"Soft"Paint on a new(ish) 3 Series?

[stevedrummie]

I know this will probably sound nuts but I bought my first BMW (AUC) a couple of months ago and it seems to pick up paint chips really easily? I am driving the same journeys as before,the roads and conditions are much the same and I have never had the same thing with my previous cars...any ideas or is it just me?..maybe time to get my med's reviewed!

Cheers

Steve

[soprano]

It's more likely to be bmws crap paint than you

[a_bloke]

stevedrummie said:

I know this will probably sound nuts but I bought my first BMW (AUC) a couple of months ago and it seems to pick up paint chips really easily? I am driving the same journeys as before,the roads and conditions are much the same and I have never had the same thing with my previous cars...any ideas or is it just me?..maybe time to get my med's reviewed!

Cheers

Steve

Hmm.

Is there any chance the front of the car has been resprayed? It might be worth getting that checked out.

I had a similar problem a few years ago. We'd bought a new car and everything was grand. Nine months later we were involved in a road accident and the entire nose area of the car had to be replaced. When we got it back the bonnet and wing tips chipped like mad and usually relatively big chips too.

When i complained the dealership had the front of the car resprayed and it was fine after that..

I kind of put it down to brittle paint at the time with maybe a thicker than normal or softer undercoat but that was just my thinking.

[MitchT]

soprano said:

It's more likely to be bmws crap paint than you

This.

[stevedrummie]

Thanks Guy's,

Not good news if it's either of those things! Didn't think of the possibility that the car could have been involved in a crash and then had sub-standard quality work done on it, I bit the bullet and paid for a AUC thinking that would eliminate any of those kind of issues,probably a bit naive so will definately get it checked out by an independant bodyshop.
If it's down to poor quality paint in general I am really going to struggle keeping the car,am probably a bit OCD and the smallest blemish bugs me to bit's and I can see the car spending half it's life in the paintshop! Shame really as otherwise I really like the car (it's a 335d Coupe,do you think it would be a good idea to get it chipped?)

Cheers

Steve

[- Paul -]

BMW paint is softer than it used to be due to the manufacturing process now. Also - the front of the e90 is plastic. Mine (e90) has allsorts of indentations / marks etc. Car is 4 yrs old tho.

[MattOz]

BMW paint is harder than it used to be and therefore it chips more easily. This topic has been done to death, but essentially its the water based paint that is not as maleable as the old two pack or cellulose stuff. It chips because it is hard, not because it is soft. The ceramiclear lacquer on some modern cars is even worse.

The only real way to prevent chips on modern paint is to have it ventureshielded or armourfended from new. Pain in the arse really!

Matt

Edited by MattOz on Monday 7th September 15:42

[- Paul -]

MattOz said:

BMW paint is harder than it used to be and therefore it chips more easily. This topic has been done to death, but essentially its the water based paint that is not as maleable as the old two pack or cellulose stuff. It chops because it is hard, not because it is soft. The ceramiclear lacquer on some modern cars is even worse.

The only real way to prevent chips on modern paint is to have it ventureshielded or armourfended from new. Pain in the arse really!

Matt

What I meant but got hard and soft wrong then!!!

[stevedrummie]

Thanks Guy's thats helpful.I will get it checked out to see if it's had a respray and if not either grin and bear it(and get used to it going into the shop for regular paint) or get rid and replace it with something a bit more robust..will post to update on how it goes if the outcome is interesting!

Cheers

Steve

[jeff666]

My brother in law has a new 3 series (09) he is quite fussy and keeps his cars really clean, he noticed some birds muck on it and knows for a fact it was only on the car less than a day but it still marked the paint.

[a_bloke]

stevedrummie said:

Thanks Guy's,

Not good news if it's either of those things! Didn't think of the possibility that the car could have been involved in a crash and then had sub-standard quality work done on it, I bit the bullet and paid for a AUC thinking that would eliminate any of those kind of issues,probably a bit naive so will definately get it checked out by an independant bodyshop.
If it's down to poor quality paint in general I am really going to struggle keeping the car,am probably a bit OCD and the smallest blemish bugs me to bit's and I can see the car spending half it's life in the paintshop! Shame really as otherwise I really like the car (it's a 335d Coupe,do you think it would be a good idea to get it chipped?)

Cheers

Steve

Possibly but often a main dealer will repaint the entire nose of a car if it significantly stone chipped.

Edited by a_bloke on Tuesday 8th September 10:17