The Forum

Garage => Interiors & Exteriors => Topic started by: chazchuzzlewitt on 29 November 2006, 07:03 PM

Title: faded paintwork
Post by: chazchuzzlewitt on 29 November 2006, 07:03 PM
hello, the light metallic green on my 280 has faded in a slightly odd way, the most obvious being the rear either side of the boot lid, being the 'proper' colour on the left side, then it fades evenly behind the rear screen to a lighter shade on the other side... the boot lid itself is a uniform colour...is there any way to restore the colour without respraying?

(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/chazola/backnov06.jpg)
Title: Re: faded paintwork
Post by: oscar on 30 November 2006, 06:44 AM
Chaz I thought someone would've given a cure by now.  I'm hanging on for an answer too.  It's amazing but white (my car) isn't a safe bet either and has faded into different hues across the body.  I need a respray but looking at the red 280S, the fading parts I think could be compounded back as I believe it's surface discolouration that doesn't carry thru too far.  But I'd only want to compound it once properly.

I don't remember seeing your 280 before, nice colour!! I can't tell whether it's metallic or not.  If it's metallic, compounding the clear coat will make no difference to the fading. FWIW, of the few places my white 350 has changed hues, one of those areas is the same spot you've pictured.  The shine on your car looks so good, I too would avoid a respray if possible.

EDIT: yes it is metallic. Sorry just reread your post.  Because the clear coat looks so good in the pic, I'd assume it's the underlying paint that has faded and can't be changed unless the clear coat is removed first.  I'd say a respray would unfortunately be your only hope for that panel. 
PS; Be warned, that's just an uneducated guess.  I hope someone can say otherwise.
Title: Re: faded paintwork
Post by: s class on 01 December 2006, 04:05 AM
A respray will the the only fix.  From what you describe, this may not be due to fading.  It is possible that the one rear fender was repainted at some stage in a slightly too light colour.  It would have been standard practice to blend (feather) this into adjacent paintwork, creating the gradual transition effect.  CHeck also the tops of the C-pillars where such blending would also have been done, if such a respray indeed happened. 

Ryan
Title: Re: faded paintwork
Post by: alabbasi on 01 December 2006, 12:24 PM
It could also be that the clear coat is fading. Good body shop should be able to match the paint and blend it to one colour. Or you could get a cheap respray.