125 - Bad lacquer peel - What to do?
Discussion
I've had my 125 for 5 years now. Its coming up for 95k miles and is mechanically really good. The cream leather interior is also a really lovely place to be.
However, it has terrible lacquer peel. Attached is just the worst area but there are other not so bad patches meaning if I got it resprayed it may as well be a full respray.
After putting the price into wbac it looks to be worth about £5k if it was in good condition externally, or most likely £3k at its current state and I assume that no private buyer would want to touch it as is.
The wheels could all do with a refurb too but as the rear ones have been welded a few times they might just need replacing.
I am starting to look at replacing it as I cant see the cost of replacing wheels and a decent respray being worth it on such an old car. However, I am struggling to find a newer model that excites me that I would feel is worth spending the extra money on. (Looking at 235, M135),
Would I regret getting rid of it?
However, it has terrible lacquer peel. Attached is just the worst area but there are other not so bad patches meaning if I got it resprayed it may as well be a full respray.
After putting the price into wbac it looks to be worth about £5k if it was in good condition externally, or most likely £3k at its current state and I assume that no private buyer would want to touch it as is.
The wheels could all do with a refurb too but as the rear ones have been welded a few times they might just need replacing.
I am starting to look at replacing it as I cant see the cost of replacing wheels and a decent respray being worth it on such an old car. However, I am struggling to find a newer model that excites me that I would feel is worth spending the extra money on. (Looking at 235, M135),
Would I regret getting rid of it?
If you are any way handy, you could try and repair it yourself.
Plenty of videos on youtube that can help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuwpEnu5lmA
Just remember, take it real slow and also remember, you can't make it look much worse than it is.
Plenty of videos on youtube that can help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuwpEnu5lmA
Just remember, take it real slow and also remember, you can't make it look much worse than it is.
CarCrazyDad said:
Surely such an obvious area on an otherwise reasonably valuable and nice car is worth while of professional efforts?
I can't imagine it would cost more than 300 or so to repair / repaint that area.
Find some trusted local body shops and ask them for quotes. Pick the middle one.
Depending on the quotes, that's obviously a good option. But for the sake of £20 and a bit of effort, you could potentially make quite a good job of it yourself, worse case is you still have to take it to the local body shop to fix your mess, but it's not as difficult as it looks (i've just refurbished an alloy with kerb rash, and it's come out quite good, certainly passes the 5 foot test and looks a million times better than the other 3 wheels, which are next on my list.)I can't imagine it would cost more than 300 or so to repair / repaint that area.
Find some trusted local body shops and ask them for quotes. Pick the middle one.
P.S. I'm a tight arse, have a garage to work in and don't need the car at the moment, so this all helps with doing it myself. Obviously, if you are not comfortable trying this yourself, do take it to someone who has more experience.
Olivergt said:
Depending on the quotes, that's obviously a good option. But for the sake of £20 and a bit of effort, you could potentially make quite a good job of it yourself, worse case is you still have to take it to the local body shop to fix your mess, but it's not as difficult as it looks (i've just refurbished an alloy with kerb rash, and it's come out quite good, certainly passes the 5 foot test and looks a million times better than the other 3 wheels, which are next on my list.)
P.S. I'm a tight arse, have a garage to work in and don't need the car at the moment, so this all helps with doing it myself. Obviously, if you are not comfortable trying this yourself, do take it to someone who has more experience.
I don't think you can compare painting a wheel to painting a major part of the car at eye level that you will notice every time you get in or out of it.P.S. I'm a tight arse, have a garage to work in and don't need the car at the moment, so this all helps with doing it myself. Obviously, if you are not comfortable trying this yourself, do take it to someone who has more experience.
and in some cases you can make it worse - I imagine getting overspray everywhere could be one of many problems.
It's not a wheel or a cheap daily hack, it's a nice car with damage on a prime part of the body.
I suspect a previous poor repair has caused this lacquer peeling so probably best to do it right one time.
i think you're right that its been poorly repaired previously.
Looking at the areas that have lacquer peel its all down the one side.
