'91 300SE with gray bumper-trim.
My front bumper is starting to craze a bit on top. Looks like clearcoat coming off. Checked the codes, indicates there is indeed a clear coat on there.
But, the bumpers and trim are a very flat color, always have been since new.
Is there really a clear on these bumpers? maybe a less-shiny clear?

tks,
DG

There is a gloss reducing agent added to the clear coat to dull it. Probably so the irregularities in the plastic trim panels and bumpers aren't as noticeable.

I always assumed that the lower panels were a satin finish because they are closer to the ground and would hold up better to dirt and road debris than the glossy paint used in the metal panels of the rest of the car...

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Thanks. Yeah, a gloss reducing agent makes sense. Guess I'd better find a shop that knows about Mercedes to get it redone.

DG

When any body shop pulls up the paint code for the bumper cover it automaticlly tells them that the clear coat needs 10-20% of a "flopping" agent to make the clear..dull. Not a big deal

"flopping" agent ?

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