paint thickness

[rigga]

Just wondering here, as I have an issue with some paint defect on my mini on the front corner of the bonnet, took it to BMW for the bodyshop guy to look at with regards to trying to make a claim, turns out he thinks its lacquer peeling, but here's the thing ....he took paint readings over the whole car and they all showed roughly the same reading's at around 250 to 260 on his tool, this then to him indicated that the car had been painted all over, as on new minis he expected to see around the 150 to 180 region doing the same test. He tested a new mini parked next to me to test calibration . Now if the bonnet had been painted and badly so, I'd accept that the lacquer failed due to a poor job, but only see the bonnet reading high when measured, but not the whole car as I can see no reason or evidence to suggest it has been (not first owner so can't be certain)
Would it be deffinate that to see that depth of paint the car has had a full re spray at some point, or could it still be possible it came like that from new as it was uniform thickness all over?

[B0DSKI]

Always a grey area and going to be very difficult to prove.

All the new Minis I've seen in the last 2-3 years have had readings in the low to mid 100s. Certainly none as high as yours.

[Chris_VRS]

You could have two identically aged cars in the same colour and they'll show different paint depths.
MINI's I've worked on have been between 150-200 as a factory average.

Very difficult to say without seeing the car in the metal but just because it has higher readings than maybe is common does not mean it's had a repaint at some point.

Definately a grey area where manufacturers are concerned.

Good luck...

Chris
Summit Detailing

[johnS2000]

What about age ? Would an older vehicle (lets assume Mini)say the first years production have thicker paint as opposed to later production runs where cuts could have been made ?

[Craikeybaby]

It could be possible that the car had to be "reworked" in the factory, so got extra paint.

[rigga]

He took picture's of the paintwork including readings on his gauge, plus reg plate and Vin plate, and will submit them to BMW, if there has been any reasonable reason the paint is thicker and BMW know why I guess it will be logged.

[Byteme]

rigga said:

Just wondering here, as I have an issue with some paint defect on my mini on the front corner of the bonnet, took it to BMW for the bodyshop guy to look at with regards to trying to make a claim, turns out he thinks its lacquer peeling, but here's the thing ....he took paint readings over the whole car and they all showed roughly the same reading's at around 250 to 260 on his tool, this then to him indicated that the car had been painted all over, as on new minis he expected to see around the 150 to 180 region doing the same test. He tested a new mini parked next to me to test calibration . Now if the bonnet had been painted and badly so, I'd accept that the lacquer failed due to a poor job, but only see the bonnet reading high when measured, but not the whole car as I can see no reason or evidence to suggest it has been (not first owner so can't be certain)
Would it be deffinate that to see that depth of paint the car has had a full re spray at some point, or could it still be possible it came like that from new as it was uniform thickness all over?

With readings that high it's 100% certain your car has been painted at least once. Even 150 - 180 is high for any factory paint with 125 for most manufacturers being about normal. Manufacturers avoid more not because thicker paint films lead to higher material costs but because they are more prone to chipping.

I would suggest that if his gauge tells him to expect up to 180 for an OE finish it's possibly not calibrated correctly. These are expensive instruments and very few can be calibrated in the field and have to be returned to the manufacturer id adjustment is required.

A full repaint is expensive so you would have to question why it was carried out. Paint film thickness aside there would be numerous other "tell-tales" that would most likely show.