[mcdec]

I am not sure if it is just my car but the interior paint finish (like in the engine hood, trunk) are flat color and is unfinished vs a glossy exterior finish.. This is so unlike all the other cars I've owned ( a Lexus, Honda, Jeep and yes even a hyundai!) where all painted surfaces are glossy and smooth .

[mcdec]

Hmmm 63 views and no response. So am I the only one with the problem with the cars interior finish?

[67bmer]

that has been typical for BMWs for quite a while now.

My e36 is the same way.

In the long run, it probably looks better.

[fw10ring]

My guess, no clear coat on the inside.

[meruyailir]

Mine got clear coat on the inside of the trunk, glossy.

[E90Fleet]

Its due to not having clearcoat on the inside parts

Munich built cars are slightly different from the others, because they still spray on the clearcoat, whereas the other factories use the powdered clearcoat that is baked on

[BK]

E90Fleet, you are the shizznit.

[voltron1011]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Munich built cars are slightly different from the others, because they still spray on the clearcoat, whereas the other factories use the powdered clearcoat that is baked on

That's interesting... I would think that the powder clear-coat would be better. Anything that gets baked on (like powder coating paint) usually means it'll be very strong and resistant to chips, cracks, and generally looks much better over the years. Any reason Munich still sprays their clear?

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by voltron1011

That's interesting... I would think that the powder clear-coat would be better. Anything that gets baked on (like powder coating paint) usually means it'll be very strong and resistant to chips, cracks, and generally looks much better over the years. Any reason Munich still sprays their clear?

The powder one is the newer one, and requires a complete new application and baking system. They just havent got round to converting all the factories yet, sice it requires a lot of down time and money

[picus]

Could you be more specific about this powder coated clear? It's my understanding that all clear coats (aside from ceramiclear) are sprayed on after base coats, then baked - hence issues like orange peel. Ceramiclear of course is a powder that is applied and baked on. You might be talking about that, I'm not sure. If so, only Mercedes uses it at this point. Of course there are single stage paints, but it's my understanding that BMW hasn't used those for quite some time (I've not encountered any on a BMW).

Anyway, bottom line is that BMW doesn't clear the interior paint; so it's a matte single stage with the enamels of a clear built in. No big deal.

[voltron1011]

Picus, if anyone knows about anything BMW related, it's Fleet. His word is 'gospel.'

[picus]

I'm not saying it's not; I think the issue is we're talking about the same thing just in a different way. Modern clear coats are still "sprayed" on to cars, even though a large percentage of the material is now solid to reduce particulate loss into the air; so it's like a "sprayed powder coat" to an extent. It's my understanding that most manufacturers are using at least 50% solid state clear coat now, including BMW. I know some manufacturers are using dry powder coats (BMW isn't one of them), but it's my understanding that those manufacturers still represent a small part of the industry. I'd just like more imformation on it since it impacts my business.

FWIW, all cars are baked at the factory whether they are sprayed, powder coated, etc... Actually they're all baked twice, once after the base coat and once after clear (unless single stage), baking isn't the issue, the actual paint used is.

Cheers.

[voltron1011]

Nice info, picus...