Although I have used a spray gun in a booth to prime some mdf in the past, I didn't do a great job of that so I wouldn't risk me making a terrible mess here. I
I have just spoke to a guy locally who seems to have good reviews and will take a look whenever I can drop it down to him.
Looking at the areas that have lacquer peel its all down the one side.
Although I have used a spray gun in a booth to prime some mdf in the past, I didn't do a great job of that so I wouldn't risk me making a terrible mess here. I
I have just spoke to a guy locally who seems to have good reviews and will take a look whenever I can drop it down to him.
Court_S said:
I guess the first question is how much do you like the car? If you like it, I’d be tempted to chuck some cash at it and take it to a few body shops to get quotes to get it sorted.
Where are you based?
Hertfordshire, near Berkhamsted. Where are you based?
I think if I could get it looking good again for around £2k I’d be happy with it. I love it otherwise but the mess of the bodywork has made me lose the love a little bit. Even more so now it’s summer and I want to be out there with it gleaming.
Nemophilist said:
Court_S said:
I guess the first question is how much do you like the car? If you like it, I’d be tempted to chuck some cash at it and take it to a few body shops to get quotes to get it sorted.
Where are you based?
Hertfordshire, near Berkhamsted. Where are you based?
I think if I could get it looking good again for around £2k I’d be happy with it. I love it otherwise but the mess of the bodywork has made me lose the love a little bit. Even more so now it’s summer and I want to be out there with it gleaming.
d_a_n1979 said:
Nemophilist said:
Court_S said:
I guess the first question is how much do you like the car? If you like it, I’d be tempted to chuck some cash at it and take it to a few body shops to get quotes to get it sorted.
Where are you based?
Hertfordshire, near Berkhamsted. Where are you based?
I think if I could get it looking good again for around £2k I’d be happy with it. I love it otherwise but the mess of the bodywork has made me lose the love a little bit. Even more so now it’s summer and I want to be out there with it gleaming.
The N52 is a cracking engine p, especially in this era 1 series. I like them so much I have two!
You’re not local to me so I can’t help you with body shops. There’ll be a good one not too far.
I think that will be more expensive to fix than people are suggesting.
If the car has had poor repairs and the lacquer isn’t bonded to the base coat properly, they will not be able to feather an edge. They’ll keep on chasing it until they reach the edges of the panel.
I had similar on one of my previous cars. Every time they tried to feather the edge, a bit more lacquer would chip off and they had to keep on going. You could end up painting the whole side of the car.
If the car has had poor repairs and the lacquer isn’t bonded to the base coat properly, they will not be able to feather an edge. They’ll keep on chasing it until they reach the edges of the panel.
I had similar on one of my previous cars. Every time they tried to feather the edge, a bit more lacquer would chip off and they had to keep on going. You could end up painting the whole side of the car.
Nemophilist said:
Court_S said:
I guess the first question is how much do you like the car? If you like it, I’d be tempted to chuck some cash at it and take it to a few body shops to get quotes to get it sorted.
Where are you based?
Hertfordshire, near Berkhamsted. Where are you based?
I think if I could get it looking good again for around £2k I’d be happy with it. I love it otherwise but the mess of the bodywork has made me lose the love a little bit. Even more so now it’s summer and I want to be out there with it gleaming.
ETA is it biarritz blue? BMW used to do some lovely colours!
Edited by andy ted on Tuesday 22 June 23:59
Ive got a white 125i and the lacquer has started to peal in places, the bonnet and the front drivers side wing, both around small stone chips, I've never had lacquer peal off any other car, ill get to a body shop and get a quote. Actually ive got BMWfsh so I may go there first, an old neighbour of mine got paint work done when he had a problem with his e46 coupe.
Rockets7 said:
GTEYE said:
Le Mans blue
That car has definitely had paintwork at some point.
And a lot of it!That car has definitely had paintwork at some point.
Unfortunately some of the original paintwork which would otherwise be perfect needs work too due to a bad bush scratch along the other side.
It can be done with just another coat of clear, but I'm sure each case is different.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaga2RYllvE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaga2RYllvE
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