I have a new deck lid for the '85 300D, of course it came from Germany in black primer. Took a few months, there was only one left in the USA warehouse system, and it was dented.
My question is, is this black primer a protective coat that needs to be sanded off before applying a primer/sealer? I remember years ago bodymen sanding the black coating off before applying any primer.

Alan

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'82 240D Stick
'85 300D Auto
Drove my first MB at age 16 1960 300SL W190

No. That is the E-coating. You can scuff it up some and knock down any irregularities but you do not want to remove it. Make sure you wear protective gear as this coating is toxic.

Yeah just sand it a bit so the primer has bite and go about your usual ways. I sand primer up to 2k grit (wet)

Is this E coating a rust preventative? What year did they start applying that?

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1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
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E coating is an electrically encouraged coating!

http://www.finishing.com/116/94.shtml

I don't know when it was introduced but my 81 300D has it (manufactured in 1980 according to the seat belts!)

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
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I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Cationic e-coat was first introduced in the '70's. On a Lincoln if I remember correctly.

The coating is the main reason why cars do not rust as much as they used to. It was developed by PPG in the late '60's, and it is probably the most brilliant automotive coating ever developed.

You do not want to sand it. Like a non-sanding refinish primer, it is full of lead and other heavy metals. I would not sand it at all if possible. Even though it can be glossy, it really needs no sanding to get a primer surfacer to stick.

One thing that is important: ecoat is an epoxy and cannot tolerate UV. Keep it out of the sun. I've seen ecoat chaulk in as little as 8 hours. Then you will have adhesion problems.

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