Soft paint?

networkguy · 02-09-2008, 04:24 PM

Like everybody else on here by the looks of things I have been out this afternoon washing the car.

It's now got 4500 miles on the clock.

Now today in the sunshine I have spotted 5 or 6 stone chips on the bonnet. Nothing major and only if you look for them but they are there none the less.

Now after so few miles I am thinking that this seems to be higher than I wuld expect at this stage. On my last car I only picked up a could in 2 years. At this rate, in 2 years time the bonnet will need a respray.

So is the BMW paint soft? Are others seeing this or is it just a bit of bad luck that I have picked up a few in a short period of time?

Thanks

Z4 Beemer · 02-09-2008, 04:46 PM

On forums like detailingworld.com, the consensus seems to be that modern Germanic paintwork is very hard - hence the need for machine polishers to remove swirl marks.

madman · 02-09-2008, 04:47 PM

I got a stone chip on the very first day of ownership.

What really pissed me off was the fact that I didn't even hear anything hit the bonnet!!

I don't think it was there when i picked it up but I've no idea when I got it.

They are unfortunately a fact of life.

But yeah. The paint does seem very soft.

SoYank · 02-09-2008, 05:47 PM

I think it has something to do with the paint being water based instead of solvent based in order to protect the environment.

Gibbo · 02-09-2008, 05:59 PM

I am not totally sure on this but I think new paint takes time to dry and cure fully. But I do agree and feel the paint on new BMWs is poor.

roofer · 02-09-2008, 06:05 PM

Thanks to the tree huggers, solvent based paints are outlawed, which means BMW use water based paint, which is very hard. So when a constipated fly, dumps on it, it chips

I've got 28k up, front bumper/bonnet need painting.

SDRX · 02-10-2008, 03:21 AM

I think environment concerns/law have had significant effects on the strength of paint layers. I am approaching 2000 miles on my car and have already got a stone chip on the front bumper, feels great

Cafe.Racer · 02-10-2008, 03:28 AM

I don't have stone chips, but I have an odd chip one the drvier's side rear door, close to the driver's side front door handle, right on the swage line.

Looks like a ding from another door, but there's no dent just a flaked off piece off paint about 4mm dia.

Never seen anything like it.

waybar17 · 02-10-2008, 03:35 AM

On delivery, my car had automatic car wash swirls from the dealer - I could have cried.

My next door neighbour works for BMW GB, and he introduced me to 3M Finesse-IT to remove them.

creepy coupe · 02-10-2008, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofer

BMW use water based paint, which is very hard. So when a constipated fly, dumps on it, it chips

I've got 28k up, front bumper/bonnet need painting.

Yet I only have to look at mine and picks up swirl marks and light scratches

RichardM · 02-10-2008, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofer

Thanks to the tree huggers, solvent based paints are outlawed, which means BMW use water based paint, which is very hard. So when a constipated fly, dumps on it, it chips

As do all manufacturers now, its not just BMW. If you look on any forum these days, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc you'll see a post like this complaining about the paint!

roofer · 02-10-2008, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardM

As do all manufacturers now, its not just BMW. If you look on any forum these days, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus etc you'll see a post like this complaining about the paint!

Doesn't make me any happier

SDRX · 02-10-2008, 05:54 AM

As always consumers are always to suffer in government/EU campaigns to save the environment. We get slammed with "eco" taxes and laws, and in return get what seems like inferior product quality. Great double whammy treatment

SoYank · 02-10-2008, 05:59 AM

There is such a thing called a vote. Exercise it.

Z4 Beemer · 02-10-2008, 06:04 AM

Its the 'orange peel' paint effect that looks pretty unsightly IMO.

SDRX · 02-10-2008, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

There is such a thing called a vote. Exercise it.

Thank you for reminding me and at my age i have only been able to vote twice. The political system here is deeply flawed, both major parties are different shades of the same political spectrum, and once elected they largely ignore majority public opinion on major issues.

Voting may well be an essential part of a democracy, its what happens between elections that we have no control over.

Z4 Beemer · 02-10-2008, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDRX

Voting may well be an essential part of a democracy, its what happens between elections that we have no control over.

How very true... well put!

SoYank · 02-10-2008, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDRX

Voting may well be an essential part of a democracy, its what happens between elections that we have no control over.

Which makes it all that much more important that you vote for the liar that will lie to you the least.

SDRX · 02-10-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

Which makes it all that much more important that you vote for the liar that will lie to you the least.

Sound great

Makes me wonder why we export and enforce democracies elsewhere, when it is actively decaying and failing at home. And the best symptom of this: the record low turnout at the last UK general election.

The way we are governed and the relative impunity which politicians enjoy, those are the key problems.

