Cleaning The Paintwork; Matte Finish Care - Mercedes-Benz C-Class Operator's Manual

Care
332
! If the SmartKey is within the rear detec-
tion range of KEYLESS-GO, the following
situations, for example, could lead to the
unintentional opening of the trunk:
using a car wash
R
using a power washer
R
Make sure that the SmartKey is at least
10 ft (3 m) away from the vehicle.

Cleaning the paintwork

! Do not affix:
stickers
R
films
R
magnetic plates or similar items
R
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Remove dirt immediately, where possible,
X
while avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak insect remains with insect remover
X
and rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
X
off the treated areas afterwards.
Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin,
X
oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently
with a cloth soaked in petroleum ether or
lighter fluid.
Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X
Use silicone remover to remove wax.
X
If water no longer forms "beads" on the paint
surface, use the paint care products recom-
mended and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
This is the case approximately every three to
five months, depending on the climate con-
ditions and the care product used.
If dirt has penetrated the paint surface or if
the paint has become dull, the paint cleaner
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz should be used.
Do not use these care products in the sun or
on the hood while the hood is hot.
Use a suitable touch-up stick, e.g. MB
X
Touch-Up Stick, to repair slight damage to
the paintwork quickly and provisionally.

Matte finish care

! Never polish the vehicle or the light alloy
wheels. Polishing causes the finish to
shine.
! The following may cause the paint to
become shiny and thus reduce the matte
effect:
Vigorous rubbing with unsuitable mate-
R
rials.
Frequent use of car washes.
R
Washing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
R
! Never use paint cleaner, buffing or pol-
ishing products, or gloss preserver, e.g.
wax. These products are only suitable for
high-gloss surfaces. Their use on vehicles
with matte finish leads to considerable sur-
face damage (shiny, spotted areas).
Always have paintwork repairs carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
! Do not use wash programs with a hot wax
treatment under any circumstances.
Observe these notes if your vehicle has a
clear matte finish. This will help you to avoid
damage to the paintwork due to incorrect
treatment.
These notes also apply to light alloy wheels
with a clear matte finish.
The vehicle should preferably be washed by
hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo and
plenty of water.
Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of approved Mercedes-Benz
care products.