Anyone else have paint chips on hood?

[Stiggs]

Someone in the ML forum got me thinking. My 2003 CLK55 has a few paint chips on the hood already. They're not too big, but definitely noticable. Does this seem right to have paint chips so soon? I do drive the car on the highway some times, but I guess you can get rock chips on the back, country roads also. I'v ehad the car for a little over a year. I know my dealership probably won't give two craps about it, but hey, I even have that stupid siminoze system that the dealership threw in there for me. I'll have to check that out and keep you guys posted. I thought the paint should be a little stronger than that. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

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[Brunelleschi]

I whole-heartedly agree! I expect a few chip from ordinary wear and tear, but I feel like too many have appeared too quickly for a paint job that you would expect to hold up the highest standards.

Oh well...what can you do?

[Kar don]

Sorry bud, completely normal.... espcially since you have black (makes them even more visible). The pre-nano paint is very soft and chips EXTREMELY easily. People have said nano-paint is more durable regarding chipping but I have no experience with it. This is why you see the surge in popularity of the clear bra (for cars).

[Stiggs]

I don't think I could ever get myself to buy a clear bra or other film coatings for my car. It just isn't my cup of tea...no matter how many rock chips I get...its better than a bra on my car!!!

[Chappy]

None on my hood....and exactly three chips on the front end (I know cause I detailed the crap outta the CLK last weekend for a car show).

They key is to not tailgate and allow 3-4 car lengths from the car in front....less rocks/stones hit me that way.

[AndyAMG]

Just get it repainted.. Costly though!!

[cte430]

Originally Posted by AlBoston

Sorry bud, completely normal.... espcially since you have black (makes them even more visible). The pre-nano paint is very soft and chips EXTREMELY easily. People have said nano-paint is more durable regarding chipping but I have no experience with it. This is why you see the surge in popularity of the clear bra (for cars).

hey Ali, how are you? I was just thinking about this whole "nano" thing the other day. I had less chips when I had my E500 (pre nano) for the year I drove it, than I have now on my E55 that I got in May. The E500 was my daily driver. The AMG is not. If the nano is supposed to be harder to chip, i'm not seeing it.

[Stiggs]

After re-reading this thread I just came to the realization that I sound like a whiner!
To be honest...I don't care about the paint chips. They don't take away from the look of the car (IMHO).
But what I am worried about is the possibility of those paint chips rusting. Now that would suck. What do you guys suggest.....just waxing the hell out of them??? I refuse to put touch up paint on them. That could look worse.

[AMG///Merc]

I haven't taken an exact count, but I'd bet that I have more than a dozen chips on the front ehnd of my car, which is a 2003 with just over 14,000 miles on it. I think that while it may be normal, as Alboston mentioned, but I think that it is unacceptable for an $80,000 car. I go through a considerable amonut of effort to avoid chips too. I always keep a fair distance behind the cars in front of me, I won't drive anywhere near gravel trucks, or any large truck for that matter, and I am always careful to drive slowly on back roads that are dirty. Despite all of that, my front end is peppered with paint chips, enough to where a friend of mine who owns a body shop thought that Mercedes Benz should repaint the car under warranty. I think what is most telling is the fact that MB has "new, more chip resistant paint" for the 05 CLK55...


Best regards,
Matt

[mnymakr]

I am in total agreement I just waxed my car the other day and its seems like theres double the chips than the last time I did it!! Thats nutz IMO I was given the clear bra option and I turned it down and a repaint although necessary is money better spent elsewhere on the car I am nearing the 50k mileage mark and it gets worse everyday. I sure hope they dont start to rust since now I could be drivin through snow .


I dont even want to think how much a new paint job would cost; course I could switch the color then ; get away from the norms maybe.

[Kar don]

Originally Posted by cte430

hey Ali, how are you? I was just thinking about this whole "nano" thing the other day. I had less chips when I had my E500 (pre nano) for the year I drove it, than I have now on my E55 that I got in May. The E500 was my daily driver. The AMG is not. If the nano is supposed to be harder to chip, i'm not seeing it.

hey chris, im doin very well. Thats odd, i know awiner (Adam) said he has less chips now with his 03. I know my BMW sucks with paint chips, the side skirts are awful! I need to get them resprayed... but it wont be for a while. Nexttime im in NY (which is soon) I'll let u know.