The highway is killing my paint !! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

slowmoe · #1 08-23-2003, 08:19 PM

I drive 30-40K a year on the highway - primarily 95 between NYC and DC. Yes, this is one of the most heavily travel stretches of highway in the world. I am trying my best to protect my car from the obvious abuses that go with this territory.

A few stories:

No too long ago I was caught behind a dump truck actually carrying sand on the highway going 80+ with no cover. I swear I thought that I would not have any paint left after that. A day or two later, I has behind another rig w/o a trailor - keeping my distance when one of his oil gaskets let go. I was sprayed from bow to stern with what must have been a gallon of well used diesel oil. Finally, I was once behind a mini van that ran over a large piece of exhaust. This ruptured the van's fuel line thus again spaying my with a ton of unleaded. I could go on forever.

The most punished areas on my beloved E300 are:

1) The front air dam
2) The head lights, turn signals and fog lights (It think I replaced everyone on my last 124)
3) Wheels
4) Rearview mirrors

They are all in great shape now and I want to keep them that way. Aside from the normal "good coat of wax," which I do faithfully (Goldclass or Griot's) what can I do to PROTECT from these offences. I am willing to go to another wax that is more resistant to abuse in exchange for shine, ease of applicating, etc...

Benzmeister · #2 08-23-2003, 10:07 PM

There are several companies that sell 3M platic covering for cars. I have some on my headlights on my 99 C280, also you can buy precut for the front parts, ie airdam, front of hood, review mirrors, contact you local dealer I am sure they can steer you. Also I noticed you use Griots, in their catalog they sell the stuff for headlights, I did the install on the headlights my self not hard, on other parts of the body, it is a bit more difficult as the plastic is thinner then the headlights, The stuff last I had a Z3 and had the bumpers down at a local body shop and when I sold the car 3 years later there wasn't a mark on the bumper.