BMW paint is teh crap!

HyperM3 · 04-20-2007, 07:10 PM

So Im finally washing my car for the first time since I brought it home 20 days ago.

The front end looks like it should 3 yrs from now when I turn it in on lease, not NOW!

There are so many pits, chips and smudges that it looks as if the paint hadnt enough time to fully dry on the car before it was delivered to me. I cant even imagine what this will look like after a year. Im almost tempted to PUT my front plate on just to protect it that little bit.

This is so embarrassing. Now Im going to have to wax over all these chips. Oh and I cant believe I didnt realize white is almost as hard as black to keep clean. Never again.

gonzo · 04-20-2007, 07:12 PM

Been driving on salt/gravel streets/overpasses?

GregL · 04-20-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

So Im finally washing my car for the first time since I brought it home 20 days ago.

The front end looks like it should 3 yrs from now when I turn it in on lease, not NOW!

There are so many pits, chips and smudges that it looks as if the paint hadnt enough time to fully dry on the car before it was delivered to me. I cant even imagine what this will look like after a year. Im almost tempted to PUT my front plate on just to protect it that little bit.

This is so embarrassing. Now Im going to have to wax over all these chips. Oh and I cant believe I didnt realize white is almost as hard as black to keep clean. Never again.

I've had my white car since August and driven it through a Canadian winter, I don't find it difficult to keep clean at all, certainly not as easy as silver, gold, pewter, etc... but pretty good. Dust is virtually impossible to notice on a white car too.

HyperM3 · 04-20-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gonzo

Been driving on salt/gravel streets/overpasses?

Im pretty sure it happened the other day when I was on a road that was just torn up to be repaved. I tried to stay as far behind the car in front but I could just hear things dinging off my hood and windshield.

MacAttack · 04-20-2007, 07:14 PM

Time to invest in the clear bra. I feel your pain but it's not that noticeable on mine.

HyperM3 · 04-20-2007, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregL

I've had my white car since August and driven it through a Canadian winter, I don't find it difficult to keep clean at all

Oh please, sure its not hard to keep a white car clean in snow...

GregL · 04-20-2007, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Oh please, sure its not hard to keep a white car clean in snow...

Hah, thought you'd say something like that. I posted this a while back, it's not the snow I worry about keeping off my car.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/attach...1&d=1170112382

Gort · 04-20-2007, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Im pretty sure it happened the other day when I was on a road that was just torn up to be repaved. I tried to stay as far behind the car in front but I could just hear things dinging off my hood and windshield.

The new 3's seem more susceptible to chips than any other car I have owned. It may be the water based paints they are forced to use now. They have more orange-peel look than they used to also. Clear bra is the way to go.

picus · 04-20-2007, 08:03 PM

Sounds like it needs a clay, seal, then clear bra. A bummer I know, but kind of required with new paint.

AndrewAZ · 04-20-2007, 08:04 PM

If its a leased car dont waste your money on a clear bra. Who cars its just a car. You spend $300 on a clear bra which is nearing the amount of a monthly payment for a car you are not going to keep.

dmboone25 · 04-20-2007, 08:11 PM

White at least is the hardest to see little problems, like scratches and whatnot. The darker the color, the easier it usually is to see things...

HyperM3 · 04-20-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewAZ

If its a leased car dont waste your money on a clear bra. Who cars its just a car. You spend $300 on a clear bra which is nearing the amount of a monthly payment for a car you are not going to keep.

Yeah, thats what I figured. I just hope I dont get nailed for this when I turn it back in.

FirstClass · 04-20-2007, 09:46 PM

My front end looks like ass too. There are no less than 3-4 chips on my hood that go down to the black ?base coat/primer?. Really sad that it's that fragile but oh well, better to drive hard and get chips than drive like a granny and be chip free. Speaking of which there is a chip in my windshield as well, just like other owners have gotten it seems

GJR · 04-20-2007, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstClass

My front end looks like ass too. There are no less than 3-4 chips on my hood that go down to the black ?base coat/primer?. Really sad that it's that fragile(

Same here... I only have 3800 miles on my car and it has several deep chips in the hood and on the "A" pillars. Simply unacceptable to me on a car this expensive. :mad: And I'm very careful to avoid driving behind trucks on highways, etc.

