Appalling E92 M3 paintwork and Poor BMW Response - Help!
Discussion
My new E92 has an awful paint finish with serious orange peel throughout on every panel. I have followed the process with my dealer, who thought the finish bad enough to refer it to BMW® for inspection. That inspection took place today, and unbelievably BMW® are stating that it is within "specification". What exactly this specification is would be interesting to know. My wife took the car in for me today and noticed that EVERY BMW® in the showroom was showing the same extremely poor quality of paint.
Personally, I do not think that anyone paying the list price of a BMW® in the expectation of a quality car should expect paint of such dire finish. I fully intend to pursue this with BMW®, the press and anywhere that I can make as much noise as possible. Would anyone else who is suffering from this problem and who would like to join me in this, please contact me asap. My email address is tony@x88.com. Also, if there are any members of the motoring press who are willing to help, this would be greatly appreciated. I have heard countless owners mention the orange peel on current BMWS, particularly E92 M3 owners, but as is the British way, no body seems to be complaining about it.
Many thanks in advance.
Personally, I do not think that anyone paying the list price of a BMW® in the expectation of a quality car should expect paint of such dire finish. I fully intend to pursue this with BMW®, the press and anywhere that I can make as much noise as possible. Would anyone else who is suffering from this problem and who would like to join me in this, please contact me asap. My email address is tony@x88.com. Also, if there are any members of the motoring press who are willing to help, this would be greatly appreciated. I have heard countless owners mention the orange peel on current BMWS, particularly E92 M3 owners, but as is the British way, no body seems to be complaining about it.
Many thanks in advance.
Evoblade, I saw many new M3's exactly the same, very poor "Orange Peel on most panals" put me right off, 55K+ cars with Mondeo paint ( actually that's an insult to the Mondeo)the two I drove were awful around the tops of the doors and wings.
Take it back and insist it's corrected.
Take it back and insist it's corrected.
Edited by RS4john on Monday 28th January 19:16
Unfortunately, this is the result of the BMW brand now being very much mass market and the use of eco friendly, water based paints. This finish quality is unfortunately to be expected from now on with these cars and you should have noted this if you looked at any of the cars in the showroom, hence BMW's premise that this is within spec.
This awful state of affairs started in my books when they stopped painting them under the bonnet and in boot shuts. I realised the BMW brand quality was on a downward slide then.
I completely agree with you it is unacceptable on a car of that value but what do BMW really care? You still bought it!
With it being a water based paint, you cannot flat it down and re polish, your only option for the finish you want is a repaint on a new car.
An insurance job perhaps?
Dreadful.
8Tech.
This awful state of affairs started in my books when they stopped painting them under the bonnet and in boot shuts. I realised the BMW brand quality was on a downward slide then.
I completely agree with you it is unacceptable on a car of that value but what do BMW really care? You still bought it!
With it being a water based paint, you cannot flat it down and re polish, your only option for the finish you want is a repaint on a new car.
An insurance job perhaps?
Dreadful.
8Tech.
8-Tech, this is something like the 10th BMW I have had, and have never seen such poor paint. The demo I drove looked fine, as did the white M3 I almost bought from them (but didn't as it did not have the electronic damper control). I think it is worse on my car due to the colour (Jerez Black). This is basically the old Carbon Black. It does look like the car has been painted by a complete numpty, like a bad respray. I spotted it when I collected the car from 10 paces and brought it to their attention. At the time, they said a detail would sort it, but of course I now know that is not actually the case.
I think the only chance I have got of rectification is if I can drum up some support from other disgruntled BMW owners, but so far either no one wants to complain about it, or they don't think it is that bad. That leaves me as a lone voice right now, which in the eyes of BMW probably makes me fussy, which I am not at all. To add insult to injury they will probably sort out this new paint process of theirs, and I'll get shafted at resale time (as will other owners in a similar position).
My wife actually used to be a salesperson at the dealership, so we have bought loads of cars from there, and obviously get a good response from them. It is BMW Uk that are being difficult about it.
I think the only chance I have got of rectification is if I can drum up some support from other disgruntled BMW owners, but so far either no one wants to complain about it, or they don't think it is that bad. That leaves me as a lone voice right now, which in the eyes of BMW probably makes me fussy, which I am not at all. To add insult to injury they will probably sort out this new paint process of theirs, and I'll get shafted at resale time (as will other owners in a similar position).
My wife actually used to be a salesperson at the dealership, so we have bought loads of cars from there, and obviously get a good response from them. It is BMW Uk that are being difficult about it.
