[Classy300C]

Wet sanded and buffed to a mirror finsh!

Our 300s are notorious for thier horrible "orange peel" paint. Its sad that we paid close to $40k and get such a bad paint job with these cars. So I had a body shop, who is experienced in wetsanding and buffing, do my car. Let me tell you...Wow! what a difference! the car is a mirror, not a speck of orange peel any more. It took the better part of two day to completely finish because the clear on these cars is rock hard. Factory Collision in Weymouth,MA did the work, they did it in three stages: first with 1200 sandpaper then with 2000 and finally with 3000. Let me warn you this is not something you want to watch and it is a little expensive because of all the labor involved. Here are some pics...Tell me what you guys think.

 

[Northern Rider]

That is an amazing finish! Got a couple of questions -

Did they respray the clear coat?

After buffing, what did you use to protect the surface - paint sealer? - carnauba wax?

 

[Classy300C]

That is an amazing finish! Got a couple of questions -

Did they respray the clear coat?

After buffing, what did you use to protect the surface - paint sealer? - carnauba wax?

They only resprayed the hood and I used Mothers FX Synwax this stuff is awesome is goes on thinker than other synthetic waxs and removal is breeze. Its gives the paint depth and richness

 

[CottyGee]

I looked into having this done, but the shop I spoke with recommended either removing the clear completely and reclearing the car, or leaving it be. They said that wetsanding would likely lead to clearcoat failure down the road. Since we plan on keeping the car for a long time, I decided to just live with the orange peel.

How much did it cost you?? By the way - the car looks incredible!

 

[bruno]

Looks glossy and very rich! I'm having hard time seeing the actual color...is it black? Interestingly, I have never noticed any orange peel effect on my bright silver C. Thanks for sharing.

bruno

 

[Classy300C]

More than I expected but then again isn't that usually the case. It cost a little over $1200 but thats with filling in the holes from the front plate, painting and installing a new grill and respaying my headlight covers.

 

[Classy300C]

Looks glossy and very rich! I'm having hard time seeing the actual color...is it black? Interestingly, I have never noticed any orange peel effect on my bright silver C. Thanks for sharing.

bruno

Yes it is black. Any little defect is easy seen on a black car and is hard as hell to keep clean. Colors like Cool vanilla and Silver wont show orange peel or dirt as easily

 

[CottyGee]

Colors like Cool vanilla and Silver wont show orange peel or dirt as easily

LOL!

I'll agree with Silver. But somehow it's pretty visible on a Cool Vanilla...

 

[chasb]

What year is the car?

I have an '06 Brilliant black and have no paint problems whatsoever. (hope I didnt jinx myself)

Our 300s are notorious for thier horrible "orange peel" paint. Its sad that we paid close to $40k and get such a bad paint job with these cars. So I had a body shop, who is experienced in wetsanding and buffing, do my car. Let me tell you...Wow! what a difference! the car is a mirror, not a speck of orange peel any more. It took the better part of two day to completely finish because the clear on these cars is rock hard. Factory Collision in Weymouth,MA did the work, they did it in three stages: first with 1200 sandpaper then with 2000 and finally with 3000. Let me warn you this is not something you want to watch and it is a little expensive because of all the labor involved. Here are some pics...Tell me what you guys think.

 

[Classy300C]

I have an '06 Brilliant black and have no paint problems whatsoever. (hope I didnt jinx myself)

Chasb
I have a 2006 with a 08/05 build date. Thats great you have good paint. Mine was horrible...really bad.. if you looked at the paint from an angle it looked bumby like an orange-peel. I've also read several threads on this. Consider yourself luck especially with black.

 

[moddog]

My car is Magnesium and the paint job was bad. Had lines in the clear coat that look like cracks the front bumper had black spots in the paint. And on the roof between the c pillar and b pillar there what look like hand prints in the paint. Some of the defects you could not see in the sun light but under fluorescent light you could. It has been in the dealers body shop 5 times for the paint . But I still Love the car.

 

[Northern Rider]

My June 04 build black C has some orange peel in places. Lots of paint sealant and buffing has minimised the blemishes, however.

A PITA, if you are a detailing perfectionist - but I just enjoy driving so much that it doesn't bother me.

 

[srt8danno]

Absolutely beautiful. I know black vehicles look amazing, but don’t hide a thing. My Ram SRT10 is black and came with a few scratches here and there. Those have been fixed. Luckily no orange peel. Keeping a black car looking great is a lot of work- so the $$ you spent was well worth it IMHO.

 

[cwcad]

Our 300s are notorious for thier horrible "orange peel" paint. Its sad that we paid close to $40k and get such a bad paint job with these cars. So I had a body shop, who is experienced in wetsanding and buffing, do my car. Let me tell you...Wow! what a difference! the car is a mirror, not a speck of orange peel any more. It took the better part of two day to completely finish because the clear on these cars is rock hard. Factory Collision in Weymouth,MA did the work, they did it in three stages: first with 1200 sandpaper then with 2000 and finally with 3000. Let me warn you this is not something you want to watch and it is a little expensive because of all the labor involved. Here are some pics...Tell me what you guys think.

Are you sure that last picture is not a hologram? Just kidding. Really shimmering. do not have the bucks to have that job done. Will just keep polishing and keep it clean. If it is shinyenough most won't see it anyway.