BMW has been using water-based paints for at least a decade, if not longer, so that doesn't excuse them in my book. None of my previous BMWs were as fragile as this one seems to be.

HyperM3 · 04-20-2007, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJR

BMW has been using water-based paints for at least a decade, if not longer, so that doesn't excuse them in my book. None of my previous BMWs were as fragile as this one seems to be.

Exactly. My 97 M3 hardly has any paint pits in it, the windshield is a different story. Then again, it only has 48k on the clock and about 200 coats of wax.

picus · 04-20-2007, 10:22 PM

All manufactures have been using water based paints since 1998. The new paint is a slurry created to reduce environmental damage; it's very soft and not durable at all. Unfortunately most manufactures have gone this route, so no one else is much better.

Wax/sealants do nothing to prevent chipping.

Bimmer325 · 04-20-2007, 11:42 PM

i had to agree this is ridiculous on a luxury car. i had clear bra the front end but, i thought i'm saved. But No! the nasty rocks find their way up to my fender beyond the clear bra. though its a tiny chip but deep enough to see the primer, even touch up wont be same.

i m a very careful driver as well, but i dont know how this shit happened and where the rocks were coming from at that time, traffic was at least 2 lamp posts away...anyhow i have to let them fuck up my paint for the first ever chip on the fender!!!

jonerik26 · 04-20-2007, 11:54 PM

i had a silver one, cleaning it was simple...but now i have a black e90 and ehhhhhh...........its a good thing i enjoy washing my car

TTG · 04-21-2007, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picus

All manufactures have been using water based paints since 1998. The new paint is a slurry created to reduce environmental damage; it's very soft and not durable at all. Unfortunately most manufactures have gone this route, so no one else is much better.

Wax/sealants do nothing to prevent chipping.

I disagree. I have owned several 98+ cars and my BMW's paint is by far the crappiest. I was pretty much forced to get a clear bra on the 335 after 300 miles.....

E90330iS · 04-21-2007, 02:34 AM

The BMW paint is really not that great... I scratched my car the other day and the area of paint that was untouched started cracking...

tctic · 04-21-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TTG

I disagree. I have owned several 98+ cars and my BMW's paint is by far the crappiest. I was pretty much forced to get a clear bra on the 335 after 300 miles.....

I believe BMW uses a painting system that is world's first and is considered environmentally friendly by using a powder based paint. If I am correct, they is recently implemented just before the introduction of the E90. I guess that may be the trade off for using this new painting process.

NPinUK · 04-21-2007, 04:53 AM

BMW clearcoat is just too soft, we have a Renault and the clearcoat is more durable to scuff marks, swirls & scratches. I detail my cars every 8 months but thats isn't enough for the bmw. It requires more attention but once it is detailed the car looks a beauty.

