[225_AB]

This is actually about my 2 series but my wife has a 3 series and this forum is much more active than 2 addicts so I have posted in here, hope that's ok.

I have terrible water etching on my car. The bonnet is covered and the roof and boot less so. I have tried everything. Wash, clay bar, autoglym SRP, t cut, meguiars scratch x, vinegar! I cant t rid of them. Difficult to photograph as you can only see them at an angle. So my questions are

1. The car is less than a year old, shouldn't modern paints be able to withstand rain? I don't suppose BMW would consider any assistance?

2. Anything else I can try?

3. I suppose the only thing is a machine polish, any recommendations in high Wycombe, Buckinghamshire area?

Thanks a lot in advance and hope it's not too cheeky posting in the e90 forum.

[Russbmw]

Machine polishing will get rid of them.

Once done, a regularly applied wax or sealant will prevent them reoccuring.

I do detailing, if your'e anywhere near Surrey.

[225_AB]

Whereabouts in Surrey Russ, I am in high Wycombe so not a million miles away

[Dace64]

I bought my black E92 last month from main dealer and had exactly the same!! I clayed the car, 2 coats of SRP, 2 coats of wax and all the marring & water marks have completely gone.
The car now looks as it should.

[John320d]

Not being funny but try an hair drier. I rejected a new 5 series because of similar problem. The BMW body shop had it and could not sort it. One week after the exchange they had my rejected car in the showroom looking pristine. When i enquired they said some bright spark had tried an hairdrier on it and it cleared.

[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by doc_ab

Whereabouts in Surrey Russ, I am in high Wycombe so not a million miles away

West Byfleet.

Have a gander at my Facebook page.

[djgandy]

I guess I wouldn't mind lending my DAS6. A good wash, and then a really light polish will do the trick. Probably only need a quick pass if you aren't trying to remove scratches.

[225_AB]

Thanks for all the help guys. Djgandy kind offer but can I trust myself with a polisher?
Away till Sunday but the tips are all appreciated, what a great forum

[Hulla the Hulla]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

West Byfleet.

Have a gander at my Facebook page.

small world, I'm in Byfleet Village

[Russbmw]

Originally Posted by Hulla the Hulla

small world, I'm in Byfleet Village

[djgandy]

Originally Posted by doc_ab

Thanks for all the help guys. Djgandy kind offer but can I trust myself with a polisher?
Away till Sunday but the tips are all appreciated, what a great forum

It's not that difficult, at least for the task you have at hand.

[Russbmw]

It'll be easy mate (assuming you get given a decent new pad and some decent compound with it! LOL!).

You'll also need some wax or sealant, applicator (unless you get given a seperate finishing pad to apply a liquid sealant/wax with) to apply after you've polished it to keep the paint finish sealed and protected. Oh, and some microfibre cloths to use.

Just keep the machine movement constant and don't push down too hard.

You know the compound is cutting when it looks like a clear liquid around the edge of the pad.

If all you want is a quick once over, it wouldn't take me long (or be long for you to hang around) if you wanted me to do it.

[acerboo]

are you using tap water to clean it if the water is hard it will mark the paint rainwater is much much better to use

[225_AB]

Yes I have very hard water but thought as I was drying and polishing straight away I shouldnt be getting semi permanent marks?
I do have a water softner, I don't know how many ppm this would let through but will use it for rinsing off the car in future.

[225_AB]

Originally Posted by Russbmw

It'll be easy mate (assuming you get given a decent new pad and some decent compound with it! LOL!).

You'll also need some wax or sealant, applicator (unless you get given a seperate finishing pad to apply a liquid sealant/wax with) to apply after you've polished it to keep the paint finish sealed and protected. Oh, and some microfibre cloths to use.

Just keep the machine movement constant and don't push down too hard.

You know the compound is cutting when it looks like a clear liquid around the edge of the pad.

If all you want is a quick once over, it wouldn't take me long (or be long for you to hang around) if you wanted me to do it.

Russ

Will contact you at some point to fix this up, checked out your facebook page.

[Russbmw]

Ok mate, no worries.

[Soul_Glo]

We're having the same problem on our black 435d. It is a 15 plate and we took delivery of it last month. I am thinking this could be a paint defect. Even using a water particle filter from ultimate finish has not helped... the idea being that it removes the limescale and helps soften hard water to prevent such marks. This has to be the worse black ever. Even the black on my audi was better than this.. sure you'd get ghost marks and etching but a little bit of elbow grease would get rid of it. I have tried the same.. different types of clay, cleaner wax, I used a DA and some 3M fast cut... but come on I shouldn't have to be cutting fresh paint... no joy. As I have been detailing my own cars for many years and frequent the detailing world forums and still not had joy... I am thinking of rejecting the car. It could be an isolated incident but black is a pain to maintain and joy when it is clean... yet mine is horrible from water etching.

[Russbmw]

Out of interest, did your 435d have the "super duper sealant coating" at £500 applied when you bought it?

[225_AB]

Originally Posted by Broken_Gearbox

We're having the same problem on our black 435d. It is a 15 plate and we took delivery of it last month. I am thinking this could be a paint defect. Even using a water particle filter from ultimate finish has not helped... the idea being that it removes the limescale and helps soften hard water to prevent such marks. This has to be the worse black ever. Even the black on my audi was better than this.. sure you'd get ghost marks and etching but a little bit of elbow grease would get rid of it. I have tried the same.. different types of clay, cleaner wax, I used a DA and some 3M fast cut... but come on I shouldn't have to be cutting fresh paint... no joy. As I have been detailing my own cars for many years and frequent the detailing world forums and still not had joy... I am thinking of rejecting the car. It could be an isolated incident but black is a pain to maintain and joy when it is clean... yet mine is horrible from water etching.

I would be interested to know how you get on, I am thinking of speaking to BMW as well

[Soul_Glo]

We got shot of it. My wife is working on a big sourcing project for BMW. They had no problems taking it back and we returned it yesterday. We now have to wait as there are currently none in stock. In the mean time they have given her a 335i as a run around. Had it not been for that and if we were normal buyers I think we'd have to go through a whole load of hassle.

I have had a car repaired before due to paint defect. The detailed the whole thing and flattened the paint to get rid of some orange peel too. They tried to get out of it by saying I'd used the wrong products and it was a nightmare. I had to get a report from a paint specialist who used to frequent my local independent garage. Stipulate the sale of goods act... that will go a long way... you need to evoke the act by writing to them. May be write to them and post back here to let us know how you get on.