Protective laminated plastic near Rear wheels?

[Matteus]

Guess we'll have to leave them on then. Bit annoying as they'll always stand out to the discerning eye!! Better than stone chips on the paintwork though....

[TheRealOrosie]

Originally Posted by southlight

Let me put it that way, all of them are supposed to have the side protective film.


Best regards,
south

Maybe BMW should let their dealers know to not peel off the protective film...lol.

[Tony_YYZ]

It's definitely a nice touch. Even my 09 Civic Si Sedan has that protection from factory.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Matteus

Guess we'll have to leave them on then. Bit annoying as they'll always stand out to the discerning eye!! Better than stone chips on the paintwork though....

They are an eyesore to me. I can't do it!

[Matteus]

Originally Posted by Tony_YYZ

It's definitely a nice touch. Even my 09 Civic Si Sedan has that protection from factory.

...and who wouldn't want to emulate one of those....

[Matteus]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

They are an eyesore to me. I can't do it!

I know exactly what you mean, but 3 months down the road, as you look at your eviscerated paintwork, you might think differently........It's a tricky one for sure!

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Matteus

I know exactly what you mean, but 3 months down the road, as you look at your eviscerated paintwork, you might think differently........It's a tricky one for sure!

I never have eviscerated paintwork. I take care of my cars and don't follow closely. Barring any exceptional situations, my bumpers aren't littered with rock chips. The exceptional situations that I've experienced would have damaged the paint/bumper, clear bra or not.

[GOLFFRR]

We wont be taken them off on any cars we PDI'd. I think its pretty slick for BMW to have that on there.

[acey81]

They have been in the M3s I've seen. Will see if it's on mine tomorrow.

[Matteus]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I never have eviscerated paintwork. I take care of my cars and don't follow closely. Barring any exceptional situations, my bumpers aren't littered with rock chips. The exceptional situations that I've experienced would have damaged the paint/bumper, clear bra or not.

I thought the protection is there to protect the paintwork from stones thrown up by your own front wheels rather than cars in front of you. Otherwise, why not put it on the front bumper as well??

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Matteus

I thought the protection is there to protect the paintwork from stones thrown up by your own front wheels rather than cars in front of you. Otherwise, why not put it on the front bumper as well??

I've never had an issue with previous M3's or X5's, so I doubt I will on this car either. FWIW, many people did with the X5's (..see below); it was a noted issue. I guess I just don't drive on crappy, pebble/rock laden roads.

[rubber_ducky]

My cayman had a similar film. It needed to cover more area, but for the area that was covered, it worked well.

As noted above already, 911s have worn these for decades.

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I never have eviscerated paintwork. I take care of my cars and don't follow closely. Barring any exceptional situations, my bumpers aren't littered with rock chips. The exceptional situations that I've experienced would have damaged the paint/bumper, clear bra or not.

If you plan on taking your car to the track (as your location implies), do you plan on keeping your distance there and never overtaking anybody?

Driving 10 yards in a car without much sound insulation in the wheel wells will confirm that the track isn't swept daily.

I would certainly not remove it. It's barely visible and doesn't negatively impact the car in any way. If it were black, like the pictured 911, then that's another story.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

If you plan on taking your car to the track (as your location implies), do you plan on keeping your distance there and never overtaking anybody?

Driving 10 yards in a car without much sound insulation in the wheel wells will confirm that the track isn't swept daily.

You'll notice that I said "on two wheels". I have race bikes for that. I don't track my daily drivers (..anymore!).

[rubber_ducky]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

You'll notice that I said "on two wheels". I have race bikes for that. I don't track my daily drivers (..anymore!).

Ha! I was thinking of 2 (of 4) wheels clipping an apex.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Ha! I was thinking of 2 (of 4) wheels clipping an apex.

It makes sense. I just needed to clarify.

[kriegs]

Originally Posted by Matteus

Related question then for all you detailers out there: How should we treat the film when it comes to sealing/waxing? Just apply products in the same way, or leave them untouched when detailing the car? I ask because (slightly sadly), my first task when I get the car will be to get the car home and apply a paint sealer whilst the paintwork is unblemished.

That is why I asked what it is as with Xpel you can certainly wax over it.

[rmedeir1]

Originally Posted by Matteus

Test drove a MW M4 at my dealer yesterday, and yes, it had this on both sides. I asked the salesman about this and he said that because of the way the front wheels protrude out of the side, the car is prone to stone chips in the area shown in the photo at the beginning of this thread. I've never heard of this before, and I wonder whether the front wheels really protrude any more than other cars? Have any existing owners had any problems of this nature?

This guy is right and is exactly what my dealer told me. However, there are other films that hide much more easily and will be replacing it. If your dealer took it off then they need to put it back on.

[moorfan]

My M3 came with the film, two pieces per wheel arch. The only problem was that the individual who installed the film (I'm guessing at the factory) trapped a black fingerprint and a hair under the film on my AW vehicle. On the other side, there was a chunk of yellow goop from the doors under the film there.

Very sloppy. Goes along with the numerous scratches and poorly compounded paint defects that came with mine.

[Kief]

I'm brining this Thread back up, especially for AW/MW owners, as for the life of me I cannot get the dirt which collects along the film edge clean! The dirt makes it look like there is a scratch along the outside edge of the film and I want to know what others have used to clean it? The dirt collected along the seam is not going to be a problem for darker colors, but with white it looks really bad.

[robertg]

I also have an AW M3 and I use a cotton swab wetted with soap around the edges. It get's 95% of the dirt out of there but there basically nothing you can do. Small price to pay.

I have XPEL on my front hood, fenders, bumpers and mirrors. Except for the mirrors (which is impossible to do) I had my installer wrap the edges around the end of the panels.

[Kief]

Originally Posted by robertg

I also have an AW M3 and I use a cotton swab wetted with soap around the edges. It get's 95% of the dirt out of there but there basically nothing you can do. Small price to pay.

I have XPEL on my front hood, fenders, bumpers and mirrors. Except for the mirrors (which is impossible to do) I had my installer wrap the edges around the end of the panels.

Thanks Robert

I just used some cleaner wax and my fingernail to rub out the dirt. What a PIA! There has to be a product of some sort that can remove the grim more easily. I'm nervous using my fingernail in order to get at the edge. I tried a plastic razor blade-specifically for detailing tight areas, but no go.

Anyone have a product they would recommend?

[cipri]

my M3 has the film on both sides

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

It hasn't been on any ///M3's that I've seen.