expensive line of cars and trucks?
What about your furniture line?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

If the lacquer paint on the dash is indeed cracked, often times this is called, "Lacquer Cracking" and it looks like how lake bed dries up and the mud gets cracks everywhere in it, then there's no product you can pour out of a bottle that will fix the problem.

The only honest solution is to repaint the dash or whatever the component is that this is affecting.

The true problem is the cracks in the paint on not on the paint but throughout the matrix of the layer of paint, thus nothing topically applied will address the problem.

Good to see you actually contact the manufacture and a well known dealership to see what they would say, we were not surprised by their answers.

Best of luck to you and however the way you find to remedy the problem, you might just have to explain to the owner, (if this is a customer's car), what the problem is and how it should be fixed. Then let the customer decide if it's worth it to them to locate a painter that will accept the project.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

I just talked to my Master Craftsman friend and he said it's a reisn that's on there. He doens't know of a product to keep it from cracking.
So I guess the only option right now is;
1) remove the piece
2) sand flat
3) apply new resin

I'm still looking for prevention of this, so your thoughts are more than welcome. Also I'm looking for an "in car" options.

[alfa_164s]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

There is nothing to prevent. All companies use wood but the problem is that they apply it to metal. The clear, the wood and the metal expend and contract with heat / cold and since they dont expend the same way, with time, sometimes within 1 1/2 year, it crack. Jag is the same BM even Rolls Royce.
I work for a wood dash company and that is what the foam tape in the back doe. Absorbs the stress of the plastic and the kit itself.
Now what year is your MB? I may have a piece same wood color to fix.

[alfa_164s]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

BTW nice Biturbo there. what is the story bout it?

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

BTW nice Biturbo there. what is the story bout it?

My BT. I drove one when they first came out and always wanted one. I've now got two. I'm rebuilding the motor on my white one (85) and my red one (84) will be a show car.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

I just talked to my Master Craftsman friend and he said it's a resin that's on there.
.

Resin is kind of a catch-all term for all kinds of things, including things like paint and plastic.

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

So I'm going to Newport Harbor!
Apparently "boat/yacht" people have there wood fixed all the time!

[MyFirstES300]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

Well, good luck with your mission!

[Maserati Mario]

Re: Mercedes Benz Lacquer Cracks

You know I'll find the answer some day!