04-20-2007, 07:10 PM	#1
HyperM3 Too many Alex's, from now on, call me Beaufort 342 Rep 6,188 Posts Drives: See Sig Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (8)	BMW paint is teh crap! So Im finally washing my car for the first time since I brought it home 20 days ago. The front end looks like it should 3 yrs from now when I turn it in on lease, not NOW! There are so many pits, chips and smudges that it looks as if the paint hadnt enough time to fully dry on the car before it was delivered to me. I cant even imagine what this will look like after a year. Im almost tempted to PUT my front plate on just to protect it that little bit. This is so embarrassing. Now Im going to have to wax over all these chips. Oh and I cant believe I didnt realize white is almost as hard as black to keep clean. Never again. __________________ 13 HD FatBob 17 A4 Glacier/Black 1st Edition/Pre+/Sport/EurocodeTMD/Racechip 16 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),14 S6 (gone),13 S6 (gone),10 S4 (gone) 07 335i(gone)
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04-20-2007, 07:12 PM	#2
gonzo Lieutenant General 10202 Rep 14,398 Posts Drives: as many as possible Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: TeXXXas iTrader: (0)	Been driving on salt/gravel streets/overpasses? __________________ Crazy Diamond
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04-20-2007, 07:14 PM	#5
MacAttack Colonel 29 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: fast enough Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Afghanistan iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW [0.00]	Time to invest in the clear bra. I feel your pain but it's not that noticeable on mine. __________________ 2007 E92 335i Coupe: Monaco Blue/Premium/Sports/Winter Package/Nav/CA/6MT/TT/Active Cruise/Active Steering/iPod/Rear Shade/Tint/Short Shifter/OEM Alum Pedals//
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04-20-2007, 08:03 PM	#9
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	Sounds like it needs a clay, seal, then clear bra. A bummer I know, but kind of required with new paint.
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04-20-2007, 08:04 PM	#10
AndrewAZ Major 137 Rep 1,243 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	If its a leased car dont waste your money on a clear bra. Who cars its just a car. You spend $300 on a clear bra which is nearing the amount of a monthly payment for a car you are not going to keep.
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04-20-2007, 08:11 PM	#11
dmboone25 Lieutenant General 4972 Rep 10,200 Posts Drives: 2024 Golf R / 2022 718 Spyder Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 328i [10.00] 2007 328i [10.00]	White at least is the hardest to see little problems, like scratches and whatnot. The darker the color, the easier it usually is to see things... __________________ Past rides: 2016 981 BGTS, 2020 MINI JCW, 2017 F80, 2015 981 CS, 2014 F22 235, 2011 E82 135, 2008 E82 135, 2007 E92 328, 2007 E92 328 (My lady drives an OG M2. So does my dad)
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04-20-2007, 10:22 PM	#16
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	All manufactures have been using water based paints since 1998. The new paint is a slurry created to reduce environmental damage; it's very soft and not durable at all. Unfortunately most manufactures have gone this route, so no one else is much better. Wax/sealants do nothing to prevent chipping.
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04-20-2007, 11:42 PM	#17
Bimmer325 Major 86 Rep 1,166 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 325i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: MY iTrader: (1)	i had to agree this is ridiculous on a luxury car. i had clear bra the front end but, i thought i'm saved. But No! the nasty rocks find their way up to my fender beyond the clear bra. though its a tiny chip but deep enough to see the primer, even touch up wont be same. i m a very careful driver as well, but i dont know how this shit happened and where the rocks were coming from at that time, traffic was at least 2 lamp posts away...anyhow i have to let them fuck up my paint for the first ever chip on the fender!!! __________________ 325i Arctics M-Sport, Gray Leather with Alu Trim, ///M DCT Paddleshift, ///M Gear Knob, BBS LM-R 19", Michelin PS2, KW V2, H&R Anti Roll Bars, BMW Performance Air Intake System, 3D Front Lip, ACS Roof Spoiler, OEM Boot Spoiler, Osram 6000K, Brex White Ring, PIAA 6200K HID Fog, PIAA License Plate LED, BMS Powerbox
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04-20-2007, 11:54 PM	#18
jonerik26 Lieutenant Colonel 58 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: black 335i e90 PRE-LCI Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: somewhere iTrader: (23) Garage List 2007 335i [8.00] 1998 Acura Integra [8.50] 2006 325i [8.00]	i had a silver one, cleaning it was simple...but now i have a black e90 and ehhhhhh...........its a good thing i enjoy washing my car __________________
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04-21-2007, 02:34 AM	#20
E90330iS Major General 143 Rep 6,333 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arcadia, California iTrader: (56) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	The BMW paint is really not that great... I scratched my car the other day and the area of paint that was untouched started cracking... __________________ 2017 BMW M4 DCT Lease Transfer: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...8#post23736398
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04-21-2007, 04:53 AM	#22
NPinUK Private First Class 7 Rep 199 Posts Drives: E90 325i M Sport Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Midlands iTrader: (0)	BMW clearcoat is just too soft, we have a Renault and the clearcoat is more durable to scuff marks, swirls & scratches. I detail my cars every 8 months but thats isn't enough for the bmw. It requires more attention but once it is detailed the car looks a beauty.
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