What colors are painted?

[SnakeFarm]

I read somewhere that the body panels are just blown with whatever color plastic they are going to be and that they are not really painted. Then I read that the red, silver and the blue are actually white that have been painted which kind of sucks because I really like the "solid" concept. I had my eye on the red until I got a better look at it and decided the "Tomato Soup" was just too enchalada looking for me. THat leaves me with white, black or yellow and I'm leaning black so...

Can anyone tell me if the black is going to be solid or painted?

[Karl Roth]

the body colors they charge more for i believe are painted.
the metallics for sure.
karl

[Gortok]

Black, White and Yellow are molded solid color.
That is, you can cut the panel all the way through and it's the same color...

Blue, silver and red are painted over the black panels...

[stevenvillatoro]

Originally Posted by Gortok

Black, White and Yellow are molded solid color.
That is, you can cut the panel all the way through and it's the same color...

Blue, silver and red are painted over the black panels...

I've been doing some research to determine if the above statements are correct, and it looks like there may have been some confusion. At 800-SMARTUSA, they told me tonight that all colors are molded in, and have a clearcoat, as well. Certain colors, however, are made with WATER-soluble paint. All tridion cells are powder-coated.

According to smartusa.com, "For example, only water-soluble paints are used for the smart's three basic colors – black, white and yellow. Painting the tridion safety cell is done by the powder-coating process. This removes the need for solvents. The body panels with molded-in color are fully recyclable."

Before delaying your order to change to a molded-in color, as I almost did when I read the former post, check it out further and verify! It appears that all colors may be molded into the plastic. (I hope.)

[stevenvillatoro]

I found additional information that seems to support the idea that ALL colors of body panels on the 2nd-generation 451 use a new plastic technology that allows EVERY color to be molded-in, with a clear lacquer topcoat. See highlighted text below:

PLASTAL PP BODY PANEL HONORED, by David Vink
PLASTICS & RUBBER WEEKLY

NEUSS, GERMANY (Dec. 6, 11:50 a.m. EST) -- Sweden’s Plastal Group AB helped convince Mercedes-Benz to switch to polypropylene for the body panels on its latest Smart ForTwo car, and has taken home an award for its efforts.

The Society of Plastics Engineers Central Europe on Oct. 22 awarded the first prize for body exterior applications to Kungälv, Sweden-based Plastal for use of a Borealis Daplen ED230HP compound for molded-in-color body panels of the latest Smart ForTwo model.

Mercedes introduced the electric Smart ForTwo to the market in January with the first-ever molded-in-color automotive exterior panel in PP with a one-layer protective, clear lacquer coating.

The 20 percent mineral-filled, elastomer-modified PP compound has replaced the traditional clear-coated Smart polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate body panel that had been used on the Smart ForTwo.

When presenting the award, Rudolf Fernengel, chairman of SPE’s Central Europe division, said the Borealis material performs better than PC/PBT in the application due to its lower specific gravity and a 0.1-millimeter thinner wall section, resulting in 20 percent weight savings. Also, the new material’s flow enables shorter flow paths and a less-complex hot-runner system. Fernengel added that color streaking — which occurs with PC/PBT and requires some molded-in-color panels to be painted — has been eliminated, together with some blister development, Fernengel said.

Schneider Form, Karl Krumpholz GmbH & Co. KG and R.S. Mecanica made the tools for the PP panels. As with the PC/PBT panels, Plastal (formerly Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff) injection molds the parts on Krauss-Maffei machines at the Smart site in Hambach, France.

[tbranca]

the blue is painted. I saw black chips in the front bumpper at the dc ride last week. and when I asked they told me only white black and yellow are NOT PAINTED. the others chip.

[Carnut]

Posted by me on 11/19/07 I finally heard back from the actual panel manufacturer regarding color application:

"The metallic colours are obtained by conventional painting. The
yellow/white and deep black is mass coloured Daplen ED230HP painted only with a clear coat (so called MIC - moulded in colour).

Borealis Compounds LLC"

[stevenvillatoro]

Thanks for that information. Looks like I'll be switching configurations, even though it'll likely mean a 1-2 month delay. Grrrrrr.

[oldgit61]

you can always have it painted to a colour
you like after.
my friend, cathy,s smart:-
pink/grey pearlecence



tony [ oldgit61 ]

[Sierra Shark]

Do you suppose for an extra fee I could talk them into doing mine in Mossey Oak Camo? The frame could be done in moss green metallic poder coat.