 

[RobAGD]

Every black 300 or Magnum I have seen close up have had the bumply finish to the paint. I am talking to the painter at my dads shop about having him wet sand and re shoot the clear. I am hoping I can work out a trade deal

-R

 

[charlie D]

Mirror finish

Our 300s are notorious for thier horrible "orange peel" paint. Its sad that we paid close to $40k and get such a bad paint job with these cars. So I had a body shop, who is experienced in wetsanding and buffing, do my car. Let me tell you...Wow! what a difference! the car is a mirror, not a speck of orange peel any more. It took the better part of two day to completely finish because the clear on these cars is rock hard. Factory Collision in Weymouth,MA did the work, they did it in three stages: first with 1200 sandpaper then with 2000 and finally with 3000. Let me warn you this is not something you want to watch and it is a little expensive because of all the labor involved. Here are some pics...Tell me what you guys think.

Great look !! Having a Black Baby is a labor of love,but once you have it down to your point,it's relatively easy to maintain.Just a litte bit of love stroking with the proper product and it's comments from everywhereI had a Black '76 (new) Grand Torino that I really kept up on and was always getting calls on the CB remarking on the color & shine.
Hoping to see you next Sunday.I'll try to research an E-mail I had received ( about 3 mos. back) with respect to a " new" Carnuba wax that leaves the wettest shine on blacks.If memory serves me right,it's been formulated specifically for blacks.I believe it was put out by Poor Boy's,but rest assurred,I will find it for you !! :banana: :smoker: :banana: :wink1:

 

[cwcad]

I'll try to research an E-mail I had received ( about 3 mos. back) with respect to a " new" Carnuba wax that leaves the wettest shine on blacks.If memory serves me right,it's been formulated specifically for blacks.I believe it was put out by Poor Boy's,but rest assurred,I will find it for you !! :banana: :smoker: :banana: :wink1:

In regards to that new product...please keep Forum/me informed also. Have two dark colored vehicle besides the 300 Touring. Always looking for a better product.

 

[charlie D]

product

In regards to that new product...please keep Forum/me informed also. Have two dark colored vehicle besides the 300 Touring. Always looking for a better product.

Got it ! It's Pinnacle ( natural brilliance ) Souveran. BTW "shame on me" this is what I have been using but not in the wax form as of yet.

Basically the product can be used as a system.
1) Paintwork Clensing Lotion:which is used to remove old wax buildup and
removes swirls as well as scuffs in the wax as my daughter produced
on the MB this winter when she decided to " scrape" icy snow off.

2) Liquid Souveran: A non-abrasive Carnauba wax, which I just finished
applying after intalling the paint matched Bezels.Ease of use leaving
a "wet" look & feel.

3) Souveran Paste Caranuba wax which I have not used yet.I intend
To order over winter so as to use in spring.I'll keep layering with
the liquid.

4) Souveran paste wax with bees wax blended with the Caranuba wax.
Logic dictates that this will be peffect for final finishing layers.

I didn't use the Cleansing lotion but the Liquid Soveran is everything stated above.It's very easy to do ( not an entire car quickie) but still on and off smooth & easy.The shine has a definate "wet" feel to it and is amazingly cool after hitting it with the buffer.In short excellant product.I went the liquid route because I wanted to test the quality of it prior to investing in the more expensive pastes.I will be going with the pastes !!!

 

[cwcad]

Got it ! It's Pinnacle ( natural brilliance ) Souveran. BTW "shame on me" this is what I have been using but not in the wax form as of yet.

Basically the product can be used as a system.
1) Paintwork Clensing Lotion:which is used to remove old wax buildup and
removes swirls as well as scuffs in the wax as my daughter produced
on the MB this winter when she decided to " scrape" icy snow off.

2) Liquid Souveran: A non-abrasive Carnauba wax, which I just finished
applying after intalling the paint matched Bezels.Ease of use leaving
a "wet" look & feel.

3) Souveran Paste Caranuba wax which I have not used yet.I intend
To order over winter so as to use in spring.I'll keep layering with
the liquid.

4) Souveran paste wax with bees wax blended with the Caranuba wax.
Logic dictates that this will be peffect for final finishing layers.

I didn't use the Cleansing lotion but the Liquid Soveran is everything stated above.It's very easy to do ( not an entire car quickie) but still on and off smooth & easy.The shine has a definate "wet" feel to it and is amazingly cool after hitting it with the buffer.In short excellant product.I went the liquid route because I wanted to test the quality of it prior to investing in the more expensive pastes. I will be going with the pastes !!!

Thank you for the comeback on the product. Am quite familiar with the Souveran paste. At present I have two full jars and one half jar of a third that I have been using as of late. It is a terrific product. Just finished a spit shine detail of the daughter's Ford Focus. It brought out the Flake so much my daughter finally noticed the flake in the paint. She had been driving the vehicle for almost three months.

Never heard of the Souveran with beeswax before. Will have to go to the Pinnacle site to read about this new product.

 

[Classy300C]

Always looking to try new products. If you look in my garage you'd think you were in the cleaner and wax aisle at Autozone. I've never used Souveran paste but will give it a swirl(bad pun)
Thanks Charlie