Can you post some pictures - wondering how bad it is? Mine arrives at the end of this week, although I don't take delivery until 1st March. Should get the opportunity to compare pictures (I'l be taking some snaps pre delivery); if mines OK then it might add some weight to your argument, if mines just as bad yours then you get some additional support.
EvoBlade said:
8-Tech, this is something like the 10th BMW I have had, and have never seen such poor paint. The demo I drove looked fine, as did the white M3 I almost bought from them (but didn't as it did not have the electronic damper control). I think it is worse on my car due to the colour (Jerez Black). This is basically the old Carbon Black. It does look like the car has been painted by a complete numpty, like a bad respray. I spotted it when I collected the car from 10 paces and brought it to their attention. At the time, they said a detail would sort it, but of course I now know that is not actually the case.
I think the only chance I have got of rectification is if I can drum up some support from other disgruntled BMW owners, but so far either no one wants to complain about it, or they don't think it is that bad. That leaves me as a lone voice right now, which in the eyes of BMW probably makes me fussy, which I am not at all. To add insult to injury they will probably sort out this new paint process of theirs, and I'll get shafted at resale time (as will other owners in a similar position).
My wife actually used to be a salesperson at the dealership, so we have bought loads of cars from there, and obviously get a good response from them. It is BMW Uk that are being difficult about it.
I do feel sorry for you and Black is the worst colour for showing up paintwork flaws. The painter is probably a robot with a flat battery!I think the only chance I have got of rectification is if I can drum up some support from other disgruntled BMW owners, but so far either no one wants to complain about it, or they don't think it is that bad. That leaves me as a lone voice right now, which in the eyes of BMW probably makes me fussy, which I am not at all. To add insult to injury they will probably sort out this new paint process of theirs, and I'll get shafted at resale time (as will other owners in a similar position).
My wife actually used to be a salesperson at the dealership, so we have bought loads of cars from there, and obviously get a good response from them. It is BMW Uk that are being difficult about it.
Persevere and hopefully you will eventually get somewhere but how could you measure orange peel effect on paintwork to make a legal presentation? very difficult but the best of luck to you both.
8Tech.
EvoBlade: Does the dealership have those paint sample boards in the showroom? I would say you should expect the same finish as those have. Maybe borrow one off them and keep in your possession until they sort it? Ultimately the dealership sold you the car so you sort it with them, and they can sort it with BMW UK.
Whoami: What colour is your wife's car, and what legal route are you taking?
Whoami: What colour is your wife's car, and what legal route are you taking?
EvoBlade said:
BMW® are stating that it is within "specification".
Yep... their specification, of course, not the customer's 
EvoBlade said:
but as is the British way, no body seems to be complaining about it.
... except amongst themselves. I love BMW cars but BMW as a company is turning into an automotive version of the Labour party. No customer-service ethic and convinced that their shit doesn't smell. It'll take everyone walking away to make them buck-up their ideas. One or two standing up for themselves while everyone else moans to each other is not going to fix it. Reject the car and take your money elsewhere. If enough people start acting to frighten BMW into pulling their socks up we might one day see a return of the great company that we used to know.
Do you get this orange peel effect on much cheaper new cars like fords and honda?
It could be a simple section 14 sale of goods action, as satisfactory quality is objective and so anyone would expect such an expensive car to be finished perfectly. Luckily 'appearance and finish' is actually now covered under this act. The case is probably Bernstein v Pamson Motors 1987 where a buyer of a brand new Rolls Royce wouldn’t tolerate the slightest blemish on its paintwork. Another case, Rogers v Parish 1987 where pride in the outward appearance of a car was a relevant factor in assessing the merchantability of a new car. Also a car is a highly visible good and therefore appearance and finish is a significant factor, in contrast things underneath the car will be of little significance and not be an imperfection of appearance that will amount to a breach.
It could be a simple section 14 sale of goods action, as satisfactory quality is objective and so anyone would expect such an expensive car to be finished perfectly. Luckily 'appearance and finish' is actually now covered under this act. The case is probably Bernstein v Pamson Motors 1987 where a buyer of a brand new Rolls Royce wouldn’t tolerate the slightest blemish on its paintwork. Another case, Rogers v Parish 1987 where pride in the outward appearance of a car was a relevant factor in assessing the merchantability of a new car. Also a car is a highly visible good and therefore appearance and finish is a significant factor, in contrast things underneath the car will be of little significance and not be an imperfection of appearance that will amount to a breach.
Edited by RichyBoy on Monday 28th January 23:02
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