My rough looking 84 500SL appears to have single stage paint. The paint is pretty rough looking as you can see in the picture, but with a bit of wet sanding and buffing. I got a pretty decent shine.

The paint looks to be original and it looks to be single stage. Would this be correct for an 84?

__________________
With best regards

Al

The red on my '88 was still single stage. AFAIK only the metallic paints in the late 80's used clear coat.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles

I know for the US cars/trucks, the basecoat/clearcoats started in the mid-90s. I've often wondered when MB started.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Good deal! I think I can save the paint then!

__________________
With best regards

Al

Color code 040 black was single stage paint in the W126 and W124 cars up until 1995.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

When the W116 450SE/SEL came out, it looked like they had clear coat. I could be wrong about that.

My 89 300SE has clear coat because some areas are peeling.

__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.

have been 2 stage since sometime in the 70's IIRC - even Mercedes.

Thanks for the tip on the Black code 040 - I will look for that when I am shopping the next one - I hate clearcoat peel!

John in San Antonio
(whose 300E is definitely NOT code 040)

__________________
John Hughes, was in Landstuhl, Germany but currently in San Antonio, TX


1978 280CE Astral Silver now 59,xxx miles and counting "Silber-Kugel"
1986 300E Black Pearl Metallic 143,xxx miles 5-spd daily driver w/ blk leather "Schwarz-Schönheit"
1989 190E 2.6 (euro) 5-spd Desert Taupe 112,xxx kms Had to leave behind in Germany!!! "Helga"
1983 300D Pastel Beige now 312,xxx + miles SOLD

OBK#24

That is interesting; it explains why my AMG looks incredibly good after 26 years.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600