[Mrcarcrazy]

Originally Posted by firechicken99

And the wonderfully eco-friendly chipping paint at every corner!

It's okay, at least we can eat them w/o fear!

[lepp0012]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Agreed, I have Jet Black and it's really not that bad. I've detailed just about every brand, and BMW paint is just about where you'd expect it, much better than Mazda and Subaru, not as nice as MB or Lexus and not all that different from Porsche or Ferrari. Things like Bentley and RR are a different story though as they get many more coats of paint, and hand wet sanding between each coat.

Ferrari uses a ceramic paint process which is significantly better--much harder and resistant to chips, etc. plus I've never seen an orange peel Ferrari.

[Danno1975]

Originally Posted by Canuckles

Very Cool. The electrostatic paint application and the type of paint (water based for ease of overspray recovery and recycling) they use are what makes BMW one of the most ecologically friendly car makers. It's also why we have the orange peel effect lol.

Yep, detailed some epic orange peel BMW's, often you can spot a repair by the wing that's not orange peeled. Still a good hard finish, withstands poor washing far better than many other makes, Mitsubishi is really soft and easy to marr, the trade off that it's a far harder finish to polish when correcting.

[Ian///M]

Not sure why BMW is boasting its paint here. I find BMW paint to one of the worst ...
My 1M has a few factory paint blemishes. Currently it is in the paintshop for a warranty claim on the rippled paintwork on the rear bumper!

[ATX78703]

so, where's the step where they actually put a decent paint job on the car?
BMW paint sux, esp the jet black. I will never get a jet black bmw ever again. Lexus / MB = so much better. I mean the thing scratches just to my finger sometimes.

The BSM on our x5 h/w is much better, but still pretty wax hungry. The metallic def hides swirls pretty good compared to the jet.

[AllydNYC]

Originally Posted by PaneristiDriver

Unfortunately they have some of the worst paint in the business with the terrible orange peel to being easily chipped by rocks and debris.

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

"Protection against stone-chipping," lol.

THIS. I've told tons of people BMW's have soft shitty paint but everyone just laughs. It annoys me how anything that touches the paint causes some sort of blemish on it.

[mwinward]

Here are some samples of the paint process I took on the Munich factory tour.

Their explanation was as follows:

"The first step is to coat the body panels in a layer of zinc phosphate forming a consistent primer and protecting the body from corrosion. The first coat of paint is applied in the cathodic dip bath. Next comes the filler coat as the foundation for the base coat, which gives the vehicle its specific color. Finally, the clear coat ensures long-lasting brilliance.

"BMW CLean Production: water-based paint is used consistently throughout BMW's entire production network. This is one reason for the 50% reduction insolvents over the past ten years."

[dj john]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Using a MF cloth should not scratch your paint. Not unless you wash your MF cloths with fabric softener. Using fabric softener is a big no no with MF towels.

that depends on the typ of microfiber cloths.i have japan red e87 and i have to use the soft,s mf to avoid any marring on the paint.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by lepp0012

Ferrari uses a ceramic paint process which is significantly better--much harder and resistant to chips, etc. plus I've never seen an orange peel Ferrari.

Really? I've never seen one that isn't as bad as any BMW. Check out Autopia, go to the dealer, or just look at our detailing forum, here's the first example:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...hlight=ferrari

[VMRWheels]

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Ian///M

Not sure why BMW is boasting its paint here. I find BMW paint to one of the worst ...
My 1M has a few factory paint blemishes. Currently it is in the paintshop for a warranty claim on the rippled paintwork on the rear bumper!

BMW does not paint the bumper covers themselves. They are painted by the parts supplier off site. Then the bumper covers arrive just in time - to be installed on the car. This is why they never quite match. But it takes a good eye to spot the color difference. Btw... Audi also operates the same way!


At Leipzig Werk... BMW does not limit the time the body shop workers need to repair any found blemishes on the cars - at the final inspection station. They have this huge room with soothing bright wood floors. The cars are finished one by one. They use these small two inch buffer pads to "polish" the area of the paint defect. They when they are all done they polish the car. BMW doesn't put any pressure on this final inspection process. The workers can take all the time they need.

I was told last year that Leipzig would be getting a major upgrade to their paint shop - sometime this year. They will be getting the latest technology for painting cars. This upgrade was suppose to happen this year. Not sure IF it had gone into effect or not. After all Leipzig will also be building the i3 and i8 very soon (2013). In fact, when I drove past the factory last Friday they already had some construction cranes on site - for the expansion of the factory buildings.


Dack

[Ian///M]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

BMW does not paint the bumper covers themselves. They are painted by the parts supplier off site. Then the bumper covers arrive just in time - to be installed on the car. This is why they never quite match. But it takes a good eye to spot the color difference. Btw... Audi also operates the same way!


At Leipzig Werk... BMW does not limit the time the body shop workers need to repair any found blemishes on the cars - at the final inspection station. They have this huge room with soothing bright wood floors. The cars are finished one by one. They use these small two inch buffer pads to "polish" the area of the paint defect. They when they are all done they polish the car. BMW doesn't put any pressure on this final inspection process. The workers can take all the time they need.

I was told last year that Leipzig would be getting a major upgrade to their paint shop - sometime this year. They will be getting the latest technology for painting cars. This upgrade was suppose to happen this year. Not sure IF it had gone into effect or not. After all Leipzig will also be building the i3 and i8 very soon (2013). In fact, when I drove past the factory last Friday they already had some construction cranes on site - for the expansion of the factory buildings.


Dack

Interesting Dackelone. Thanks.

There are A few other areas on the body where dust has even caught under the paint or there are dried bubbles.

[woo1]

Mine must have needed more primer coat. I have lots of stone chips. I guess that comes with the territory having a black car, though.

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by woo1

Mine must have needed more primer coat. I have lots of stone chips. I guess that comes with the territory having a black car, though.

Oh crap.. u guys are making me worried >.< I am awaiting my '12 E92 M3 to arrive... it's Jet Black. Should I spend the $$$ on the whatever paint protection package the business manager tries to push on??? Anything else I can do to improve my chances of keeping the car paint in better shape?

[ckhm1st]

No shortcuts. Hope BMW stays that way. It is one of the things that set them apart from...yup...everybody.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by bnombe

Oh crap.. u guys are making me worried >.< I am awaiting my '12 E92 M3 to arrive... it's Jet Black. Should I spend the $$$ on the whatever paint protection package the business manager tries to push on??? Anything else I can do to improve my chances of keeping the car paint in better shape?

There are some products like: Opticoat™, that actually bond to your clear coat. You should have a pro apply this though, because you want the paint fully cleaned and prepped before applying it.

[///Mandy]

Good to know. Thank you OP.

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by lepp0012

They forgot the step where they add the embarrassingly bad orange peel.

Seriously, why is this acceptable on cars costing $40k to well over $100k?

Originally Posted by PaneristiDriver

Unfortunately they have some of the worst paint in the business with the terrible orange peel to being easily chipped by rocks and debris.

Agreed.

[bnombe]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

There are some products like: Opticoat™, that actually bond to your clear coat. You should have a pro apply this though, because you want the paint fully cleaned and prepped before applying it.

Thx. My dealer gave me a pamphlet on some "cilajet" thing back when I placed my order. I did some research on that lately as my delivery should be nearing (still ~3 weeks! Wait is killing me!!). I also searched on this site and found out the "no no" stories about cilajet, decides I will stay away from the dealer's "offer".

Will look up some good pro detailers in my area to take care of my car detailing. Cheers!!