Milky Red Merc

[deaves]

I have a 200E (93 on a k). It started out as red, but is gradually fading to a dusty pink! I've been told it's typical of older red pigments, after polishing it's ok for about a week, but then it fades again. My question is can I apply something that will prevent it oxydising again?

 

[190]

Try rubbing compound from spray paint suppliers, either G3 or G4 give it a good buffing with this then apply a good quality wax.

 

[landover]

Only thing to cover it is a coat of paint. When they start to turn pink the paint has lost its pigments. You can clean and rub every week but it will still come back to pink.Sorry to be the bearer of bad news......

 

[mike65]

Red esp light shades of red are deffo the worst for sun fade. A good go with t-cut is what I used to good effect on a previous red car. Just use it once only!

Mike.

 

[Mikesmerc]

Used G3 compound on mine then waxed it, came up very good. Lasted about two weeks, now back to pink. Rain the strong sunshine seems to accelerate the fading process. The beads of water seem to magnify the damaging rays from the sun. Repaint for mine, only cure.
Regards
Mike

 

[Apial]

My '91 car is Almandine Red. It has not faded yet. This must be because it is has spent nearly its whole life garaged when not in use. If you want to prolong your paint life, then keep your car in the shade if you can. Perhaps use a car cover if that is not possible.

Sorry that this is a bit like "trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted" to some owners.

 

[Bolide]

Fading Red cars

Almandine Red cars have metallic paint so they are painted base coat then lacquer. The base coat is metallic and the lacquer is clear. The lacquer protects the paint and it doesn't tend to fade

Non-metallic cars are just painted. There's no lacquer coat on a car that age so they will tend to fade - and red seems to be the worst colour for this

A respray is the cure; weekly cleaning and waxing will keep it looking as good as it can

I wouldn't go anywhere near any car with T-Cut. Just use a good, very mildly abrasive polish then wax it. Professional spivvers (valeters) will use G5 cutting compound and a power mop to bring paint back up but - as you've found - the effect of abrasives is short-lived and the paint damage is cumulative


Nick Froome
http://www.w124.co.uk

 

[landover]

My '91 car is Almandine Red. It has not faded yet. This must be because it is has spent nearly its whole life garaged when not in use. If you want to prolong your paint life, then keep your car in the shade if you can. Perhaps use a car cover if that is not possible.

Sorry that this is a bit like "trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted" to some owners.

Your car will not fade .It is mettalic

 

[Apial]

Well I'm going to use the four letter F word then. I have a Rosso Speed Red F*** and it is flat red but with a clear laquer coat. It has faded to more shades than Joseph's coat. I can't even T-cut it because of the clear coat on top.

The only way to fix it is to respray the whole car. Now another car, an even older Volvo I had, that was red with no clear coat, T-cut nicely back to the original red colour.

Flat red beneath a clear coat still fades if it is a Fiat. Ooops I let it slip out, sorry!