Just wanted to pass this along.

Looks like Mercedes has developed a new clear coat which is touted to be much harder than our current clear coats. Supposedly this clear coat will prevent scratches at the drive thru car washes and is also much more difficult to scratch in general.

They still have a great deal of development before production but supposedly it will happen.

Here is the Link: http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/index_e.htm?/news/dctv/dctv_e.htm

I'm really curious though what will happen if the car is damaged in an accident. This paint cures using UV Light not heat lamps and won't cure without precise amounts of UV. Will body shops have to redo their paint shops?

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

Saying PRECISE amounts of UV is like saying PRECISE amounts of sunlight. I think once it's cured enough then, well, it's enough. Sunlight has UV too, but exposure to sunlight doesn't mean it will magically uncure. I think they would just have to plug in a UV light.

Kuan

Well actually MB stated that it takes two minutes of curing time under a certain type of UV Lamp which has a predetermined wavelength. If the paint doesn't get enough of the UV light it will be too soft, if too much it will lose its flexibility and crack. To me this sounds like a disaster for body shops, imagine getting your car back after an accident and after a few weeks your paint starts to flake off. I hope that MB is also considering the "Real World" when they finally complete development of this paint.

Hmmm maybe now would be a good time to invest in a high tech paint shop!

__________________
Afshin

Current:
02 C32 AMG

Previous:
92 500E
84 190E 2.3 5 Spd

How thick and how many coats of clear coat are there? As far as I know, clearcoat is just a clear paint. They should have figured this out seven years ago!

Kuan