NFS · 02-10-2008, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roofer

Thanks to the tree huggers, solvent based paints are outlawed, which means BMW use water based paint, which is very hard. So when a constipated fly, dumps on it, it chips

I've got 28k up, front bumper/bonnet need painting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDRX

As always consumers are always to suffer in government/EU campaigns to save the environment. We get slammed with "eco" taxes and laws, and in return get what seems like inferior product quality. Great double whammy treatment

Calm down guys .. it's not about the tree huggers. The VOC's in solvent based paints are now generally understood to be carcinogenic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_organic_compound

By the way .. I like trees .. I even own a book called 'meetings with remarkable trees':

SDRX · 02-10-2008, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by needforspeed

By the way .. I like trees .. I even own a book called 'meetings with remarkable trees':

I wanna borrow it

Z4 Beemer · 02-10-2008, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDRX

I wanna borrow it

We have a tree lined driveway - 5 plane trees down either side of it. If we don't trim them every couple of years, they grow quite rapidly and form an arch over the driveway. Its like driving through a tunnel

02-09-2008, 04:24 PM	#1
networkguy Private First Class 12 Rep 168 Posts Drives: 335D SE Touring Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincolnshire UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 (08MY) 335D SE ... [0.00]	Soft paint? Like everybody else on here by the looks of things I have been out this afternoon washing the car. It's now got 4500 miles on the clock. Now today in the sunshine I have spotted 5 or 6 stone chips on the bonnet. Nothing major and only if you look for them but they are there none the less. Now after so few miles I am thinking that this seems to be higher than I wuld expect at this stage. On my last car I only picked up a could in 2 years. At this rate, in 2 years time the bonnet will need a respray. So is the BMW paint soft? Are others seeing this or is it just a bit of bad luck that I have picked up a few in a short period of time? Thanks Last edited by networkguy; 02-09-2008 at 04:51 PM..
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02-09-2008, 04:46 PM	#2
Z4 Beemer Colonel 84 Rep 2,353 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [8.00]	On forums like detailingworld.com, the consensus seems to be that modern Germanic paintwork is very hard - hence the need for machine polishers to remove swirl marks. __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver
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02-09-2008, 04:47 PM	#3
madman Major 108 Rep 1,252 Posts Drives: The Above Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincolnshire, UK iTrader: (0)	I got a stone chip on the very first day of ownership. What really pissed me off was the fact that I didn't even hear anything hit the bonnet!! I don't think it was there when i picked it up but I've no idea when I got it. They are unfortunately a fact of life. But yeah. The paint does seem very soft. __________________ If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space.
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02-09-2008, 05:47 PM	#4
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	I think it has something to do with the paint being water based instead of solvent based in order to protect the environment. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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02-09-2008, 05:59 PM	#5
Gibbo Colonel 104 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: Golf Ed35 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South East iTrader: (0)	I am not totally sure on this but I think new paint takes time to dry and cure fully. But I do agree and feel the paint on new BMWs is poor. __________________ Golf Ed35 Black with - Black Leather
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02-09-2008, 06:05 PM	#6
roofer Lieutenant 21 Rep 584 Posts Drives: 335D M Saloon Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Essex iTrader: (0)	Thanks to the tree huggers, solvent based paints are outlawed, which means BMW use water based paint, which is very hard. So when a constipated fly, dumps on it, it chips I've got 28k up, front bumper/bonnet need painting.
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02-10-2008, 03:21 AM	#7
SDRX Captain 204 Rep 741 Posts Drives: 540i M Sport 2018 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Midlands UK iTrader: (0)	I think environment concerns/law have had significant effects on the strength of paint layers. I am approaching 2000 miles on my car and have already got a stone chip on the front bumper, feels great
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02-10-2008, 03:28 AM	#8
Cafe.Racer Captain 27 Rep 896 Posts Drives: 320d Touring Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Nottingham, UK iTrader: (1)	I don't have stone chips, but I have an odd chip one the drvier's side rear door, close to the driver's side front door handle, right on the swage line. Looks like a ding from another door, but there's no dent just a flaked off piece off paint about 4mm dia. Never seen anything like it. __________________ Phil
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02-10-2008, 03:35 AM	#9
waybar17 Private 10 Rep 55 Posts Drives: E93M3, F10 M5, E70X5, F11 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Doncaster, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2000 Westfield SEiW [0.00] 2013 BMW F11 520d [0.00] 2012 BMW E70 X5 [0.00] 2010 BMW E93 M3 [0.00] 2012 BMW F10 M5 [0.00]	On delivery, my car had automatic car wash swirls from the dealer - I could have cried. My next door neighbour works for BMW GB, and he introduced me to 3M Finesse-IT to remove them. __________________ E93 M3 F10 M5 Westfield Carbon E70 X5 F11
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02-10-2008, 05:54 AM	#13
SDRX Captain 204 Rep 741 Posts Drives: 540i M Sport 2018 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Midlands UK iTrader: (0)	As always consumers are always to suffer in government/EU campaigns to save the environment. We get slammed with "eco" taxes and laws, and in return get what seems like inferior product quality. Great double whammy treatment
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02-10-2008, 05:59 AM	#14
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	There is such a thing called a vote. Exercise it. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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02-10-2008, 06:04 AM	#15
Z4 Beemer Colonel 84 Rep 2,353 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive 23i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 E92 [0.00] 2004 Z4 2.2i [8.00]	Its the 'orange peel' paint effect that looks pretty unsightly IMO. __________________ E89 Z4 sDrive 23i... for the more discerning driver
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